Has anyone dealt with CarMax?
08-08-2016, 02:17 PM
#21
Team Owner
Member Since: Mar 2004
Location: Oklahoma City OK
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Buying a car at Car Max is just like buying a shirt at Macy's, the price is the price and that's what you pay.
08-08-2016, 02:17 PM
#22
Melting Slicks
My only contact with CarMax was when I took my '13 Nissan Altima SL for an appraisal. They lowballed the crap out of the appraisal of a car with under 10K miles on the clock and a year of remaining warranty. While I was waiting or my appraisal I took a look at a newer Mustang convertible and was gob smacked by the "no haggle" price on the car. I later went on line at kbb.com and found that their no haggle price was well above the Blue Book valuation for the car, considering the actual mileage. Go figger.
Last edited by RagTop69; 08-08-2016 at 02:18 PM.
08-08-2016, 02:21 PM
#23
Melting Slicks
Just had an appraisal done by them on my C6.... Came in about $2,000 lower than NADA trade in values and $5,000 lower than KBB trade in values..... Granted this was just to sell rather than trade on one of their existing cars.... Not sure if that made any difference or not with them.
Tyler
Tyler
08-08-2016, 09:04 PM
#25
Burning Brakes
I bought my C6 from CarMax. This was the second car that I've bought from them. Both experience was fantastic. They did not waste my time at all. The Vette was across the state and they delivered to the dealer that was close to my house. Excellent experience.
08-08-2016, 09:16 PM
#26
Le Mans Master
Fellas...I got my 2008 black 1LT z51 optioned piece at Carmax in Tampa. Car was located in Miami and sent north per my dime. I purchased Jan 2010 at Carmax in Tampa with ~6900 on the clock. So far, almost no reliability issues. Damn this car has done me right.
08-09-2016, 07:41 AM
#27
Drifting
Just had an appraisal done by them on my C6.... Came in about $2,000 lower than NADA trade in values and $5,000 lower than KBB trade in values..... Granted this was just to sell rather than trade on one of their existing cars.... Not sure if that made any difference or not with them.
Tyler
Tyler
I first go to carmax for the appraisal and 7 day price lock. I then go to the dealer where I plan to purchase the car from. I have them provide me with a trade value, carmax wins everytime. I then close the deal on the new car and go to carmax and sell them my old car.
I like this approach because I am now only negotiating on the new car versus them playing games on lowering the value of the trade due to the good deal negotiated on the new car. YMMV.
08-09-2016, 08:17 AM
#28
It also depends on the sales rep too. **** wanted to close the deal asap. I had the vette shipped for $600. CarMax closes at 6pm and he called me at 3pm. He had the nerve to say to me that if i didn't buy the vette right now, it may not be there tomorrow. That pissed me off even though I wanted the vette. So I rushed to my bank and back to close the deal. Honestly, it was worth the headache. Off the lot, 2008 A6 JSB 3LT Z51 NPP with 4,952 miles for $34K
08-09-2016, 08:44 AM
#29
Racer
I prefer used as opposed to buying new (that initial depreciation just sucks!) and have bought several used cars from various dealers. My Carmax experience was one of the best but the price was firm. What did bother was the extended warranty I got for 36 months. The Carmax service center did not deliver and next time I will probably opt out on the warranty.
08-09-2016, 06:54 PM
#30
Pro
Thread Starter
If I ever bought an aftermarket warranty it would be from Fidelity. They cover my V10 Volkswagen Touareg and they've been fantastic. I go to the dealer and pay 50 bucks per visit. If you know anything about the V10 SUVS is that the engine comes out for everything (2400 in labor)--so it's well paid for itself.
08-09-2016, 08:30 PM
#31
Instructor
Like others, I also had a good experience at Carmax.
I was shopping for my first Corvette and knew what I wanted. I finally found that car at a Carmax in Laurel, MD, about 2 hours from my home. I called one evening, spoke to a very nice salesperson who answered my questions about its condition. Told him what day and time we'd be down to see it. We arrived and saw the car - exactly as described and it even had a sold sign on it with my name, just to hold it for me.
There was no haggling at all. The car may have been priced a little higher (maybe 1K) than it should have been, but I found exactly what I wanted so I didn't mind too much.
