Is A Certified Used (Toyota) Car Worth It?

[iheartscience]

A drunk driver totaled my parked car a week ago so I''m in the midst of shopping for a new (used) Toyota Camry. (And I LOVE the newest Camrys so I''m not too annoyed about it!

For some reason I have a thing for Camrys!)

I''m debating if I should go for a Certified Used one instead of just a regular used one and I would appreciate input from anyone who has had experience with a Certified Used car. The Certified Used Camrys seem to be about $1-$2k more than regular ones. Does the warranty make it worth the extra money?

Also, right now Toyota is offering a 2.9% APR on the Certified Used Camrys. This isn''t a huge consideration because my loan amount will be pretty small and I can get good rates from my bank, too, but I figured I might as well throw it out there.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[HVVS]

It was on tonight''s news that Toyota is suspending sales of the models involved in the sticking gas pedal recall. Camry and Avalon were listed, if I recall correctly. They must think it''s more than the pedal catching on the floor mat now.

Models affected by the announcement were the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, as well as certain 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia models, according to the statement.

 

[asscherisme]

Date: 1/26/2010 11:47:53 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady

Date: 1/26/2010 11:07:22 PM
Author: HVVS
It was on tonight''s news that Toyota is suspending sales of the models involved in the sticking gas pedal recall. Camry and Avalon were listed, if I recall correctly. They must think it''s more than the pedal catching on the floor mat now.

Models affected by the announcement were the 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, as well as certain 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia models, according to the statement.

We had a Sheriff Deputy & his family perish in a fiery crash in a Lexus due to this exact situation. It was heartbreaking. While we trust our 4Runner completely (its a 2004 and now has nearly 100k miles on it), we were saddened that this VERY simple fix was not. Toyota is a very safe vehicle normally and they last for what seems forever.

Thats awful SDL. I drive a Toyota as well. Its a 2005 model and not listed under the recall but the recall still makes me nervous.

Back to original post, I would hesitate to buy a Toyota right now. Often when there are recalls, they continue to expand for awhile.

Even though I like my Totota, if I needed to buy a car tommorow I would look at Honda.

 

[ChargerGrrl]

Ditto to what SDL noted. The L.A Times picked up that story because of the proximity to SD. It was so sad! Other cases have also been reported.

Anyway, since then there''s been NUMEROUS Toyota recall stories. Check out what was in today''s paper:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-sales27-2010jan27,0,1635017.story

My family has had long-term success with Toyotas, but I don''t think I would be buying one today!

 

[IdLikeToBuyAVal]

Aside from recalls, you save a TON of money if you buy a one or two year old car rather than brand new off the lot. We bought our SUV in August, it was 18 months old, every option available, original list price was $36,000 we got it with 20,000 miles for $21,000 and still have the original warranty & XM radio. Certified cars look like they tend to be a couple grand more, however if you like the extra peace of mind, then to you, that''s money well spent IMO.

That said, I would go to the Toyota website and see what the recall includes. If you do buy a used car, be sure it has some sort of history so you know if any recall/repair work was completed (buying certified should take care of this for you).

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/26/2010 10:41:04 PM
Author:thing2of2
A drunk driver totaled my parked car a week ago so I''m in the midst of shopping for a new (used) Toyota Camry. (And I LOVE the newest Camrys so I''m not too annoyed about it!

For some reason I have a thing for Camrys!)

I''m debating if I should go for a Certified Used one instead of just a regular used one and I would appreciate input from anyone who has had experience with a Certified Used car. The Certified Used Camrys seem to be about $1-$2k more than regular ones. Does the warranty make it worth the extra money?

Also, right now Toyota is offering a 2.9% APR on the Certified Used Camrys. This isn''t a huge consideration because my loan amount will be pretty small and I can get good rates from my bank, too, but I figured I might as well throw it out there.

Thanks in advance for your help!

depends, what yr? how much compared to a new one? a new 2010 Camry LE probably cost like $21k out the door just like it was 9 yrs ago.

when we were looking at Civics for our daughter in 07 the difference b/t a new and a 3 yrs old used car was like $4K,so we decided to go with a new car.

 

[katamari]

So glad to hear you weren''t in your car at the time of the accident, Thing.

I am guessing that, if you are looking at Certified Used, they probably will be in the year range of the recall. If so, I would also stay clear. If not (and you would be looking at a 2005 or so), you might be able to get the fix Toyota is doing for recalled vehicles as part of negotiations in the buying process.

If you are thinking of buying one in the recalled year range, though, I would also hold off until this is settled, if not completely. Also, maybe shop around more to see if there is another make and model you like similarly to the Camry.

