CarMax, straight shooters?
- Thread starter Guv
- Start date
I have zero experience with CarMax. Seems like a great way to get rid of a lemon. Otherwise, probably better for some folks than advertising and dealing with strangers.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
General consensus I have heard has been mostly positive.
Having worked in the car business for 31 years, I know it's the individuals at any given location that matter less than what's on the sign. Send a PM if you're in the DFW area and need some questions answered.
Having worked in the car business for 31 years, I know it's the individuals at any given location that matter less than what's on the sign. Send a PM if you're in the DFW area and need some questions answered.
Never sold but have bought from them.... pretty easy .... the final business part is a little too much B.S. not in negotiation just signing stuff. But we have always paid cash.
Had need to replace our Ford Flex... Helene kind of bent her... here she is headed to the bone yard, I think it was the tow truck drivers first day, I had to drive it up on the roll back for him:
Here is what we replaced her with.... 2016 Ford Explorer:
We've named her the "Ex-Flex".
Had need to replace our Ford Flex... Helene kind of bent her... here she is headed to the bone yard, I think it was the tow truck drivers first day, I had to drive it up on the roll back for him:
Here is what we replaced her with.... 2016 Ford Explorer:
We've named her the "Ex-Flex".
One of the on line car dealers was stopped from doing biz in MI for not providing titles. I think it was Carvanna.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
Carvanna is in a lot of trouble.
rkrcpa
Single-Sixer
I have purchased several cars from CarMax and couldn't be happier with the transaction. I usually sell my old car rather than trade it, get more money that way.
This last time I was buying before I sold the old car so they gave me a price . I declined the offer and told the gentleman that I would rather have a bonfire than sell at that price. No offense was intended or taken.
Understand that they have a specific business model and don't deal in older cars. They most likely will take the car to auction if it is not a newer model.
This last time I was buying before I sold the old car so they gave me a price . I declined the offer and told the gentleman that I would rather have a bonfire than sell at that price. No offense was intended or taken.
Understand that they have a specific business model and don't deal in older cars. They most likely will take the car to auction if it is not a newer model.
I have sold two vehicles (a Lexus and a Subaru) to Carmax in Colorado Springs. The process was transparent and painless. In both cases they paid more than the NADA blue book price had me expecting. Both of our cars were late models in very good condition with fairly low miles.
I guess if I was younger and braver (stupider) I should have driven the Ford Flex over to them to get a price... Of course I doubt they would have beat the price we did get for it....
Sold my AcuraTL to CarMax when I was in Texas. Got a good price for it. Sold my Toyota Tacoma to AutoNation and got a good price for it as well. I was able to ask for more at AutoNation. But you'd have to know what it’s condition, resale value it, whether on Kelly’s or Edmunds.
Zeeway
Bearcat
Just sold them a Toyota RAV4, for the on-line offer which was $3k more than the Lexus dealer offered as a trade in. Painless transaction - Carmax has their stuff together.
Doublebarrel2
Bearcat
My wife has bought her last three cars from them. Fair prices and no problems. We sold one to them and they gave us more than I expected. They have been good to do business with.
JohnL
Buckeye
I would never buy a car, new or used, on line. I would sell to them.
I've bought a few cars from CarMax. I had the chance to test drive them first and give them a good looking over. They are not the cheapest for used cars, but the non-negotiation policy makes the buyer feel that at least he was not ripped off compared to how other customers fared. Their money-back-guarantee, where you can return the car for a full refund within a certain few days is a plus as well, although I have never returned a car that I have bought from them.
Paying higher than 'book' prices and selling lower than typical car lot retail? There's got to be a 'hook' in there someplace.
I have no idea how much they sold my cars for. Not my problem. I just know they paid what I considered (based on some research) a very good price for my cars and that I didn’t have to worry about the assorted perils associated with trying to sell them myself.
Presumably their business model is valid. They’re still in business and all over the country.
Presumably their business model is valid. They’re still in business and all over the country.
GypsmJim
GypsmJim
Maybe there is. But it worked to my advantage.
I had a car to trade in and got an unusually high price online. The dealer wanted to give me a lowball trade-in value, but when I showed them the CarMax price they matched it.
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
True for any dealer, especially a new car dealer (CarMax is not but you get the point).
State Law in most States so don't credit CarMax.
coach
Hunter
I sold my mother’s car at a carmax. I didn’t get much for it but it wasn’t worth much in my opinion anyway. The process was easy and didn’t take long. I’m sure they just auctioned it off.
pisgah
Buckeye
Personally, I have read enough about improper titling, false advertising, bogus warranties, etc., to decide to stay far, far away...
bocash3
Bearcat
I have an old college flyfishing friend that had several good experiences with Carmax.
I had one and it was not pleasant.
Bought a Toyota 4runner they had in Florida and shipped it to Gastonia North Carolina
I drove over 60 miles to Gastonia to try it out. It had 30,000 miles and handled well so I made the purchase.
