Pre-Owned Hybrids Lockhart TX
Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Hybrid
Buying A Certified Pre-Owned Hybrid By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor 
Due to the current state of the economy, many car buyers are leaning toward purchasing a used car instead of a new one when the time comes to replace their current vehicle. That line of thinking is a sensible one; namely that it saves you money over the more costly sticker price of a new car. Getting behind the wheel of a certified used car is an even more a rational choice. Not only do you spend less cash than you would if buying a new car (although, admittedly a little more than going through a private seller), a certified used car also goes through a rigorous inspection process and is handed to you with a manufacturer warranty .
Certified pre-owned (CPO) cars have been a purchase option for quite a while, but it hasn’t been until the last few years that hybrids have joined the ranks of manufacturer programs. Since the Toyota Prius was introduced to the American marketplace in 2001 – making it our first truly marketable hybrid – new hybrid sales have been steadily growing. Just counting Priuses alone, they make up 700,000 of the hybrids roaming American streets.
Very recently our focus on personal transportation has been transferred to more environmentally friendly vehicles, a sure sign that hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles will continue to thrive despite the economy. Steve Gallagher, National Marketing Manager for the Toyota Certified Used Hybrid Program, is optimistic about their program. “There seems to be a lot of interest out there, and with the new administration in Washington, we’re going to see a shift in the look and the future of the automobile. Obviously, the Obama administration wants to see more hybrid cars and higher mpg types of vehicles.”
Toyota is the first manufacturer to split its CPO program to individually accommodate hybrid and non-hybrid cars, allowing them to perform a more precise certification process and highlight CPO hybrid availability. “The purpose of the program was to offer high quality, low mileage hybrids in a certified program,” continues Gallagher. “We wanted to increase the level of awareness for consumers about hybrid vehicles that are in our certified program.”
They may have the first dedicated program, but Toyota isn’t alone in offering pre-owned hybrids. Every carmaker involved in producing hybrids makes them available in their CPO programs. There is a catch, however. Most hybrid models are very new, having come out in the last year or two. This means a large percentage of them are still being enjoyed by their first owners. Some have entered CPO programs, but you can guarantee the newer models like the GMC Yukon Hybrid will be more difficult to find at your local dealer. You’ll have much better luck with more established models like the Ford Escape Hybrid , which has been out since 2004...