The GM 60-day Guarantee program could be a benefit to certified GM dealers CPO operations, since vehicles must have less than 4,000 miles when returned. Dealers can opt to retail them as used or send them off to auctions for wholesale.
A service out of Ann Arbor, Michigan with cars available to "borrow" is getting a lot of attention. With a Zipcard in hand, one man borrows a Scion or Matrix for short-term use at an annual cost of about $125 (plus inexpensive hourly or daily rental fees) -- no payments to make, no gas to buy.
August sales of certified used vehicles are off from last year, and one analyst cites fewer dealers as a possible reason. CNW's Art Spinella says fewer GM and Chrysler dealers have affected certified sales. Automakers say fallout from dealer closings impacted earlier certified sales reports.
NHTSA and IIHS are making top crash test safety ratings harder to get in order to differentiate and reward more advanced automakers and pressure others to do better. IIHS is advancing standards faster because, unlike NHTSA, it doesn't have to consider financial impact on the auto industry.