Carmax or regular used car dealer

johnguidry · #1 09-09-2010, 05:45 AM

Has anyone had any experience with Carmax? Are their cars as good as they claim? Some sites on the internet claim that Carmax does the "inspection" but don't really fix anything, they just try to get you to buy their "MaxCare extended service program" and do any real repairs when you come in for the "maxcare" claims. Or are you just as good off buying a used from any regular dealer lot? I see that Carmax on the average is a couple of thousand more than a similar car at other lots.

Apocrypha · #2 09-09-2010, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnguidry

Has anyone had any experience with Carmax? Are their cars as good as they claim? Some sites on the internet claim that Carmax does the "inspection" but don't really fix anything, they just try to get you to buy their "MaxCare extended service program" and do any real repairs when you come in for the "maxcare" claims. Or are you just as good off buying a used from any regular dealer lot? I see that Carmax on the average is a couple of thousand more than a similar car at other lots.

Try Enterprise Rentals, they almost always have a specialty car dealership in each area under the Enterprise name that sells their off lease commercial vehicles. They price them aggressively, the cars are only 2 years old at most, and they are maintained very well.

DAII · #3 09-09-2010, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnguidry

Has anyone had any experience with Carmax? Are their cars as good as they claim? Some sites on the internet claim that Carmax does the "inspection" but don't really fix anything, they just try to get you to buy their "MaxCare extended service program" and do any real repairs when you come in for the "maxcare" claims. Or are you just as good off buying a used from any regular dealer lot? I see that Carmax on the average is a couple of thousand more than a similar car at other lots.

When I left NY in Feb of 2006 and before taking a teaching position in August 2006 ... I worked full-time at Car Max for as in sales then in their buyer's division ... stayed with them part time to Dec. of 2006.

A quality company. Period.

They are hands down a better bet than a local used car dealer

Their buyers have very stringent guidelines to the cars they will sell in their lots ... the trash goes to their auctions which other used car dealers buy from ... then turn around and sell in their lots.

johnguidry · #4 09-09-2010, 06:28 AM

So, what do you think about all those posts on the internet, for example, one man bought a carmax car and even though his vehicle passed inspection, he said the headlights were not working. Another got a brake job not too long after purchasing the car, and even though it had passed the carmax inspection, the brakes were badly worn, some pins were missing, the rotors scratched, etc. Personally, I am leaning toward carmax, and realize that sometimes the "unhappy" people are faster about speaking up and you never hear about the millions who are "happy". I value your thoughts.

coadie · #5 09-09-2010, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAII

When I left NY in Feb of 2006 and before taking a teaching position in August 2006 ... I worked full-time at Car Max for as in sales then in their buyer's division ... stayed with them to Dec. of 2006.

A quality company.

They are hands down a better bet than a local used car dealer

Their buyers have very stringent guidelines to the cars they will sell in their lots ... the trash goes to their auctions which other used car dealers buy from ... then turn around and sell in their lots.

What an impressive resume. Actually you are wrong. New dealerships have more factory trained mechanics and higher scores. Never do we see a used car at used car max lots that the used dealer sold new. Many dealers sell trade ins and they have all the service history in their files on the car that they sold new. Carmax hires inferior mechanics. Just enough to get the car down the road and rip them off on maintenance agreement sales.
Car max can rip you off on
Financing
Insurance on the loan
Maintenance insurance
Carmax also can't hire the top sales tallent. And they don't

coadie · #6 09-09-2010, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnguidry

So, what do you think about all those posts on the internet, for example, one man bought a carmax car and even though his vehicle passed inspection, he said the headlights were not working. Another got a brake job not too long after purchasing the car, and even though it had passed the carmax inspection, the brakes were badly worn, some pins were missing, the rotors scratched, etc. Personally, I am leaning toward carmax, and realize that sometimes the "unhappy" people are faster about speaking up and you never hear about the millions who are "happy". I value your thoughts.

Carmax is over priced cars.

Bella1 · #7 09-09-2010, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnguidry

Has anyone had any experience with Carmax? Are their cars as good as they claim? Some sites on the internet claim that Carmax does the "inspection" but don't really fix anything, they just try to get you to buy their "MaxCare extended service program" and do any real repairs when you come in for the "maxcare" claims. Or are you just as good off buying a used from any regular dealer lot? I see that Carmax on the average is a couple of thousand more than a similar car at other lots.

Hey John! (Tell Vonda hello!)

CarMax has been good for me. My last 2 cars are from there and they were as good as new. Just sold my SUV and got me a Lincoln from a private owner. If I had not bought privately, I would have gone back to CarMax.

rgcraig · #8 09-09-2010, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coadie

What an impressive resume. Actually you are wrong. New dealerships have more factory trained mechanics and higher scores. Never do we see a used car at used car max lots that the used dealer sold new. Many dealers sell trade ins and they have all the service history in their files on the car that they sold new. Carmax hires inferior mechanics. Just enough to get the car down the road and rip them off on maintenance agreement sales.
Car max can rip you off on
Financing
Insurance on the loan
Maintenance insurance
Carmax also can't hire the top sales tallent. And they don't

You are just a jack of all trades, aren't you?

DAII · #9 09-09-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgcraig

You are just a jack of all trades, aren't you?

Yes, he's our resident psychologist and homophobe ... as well.

DAII · #10 09-09-2010, 07:31 AM

Well, Coadie if my 13 years as a public school educator (9 years teaching general education Social Studies, ELA and Spanish and now entering my fifth year in special education) are unimpressive to you ... tuff noogies, hijo.

As teachers ,we are most definitely underpaid, under appreciated, under everything.

But I have quite a bit off hands-on training dealing with those with your "behavioral difficulty" ... and when your children come to my classroom I am their best hope even on my worst day.