Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Batteries <i>Included</i>: Toyota rolls out certified hybrid program]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/batteries-i-are-i-included-toyota-rolls-out-certified-hybrid/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/batteries-i-are-i-included-toyota-rolls-out-certified-hybrid/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/21/batteries-i-are-i-included-toyota-rolls-out-certified-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Underscoring just how important hybrid cars and crossovers are to Toyota's overall sales strategy is a new certified used hybrid program that will reside alongside the automaker's standard certified pre-owned program.

Like the automaker's existing gasoline-only program, certified hybrid vehicles will have passed a thorough examination with 174 individual points, 14 of which are hybrid-specific. Assuming a hybrid were to pass the inspection, it is then covered under a warranty that includes seven-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain coverage. Batteries are included, in this case under a pre-existing eight-year/100,000-mile factory hybrid battery warranty. If you should happen to break down, each certified Toyota comes with free roadside assistance for seven years. With over a million hybrids sold to date, Toyota has been seeing more and more come in as trade-ins, so it's only natural that the automaker would introduce a program to resell them and boost profit margins. Press release after the jump...

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Batteries Included: Toyota rolls out certified hybrid program

Batteries Included: Toyota rolls out certified hybrid program originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certifiedcertified pre-ownedcertified pre-owned hybridcertified pre-owned hybridscertified used hybridcertified used hybridscertified used toyotacertified used vehiclesCertifiedPre-ownedCertifiedPre-ownedHybridCertifiedPre-ownedHybridsCertifiedUsedHybridCertifiedUsedHybridsCertifiedUsedToyotaCertifiedUsedVehiclesHighlanderPriusToyotaWed, 21 Jan 2009 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[GM adds 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on certified used vehicles]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-adds-12-month-12-000-mile-bumper-to-bumper-warranty-on-certif/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-adds-12-month-12-000-mile-bumper-to-bumper-warranty-on-certif/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/19/gm-adds-12-month-12-000-mile-bumper-to-bumper-warranty-on-certif/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Now that leasing seems to be going through a slow phase-out, shoppers looking for a good deal on a newish vehicle may take a harder gander at certified pre-owned models. GM realizes this and has responded by ambushing customers increasing the warranty coverage on the CPO models for all of its brands, minus Cadillac which has its own program. The new warranty stands at 12-months or 12,000 miles and begins when the CPO purchase is made -- an increase of up to nine-months over the previous guarantee. Being a "bumper-to-bumper" warranty, everything excluding wear items like tires and brakes are covered for manufacturing defects. The powertrain warranty remains: five years or 100,000 miles from when it was sold as new.

GM hopes that this increased coverage has a corresponding effect on its CPO sales. What's more, the automaker also believes that this action will have a desirable effect on its vehicle's residual values.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Continue reading GM adds 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on certified used vehicles

GM adds 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty on certified used vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certified pre ownedcertified pre-ownedcertified pre-owned gmcertified preownedcertified used carscertified used vehiclesCertifiedPre-ownedCertifiedPre-ownedGmCertifiedPreownedCertifiedUsedCarsCertifiedUsedVehiclesgmgm certifiedgm cpoGmCertifiedGmCpoTue, 19 Aug 2008 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus, Chrysler to join GM in adding CPO fleet to eBay]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/13/lexus-chrysler-to-join-gm-in-adding-cpo-fleet-to-ebay/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/13/lexus-chrysler-to-join-gm-in-adding-cpo-fleet-to-ebay/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/13/lexus-chrysler-to-join-gm-in-adding-cpo-fleet-to-ebay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Way back in February, General Motors announced it would be listing all of it Certified Pre-Owned vehicles on eBay Motors, and it took until now to actually make that happen. To go along with GM, Chrysler and Lexus have also joined up, with eBay Motors making a special section of its website specifically for CPO vehicles. The new site, which can be found here, went live yesterday and is sponsored exclusively by Lexus. It's also provided at no cost to any dealer looking for another outlet to advertise its inventory.

