Carmax
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
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From: Plainfield Ill.
Carmax
Does anybody here have any experience selling their car to Carmax without buying one from them. Did they give a fair price or did they low ball their offer for your car. Reason being is, I am contemplating on bringing my car to them and checking to see if they are gonna give me a fair price on mine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
My fiancee sold them her Mint Cavalier Z24. She got a good price, but she used to work there and new the appraiser.
Otherwsie they will low ball you, they will pick the car apart down to a nick in the paint. Most of time they will wholesale the car out.
Otherwsie they will low ball you, they will pick the car apart down to a nick in the paint. Most of time they will wholesale the car out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
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From: Columbia MO
My buddy sold his Tiburon there (flawless condition, super low miles) and they gave him a better than blue book). Apparently it depends on whether your car is new/clean/low mileage enough for them to resell on the lot, or whether they'll just wholesale it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
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From: Plainfield Ill.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
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From: Chicago IL
How much are you expecting to get from trade-in?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 402
Likes: 2
From: Glen Allen VA
I sold my Toyota Tundra pickup, in mint condition with very low miles to them, 5 years ago and got a better than KBB rate. It seems pickups were in big demand back then and so I got a great rate. An year ago (before gas prices went off the roof) I took my Ford focus, which I originally bought from them 4 years ago after having piled 30k miles on it, and got worse than KBB value. Car was in fair shape but seems like it was not in demand. From my experience I gathered that Carmax buying prices depend on demand.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
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From: Plainfield Ill.
Well KBB trade in values in excellent condition is about $20K, retail is about $26K, and private party is about $22-24K I think. Since I cannot sell my rims with trade, I'm taking a loss right there. If I can get 24K, I'll be happy but that might be wishful thinking. I also just spent $1690 to fix the leak on the tranny, so right there is counted as a loss.
BTW - I'm trying to sell the car for $24K right now.
BTW - I'm trying to sell the car for $24K right now.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 484
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From: North Dallas area TX
Well KBB trade in values in excellent condition is about $20K, retail is about $26K, and private party is about $22-24K I think. Since I cannot sell my rims with trade, I'm taking a loss right there. If I can get 24K, I'll be happy but that might be wishful thinking. I also just spent $1690 to fix the leak on the tranny, so right there is counted as a loss.
BTW - I'm trying to sell the car for $24K right now.
BTW - I'm trying to sell the car for $24K right now.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
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From: Plainfield Ill.
, that's how dealers keep afloat anyways, for the most part they make less money with new car sales compared to used car sale. That's why almost 99 % if not all of them, dealers have a used car lots, not to mention that some cars are bought from auction.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Not where I want to be!!
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19
Carmax is the same as most dealers. The price is usually around wholesale. The price is normally what it would cost them to buy the same car at auction. Very seldom will you get trade in value. My daughter is a buyer for Carmax, she's tried to explain it too me. I guess I should pay closer attention as she's bought cars wholesale and resold them for a profit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,343
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From: Lexington Park MD
I brought my Mazda 3 in to them a few months ago and I literally laughed at their offer of $5,000. They said they would wholesale it to another dealer. I sold it a month later for $10,000 privately.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Plainfield Ill.
I went that route. Since I didn't have any power or performance mods - so didn't get any inquiries , yes I know people are more weary about cars with power or performance mods, but I've looked in the for sale section here and the cars with power/performance mods gets more hits and those who are selling their cars stock - unfortunately a lot of people are dumping there cars and some are desperate enough to lose a lot of money just to dump their cars, I'm not in a rush but obviously -the earlier I sell mine the better. I really don't want to add any more mileage than I have to be if it will entice buyers.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
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From: Plainfield Ill.
Looks like we have 2 sides of the coin here -some people are saying that they got offered better money from Carmax and some don't. Wonder if it's the car themselves - Mazda 3's are more common -maybe that's why they offered you cheaper ( no offense ) . It doesn't hurt to try -I will go tomorrow and see what they say - I'll update you guys tomorrow.
