I had a similar problem in my 1998 Civic. You need a new speedometer, most likely. Changing the speed sensor solenoid, which is what the mechanics wanted to try first, didn't fix my problem; I just had to get a new speedo put in.
You simply can't make that kind of money in 3 weeks. You should have thought of the fact that you'd want to buy a car months ago. You'll just have to keep saving up your money until you have enough.
Tall enough that you can touch the ground with the tips of your toes while sitting astride the bike and you have to be big and heavy enough to be able to control it.
The Kias still aren't quite as reliable as they should be. You'd be better off with a Honda, Toyota or Hyundai. Not to mention that the Soul is ugly as sin.
Fords and Chevys (and Dodges) are all garbage because they're domestics, which are unreliable and unsafe. But, since no one else made trucks back then, go with a Chevy/GMC since they're the least bad of the domestics.
Yah, like Chris says, just buy the truck you need. The motor swap is too expensive and much too hard to do. Also, don't buy a domestic. They are utter garbage. Get a Toyota Tundra or a Nissan Titan.