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Compare Honda Certified Used Cars

I love the Honda Certified Used Car program! 
 
Until recently I was the Internet Sales Manager for a major Honda dealership in the San Francisco/Bay area. I sold many, many Certified Hondas to customers, friends, and friends of friends. These folks relied on my recommendations to find the right used vehicle for their need, comfort and budget. They trusted my judgment. And were so pleased with their experience that they sent their friends to me.

Selling a Certified Honda was a no brainer: there’s virtually no risk for my customers. Our mechanics not only put the vehicles through an extensive inspection – and fixed all deficiencies – but Honda extended the warranty significantly.

NOW – I’m the Internet Sales Manager at Michael Stead’s Hilltop Ford. I continue to sell pre-owned Hondas and I continue to love the Honda Certified program. However, only an official Honda dealer can certify a Honda. “Too bad for me and my customers,” I thought. 

BUT, we have instituted a program here at Hilltop Ford that duplicates most of Honda’s program AND provides better protection: We call this added level of protection our PremiumCare Extended Service package. 
 
What does this mean to YOU? We DOUBLE the warranty!

Compare the benefits:

 

Original Warranty

Honda Certified
Program
Our PremiumCare
Package

Clean History (no accidents!)

 -

ü

ü

Six years old Maximum

 -

ü

depends on vehicle

Less than 80,000 miles

 -

ü

depends on vehicle

Inspection performed

 -

150-point

169-point

Tires & brakes replaced if under 50%

 -

ü

ü

Warranty  – Powertrain

5-yr / 60,000

7-yr / 100,000

7-yr / 100,000

Warranty – Non-Powertrain

3-yr / 36,000

adds 1-yr / 12,000

7-yr / 100,000

 

 

Original

Warranty

Honda Certified Program

Our PremiumCare Package

Clean History (no accidents!)

-

ü

ü

6-year-old Maximum

-

ü

depends on vehicle

Less than 80,000 miles

-

ü

depends on vehicle

Inspection performed

-

150-point

169-point

Tire & brakes replaced if under 50%

-

ü

ü

Roadside Assistance

-

Cost is Extra

ü

Protection – Powertrain

5-yrs / 60,000

7-yrs / 100,000

7-yrs / 100,000

Protection – Non-Powertrain

3-yrs / 36,000

adds 1-yr / 12,000

7-yrs / 100,000

 

  Original Warranty Honda Certified Program Our PremiumCare Package
Clean History (no accidents!) - ? ?


Six year old Maximum - ? depends on vehicle

Less than 80,000 miles - ? depends on vehicle

Inspection performed - 150-point 169-point
Tire & brakes replaced if under 50% - ? ?


Roadside Assistance - Cost is Extra ?

Protection – Powertrain 5-yrs / 60,000 7-yrs / 100,000 7-yrs / 100,000
Protection – Non-Powertrain 3-yrs / 36,000 adds 1-yr / 12,000 7-yrs / 100,000
 

Original Warranty

Honda Certified Program

Our PremiumCare Package

       

Clean History (no accidents!)

-

ü

ü

       

Six year old Maximum

-

ü

depends on vehicle

       

Less than 80,000 miles

-

ü

depends on vehicle

       

Inspection performed

-

150-point

169-point

       

Tire & brakes replaced if under 50%

-

ü

ü

       

Roadside Assistance

-

Cost is Extra

ü

       

Protection – Powertrain

5-yrs / 60,000

7-yrs / 100,000

7-yrs / 100,000

       

Protection – Non-Powertrain

3-yrs / 36,000

adds 1-yr / 12,000

7-yrs / 100,000

 

 

 

What is the POWERTRAIN? The powertrain is the engine and transmission – considered to the two of the most expensive parts of the vehicle to fix if serious problems arise.

What is the NON-POWERTRAIN? Everything on your vehicle other than the engine and transmission. The non-powertrain warranty is often called the “bumper-to-bumper” warranty.

Why is the NON-POWERTRAIN WARRANTY so important? Each year more vehicles depend on computerized components. This can include maintenance monitoring programs, navigation systems, and electronic stability assist programs. These provide grea convenience, safety, and access to technology. When problems arise, it can be expensive to diagnose the problem, or to even swap out computerized components. That’s why haivng the non-powertrain warranty extended to 7-years/100,000 miles is soo important: to make sure that computer or electrical problems will most likely be covered.

PRICING: Have you noticed that virtually all manufacturer’s certified vehicles cost more than non-certified ones? This is because the dealer pays the manufacturer a fee when a vehicle is certified. The vehicle also must meet certain requirements, and go through an extensive inspection process with any deficiencies repaired. This added cost is going to be pased along to you, which is why certified vehicles are generally more expensive. It makes sense: A certified vehicle has added costs, but also has added value. These are passed along to the consumer with a higher selling price.

PURCHASING OPTIONS: At Hilltop Ford we offer two purchase options with most pre-owned Hondas. You can buy a Honda with only the remaining manufacturer’s warranty, if any. Or, buy your Honda with our PremiumCare Extended Service package. Let’s see how these two options compare when applied to a specific Honda Accord that we currently have in stock. (Details and pictures of the vehicle at http://hilltop-ford-lincoln-mercury.ebizautos.com/detail-2008-honda-accord_ex_sedan_4d-3786487.html.)

 

2008 Honda Accord EX-L sedan

Stock #16646

VIN: JHMCP26868C015791

Color: Black exterior, tan leather interior

Miles: 18,646 

 

Pricing Option #1: $22,995 + tax and license fees – only includes remaining manufacturer’s warranty (see chart above). 

Pricing Option #2: $23,995 + tax and license fees – includes PremiumCare Extended Service package – extends protection to 7-years/100,000 miles.

COMPARE: Check our prices against other Honda Accords that have made it onto your short list. Compare these two prices to other vehicles you’ve found in your area – both Honda Certified and not.

HOW TO DECIDE: Consider differences in:

If you find the equivalent of our PremiumCareExtended Service package at other dealerships you’ll see that it usually costs significantly more – to the tune of thousands of dollars. In designing this package – including the cost of the car + the PremiumCare 7-year/100,000 miles protection – I hope to save you money while providing more value in ongoing protection compared to anyone else in the marketplace. 

And in writing this and future articles, I am attempting to hand you tools so you can make the best decision for you and your family. Check out my FREE report, The 8 Biggest Mistakes That Used CarBuyers Make and How To Avoid Them! This free download is available on the right side of my home page at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com. 

And for goodness sakes, try to make your car buying experience f-u-n!

L. James Johnson

Internet Sales Manager

james@BayAreaCarGuy.com

Personal website: www.BayAreaCarGuy.com 

Check out my article The 8 Biggest Mistakes That Used Car Buyers Make and How To Avoid Them! It’s a free download at www.BayAreaCarGuy.com 

See my video:

How Can I Sell Used Cars To My Friends and They Won’t Hate Me Afterwards?

 



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