Looking to upgrade my ‘starter EV’ (Kia Niro) when the lease ends in a couple of months—or maybe sooner. Taking it in for service this week, and the dealer has a certified pre-owned 2023 GT on the lot that I’m planning to check out.
If I like it and the price is right ($40k-ish with about 7k miles), is there anything specific I should be looking for? I saw that the ICCU recall hasn’t been done, so I’d want that addressed. But are there any GT-specific red flags? Can I tell if it’s been driven hard, maybe on a track or through the streets of [checks CarFax] Norman, Oklahoma?
Also, how is rear seat comfort for long trips, say 3-4 hours?
I test drove a new Wind a few months ago (don’t remember if it was AWD or RWD), but I didn’t love it. The seating position felt off, and it was a bit bouncy. I’m hoping the GT, with different seats and suspension, feels different.
Lastly, if I like the car but choose not to buy from this dealer (because I’ve had bad experiences with them in the past), am I really missing much by going non-CPO from a reputable dealer? The battery and EV system warranties seem to be the same either way, so I’m not sure if it’s a big deal.
They’re still pretty new, so other than the ICCU issues that affect all trims, I haven’t heard of anything specific to the GT. Definitely check the tires and brakes for wear, though. Take it for a good test drive on some rough roads to get a feel for the suspension. If you live somewhere with real winters, see if they’ll throw in some winter tires with the OEM summer tires.
diallo said:
Be sure to check for any lingering smells. Used cars can have bad odors that never go away. Don’t ignore a car with someone else’s permanent stench!
Good point. I had to drive my elderly parents’ car for a week, and it had this ‘old person and stale booze’ smell that I could never get rid of.
diallo said:
Be sure to check for any lingering smells. Used cars can have bad odors that never go away. Don’t ignore a car with someone else’s permanent stench!
Also, if it smells like someone tried to cover up bad odors with air fresheners, that’s a red flag too.
Regarding the seats: I test drove both the GT and the GT-line back to back. Despite the GT’s seats being manually adjusted and not having cooling, I much preferred them.
Make sure you take it for a thorough test drive. If anything feels off or odd, don’t ignore it. It could come back to bite you later.
@Imani
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve read that people tend to like one set of seats or the other, but not both. I wasn’t a fan of the Wind/GT-line seats, so I’m hoping these will suit me better.
emma said: @Imani
Thanks! Yeah, I’ve read that people tend to like one set of seats or the other, but not both. I wasn’t a fan of the Wind/GT-line seats, so I’m hoping these will suit me better.
You are planning to test drive it before buying, right?
I just got a great deal on a used GT-line from a Nissan dealership, of all places. Only issue I had was a big chip in the windshield, which they’re replacing. Just don’t expect any CPO perks or extras from a non-CPO sale.