The CarMark Certified Pre-Owned program is pleased to formally announce the addition of Albany Honda, in Albany, Ga., as a member of the CarMark Certified team. Albany Honda has been in business at 903 E. Oglethorpe Blvd. in Albany for 12 years, and they are extremely dedicated to customer service, which was one reason they chose to offer the CarMark program to their customers.

"What’s encouraging about CarMark is that it allows us to put a product out there that we feel has benefit to the consumer through a longer powertrain warranty, which is what we want to provide to our customers," said Graham Edwards, Albany Honda's dealer principal. "We want them to be happy with their car

Edwards also noted that his customers EXPECT the peace of mind and satisfaction offered by a certification program, and he wasn't able to offer those things on non-Honda vehicles before discovering the CarMark program.

“You’ve got so many manufacturer certified programs out there these days, and they’re offering similar powertrain warranties. Customers want this,” he said. “It meets a need. A good percentage of the cars around are certified in some form or fashion, and I think these days you’ve just got to provide some kind of extended warranty for consumers.”

With this dedication to consumers, it's no surprise that Albany Honda is a customer-service leader, ranked in the top 10 percent of Honda dealers nationwide.

Edwards has more than 20 years of automotive experience. His family has been working in the automotive industry since the 1920's and he is the 4th generation to work in this industry. For more information about Albany Honda and to view their CarMark Certified inventory, visit them online at www.albanyhondaonline.com or give them a call at (800) 226-3646.

The CarMark Certified Pre-Owned Program is pleased to formally welcome Champagne Motor Car Co., of Willimantic, Conn., as a CarMark Certified Pre-Owned dealer.

Champagne Motorcar Company is a spin-off from Champagne Chevrolet. Kenneth Champagne, the dealership's owner, was looking to expand his business, and forecasted that there was a definite need for a full capacity pre-owned vehicle center. Champagne Motor Car Co. specializes in 3-year-old and newer one-owner vehicles with perfect history and low mileage. The dealership also CarMark Certifies all of its vehicles, which gives consumers a factory backed 6yr/100,000 mile warranty at no cost to them.

Champagne Motor Car Company is a division of the Champagne Auto Group, with more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry with Champagne Chevrolet, Champagne Lincoln-Mercury, and Champagne Jeep-Eagle as new-car franchises. Champagne Motor Car Company is a dedicated and unique pre-owned vehicle center that specializes in the sale of “exceptional” cars and trucks.

The dealership is located at 106 Storrs Road, Willimantic, CT 06226. For more information about the dealership, or to find out what CarMark Certified vehicles they have in stock, visit them online at www.champagnemotorcarcompany.com, or call them at (860) 456-0008.

Since you're on this blog, you've clearly heard about certified vehicles, but you may need more information to help you figure out the differences between certification programs and to decide which program is right for you. I recently came across a CPO buying guide from AutoTrader.com, which offers both great background on CPO programs (although it doesn't mention CarMark, since our program wasn't around yet when the article was written) and provides consumers a list of questions that they should ask about the CPO vehicle and CPO program they're considering.

I thought I'd save you a little research and provide answers to some of their key questions as they relate to the CarMark program.

Who is doing the certification?

The CarMark Certified program is a nationwide program administered by APCO/EasyCare, one of the strongest names in the vehicle warranty business. EasyCare is now celebrating 25 years in business, has served more than 3.6 million customers, has more than 2.8 million contracts currently active, and carries a Better Business Bureau rating of A+. The program is insured by Zurich, a top global insurer and the third largest commercial insurer in the U.S.

Can you review the inspection list without any issue?

Every CarMark Certified Pre-Owned car undergoes an extensive 116-point inspection before it can be deemed "certified." Your CarMark dealer will be more than happy to show you the inspection checklist for the car you're interested in so that you can see how it was inspected and what, if any, repairs were made to the car.

How comprehensive is the extended warranty?

