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Certified Pre-Owned Convertibles

Buying a certified pre-owned convertible gives you three advantages: a  manufacturer-backed warranty, a great car, and a good value.  In case you’re wondering how certified pre-owned programs work, here’s a brief explanation.

First the manufacturer of the convertible has it inspected at one or more of its dealer locations.  In the case of BMW convertibles, for example, inspectors go through special training programs.  Each car is assigned a specific inspector who is accountable for the car’s fitness for warranty.  Ford – think Mustang convertibles – make much of their “169-point” inspections, claiming that no other dealer looks at quite so many aspects of the vehicle.  Typical certified pre-owned inspections include thorough under-the-hood investigation, road testing, tires, suspension, and emissions.  While the convertible is being inspected, any problems must be 100% remedied, or the car is disqualified from the program.  

Truthfully, however, it can be difficult to standardize each “point” in an inspection, it’s hard to conclude which convertible dealers have the most thorough inspections.  Warranties are a little easier to evaluate. Ford only offers a 6-month or 6,000 mile comprehensive warranty, while BMW boasts a 6-year or 100,000-mile warranty, whichever is reached first.  

Certified pre-owned convertibles may also come with additional perks such as free roadside assistance, free use of a loaner car while waiting for service to be completed, shuttle pick-up and drop-off,  and – last but certainly not least – low financing on loans.  Other benefits may include reimbursements for lodging and rental car in the event of a breakdown.  BMW offers free towing and lock-out services for their certified pre-owned convertibles.  Some of the more upscale-model convertibles (like the glamorous Lexus SC430) may come with sophisticated in-vehicle communication and anti-theft systems like  OnStar.  Toyota does pretty well though, too, covering its certified pre-owned Camry Solaras and MR-2s with a 12-month, 12,000 mile comprehensive warranty, 1 year of roadside assistance, a 7-year powertrain warranty, and special low financing rates.

Beware of other “certified” convertible programs.  Some dealers may brag that the used cars they sell are “third party certified,” but this is not at all the same as cars that are certified pre-owned by the manufacturer.  Some of these inferior programs necessitate paying for any needed repairs and then having to wait for a reimbursement check.  Some even may carry a deductible anywhere from $50 to $400 or more, which must be met before any reimbursements kick in.  Others may offer the option of buying a longer warranty, but this seems to defeat the purpose of purchasing a certified car.  

Ideally, you want the purchase price to cover you for any mishaps that may occur along the way, without struggling with the decision of how much coverage to buy.  The manufacturer of a certified pre-owned car has backed it with an appropriate warranty, hoping of course that the next time you need a car you may buy a new one from that manufacturer.  So the maker of the convertible definitely has a stake in how satisfied you are, when you buy certified pre-owned.

 

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