AOL Autos Picks Top 10 CPO Vehicles
DETROIT — AOL Autos conducted its own analysis of certified pre-owned vehicles currently available from the 2005 through 2007 model years and came up with 10 recommendations.
The listing consisted of a myriad of brands, including two that have been discontinued by General Motors — Saturn and Pontiac — as well as a few high-end nameplates such as Jaguar, Ferrari and Porsche.
The 10 specific vehicles the site chose include:
—2007 Saturn Aura XR
—2006 BMW 325i
—2007 Jaguar XK
—2005 Porsche Boxster
—2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS55
—2005 Ferrari F430 Spider
—2005 Volvo XC70
—2007 Lexus ES 350
—2006 Volkswagen Touareg TDI
—2006 Pontiac GTO
AOL Auto correspondent Bengt Halvorson offered a bit of caution before delving into some of the advantages CPO units can bring to consumers.
"Experts agree that while these automaker-supported programs might look quite similar, they vary greatly in how they're run at the dealership level," Halverson wrote.
"For some CPO programs it's a mere check to make sure nothing's worn out and in need of replacement, but for others the inspection is meticulous and could truly be called a factory-caliber reconditioning, with cosmetic blemishes touched up, worn trim pieces replaced, service conducted, and any other wearables like belts and brake pads preemptively replaced," he continued.
Halvorson went on to say that CPO units can "allow you to get a vehicle that's just like what you'd find in the new lot for a fraction of the price. Sometimes it adds the security of new-car ownership to an affordable used-car purchase. Other times it lets you purchase the best example of a sought-after used model that's no longer made, with the assurance of a factory warranty."
For more details about each of the CPO units AOL Auto chose for this listing, visit the site's original story here.