What Does it Mean to Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Honda Vehicle?

If you’re looking for a new car, there’s usually a stark choice between a new or pre-owned vehicle. Buying a new model offers you a pristine vehicle, but within a year or two, its value will have plummeted.  Pre-owned cars may be more affordable, but as they are bought “as is,” they come with the risk that some unnoticed defects could make this cheaper option a false economy.

Fortunately, there is a middle ground that offers the affordability of buying a pre-owned model with the security and prestige of a new vehicle: the certified pre-owned vehicle.

What are certified pre-owned cars?

Certified pre-owned cars are recently released, low-mileage models that have received gentle use. They are inspected rigorously to ensure their quality and are guaranteed to reach a high standard of quality. In some cases, the original warranty provided by the car can be transferred to the new owner and extended by the dealership, providing that all-important peace of mind.

Benefits of buying a Certified Pre-Owned car

Image used with permission via HondaNews

In the first year, a new car can lose 20% of its value. However, the rate of depreciation then slows in the following years. Therefore, certified pre-owned cars are usually those that have already taken the initial depreciation hit but are still better valued than buying a completely new car. Furthermore, our certified pre-owned cars in Marion tend to have received limited use in their lifetime. Usually, they are cars returned from a lease and have only incurred low mileage with a few users.

Certified pre-owned cars have had their history rigorously checked. Furthermore, you can check the car’s history online for any accidents. Certified used vehicles are also part of the current production cycle — most cars are kept in production for five or six years, which means that you will have a current-generation car that is still some years away from being replaced.

A particular advantage of a certified pre-owned vehicle is that it is considered a reliable investment. This means that they can be easier to finance with some banks or credit unions, and pre-approval will be easier to come by. This provides a significant advantage compared to buying a used car without certification.

The Honda True Program

Ike Honda in Marion, Illinois, offers a pre-owned certification program known as Honda True, in which each vehicle is tested rigorously to check it meets factory quality standards. This program includes a thorough background check and a 182-point inspection checklist. For the prospective owner, the checklist and the vehicle history report are available to see every detail about the car online. This means you can know the background and features of what cars are available even before visiting the dealership.

What the Honda True Program offers

In the Honda True program, all purchased cars come with a limited warranty which offers seven years and 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage, together with additional non-powertrain coverage for a further 12,000 miles. For those with a Honda Certified-plus warranty, the non-powertrain warranty is extended to a further 24,000 miles. This means that the thorough checking process makes it unlikely anything will go wrong, and if anything does go wrong, you’ll be well looked after.

A key part of certified pre-owned cars is the benefits added to the package, which is an important part of the Honda True program. Buyers benefit from three months of Sirius XM satellite radio, two complementary oil changes, and numerous benefits provided by Honda’s Motor Club Partner Benefits, such as emergency roadside assistance and towing, concierge services, and computerized routing. Buying a certified pre-owned car from Ike Honda can offer you a full assortment of benefits.

Benefits of the Honda True Program

A key advantage of the Honda True program is that all cars have been rigorously inspected, with every probable risk identified. This expert inspection tackles issues and identifies risks in elements that are not easily accessible to the casual buyer. Hybrid powertrains, safety features, and testing, and infotainment systems are just some of the features available in new Hondas that are best checked by a professional. The manufacturer’s warranty means that you’ll be covered for most problems in the future.

Drawbacks of buying a Certified Pre-Owned car

There can be some drawbacks to buying a certified pre-owned car. They can be more expensive than comparable used cars that lack certification. However, this is the cost of peace of mind provided by the dealership’s process of certifying the vehicle. There will still be some wear and tear on brakes, tires, and other components. However, all these processes are transparent, and at Ike Honda in Marion, Illinois, you can be sure there are no hidden issues.

Not all certified pre-owned car deals are the same. Some offer you much less regarding the checks and balances they undertake. That’s why the transparency offered by Ike Honda in Marion, Illinois, is integral to your consumer confidence. What you see is what you get, and when it costs a little more than a comparable non-certified owner, you see what you are getting for that extra investment. Certification means that the car should be able to offer you a lot of problem-free miles and provide the expert support you need if it doesn’t. This is a far cry from the backing you get when the vehicle is bought “as is.”

So, should you buy a Certified Pre-Owned car?

Certified pre-owned vehicles from Ike Honda in Marion, Illinois, are more than just cars with stickers slapped on them; they are cars that have been closely checked, rigorously tested, and thoroughly examined. You can browse what’s available online without needing to come to the showroom with all the information available at your fingertips. Certified pre-owned vehicles offer the best balance between security and affordability, with numerous additional benefits thrown in, so it can’t hurt to take a look at the selection we offer.