Drove it over 60 miles back home and took it to a body shop because I saw a little rust here and there. I should’ve been wiser because during the transaction I found out the Toyota actually came from New York City.
We put it up on a rack and the whole underneath had cancer
When asking about this particular vehicle over the telephone, I was limited to only three questions which threw up a
red flag. I could not imagine why a major car dealer would not allow more time or more questions.
Then when I was with the sales lady on the lot at Gastonia, she lied to me to make the sale.
At this point, I could not get that vehicle back to the Gastonia dealership quick enough to get my money back.
I received a refund but the whole situation of sales lady lying, and the person in Florida who limited my questions and failed to tell me about the rust when they were actually viewing the car and had me on the phone made for a very bad situation.
Based on this, I doubt I would ever go back to Carmax again
I had one and it was not pleasant.
Bought a Toyota 4runner they had in Florida and shipped it to Gastonia North Carolina
I drove over 60 miles to Gastonia to try it out. It had 30,000 miles and handled well so I made the purchase.
Drove it over 60 miles back home and took it to a body shop because I saw a little rust here and there. I should’ve been wiser because during the transaction I found out the Toyota actually came from New York City.
We put it up on a rack and the whole underneath had cancer
When asking about this particular vehicle over the telephone, I was limited to only three questions which threw up a
red flag. I could not imagine why a major car dealer would not allow more time or more questions.
Then when I was with the sales lady on the lot at Gastonia, she lied to me to make the sale.
At this point, I could not get that vehicle back to the Gastonia dealership quick enough to get my money back.
I received a refund but the whole situation of sales lady lying, and the person in Florida who limited my questions and failed to tell me about the rust when they were actually viewing the car and had me on the phone made for a very bad situation.
Based on this, I doubt I would ever go back to Carmax again
GasGuzzler
Hawkeye
I bought a JEEP through one of these 'third party vehicle flippers'. Supposedly came from an area known to be generally 'rust free'. BS--later learned it originally came from New York. No way to back out of the deal. Lost several $K as a result. Have zero confidence in any of these 'flippers'. YMMV(and I certainly hope it goes better for others)
Back in 2019, I leased a Toyota Tacoma pickup because my wife always wanted a pickup truck. In 2022 I took it back to Toyota and they said they will give me $2000 over the turn in price for it, I could just walk away with $2000 in my pocket. Well, that got me thinking and I called CarMax and they said they would give me $5000. I was near the Honda dealer and stopped there and said I wanted a new Passport. Honda offered me $8000 for the Toyota, so I took the money and put it down on the new Passport. 2 days later Honda had my Toyota pickup on the lot for $44,000. a full $10000 more than they paid me for it.
You've really got to watch for those snow belt vehicles!
2 weeks ago I was helping my daughter find a used 2015-17 Toyota Camry. I found one, a '17, outside Atlanta that was a 2 owner GA car with a clean Carfax and low miles. The local Toyota dealership put a '17 Camry on the net with no Carfax. I talked to the salesman and asked him about it. I said: Just don't tell me it's an Ohio car. He said: It's an Ohio car.
He tried his best to assure me that they'd go over it thoroughly and replace anything that was needed. Nope! She bought the GA car.
2 weeks ago I was helping my daughter find a used 2015-17 Toyota Camry. I found one, a '17, outside Atlanta that was a 2 owner GA car with a clean Carfax and low miles. The local Toyota dealership put a '17 Camry on the net with no Carfax. I talked to the salesman and asked him about it. I said: Just don't tell me it's an Ohio car. He said: It's an Ohio car.
He tried his best to assure me that they'd go over it thoroughly and replace anything that was needed. Nope! She bought the GA car.
I think you get a premium used car for a premium used car price. No Haggle of crack pot stories. But you are dealing with used car sales personnel.
Colonialgirl
Hawkeye
DOnt buy ANY used vehicles from the Tampa Florida area; They may have been in a flood zone !!
Always get a carfax on your nickel on any used car you’re considering. Look at the history of titling and servicing to get an idea if its been used in a road salt environment.
@Cholo, man you ain’t kidding about those snow belt vehicles. We bought a Tacoma, new in Seattle, moved to Chicago after a year, drove there for 3 years, and moved to NJ.
I took it to a dealer in NJ for brakes and ended up spending $4,000 on rust removal on the frame.
It was terrible, but to make it worse, after a week when I went to pick it up, the dealership had repaved their parking lot.
I’m glad I helped them pay for the asphalt.
I took it to a dealer in NJ for brakes and ended up spending $4,000 on rust removal on the frame.
It was terrible, but to make it worse, after a week when I went to pick it up, the dealership had repaved their parking lot.
I’m glad I helped them pay for the asphalt.
davevabch
Hunter
- Joined
- May 29, 2011
- Messages
- 2,703
My sister bought a Suv from car max. Before the agreement they told her to take the car and check it out. She went to a Toyota dealership and they gave her a list of $4.000 worth of necessary work and Maintenance required. Car max agreed to pay all that the dealership required and she loves her new /used Toyota. No problems.
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