The only negative thing about Carmax was the front license plate. The car was in PA before Carmax got it and PA does not have a front plate requirement. They stuck a black frame onto the front bumper with that double sided tape stuff, but screwed on the Carmax plate to the frame. The one screw was too long and put a very small hole in the bumper. I didn't find that until a few days later when I removed the frame.
I was shopping for my first Corvette and knew what I wanted. I finally found that car at a Carmax in Laurel, MD, about 2 hours from my home. I called one evening, spoke to a very nice salesperson who answered my questions about its condition. Told him what day and time we'd be down to see it. We arrived and saw the car - exactly as described and it even had a sold sign on it with my name, just to hold it for me.
There was no haggling at all. The car may have been priced a little higher (maybe 1K) than it should have been, but I found exactly what I wanted so I didn't mind too much.
The only negative thing about Carmax was the front license plate. The car was in PA before Carmax got it and PA does not have a front plate requirement. They stuck a black frame onto the front bumper with that double sided tape stuff, but screwed on the Carmax plate to the frame. The one screw was too long and put a very small hole in the bumper. I didn't find that until a few days later when I removed the frame.
08-09-2016, 11:24 PM
#32
Melting Slicks
I bought my 2008 vette from Carmax in Dec of 08 and it was the easiest car purchase I ever made AND the price kicked butt! Car was only 6 months old. Previous owner had it for 3 months. MSRP 65K. I got it for $37,600 3200 miles. No real issues since the day I took it home.
Yes, that was when the economy was starting to tank but they had other vettes on there site for way much more with less options. I have a 3LT ect... fully loaded. I was skeptical and told the sales person that this better not be a bait and switch. It wasn't. He held the car for me and it took an hour to get the paperwork done. He believed CarMax must have gotten a very good price on a trade in or something. They mark up the cars for a certain percentage of what they pay for them period.
I would absolutely buy from Carmax again.
Yes, that was when the economy was starting to tank but they had other vettes on there site for way much more with less options. I have a 3LT ect... fully loaded. I was skeptical and told the sales person that this better not be a bait and switch. It wasn't. He held the car for me and it took an hour to get the paperwork done. He believed CarMax must have gotten a very good price on a trade in or something. They mark up the cars for a certain percentage of what they pay for them period.
I would absolutely buy from Carmax again.
Last edited by Wildmanht; 08-09-2016 at 11:25 PM.
08-10-2016, 03:30 AM
#33
Melting Slicks
I don't even need to read this thread. Carmax is not for the educated man. They sell cars for thousands over actual value and low ball every single trade through the door. The no haggle pricing is just so you cant argue. I was going to buy a GTO not too long ago and had a salesman explain it clearly (yes,after he knew I wasn't going to bend over). I would never deal with them. Good luck to anyone who does. You've got to be pretty desperate to pay buy here pay here prices with good credit that will still get you a middle of the road APR because you'll be so upside down right from day 1.
08-10-2016, 10:29 AM
#34
Le Mans Master
I don't even need to read this thread. Carmax is not for the educated man. They sell cars for thousands over actual value and low ball every single trade through the door. The no haggle pricing is just so you cant argue. I was going to buy a GTO not too long ago and had a salesman explain it clearly (yes,after he knew I wasn't going to bend over). I would never deal with them. Good luck to anyone who does. You've got to be pretty desperate to pay buy here pay here prices with good credit that will still get you a middle of the road APR because you'll be so upside down right from day 1.
I've bought a lot of cars. While I don't *always* buy at Carmax, they are always 1st on my list to shop/check.
Compared to my local franchised dealerships here in Las Vegas:
*CarMax cash offers are almost always higher than the dealer's ACV price (many salespeople suggest selling there instead of trading-in after I show them the written cash offer -- they just can't match it);
*CarMax prices have been in line with the dealerships used inventory.
As much as I enjoy it, 'haggling' isn't strictly necessary when the cost out of my pocket is better than the alternatives. And it's the final cost that matters to me, not that I had to show my prowess by going through gymnastics to get there.
Not sure how that makes me "uneducated" but the numbers *usually* work in my favor to shop CarMax.
EDITED TO ADD: Almost all of my used car purchases have been specialty or performance cars, where there may be few matching vehicles available in the entire valley. My experience may not be the same if I had been dealing with commodity cars like Malibus, Pickups, minivans, etc., where every dealer has a dozen examples on their lot, and thus are overly eager to move them.
