car in snow

Buying snow tires might seem tempting right now, but read this first

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Posted in Community, Tips and Tricks

Should I buy snow tires for my car in Texas? 

Texas is a wonderful state filled with great people. However, we are not set up for snow. If our northern friends want tips for beating hot, humid days, we can help. Drop a few inches of snow and ice on us and we are unprepared. After dealing with a week of these nearly unprecedented conditions, a lot of people have been asking us, ‘Should I buy snow tires for my car in Texas?’ This is an interesting question because snow tires are absolutely outstanding at doing what they are designed to do. However, given the general infrequency of meaningful snowfall in Texas, going this route might be overkill. Our team did a little homework to be able to give people the best possible information on this subject. Let’s take a look at what they found.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of some people completing a deal.

A co-signer can be useful, but there are risks to be aware of

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Posted in Financing, Tips and Tricks

What does a co-signer do for a car loan? 

Very few people are going to be able to come up with several thousand dollars to buy a car, truck or SUV. Most Carizma Motors customers are not only coming to our dealership with the goal of buying a new (to them) vehicle but also looking for the most affordable financing options available to them. One of the ways someone with a low credit score can find a loan is to have another person with a higher credit profile act as a co-signer. So, what does a co-signer do for a car loan? A co-signer isn’t a character reference. Someone acting in this role is essentially promising to take over the payments if the primary borrower falls behind on the load. Let’s take a closer look at a few other helpful pieces of information.  Read the rest of this entry >>

fuel tank

Look, just keep your tank as full as possible, trust us

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

Why is it bad to drive on an empty gas tank? 

Hopefully, vehicle owners understand the importance of oil changes and regular maintenance in the 21st century, even if their cars might have been built in the last one. While cars, trucks and SUVs are more reliable than ever, there is still a hidden danger that lurks under the surface. So, why is it bad to drive on an empty gas tank? Well, the number one reason is that, eventually, you’ll get stranded somewhere inconvenient and possibly dangerous. A close second is that repeatedly running your gas tank to the bottom could cause major damage that will result in very expensive repair bills. Let’s take a closer look at some things you should know.  Read the rest of this entry >>

used cars for sale

You can avoid buying a lemon if you know what to look for

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

What should I look for when buying a used car? 

Carizma Motors is a pre-owned vehicle dealer. Each car, truck, van or SUV in our inventory is inspected to make sure it is as safe and reliable as possible. That sort of thing should be at the top of your list when deciding where to buy a vehicle. If you do decide to go out on your own and buy through a private sale, there are some things you should know. If you’re now wondering, ‘What should I look for when buying a used car,’ you’re in luck. Our most important tips include making sure you always look at a car during the daylight; examine all the sheet metal seems to make sure they are even and in line and finally sit in the car and use your nose to find troubling smells like mildew. These videos will help you come up with a checklist. Anyone with additional questions should contact a Carizma Motors product expert today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

car trade-in

Put yourself in a position to get the most for your trade-in

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

How do I boost the trade-in value for my car? 

Most people coming to Carizma Motors will be trading in their current vehicle to help them purchase their next one. We want to give you the best deal possible if you’ll be going this route and our team has come up with a few ways to answer the question, ‘How do I boost the trade-in value for my car?’ Depending on your current vehicle’s condition, you could have quite the hill to climb. However, the good news is that most of these things are pretty simple and may only require a little bit of money to be spent getting ready for the trade-in appraisal. Let’s take a look at a few things you might want to know.  Read the rest of this entry >>

Driving on a Spare Tire

Are you prepared to drive on a spare tire?

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

What is the farthest you should drive on a spare tire? 

The first time most people think about their tires is when they experience a flat one. While there are things vehicle owners can do to get the most mileage out of their tires as possible, but there is little defense against picking up a nail in the middle of the road. Once you’ve put the donut on your vehicle, you aren’t quite out of the woods yet. So, what is the farthest you should drive on a spare tire? For most popular passenger vehicles, the spare tire should be used for no more than 50 miles of driving at speeds of no more than 50 miles per hour. There are a few other things you should know, let’s take a look at them.  Read the rest of this entry >>

Used Porsche interior

Your pre-owned vehicle can feature outstanding technology – if you know where to look

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

What can I do with a car’s infotainment system? 

The biggest addition to the automotive world in the last 10 years has been smartphone-compatible infotainment systems. There are few technologies that have progressed as quickly as what is found with mobile devices. Integrating that technology into a vehicle’s multimedia capability has been nothing short of a game-changer. Just about every automaker operating in the United States offers this capability in one form or another. Additionally, each automaker has different features and functions that can be available. However, our team of product experts working at Carizma Motors thought it would be helpful to explain some of the broadly available things access to Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ can do. Let’s take a closer look.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a person standing in front of a vehicle.

Everyone needs a little help making a decision sometimes

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Posted in Dealership, Tips and Tricks

How do I pick out an SUV? 

Crossover SUVs have become the dominant vehicle platform in the United States over the last 15 to 20 years. Just about every automaker offers a few models – and all of them are very evenly matched in terms of performance features. So, if you’re wondering, ‘How do I pick out an SUV,’ you may be in for quite a journey. For most people, the most important feature a crossover SUV can offer is passenger seating. Obviously, that makes the first decision a person needs to make is whether to choose a two- or a three-row model. Our team of Carizma Motors product experts help people through this process every day. If you’re looking to get a leg-up on your next purchase, take a look at these videos. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A stock photo of a turbocharger

Turbocharging isn’t just for muscle cars anymore

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Posted in Tips and Tricks

How does turbocharging work? 

In the old days of automobile design, engineers had to choose between fuel economy and performance. In the 21st century, nobody needs to choose one at the expense of the other. The secret to this sorcery isn’t magic, it’s science – commonly referred to as turbocharging. So, how does turbocharging work? All internal combustion engines work the same way, air and fuel are combined before being ignited by a spark. This may seem like a lofty subject, but it’s actually quite simple. Carizma Motors has a vast and diverse inventory of vehicles, more and more will be equipped with turbocharged engines. Our team of product experts thought it would be helpful for people to understand how this technology works.  Read the rest of this entry >>

mini car on a note

Do you have enough saved for a downpayment?

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Posted in Financing, Tips and Tricks

How much should my used car down payment be? 

There are not many people who can walk into a car dealership and buy a vehicle with cash. It simply isn’t a reasonable expectation. However, that means that Carizma Motors customers will need to obtain some kind of help financing their vehicle purchase. If you’re in the market for a pre-owned vehicle, but you might be in a tight financial situation, you might be wondering, ‘How much should my used car down payment be?’ According to the automotive experts at Edmunds.com, people looking to financing a used car, truck or SUV should aim to put down at least 10 percent of the purchase price when they’re working on getting a loan. Our product expert team works with people who might be in a less-than-perfect credit situation. Let’s take a look at a few things you might need to know.  Read the rest of this entry >>