Ford to Certify Lincolns for Resale

05/01/96

Reuters reported that Ford Motor Company is joining the the mad rush to establish programs to certify and resell their own used cars. Ford will call their program Lincoln Assured and they will test it in Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas and Tampa starting in May.

Under the program, Ford will subject Lincoln Town Cars, Continentals and Mark VIIIs that are less than two years old and have fewer that 36,000 miles to a 150 point inspection. Additionally, cars must have had only one owner or leasee, and can not have suffered any major damage. Unlike other used car programs, Ford's inspections will take place at refinement centers operated by the company itself, rather than being conducted by dealers.

Qualifying Lincolns will be put back up for re-sale with a bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts 2 years, 24,000 miles, or for the balance of the original factory warranty, whichever is longer.

Anne Doyle, a spokeswoman for Lincoln-Mercury, said the program will give the division a good way to re-sell the large number of previously owned cars that come off lease. More than 75 percent of new Lincoln sales are through leases, with most of those two-year contracts, Doyle said.

Ford Motor's Ford Division is also exploring a used car certification program, said spokesman Jim Bright, although no decisions have been made. The Ford Division of Ford Motor Company sells about 20 percent of its 1996 model year vehicles through leases. On some models, such as the Contour car and Explorer sport/utility vehicle, leases account for up to 40 percent.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel