GM Certified Used vs Factory Warranty

[arknotts]

So I've never owned a car with a warranty before, and I've been thinking about replacing the Prelude with a Pontiac G8 GT for my daily. I've run across a few certified used ones with a price tag ~1-2 grand more than the rest. The following is what they state for certified used cars:

100,000-Mile/5-Year Powertrain Limited Warranty*
12-Month/12,000-Mile Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty**
.......

* Whichever comes first from original in-service date. Some 2004 models will not be eligible based on their in-service date.
See your dealer for limited warranty details. Whichever comes first.
** Whichever comes first. See your dealer for limited warranty details.​

Note how it says "from original in-service date" (which I take to mean the day it was titled in the first owners' name). However, their factory powertrain warranty is transferable according to their site:

http://www.gm.com/experience/warrantyandquality/faq_and_compare_popup_en.html?page=compare

...which seems like the exact same thing to me. Am I missing something, or can I still buy a used car private party (or from the dealer but not certified) and get the same coverage (minus the inspection and other small things...which I don't car about as much)? Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[dubsupra209]

whats wrong with the prelude i use 2 have a 2000 and loved it for daily reliable can take it anywere....?

 

[fixitman04]

it is a sales gimmic, you are using the original warrenty on the powertrain. you also get a 12 month bumper to bumper warrenty on top of it if it is certified.

 

[arknotts]

whats wrong with the prelude i use 2 have a 2000 and loved it for daily reliable can take it anywere....?

Well, I recently graduated and now have a full time job (see: a little more money than being a student!) and I am just looking for something different. I still like it, but would enjoy something with a little more space and torque (don't have to rev it out so much just daily driving). That said, I'm still not sure I want anything new at all. I still enjoy the prelude (very tight handling for it being FWD) and I get 25-28 mpg combined consistently. It's just that the G8 attracts me so much and they aren't making them any more, so new/lightly used ones will be harder to find.

it is a sales gimmic, you are using the original warrenty on the powertrain. you also get a 12 month bumper to bumper warrenty on top of it if it is certified.

Sounds about right. I guess I'm not going insane!

 

[Keros]

If you owe nothing on the prelude but will have to finance or take out a loan on the G8, just don't. Unless you're paying cash for the upgrade to a G8, just keep the Prelude and laugh all the way to the bank. Getting into red debt for a car is foolhardy.

My bank account bled red for well over two years to pay off my "DD" truck... I still regret the purchase, but love the truck. It owes me nothing and I owe no one for it now, so it's going nowhere. It was a foolish mistake to buy a DD that was that expensive however, total maintence I've had to spend on it was new tires and a windshield... much cheaper than had I bought a cheap wreck.

If you have the cash-ola to burn on it, go for it man! If you have to take a loan out, I can't caution you strongly enough to just say no.

 

[Kangae]

It's just that the G8 attracts me so much and they aren't making them any more, so new/lightly used ones will be harder to find.

They arn't making the Prelude anymore either. :icon_razz

 

[ForcedTorque]

Trading in a Honda on a used (aka..no resale value) GM is something you will soon regret. Yes, it will ride quieter, and maybe even smoother, but the constant replacing of junk parts will get you. If not that, then you may want to trade it for something better. That's when you will learn a new term......."Upside down"! I won't say I will never own another GM (or any American car), but if I can't pay cash for it, I won't.

 

[arknotts]

If you owe nothing on the prelude but will have to finance or take out a loan on the G8, just don't. Unless you're paying cash for the upgrade to a G8, just keep the Prelude and laugh all the way to the bank. Getting into red debt for a car is foolhardy.

My bank account bled red for well over two years to pay off my "DD" truck... I still regret the purchase, but love the truck. It owes me nothing and I owe no one for it now, so it's going nowhere. It was a foolish mistake to buy a DD that was that expensive however, total maintence I've had to spend on it was new tires and a windshield... much cheaper than had I bought a cheap wreck.

If you have the cash-ola to burn on it, go for it man! If you have to take a loan out, I can't caution you strongly enough to just say no.

I agree completely. However, I'm pretty thrifty otherwise and I don't have any credit card debt (I pay it off every time). I guess cars are my hobby and I enjoy driving them everyday to get my mind off work and other things. The strictly financial decision would say to keep the Prelude, but I think I'd enjoy the G8 just as much.

That said, I've been thinking the past few days and I've realized I still love my Prelude. I almost have it paid off so I'm probably going to keep it a while longer. Plus, I've put lots of hours into making it what it is now, and it's been rock-solid reliable. I've only replaced the clutch and an axle seal since I've had it the past 35,000 miles.

They arn't making the Prelude anymore either. :icon_razz

But I already have one

Trading in a Honda on a used (aka..no resale value) GM is something you will soon regret. Yes, it will ride quieter, and maybe even smoother, but the constant replacing of junk parts will get you. If not that, then you may want to trade it for something better. That's when you will learn a new term......."Upside down"! I won't say I will never own another GM (or any American car), but if I can't pay cash for it, I won't.

IMO, GM has made great strides in quality since the cars of their past (although I think Ford is doing the best of the 3 now). Just like Honda has perfected the 4 cylinder, I think GM has perfected the V8 over the years. Though I've never owned one, I really like the LS series.