What to look for when you test drive a used vehicle

When you’re on the hunt for a pre-owned car, truck or SUV, it can often feel like you’re venturing into the unknown – there are many variables that can make a promising model lose its value once you sign off, so it’s always best to come prepared. Today, Carizma Motors wants to show you what to look for when you test drive a used vehicle; knowledge is power, especially when it comes to investing in a new ride.

Outward Appearance

You can often tell a vehicle’s history just by the way it looks – if there are visible dents, cracked lights or an appearance that suggests wear and tear, tread carefully. Keep in mind, however, that cosmetics aren’t everything, and vehicles can often be priced cheaper than their market value just by how it looks to the eye.

Interior Amenities and Climate Conditioning

It’s a personal preference, but there’s no reason to crush on a model that doesn’t house what you need inside. On our Carizma Motors lot, we have plenty of vehicles that offer leather seating, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic climate control and much more – the first step to enjoying your ride is making sure that you’re comfortable as soon as you step foot inside.

Handling and Power

Once you get behind the wheel, take careful notes on how well your model handles when taking turns – if possible, try it out on the highway and see that it can hold up to your standards. As vehicles move further into their lifespan, suspensions and engines are bound to deteriorate in power and structural integrity. So, make sure your desired ride is smooth.

Get a CarFax Report

We can’t stress this enough – a CarFax report is the best way to go to get a sense of your car’s true value and history. It’ll show you service reports, any recorded accidents, and full ownership records, so you know exactly what you’re getting into. We don’t want to use the word “expose,” but a full Vehicle History Report (which you can get for free with us) is your best option to learn all there is to know about the car of your dreams.

Click here to learn more about our used pickup inventory!

Test drive a used model at Carizma Motors in Lubbock TX

Now that we’ve covered everything, we invite you to stop by our Carizma Motors of Lubbock lot whenever you get the chance – we’d love to show you our current pre-owned selection and get you behind the wheel of a model that you’ll adore for years to come!