Lexus CPO Quality
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 471
Likes: 23
From: AZ
Lexus CPO Quality
Is it just me, or has everyone noticed the quality or the CPO cars? I'm talking about the cosmetic condition. They are just ...... @#$% ! I can remember buying my first couple of cars and my Dad's 2nd Lexus, they were perfect ! No dings, no dents. Now, door dings, cracked windshields, scratches and on and on. It's really sad. I called Lexus ans asked, they said it's a gray area. There is no standard, it's kinda what ever they can get away with. 
Ok, I feel better. well, a little.. Back to shopping for a nice CPO car
Ok, I feel better. well, a little.. Back to shopping for a nice CPO car
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,804
Likes: 139
From: MA
Like everything else, Lexus CPOs is profit driven. The less they fix, the more money they make. When the Lexus CPO program first came out, they were trying to set a good reputation for the new market. Wasn’t Lexus the 1st company to start certifying their used cars. Unfortunately, like everything else, quality usually goes down after the market have been established.
Like everything else, Lexus CPOs is profit driven. The less they fix, the more money they make. When the Lexus CPO program first came out, they were trying to set a good reputation for the new market. Wasn’t Lexus the 1st company to start certifying their used cars. Unfortunately, like everything else, quality usually goes down after the market have been established.
The "inspect and repair" component of the CPO program is somewhat of a joke at many delaerships (and I'd venture to say MOST dealerships). The cars do in fact carry the extended warranty and they will generally fix issues that you identify upon your inspection (but they may argue with you on the "gray area" items) or that happen during the warranty period, but the "inspection" process during the CPO certification process is very half-assed from what I've personally seen at multiple dealerships on multiple vehicles. You can easily find things on most CPO cars that obviously indicate that the car was NOT closely inspected by anyone with functioning ears and eyeballs and a decent understanding of cars. Or else they intentionally decided to let it slide and see if they could get away with it with their customer. IMO, Lexus is beginning to squander some of the excellent reputation that they worked so hard to build in the early years.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
CPO cars can be good deals, but you must cherry-pick from a lot of mediocre stock. The CPO warranty and certification does give some legal protection from surprises that might come up later.
My dealership here in SoCal always ALWAYS have some repair truck/van on premise fixing dents and chips and scratches on cars on the lot. Not just the new ones, but also the CPO and non-CPO cars.
Maybe SoCal car buyers are a bit more conscious and specific about the aesthetics of their cars. Most of us are car enthusiasts out here...
Maybe SoCal car buyers are a bit more conscious and specific about the aesthetics of their cars. Most of us are car enthusiasts out here...
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Lead Lap
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,534
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From: MD
My dad's IS was in pretty good shape when he got it. Now my friend's parents got a 3 year old GS and they pointed out all of the dings and scratches they wanted fixed prior to purchase. Come to think of it, this dealer (Lexus of Chester Springs) did the same for my bro's IS300 which needed a bumper respray. Kudos to them, though they have no idea how to register a car apparently.
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I've mostly seen very good examples. I rarely have seen a bad example. This goes for most all luxury brands, most CPOs are in good shape.
For the dealer it makes no sense to sell a bad CPO car (Lexus) as the car is covered for 100k miles and they don't want to waste their time/money fixing a car under warrenty.
For the dealer it makes no sense to sell a bad CPO car (Lexus) as the car is covered for 100k miles and they don't want to waste their time/money fixing a car under warrenty.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,804
Likes: 139
From: MA
Doesnt the dealer still get paid on a CPO warranty repair? Its still a booked amount paid by Lexus, not the dealer.
Guest
Posts: n/a
In the end yes, they get reimbursed. However you still are using your techs to do warrenty work instead of work paid by the customer. This can create longer wait times, which creates longer loaner times, customer's not satisfied etc.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,804
Likes: 139
From: MA
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 14,100
Likes: 1
From: tech capital
Here is Silicon Valley and the greater Bay Area, yes. And that's no spectacular feat, since one rep can drive and service a dozen dealers within a 100 mile radius. And it's not every used car they sell, it's only the CPO cars which is a small percentage of total used cars sold by Lexus dealerships, big difference.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,883
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs, Fl
I've mostly seen very good examples. I rarely have seen a bad example. This goes for most all luxury brands, most CPOs are in good shape.
For the dealer it makes no sense to sell a bad CPO car (Lexus) as the car is covered for 100k miles and they don't want to waste their time/money fixing a car under warrenty.
For the dealer it makes no sense to sell a bad CPO car (Lexus) as the car is covered for 100k miles and they don't want to waste their time/money fixing a car under warrenty.
Pass a 165 point inspection. (which includes cosmetic)
Have no more than 60,000 miles.
Be no more than 5 years old.
Have never been in an accident.
be obtained by the original purchasing owner.
Botom line is, just because it's pre-owned, doesn't mean it's a *Certified* Pre Owned car.
