Things To Remember When Test Driving A Used Car

How do you test drive a pre-owned car? What should you look for? Here’s what to do when you test drive a used car at Mike Shaw Kia in Corpus Christi, TX.

Take a Good Look

Before you hit the road for the actual test drive, turn on the car and see how everything looks and sounds from the outside. Are the lights working? Can you hear any strange noises from under the hood? You’ll also want to hop inside and see how the heat/AC runs, if there are any strange smells, and that all of the power door and lock elements work seamlessly. You should also click and unclick the seatbelts a few times to make sure they work easily.

Practice Storing Cargo

While many parents don’t want their little ones to tag along for the test drive, it’s still important to make sure that your car seats and/or pet carriers will fit comfortably in the rear seats and that the LATCH tethers are easy for you to use. Especially if you switch car seats in and out of your vehicles on a regular basis, the last thing you want is to have to fight fussy tethers when you need to get on the road.

While you’re thinking about cargo, take a look at any interior storage spaces that the car has to make sure that you’ll be able to store necessities like sunglasses, phone chargers, and your important vehicle papers. The small storage spaces of the car might not seem like a giant deal at first, but not having enough interior storage down the road is likely to bug many people.

Hop In and Drive

Now that you’ve given everything a once-over, you get to get out and experience the most fun part of buying a car – the test drive. While you’re driving, evaluate how you like the vantage point you have over the road (is it too high, too low, or just right?), the configuration of the dashboard gauges, and how easy it is to navigate and use the infotainment system, climate controls, and any onboard navigation systems. Of course, you’ll also be monitoring how it feels to drive the car in terms of acceleration, steering, braking, and general handling. If you like what you see during the test drive, you’re ready for the next step!

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Get a Great Deal From Mike Shaw Kia

Between our everyday low prices and our extra savings available, you’ll always get a great deal when you shop at Mike Shaw Kia. Come check out our pre-owned inventory today!