A quick check of the new hub shows that both eBay's classic auction-style listings and regular classified ads are listed together. The site's search functionality allows users to find vehicles located near their zip code, meaning it should prove awfully easy to find that brand-spanking-used Chrysler Sebring you've been foaming at the mouth for.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Lexus, Chrysler to join GM in adding CPO fleet to eBay originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certified pre ownedcertified pre-ownedcertified pre-owned ...certified preownedcertified preowned v...CertifiedPre-ownedCertifiedPre-owned...CertifiedPreownedCertifiedPreownedV...chryslerchrysler certifiedchrysler cpoChryslerCertifiedChryslerCpoebayebay cpoebay motorsEbayCpoebaymotorsgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmgm certifiedgm cpoGmCertifiedGmCpolexuslexus certifiedlexus cpoLexusCertifiedLexusCpoFri, 13 Jun 2008 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford confident in quality, improves certified used vehicle warranties]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/ford-confident-in-quality-improves-certified-used-vehicle-warra/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/ford-confident-in-quality-improves-certified-used-vehicle-warra/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/08/ford-confident-in-quality-improves-certified-used-vehicle-warra/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ford is confident enough in the improved quality of its vehicles that the automaker is increasing the warranty on its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles. Under the old warranty terms, the powertrain was covered for six years or 75,000 miles; starting last week the powertrain coverage was upped to six years or 100,000 miles. Ford has also seen fit to add a three-month or 3,000-mile comprehensive warranty along with 24-hour roadside assistance to their CPO cars. In reality, this new extended warranty coverage brings Ford level with other manufacturer's powertrain CPO warranties, placing them smack-dab between rival GM's five year or 100,000 mile warranty and Honda and Toyota's seven year or 100,000 mile coverage. Chrysler's CPO coverage extends for eight years but only up to 80,000 miles. All of these brands also match Ford's new comprehensive coverage. As Ford's higher-level brand, Lincolns will get a six-year/100,000 comprehensive limited warranty.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Ford confident in quality, improves certified used vehicle warranties originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certifiedcertified pre-ownedcertified-pre-ownedCertifiedPre-ownedcertifiedusedvehiclescpocpo warrantycpo-warrantyCpoWarrantyfordford certifiedford cpo warrantyford-certifiedford-cpo-warrantyFordCertifiedFordCpoWarrantyTue, 08 Apr 2008 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Auto Show: Maserati officially launches Trident Discoveries CPO program]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/08/chicago-auto-show-maserati-officially-launches-trident-discover/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/08/chicago-auto-show-maserati-officially-launches-trident-discover/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/08/chicago-auto-show-maserati-officially-launches-trident-discover/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Maserati is going after the premium BMW, Jag and Porsche shopper by announcing today it will be offering certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. Combined with a new in-house finance service and the addition of an automatic transmission to the Quattroporte, the Trident Discoveries CPO program should help Maserati expand its customer base.

"We don't want to be an exception," said company spokesman Jeff Ehoodin at a press conference during the Chicago Auto Show. "We are not an exotic."

CPO programs have been a major marketing platform for other luxury brands, especially those trying to lure first-time owners. Last year, BMW sold just over 80,000 CPO vehicles while Mercedes-Benz and Lexus were around the 46,000 mark. Porsche and Land Rover were on the low end with 2006 sales of about 6,000 units each.

Maserati obviously doesn't have a product line that cross-shops with a C-class or 3-series and isn't expecting CPO numbers that high. However, the automaker does want to seduce a potential 7-Series or S-Class AMG buyer to consider a used but fully serviced and inspected Maserati.

"One hundred percent of our sales are conquests," said Ehoodin. "We want to present every opportunity for ourselves."

Qualifying Maseratis sold under the Trident Discoveries program are no more than five years old and have not logged more than 90,000 miles. The vehicle undergoes a 120-point inspection and is guaranteed not to have been in a serious accident. Roadside assistance and extended warranty plans are also available.

Chicago Auto Show: Maserati officially launches Trident Discoveries CPO program originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certified pre-ownedCertifiedPre-ownedCPOmaseratiquattroporteusedThu, 08 Feb 2007 12:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't forget the used car option]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/dont-forget-the-used-car-option/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/dont-forget-the-used-car-option/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/23/dont-forget-the-used-car-option/#commentsFiled under:

With all the deals going on, it's hard to imagine why anybody would go for a used car. But it's the right choice for some people -- with the proper preparation.

It's a common story. You buy a car from someone who advertised in the newspaper. The next thing you know, you're broken down in the worst part of town. It's hard to know what kind of care was taken of a car by its previous owner; whether the car requiring premium gas and synthetic oil got 87 grade from Speedway and one-off 10W-30... every 10,000 miles.

While there are no legal standards for "certified pre-owned," the little bit of security they offer in the form of a warranty is well worth the $1,000+ premium for CPO, according to the Chicago Tribune. Check out the link for more money-saving tips for auto buyers.

If you've been burned by a bad used car buy, let us know your story in the comments and perhaps you can prevent a similar fate for someone else.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

 

Don't forget the used car option originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jun 2006 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>certified pre-ownedCertifiedPre-ownedcpoused carsUsedCarsFri, 23 Jun 2006 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Chrysler sells more certified pre-owned in March]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/09/chrysler-sells-more-certified-pre-owned-in-march/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/09/chrysler-sells-more-certified-pre-owned-in-march/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/09/chrysler-sells-more-certified-pre-owned-in-march/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Chrysler Group's "Brand Spakin' Used" certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are flying off dealership lots, if a recent press release sent out by Chrysler is any indication. The automaker reports that March was a record for selling CPO vehicles, with dealers reporting sales 14-percent higher than March of '05 and 29-percent higher than February of 2006 at 12,029 units. The quarter rounded out at 29,783 units total, also a record at 7-percent higher than first quarter last year.


We're curious to know if any readers out there are proud owners of pre-owned vehicles. Has the dealership experience been up to par with a new car purchase? Have you noticed more initial problems with the vehicle than with new cars you've purchased in the past?

Continue reading Chrysler sells more certified pre-owned in March

Chrysler sells more certified pre-owned in March originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar dealerCarBuyingCarDealercertified pre-ownedCertifiedPre-owneddealershippreownedusedSun, 09 Apr 2006 18:00:00 EST