As for Certified Pre-Owned, I personally don''t think they are worth the extra money. The warranty is generally only extended on newer or low-mile vehicles. The likelihood of them experiencing the covered troubles is very low. My opinion is that someone paying for Certified Pre-Owned cars are paying more for security than car quality. In hedging my bets, I would buy a lower mile car that I took to my own mechanic for a full inspection over a Certified Pre-Owned one.


SDL, so sorry to hear about your friend.

 

[iheartscience]

I''m definitely aware of the recall and will make sure that whatever Camry I end up with is either not a part of the recall or has been fixed properly before buying it. But I really do appreciate the concern!

DF-thanks for the input. I''m going to go for a 2007, 2008 or 2009 Camry. The prices I''ve seen have ranged from about $12k up to $16k for the LEs. (Depending on mileage, year and the dealer.) If I can get one closer to $12-$13k I think the savings makes it worth buying used instead of new. You''re right-the new ones are about $21k. (Plus I park on the street in the city and I think a brand new car would just be a waste here! The bumper is bound to get scratched up within a week!)

kata-thanks for your thoughts. I tend to agree with you as far as security instead of quality but I guess I was wondering if anyone had a story about buying Certified that would sway me.

Plus my sister bought a brand new Toyota Corolla several years ago and she actually used her warranty for a few minor things. (An issue with the A/C is one I remember.) I don''t think those things are covered by the Certified warranty anyway, though. I''ve seen several used Camrys that have only had 1 owner, all the correct service is on the Carfax report, etc. As far as other makes and models, I just don''t think I can do it! I loved my totaled Camry and I also love the newest body style and have since it came out!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

T2, I''ve got an ''09 Camry, bought new. At the time the incentives offered made it a better deal than an ''07 used model. This is the first new car I''ve ever purchased, I''ve been a used car person up until now. I bought the base model and with exception of heated seats and a moon roof, it''s got all I could want/need at a great price point (I got mine for around $15,500, list was $23,000) I love it and I''ve had no issues with it to date (knock on wood). I believe it is listed under the recall (need to look into that more today), so it will be going in for the fix ASAP if it is.

Every car manufacturer has had recalls at one point or another. GM had a recall due to excessive corrosion on the frame of some of its trucks a few years back. The fix for this? New trucks for everyone involved. So while it''s a dangerous situation, in my experience the manufacturers do their best to fix the problem promptly and thoroughly with the least amount of hassle to the customer as possible.

Like with any large purchase, take your time and do your research. Financing these days is better for new vs used cars and with used or certified pre-owned you miss out on the incentives the manufacturers offer. Additionally, certified pre-owned cars aren''t the best deal out there all the time. People don''t realize but the manufacturer''s warranty that comes with a new car (usually 10 years, 100,000 miles) transfers when the car is sold. So you''re still getting the coverage that the car came with.

 

[HVVS]

Sometimes a recall starts small and gets bigger when the car maker is forced do it. So also go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and sift through consumer complaints for the model year you're interested in and the ones immediately before and after, to see if "gossip" indicates sticking accelerators (or whatever) in them.

Tundra has a frame corrosion issue. What models of GM do?

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

My bad, it was the tundra. I could have sworn it was a GM/American maker though...

 

[radiantquest]

I think it really depends on the mileage. If you are only going to have 1-2 years of warranty left I would think the certified is a good idea. Toyotas are good cars, don''t get me wrong, but you never know what could happen. I would rather pay the extra $2K and know that if something costly comes up in the future I will not be left with a repair bill that could potentially be more than the warranty.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 1/27/2010 10:44:38 AM
Author: radiantquest
I think it really depends on the mileage. If you are only going to have 1-2 years of warranty left I would think the certified is a good idea. Toyotas are good cars, don''t get me wrong, but you never know what could happen. I would rather pay the extra $2K and know that if something costly comes up in the future I will not be left with a repair bill that could potentially be more than the warranty.

You can also purchase an extended warranty on a non-certified car for around the same amount (or less).

 

[charbie]

Thing- My mom works for Lexus/Toyota. The certified thing tends to be a bit more of a "gimmick" to get people to take care of their car, so that the dealership can make more on the trade. You can very easily go for a used, non-certified car, and it will be in great shape. Ask for the service records, as they may be able to prove that even without it being certified that the oil changes were completed on time.

I bought my new ''08 Corolla in ''07 with the intention of trading up a few years later. In order for it to be certified, they were basically doing oil changes and tune-ups every 5k miles, and charging an arm and a leg for it. I figured out that if I just get the oil changes on my own, keep the records, that I will end up getting more for my money in the end instead of spending a whopping $400 at only 30k for them to do an air filter change.

 

[MonkeyPie]

One of my friends just got a new Lexus and she just replaced her floor mats - I thought that was where the gas pedal sticking was caused?

