Autoblog

Ferrari offers 24-month Certified Pre-Owned warranty

Noah Joseph — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Ferrari

A couple of years back, Ferrari was widely rumored to be working on an "entry-level" model to slot in below the F430 (since replaced by the 458 Italia). The result was the California. And all the while they were working on it - with test mules lapping Fiorano like an F1 driver recovering from a head injury - company spokesmen declared that the true entry level for new Ferrari owners was a pre-owned Ferrari. Now the famed automaker from Maranello is putting its money where its mouth is with the new "Power Warranty".

In order to entice prospective owners and counteract the notorious unreliability of older Prancing Horses - its part of their character, say the faithful - Ferrari has launched a 24-month warranty on a wide range of certified pre-owned models in the 360, F430, 550/575, 599 and 612 ranges, including all variants: coupes, roadsters and lightweight models, no more than eight years old and with no more than 90,000 kilometers on the odometer.

The warranty is optional, includes roadside assistance, and can be purchased by current owners to extend their existing warranties. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Ferrari]

Continue reading Ferrari offers 24-month Certified Pre-Owned warranty

Ferrari offers 24-month Certified Pre-Owned warranty originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari Approved program launches in UK

Noah Joseph — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Ferrari, UK, Celebrities

While repeatedly denying the existence of an upcoming entry-level Ferrari, company executives have stated that the real entry-level Ferrari is a used Ferrari. To back that up, the company's outfit in the UK has established the Ferrari Approved program to certify second-hand Prancing Horses.

The program covers the 360, 430, 465M, 612, 550, 575 and 599 models, in all their derivations, with the oldest stretching back no earlier than 1998. As part of the process, factory-trained technicians put the cars through a 190-point inspection, replacing or repairing defective parts; an independent investigation is conducted into the car's history ensuring there are no outstanding debts on the car; and the service record is verified. Only non-modified cars, dealer-serviced throughout, are eligible for the program, and once the cars come out, they're backed by a 12-month factory warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance.

Although Ferrari North America offers a pre-owned vehicle program, it does not appear to be nearly as extensive in its certification process as the one Ferrari GB Ltd has just launched. Maybe the British program will serve as a pilot before it comes stateside.

[Source: Ferrari GB]

Ferrari Approved program launches in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 07:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW and Volvo tops with certified used vehicles

Dan Roth — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Volkswagen, Volvo

Looking to replace your rusted out Zastava? Buying brand new is a hard pill to swallow when you start to run the numbers. Given the durability of modern powertrains, pretty much any car will make it to 150,000 miles without so much as a whimper, provided you maintain it. Taking that longevity into account, buying used, *ahem* pre-owned, is a great way to stretch what you can get for your budget. We're all aware of the cracks about used car salesmen being shifty-eyed greaseballs upholstered in horrid plaid sportcoats. We've met a few of those, but the current fashion for pre-loved cars is factory-backed programs that pluck the plums from the rotten apples, gives them a thorough once-over and placing them just across the lot from the brand new ones.

Among all of the certified used vehicle initiatives, Volkswagen and Volvo come out on top, according to Intellichoice.com. This is the fourth year in a row that Volkswagen has been ranked the best in the non-luxury category. Volvo beat out last year's winner, Cadillac, on the strength of its compliance program. Intellichoice ranks the programs based on the warranty length, rigor of the inspections, roadside assistance, and return and exchange policies, as well as how well the standards of the programs are actually enforced. Among the top finishers are previous toppers Cadillac and Jaguar, along with MINI and Hyundai. Hyundai went from the bottom of the list last year to a third place finish by changing financing deals and applying it's crushingly good 10 year warranty to used vehicles, as well. Among those aforementioned brands, we think you'll be able to find something you'll like almost as much as that Zastava.

[Source: Auto News - sub req]

VW and Volvo tops with certified used vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #68

Dan Roth — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:07:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Chevrolet, Chrysler, GM, Hyundai, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn

Getting back in the groove, we bring you Autoblog Podcast #68. Starting us off is the battle of the inside sources, where we debate which GM mole is correct about the CTS-V. One rumor has the hottest little Caddy getting the Blue Devil's 600-horsepower 6.0L V8. The competing theory is that there'll be a 6.2L V8 with mid-500 horsepower, not the Blue Devil's mill. Either way, it will add up to M5 punch in an M3-sized wrapper. GM has more RWD goodies for us, as word of its Alpha platform replacing Epsilon cars like the G6, and Cadillac BLS replacement, which may come here, has us all atwitter. Our last bit of GM fodder is the passing of the Cobalt SS Supercharged. It was an entertaining car; but even though the supercharged Cobalt goes away, the un-muscled SS remains. We hope that GM's pledge to reinvigorate the SS badge so that it actually means something will get in gear soon.

We move on from GM to Chrysler and the Cerberus sale. Wolfgang Berhnardt is said to be an integral consultant to the deal, and he's looking for a homestead in the Detroit area as well as poking around the offices and design studio. Seems like Bernhardt is waiting for his noncompete with VW to expire while quietly orchestrating a turn of the Pentastar vessel. We detour into how fitting a Star Wars-themed Chrysler press conference would be (c'mon, you wouldn't really be surprised, would you?) before wrapping up with Hyundai's confidence-inspiring extension of its 10-year/100,000 mile warranty to Certified Pre Owned Vehicles up to five years old. They must feel pretty certain that their cars will hold up, as the warranty means they could possibly cover some powertrains for 15 years. That's it - 37 minutes of heaven!

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Autoblog Podcast #68 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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