The standard CarMark warranty is 72 months or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. A few, select older vehicles will have a 60-month/60,000-mile warranty. The extended warranty covers the engine, drive axle, transmission/transfer case, seals and gaskets, and taxes and fluids. Check with your dealer for details on your specific car.

What about other incentives?

In addition to the vehicle repair coverage that comes with the extended warranty, every CarMark Certified Pre-Owned vehicle comes with 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, towing reimbursement, trip interruption coverage, tire and wheel road hazard protection, and a free CARFAX Vehicle History Report on your car.

Who will provide service on your car?

CarMark Certified cars can be repaired at virtually any licensed repair facility, as well as all CarMark dealerships. The dealership that sold the vehicle is often the best choice because it will have the expertise to do the repairs correctly, and will maintain your repair and maintenance records for you.

To get more details or to find the CarMark Certified Pre-Owned car that's right for you, contact your nearest CarMark Certified dealer today!

The CarMark Certified Pre-Owned Program is pleased to announce that VanderMeer Motor Company of Tomah, Wisc., has just joined as the newest CarMark Certified Pre-Owned dealer.

VanderMeer is our second dealer in Wisconsin and the 26th dealer to join the program. The CarMark program is currently available at dealerships in 20 states across the country, and we're continuing to grow.

VanderMeer Motor Company is located at 1231 N. Superior Avenue, Tomah, WI 54660. For more information about current CarMark Certified vehicles in stock at VanderMeer Motor Company, give them a call at (608)372-2139 or visit their website at www.tomahwheels.com. 

It's heading in to summertime, and maybe you've got a summer roadtrip on the mind. Well, before you head into your closest CarMark Certified Pre-Owned dealership to snag a new set of wheels for the trip, you might want to consider fuel economy. If you're looking at an SUV, you may be prepared to clock fewer miles per gallon, but according to Consumer Reports, some SUVs are better picks than others when it comes to gas mileage.

Consumer Reports picked its top models for performance, safety and reliability in addition to gas mileage and found some top picks for consumers in three categories — small SUVs, midsized SUVs, and luxury and large SUVs.

The three recommended models in the small category were the Ford Escape Hybrid (at 26 mpg), the 4-cylinder Toyota RAV4 (at 23 mpg) and the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES (at 23 mpg).

In the midsized SUV category, Consumer Reports recommends the Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited (at 27 mpg), the 4-cylinder Chevrolet Equinox 1LT (at 21 mpg), the V6 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited (at 20 mpg), the V6 Kia Sorento EX (at 20 mpg) and the 4-cylinder Kia Sorento LX (at 20 mpg).

In the luxury and large SUV category, Consumer Reports recommended the hybrid Lexus RX 450h (at 26 mpg) and the Lexus RX 350 (at 21 mpg).

So, even if you're buying a larger vehicle this summer, you can still save a few bucks on gas by picking one that gets more miles to the gallon. Find a CarMark dealer near you today to see what they have in stock!

Source: Consumer Reports

The CarMark Certified Pre-Owned program is pleased to announce that Apple Chevrolet Buick Northfield, in Northfield, Minn., is the newest member of the CarMark Certified Pre-Owned family. Apple Chevrolet Buick Northfield is a part of the Apple Auto Group, based in Minneapolis.

Apple Chevrolet Buick Northfield is located at 1600 Cannon Lane, Northfield, MN 55057. For more information about current CarMark Certified vehicles in stock at Apple, call (866) 253-8049 or visit www.applechevroletbuick.com.

The CarMark Certified Pre-Owned program is pleased to announce that Executive Auto Broker in San Diego, Calif., has been approved to offer CarMark Certified, the industry's most comprehensive independent pre-owned vehicle certification. CarMark Certified is available only at dealerships that have been screened and approved by the Pre-Owned Automobile Dealers Alliance, through its agent APCO/EasyCare of Atlanta.

Executive Auto Broker is located at 6136 Mission Gorge Road, Suite 115, San Diego, Calif.