Magazine Finds Good Reasons to Consider Factory-certified , Used Cars

Certified used cars offer consumers added peace of mind-and a higher sticker
price

YONKERS, NY - Last year, auto dealers sold almost 700,000 factory-certified
used cars, up roughly 50 percent from the 460,000 sold in 2000. But are
"certified" used cars really worth the $300 to $2,500 premium charged by
dealers?

Consumer Reports examines the pros and cons of buying certified-used
vehicles in a story included in the newly-released Used Car Yearbook for
2002. The publication, which costs $5.99 in the U.S., is part of the
respected Consumer Reports' Cars series of special automotive publications.

"There are some good deals out there today on late-model, low-mileage used
cars. Opting for a factory-certified used car can help alleviate the danger
that you'll end up with one that's a lemon," said Consumer Reports
Automotive Editor Rik Paul.

The certified-used car story is available free online at
www.ConsumerReports.org.

Dealers take a series of steps to help ensure that only better-quality used
cars are included in manufacturer-certified programs. Riskier vehicles, such
as those with high mileage or questionable titles are culled from the start.
All manufacturer programs require that candidate cars be under a specified
age and mileage, typically no more than five years old with less than 60,000
or 70,000 miles.

"Dealers have an incentive to select only the best-maintained,
lowest-mileage cars available: They want to be able to minimize the
investment they have to make to bring the car up to snuff," Mr. Paul
explained.

The major added value to the consumer is the certification's warranty,
according to the story in the Used Car Yearbook. If you know that you are
buying a well-maintained car with a good record of reliability, then you
aren't taking much of a risk if you skip the certification route. But you
should still have the vehicle thoroughly inspected by an independent
mechanic.

If you are contemplating a used vehicle with a less-than-stellar reliability
history, or if you just want the peace of mind a warranty brings, then a
certified vehicle may be worth the extra cost. Warranty details vary a lot
from program to program. Look for the longest and fullest warranty you can
find.

The assurance that you're buying a cream puff rather than a lemon comes down
to the record of the manufacturer and the competence of the local dealer at
spotting and fixing any problems. When considering any such car, ask the
dealer some specific questions:
*	Is the vehicle covered by a manufacturer-certified program or by a
third-party plan sold by the dealer?
*	What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
*	Is there a deductible?
*	Is the warranty transferrable?
*	Who provides the service under the warranty?
*	
The Used Car Yearbook ($5.99 U.S./$6.95 Canada) is available everywhere
magazines are sold. It covers 256 cars, minivans, sport-utility vehicles,
and light trucks and includes exclusive ratings, reviews, and reliability
data. The publication also features lists of outstanding deals on used cars,
tips on what to consider when choosing a set of wheels for a teen driver,
and the Consumer Reports' Safety Assessment, which compares crash
protection, accident-avoidance capabilities, and overall safety for 94
vehicles.

The Used Car Yearbook can also be purchased online at
www.ConsumerReports.org/usedcars. Also on sale there is the 240-page Used
Car Buying Guide for 2002, which sells for $9.95.

Car buyers can also visit www.ConsumerReports.org. The web site's free area
contains extensive information on buying a car, checking a used car, and
interactive tools to help you buy or sell a car. New for 2002 is an
interactive tour of the dealership experience that's designed to take some
of the anxiety out of the car-buying or car-leasing process. Site
subscribers pay just $3.95 per month or $24 per year ($19 for Consumer
Reports subscribers) to access additional features, including CR's Forums;
unique reliability histories for 1,300 used cars; and ratings,
recommendations and advice on hundreds of cars and trucks.

Consumer Reports New and Used Car Price Service provides all the pricing
information and advice a consumer needs to get the best deal on virtually
any vehicle. Buyers simply call the service toll free at 1-800-395-4400 and
provide the year, make, model, and trim line of the vehicle they want to
buy. Or, they can order online. Complete pricing reports with detailed
reliability information and advice on negotiating the best deal are
available online, or by fax or mail. New-car reports cost just $12.

Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and
advice on consumer products and services. Its editors have decades of
experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars.
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