Talking About Automobiles

IntelliChoice.com is well-known as the country's leading provider of automotive ownership cost and value analysis and is part of Source Interlink Media. For about 21 years, it has been committed to empowering consumers in making better purchase decisions through providing them with independent and essential automotive information and tools.

Eight years ago, IntelliChoice.com started initiating a certified pre-owned (CPO) awards program to address the significant growth of the CPO offering and consumer demand for comprehensive analysis. It has rated on a set of criteria that consumers identify as having the most value. The criteria include extended car warranties, title verification, certification inspection process and roadside assistance along with special financing and return exchange policies.

Recently, IntelliChoice.com announced the winners of this year’s, its ninth annual, ranking of CPO manufacturer-sponsored programs.

Here is the complete ranking, unveiled at the 2008 National Remarketing Conference & Used Car Expo, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and featured in theautochannel.com:

LUXURY

1. Volvo
2. Cadillac
3. Jaguar
4. Saab
5. Lexus
6. Hummer
7. Audi
8. BMW
9. Lincoln
10. Porsche
11. Acura
12. Infiniti
13. Land Rover
14. Mercedes-Benz

NON LUXURY

1. Volkswagen
2. MINI
3. Hyundai
4. Honda
5. Scion
6. Toyota
7. Saturn
8. Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep
9. Nissan
10. General Motors
11. Suzuki
12. Mercury
13. Ford
14. Mazda
15. Subaru

Overall, Volvo won over Cadillac for the best Luxury program. For the fourth straight year, Volkswagen was recognized for best Non-Luxury program.

According to James Bell, publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com, “The luxury field in CPOs is very competitive, but Volvo edged out Cadillac on the basis of a strong compliance program.” “In general, the top luxury programs offer similar car warranties, and many receive high scores, which shows that Volvo had the extra edge over the competition,” he added.

In the non-Luxury program, Hyundai made the most progress by moving from last place in 2007 to third this year. Bell said, “Hyundai’s inspection score went from 58 to 90.”

“They accomplished the feat of climbing up out of last place by making several positive changes, including new special car financing offers, requirement of a VHR, and the expansion of their car warranty from 6 years to 10,” he explained.

But, what are CPOs? Actually, CPOs are cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles that have been leased or traded in and thoroughly inspected prior to sale. IntelliChoice.com, being the only consumer automotive site that evaluates and ranks all CPO programs, said that CPO vehicles will only play a larger role for consumers, car dealers and automakers.

Bell said, “CPO programs hinge on used car inventory… Leasing has not been very popular for the last few years, and that limits CPO vehicles that are on the market today. However, car leasing is gaining in popularity this year due to rising interest rates, and we expect the same will happen in 2008. This in turn will drive CPO inventory in the years to come.”

Bell also mentioned that this year’s criteria for the CPO awards differ from last year’s. And, it is to accommodate consumers’ demand for comprehensive auto warranty programs on CPO vehicles derived from their proprietary Used Car Cost of Ownership Analysis.

In 2007, there were more than a million CPO vehicles sold. Since such number will surely boost challenge in 2008, all major automakers are now having a CPO program and IntelliChoice.com investigates and analyzes 31 different manufacturer programs.

Looks like competition's heating up.