 

[iwannaprettyone]

Totally.

Toyota is known for its quality. Despite recent events with 4 or 5 they are doing something inconceivable by stopping production and doing a 2.6 million car recall unlike other companies that just sweep it under the rug. What is that percentage?

People that say "i''ll never buy a toyota now" are ignorant IMO and going to be missing out on outstanding quality and service.

I love my highlander.

 

[annadragon]

Thing2, I own a Certified Pre-owned Toyota and found this out when I had a problem with the vehicle:
I bought my car in the state where I was living at the time and when I moved and the problem occurred I was given the run around because my warranty was with the Gulf Coast Toyota but the dealer where I am currently residing is in the Southeast Toyota division and these are apparently different somehow. I never got a satisfactory answer about how they differ or why the hell someone thought it was a good idea, but it became necessary to have Toyota corporate intervene and rectify the situation.

That said I do love my car and since I''ve only a few more payments left I''m not planning to purchase another one anytime soon. However, I do think that Toyota offers a nice product even if they are confused about how their warranty situation works.

If anything I would make sure you know the details on the warranty.

Good Luck!

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Date: 1/27/2010 9:00:53 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
T2, I''ve got an ''09 Camry, bought new. At the time the incentives offered made it a better deal than an ''07 used model. This is the first new car I''ve ever purchased, I''ve been a used car person up until now. I bought the base model and with exception of heated seats and a moon roof, it''s got all I could want/need at a great price point (I got mine for around $15,500, list was $23,000) I love it and I''ve had no issues with it to date (knock on wood). I believe it is listed under the recall (need to look into that more today), so it will be going in for the fix ASAP if it is.

Every car manufacturer has had recalls at one point or another. GM had a recall due to excessive corrosion on the frame of some of its trucks a few years back. The fix for this? New trucks for everyone involved. So while it''s a dangerous situation, in my experience the manufacturers do their best to fix the problem promptly and thoroughly with the least amount of hassle to the customer as possible.

Like with any large purchase, take your time and do your research. Financing these days is better for new vs used cars and with used or certified pre-owned you miss out on the incentives the manufacturers offer. Additionally, certified pre-owned cars aren''t the best deal out there all the time. People don''t realize but the manufacturer''s warranty that comes with a new car (usually 10 years, 100,000 miles) transfers when the car is sold. So you''re still getting the coverage that the car came with.

HH, that recall on the Tundra due to the frame corrosion is an interesting situation. DH''s best friend has a Tundra and he recently got a recall notice. He bought the truck brand-new and has taken METICULOUS care of the vehicle, and had planned on keeping it as long as possible. Toyota is evidently offering two options to owners of Tundras which are subject to the frame recall: (1) Toyota will fix the frame, which involves completely taking the truck apart and putting it back together on a new frame; or (2) Toyota will take the vehicle and give the owner 150% of the Blue Book value. DH''s friend doesn''t know what to do, because the Blue Book value on his truck isn''t that high (he got a very basic model), and he really can''t afford a car payment right now. So he basically has no choice but to let Toyota take his truck apart and rebuild it, and just hope that there are no problems later on due to the rebuild.

BTW, you''re exactly right when you say that every manufacturer has had recalls. DH drives a Ford F-250 SuperDuty, and it recently had a recall because they were BURSTING INTO FLAMES while sitting in people''s garages and driveways! The truck didn''t even have to be running for this to happen! DH saw pictures on a fishing forum he frequents where the guy''s F-250 was just sitting in his garage, caught fire, and burned the entire garage down! Thankfully, the damage to the house itself was very minimal, but still!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/27/2010 10:44:38 AM
Author: radiantquest
I think it really depends on the mileage. If you are only going to have 1-2 years of warranty left I would think the certified is a good idea. Toyotas are good cars, don''t get me wrong, but you never know what could happen. I would rather pay the extra $2K and know that if something costly comes up in the future I will not be left with a repair bill that could potentially be more than the warranty.

save the $2k and put it in your pocket. IMO...all extended warranties are big rip offs.

 

[iheartscience]

Thanks for everyone''s input! Lots to think about but I''m leaning towards not doing a Certified Used...I''ll just get a regular used Camry and try to get one that''s one owner and has low mileage.

HH and IWAPO I totally agree-I think Toyotas are extremely safe, reliable cars and I''m going to buy a Camry as soon as the recall is sorted out and I''m actually able to. All car manufacturers have recalls and obviously this one is a serious one, but it seems Toyota is doing as much as it can to prevent further issues with the accelerator.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 1/28/2010 12:27:20 AM
Author: thing2of2
Thanks for everyone''s input! Lots to think about but I''m leaning towards not doing a Certified Used...I''ll just get a regular used Camry and try to get one that''s one owner and has low mileage.

