Is CPO Worth The Premium?
Service records are easily obtainable with the VIN, and if you can validate proper maintenance and observe care by the current owner, there's so little risk of unexpected failure that would exceed the incremental dealer cost of CPO.
It's the same for extended warranties: they aren't a value because you're so unlikely to need them for anything that will exceed the warranty cost.
For instance, on CPO vehicles the dealership will almost always change engine oil and filter, replace the cabin air filter and engine air filter, change brake fluid, clean-up the engine bay, remove dings/scratches and detail the car, which will costs say $500 - $1,000... The dealership may also need to install new tires, brake pads, rotors, do one of the major services, repair torn weather strips, replace scratched interior parts, repair or replace curbed or bent wheels, repair any mechanical issues, paint bumpers and replace a missing tool in the trunk, etc. that could cost an additional $1,000 - $1,500 or so. With all this done, now we are up to $4,000 invested, which is too much for most dealers to try to recovered when the dealership sells the vehicle. That said, there is a point where spending too much money can not be recovered when the car is sold...so most dealerships like to keep the total added cost to CPO a vehicle around $3,500 or less - otherwise the vehicle sits on the lot too long and/or they end up selling it at no profit or taking a loss. A Lexus Certified Pre-Owned vehicle could have a true added value of $3,500 or more when compared to a non-CPO Lexus vehicle - all depending on what the Lexus dealership did to the vehicle versus a similar non-CPO vehicle. That's why most Lexus Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are normally a few thousand dollars more than non-Lexus certified vehicles...and rightfully so.
Personally, I like the confidence knowing that when I buy a Lexus CPO vehicle and find that a feature or option doesn't work or a part is missing or broken, that I can expect it to be corrected...unlike if the vehicle was bought from some other car brand's used car lot. Bent wheel, tire has a thump, rear sunshade making scraping noise, leaking strut, wipers don't spray, sunroof clanks, driver's seat lumbar won't inflate, trunk liner missing, drive mode button stuck, radio button stuck, AC smells, windshield spray not working, buzzing from the radio, USB port not working, etc., etc. - no problem! That's not necessarily true if you buy the Lexus vehicle from a KIA dealership or Lucky Lou's Auto down on the corner where they are also setup to sell drugs to the local addicts, hustle illegal sports bets and take care of money-laundering for stolen goods.
Lastly, buying a used Lexus with a [so-called] 'certified warranty' (often referred to as CPO) from a non-Lexus dealership does not mean that the extended warranty beyond the basic Lexus warranty is with Lexus - it's usually with third-party warranty providers, which can be scams.
Last edited by bclexus; May 16, 2019 at 07:29 PM.
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
I went CPO because I noticed the cars were in a tad nicer condition coming from the dealerships here in Las Vegas. I liked the existing remaining warranty plus the 2 year extended, 5 free oil changes, and most of the vehicles around the 28-32k mile range. I have already had my mirror glass replaced due to it fading blue and a brand new battery. I liked the extra price of mind that the extended warranty will be through Lexus as stated in previous posts above. For some it may be worth it depending on the vehicle for others it may be better off going third party dealer or private party. The car itself, your location, and of course cost will always be a factor. Just because it is a CPO doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the better option just keep your options open.
Plus I got 1.9% APR on finance with LFS for specials on CPOs. Can't imagine getting this rate anywhere else with my credit.










