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Manheim Auctions Adds Post-Sale Vehicle Inspections

8 February 1999

Manheim Auctions Adds Post-Sale Vehicle Inspections to Fast-Growing Certified Program

        Expanded Service Offering Benefits Selling and Buying Dealers;
           Certification Shown to Add  $200 - $400 in Value per Car

    ATLANTA, Feb. 8 -- Manheim Auctions announced Saturday at
NADA a new service within the Manheim Certified Program aimed at simplifying
the post-sale process for dealers.  The company has begun inspecting and
test-driving purchased vehicles at selected auction sites to support busy
dealers, especially those from out of town, who lack the time to perform this
task themselves.  The new offering complements the existing Certified program,
which guarantees the quality of vehicles for sale at auction through a
multi-point inspection.
    The Manheim Certified family of services benefits both buyers and sellers.
Not only does post-sale inspection help dealers optimize their time during
auction visits, but it also eliminates the headaches associated with having to
return a car with damage, body defects or mechanical problems.  For selling
dealers, the Certified program yields tangible results -- a recent analysis by
Manheim indicates vehicles with the company's certification have increased in
value by $200 to $400.

    Editor's Summary

    -- Manheim Auctions has expanded the scope of its Certified program to
       include post-sale vehicle inspections.

    -- The new service is designed to relieve buying dealers of the burden of
       post-sale test-driving and inspection.

    -- The Manheim Certified program has not only proved popular with dealers,
       but also it promises to significantly raise the overall value of the
       pre-owned car market.

    "Manheim Certified is one of the many innovative ways in which we help
dealers succeed," said Jamie Porter, vice president, Reconditioning
Operations.  "This program not only meets dealer needs for a quality standard
at auctions -- it's actually raising the value bar across the marketplace.
Our studies show certification increases the value of a used car by several
hundred dollars.  As the number of pre- and post-sale inspections increases to
250,000, which is our estimate for 1999, we expect Manheim Certified to lift
the total value of the used-car market by a percentage point or more.  That
equates to more than $100 million."
    Developed in response to dealer requests for increased support during the
auction process, the post-sale program consists of a test drive and inspection
for frame damage and other potential mechanical problems by Manheim personnel.
If a problem is uncovered the dealer is notified and can work with Manheim
Auctions to arbitrate the sale.  There is no minimum or maximum number of
vehicles that can be inspected.
    During the test phase of the post-sale inspection program, which took
place during 1998 at Manheim's Seattle, and Portland locations, more than
55,000 vehicles were inspected.  This number is expected to jump to 150,000 as
the program is rolled out nationwide in 1999.
    Manheim's new post-sale inspection complements traditional certification.
Manheim Certified guarantees the quality of a for-sale vehicle for seven days.
Manheim Certified benefits potential buyers by boosting their confidence in a
given vehicle.  It also helps selling dealers by giving them a way to showcase
vehicles at auction and by adding value to their offerings.

    About Manheim Auctions
    Founded in 1945, Manheim Auctions, Inc., (http://www.manheim.com) is the
world's largest operator of wholesale automobile auctions with 83 locations in
North America, the United Kingdom and France.  In 1998, Manheim offered for
sale more than 6.5 million vehicles.  The actual value of vehicles sold was in
excess of $35 billion.  Manheim is a leader in automotive Internet commerce as
a supplier of web sites and transaction services to auto remarketers.  In
1998, the value of vehicles sold via Manheim's wholesale CyberLots totaled
more than $216 million.
    Manheim also provides vehicle reconditioning and certification, an
Internet-based vehicle value guide, dealer floor plan financing, dealer
business software and government auction services.  Manheim is a partner with
the Dealer Services Division of Automatic Data Processing (ADP), offering free
Internet used car listings to dealers and consumers via AutoConnect, the
world's largest source of used car classified advertising
(http://www.autoconnect.com).
    Manheim is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc.  In addition to Manheim,
Cox includes Cox Newspapers, Inc., Cox Broadcasting, Inc., and publicly traded
Cox Communications, Inc. and Cox Radio, Inc.  Cox Enterprises also provides
online news, information and entertainment services via the Internet through
Cox Interactive Media.

    Manheim Auctions and Manheim Online are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Cox Enterprises in the United States and/or other countries.