HH and IWAPO I totally agree-I think Toyotas are extremely safe, reliable cars and I''m going to buy a Camry as soon as the recall is sorted out and I''m actually able to. All car manufacturers have recalls and obviously this one is a serious one, but it seems Toyota is doing as much as it can to prevent further issues with the accelerator.

the most reliable Toyotas and Hondas are the ones built in Japan 15-20 yrs ago.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 1/28/2010 1:26:19 AM
Author: Dancing Fire

Date: 1/28/2010 12:27:20 AM

Author: thing2of2

Thanks for everyone's input! Lots to think about but I'm leaning towards not doing a Certified Used...I'll just get a regular used Camry and try to get one that's one owner and has low mileage.


HH and IWAPO I totally agree-I think Toyotas are extremely safe, reliable cars and I'm going to buy a Camry as soon as the recall is sorted out and I'm actually able to. All car manufacturers have recalls and obviously this one is a serious one, but it seems Toyota is doing as much as it can to prevent further issues with the accelerator.

the most reliable Toyotas and Hondas are the ones built in Japan 15-20 yrs ago.

DF-I believe it. My husband has a 1990 Toyota truck that has had very few issues. And my Camry that was totaled was a 1997 and it had way more issues than his truck. It's still a great car but it's needed a lot more maintenance than his truck.

 

[rockzilla]

I have a 1995 Camry that I LOVE and have had since senior year of college. We even ended up driving it cross country when we moved to Boston recently. It has been super reliable and is almost at 150k miles.

I think the certified used cars are a rip-off. I also think its a sales tactic dealers use to push people into new car purchases. I had a (very non-financially savvy) friend this happened to. She wanted to buy a used corolla, gets to the lot, and they show her the price of a certified used next to a new one. They show her how the new one is "only" $X more expensive, so she buys it under the high pressure salespitch. Ends up getting a car she can''t REALLy afford, and of course her insurance is much higher than she was expecting b/c its a new car.

If you can avoid it, I''d also suggest not buying from a big name dealer. If its still under warranty, it won''t matter if you buy it from a private party or a no-name shop where you can negotiate. Then, be sure to take it by a mechanic you trust for a once-over. If my friend had done this, she''d probably still have a car she could afford, rather than having to sell it a few years later and take a loss.

 

[HVVS]

Date: 1/27/2010 10:21:34 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
My bad, it was the tundra. I could have sworn it was a GM/American maker though...

You had me worried for a minute, there. I went searching to see which GM, since I have two of them, lol.


Edit: CTS, who made the accelerator assemblies, has a statement

 

[HVVS]

http://suddenacceleration.com/?p=431 has more info.

http://suddenacceleration.com/?p=543

Radio signal interference. If it can turn them off, could it not also flip the other way and call for WOT (wide open throttle)?

...Larry Stewart, a former Times sportswriter, discovered an opposite problem with the technology in his 2007 Toyota Camry.
After he parked at a Granada Hills restaurant last summer, the car would not start. The tow truck driver who came to Stewart’s rescue wasn’t surprised, telling Stewart he had been there several times recently for the same reason.
The driver blamed the problem on stray radio signals, possibly from a powerful police or fire station transmitter nearby. He towed the car 100 yards, and it started immediately.
“It’s really unnerving that such a thing could happen,” said Stewart, who lives in Arcadia.
Even GM engineers found themselves in the same situation when they parked test vehicles at a Detroit-area shopping mall and found that the keyless ignition system was disabled, according to Proefke, the GM expert.
“It was a dead zone,” he said.
Proefke said the problem was traced to interference from a nearby nightclub’s lighting system, which was broadcasting unlicensed high-power radio signals.

http://suddenacceleration.com/?p=431http://suddenacceleration.com/?p=562

 

[RockHugger]

Yet another reason to buy american!!!

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Date: 2/1/2010 7:47:51 AM
Author: RockHugger
Yet another reason to buy american!!!

FYI the Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans sold in the US are all made in the USA with American workers.

 

[RockHugger]

They are assembled in the US, the parts are not made here (most of them).

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 2/1/2010 7:47:51 AM
Author: RockHugger
Yet another reason to buy american!!!

Ha! Yes, American cars are known for their reliability and quality. That's why they needed a government bailout to stay in business! God bless American cars!

 

[Lauren8211]

Date: 2/1/2010 10:48:22 AM
Author: thing2of2

Date: 2/1/2010 7:47:51 AM
Author: RockHugger
Yet another reason to buy american!!!

Ha! Yes, American cars are known for their reliability and quality. That''s why they needed a government bailout to stay in business! God bless American cars!

Bwahahahaha.

I <3 my Honda.