Last edited by Kent1999; 08-10-2016 at 02:41 PM.
08-10-2016, 12:47 PM
#35
Burning Brakes
My only issue wit Carmax and it's partly my fault but I made the mistake and trusted their multi-point inspection and free car-fax. Everything checked out clean but I noticed a little while after purchased the car and detailing it there appeared to be paint dry spots showing the car had been painted for some reason. The car-fax they supplied was clean no incidents however, I found out that the vehicle was in fact involved in an accident and had the left front and rear panels replaced. I say it's my fault because I should have researched the car better but the price was in my range and that was my basis and it drove great.
Eventually I traded it in for a 13 GS a little over a year ago
My advice don't trust their car-fax check it out on your own. Good Luck
08-10-2016, 12:50 PM
#36
Burning Brakes
Like others, I also had a good experience at Carmax.
I was shopping for my first Corvette and knew what I wanted. I finally found that car at a Carmax in Laurel, MD, about 2 hours from my home. I called one evening, spoke to a very nice salesperson who answered my questions about its condition. Told him what day and time we'd be down to see it. We arrived and saw the car - exactly as described and it even had a sold sign on it with my name, just to hold it for me.
There was no haggling at all. The car may have been priced a little higher (maybe 1K) than it should have been, but I found exactly what I wanted so I didn't mind too much.
The only negative thing about Carmax was the front license plate. The car was in PA before Carmax got it and PA does not have a front plate requirement. They stuck a black frame onto the front bumper with that double sided tape stuff, but screwed on the Carmax plate to the frame. The one screw was too long and put a very small hole in the bumper. I didn't find that until a few days later when I removed the frame.
I was shopping for my first Corvette and knew what I wanted. I finally found that car at a Carmax in Laurel, MD, about 2 hours from my home. I called one evening, spoke to a very nice salesperson who answered my questions about its condition. Told him what day and time we'd be down to see it. We arrived and saw the car - exactly as described and it even had a sold sign on it with my name, just to hold it for me.
There was no haggling at all. The car may have been priced a little higher (maybe 1K) than it should have been, but I found exactly what I wanted so I didn't mind too much.
The only negative thing about Carmax was the front license plate. The car was in PA before Carmax got it and PA does not have a front plate requirement. They stuck a black frame onto the front bumper with that double sided tape stuff, but screwed on the Carmax plate to the frame. The one screw was too long and put a very small hole in the bumper. I didn't find that until a few days later when I removed the frame.
08-10-2016, 12:53 PM
#37
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jan 2016
Location: New Mexico
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08-10-2016, 12:54 PM
#38
Melting Slicks
I purchased a Corvette from them back in 2011 it was a 07 3LT. The price of the car is the price you will pay. The transaction was seamless and they even transferred the car for free because there was one closer to my home and the one I test drove the car at was about an hour and half away.
My only issue wit Carmax and it's partly my fault but I made the mistake and trusted their multi-point inspection and free car-fax. Everything checked out clean but I noticed a little while after purchased the car and detailing it there appeared to be paint dry spots showing the car had been painted for some reason. The car-fax they supplied was clean no incidents however, I found out that the vehicle was in fact involved in an accident and had the left front and rear panels replaced. I say it's my fault because I should have researched the car better but the price was in my range and that was my basis and it drove great.
Eventually I traded it in for a 13 GS a little over a year ago
My advice don't trust their car-fax check it out on your own. Good Luck
My only issue wit Carmax and it's partly my fault but I made the mistake and trusted their multi-point inspection and free car-fax. Everything checked out clean but I noticed a little while after purchased the car and detailing it there appeared to be paint dry spots showing the car had been painted for some reason. The car-fax they supplied was clean no incidents however, I found out that the vehicle was in fact involved in an accident and had the left front and rear panels replaced. I say it's my fault because I should have researched the car better but the price was in my range and that was my basis and it drove great.
Eventually I traded it in for a 13 GS a little over a year ago
My advice don't trust their car-fax check it out on your own. Good Luck
08-10-2016, 01:03 PM
#39
Burning Brakes
08-10-2016, 01:05 PM
#40
Burning Brakes
Yes and that's where I saw that it occurred in Arizona and the car was in Maryland shortly after it was repaired. Carmax claim was that some business man had it as his company car and then just traded it in one day for something else.
