Honda Certified Used Cars

[W Mitty]

I would appreciate the opinions of others as to whether you think the issue I want to discuss is valid. I just bought a 2007 RTL with all options except Nav from a dealer in NE Dallas recently. The truck had 12K on it, was advertised as a certified vehicle, and appears to have been a Honda fleet vehicle. It has running boards, hard tonneau, door guards, window vent screens, etc. It appears the car would have had a sticker price of about 37 new. At any rate I paid 23,500 for it which I thought was a fair although not incredible price.

At any rate, when I test drove the truck the salesman explained that the truck was certified, described the checks that were required, and the extended warranty that came with the certification. After negotiating the price, I went to pick up the truck the next day. It was strictly a cash deal. As I signed the papers they said that, at the price I paid for the truck, it was no longer certified. They would provide the extended warranty if I was willing to pay another $800.

I went ahead and bought the truck but I was under the impression that certification was an attribute of the vehicle and not the price you paid for it. The general manager is stonewalling me and the used car manager stands by his position. What do you guys think?

Should I go to Honda Corporate, the Better Business Bureau, or just shut up and enjoy the truck?

[25 Year Honda Owner]

Originally Posted by W Mitty

I would appreciate the opinions of others as to whether you think the issue I want to discuss is valid. I just bought a 2007 RTL with all options except Nav from a dealer in NE Dallas recently. The truck had 12K on it, was advertised as a certified vehicle, and appears to have been a Honda fleet vehicle. It has running boards, hard tonneau, door guards, window vent screens, etc. It appears the car would have had a sticker price of about 37 new. At any rate I paid 23,500 for it which I thought was a fair although not incredible price.

At any rate, when I test drove the truck the salesman explained that the truck was certified, described the checks that were required, and the extended warranty that came with the certification. After negotiating the price, I went to pick up the truck the next day. It was strictly a cash deal. As I signed the papers they said that, at the price I paid for the truck, it was no longer certified. They would provide the extended warranty if I was willing to pay another $800.

I went ahead and bought the truck but I was under the impression that certification was an attribute of the vehicle and not the price you paid for it. The general manager is stonewalling me and the used car manager stands by his position. What do you guys think?

Should I go to Honda Corporate, the Better Business Bureau, or just shut up and enjoy the truck?

Yes, cetified is a Honda program!! They were scamming you!!

[dk miller]

If it's not already too late, you could put a stop payment on your check and insist they honor the original terms or you will cancel the sale. As long as the money stays in your account you will have the upper hand. Unfortunately if you signed the sale and title documents your legal position is probably not good unless you have a pre-sale purchase agreement that has been violated.

It appears they pulled a variation of the old "bait & switch tactic.

[Tcape]

If the Honda dealer advertised the RL as a "certified vehicle", I think the dealer would be in BIG trouble if they backed out on the deal. I would think Honda "corporate" would not allow this. If I were you, I'd immediately contact Honda Customer Service..... Customer Relations - the Official Honda Web Site

No way I'd let the dealer get away with that. The dealer is screwing you for their own gain. Don't let that happen without a fight! This kind of stuff gets me all worked up, but do everything you can to make this situation right. And "right" means the dealer operates with HONOR.

[OwnerCS]

Did you get any documentation that states you have a warranty from the dealer? I believe you are entitled to the remainder of the factory warranty.

All I remember about the Honda Certified program is that the car was eligible for the additional Honda Care package. There was a check list of items that had to be checked for it to be Certified. How could you uncheck the check list?

BTW - Around here they start at $27,500 for an 07 like the one you purchased.

[W Mitty]

I did receive the remainder of the original warranty. Their point was that they sold the truck so cheap they couldn't afford to buy the warranty to certify the truck. Maybe so, but I am not sure that is the point.

[shortykrn]

If they advertised it certified it has to be. The certification comes with a 7/100 power train warranty with the option to upgrade that to a bumper to bumper warranty that mimics the factory warranty. Are you sure that's not what they were trying to sell you?

[Engyo]

I just bought a certified used CR-V for my daughter. All Honda certified used cars come with the 7y/100k powertrain and 12m/12k b-b warranties. They tried to sell me the upgrade to 7y/100k b-b like Shorty mentioned above, for about the same $800 you mentioned.

As someone else mentioned, the certified program is Honda's, and the dealer gets audited regularly.