Buying a Car Through CarMax: A Review
CarMax had more then twenty Camry's listed right there on its web site. The no-haggle price made it easy to pick one we liked, which turned out to be a blue one with all the basics, which meant power everything and a few niceties like remote key locking and sensors up the whazoo.
Once we had one we thought we liked, we were given a closer view. We saw pictures of the actual vehicle and liked what we saw. We were given a complete list of what came with the car and used the little on-line calculator to figure out what our monthly payments would be under various scenarios. Within a mater of a couple of hours of talking it over, we were convinced this car was for us. It should be noted that we considered taking time out to go over to a dealership to look at some Accords, but after some more discussion, we both realized that we liked the Toyota cars we'd seen on the road and had been passengers in with others that owned them, more than we did the Honda vehicles, so we said forget Honda and decided to get more information on the Toyota.
We sent a sales rep an e-mail asking some questions about availability and how long it would take to clear us financially. He wrote back within ten minutes and told us the car was available immediately and he could clear us financially within a couple of hours. We spoke some more privately and then called him and gave him our information. He called back a couple of hours later and told us we were ready and when did we want to come pick up the car.
We drove over the following afternoon. The lot was clean, fresh looking and inviting. There were a lot of customers eyeing cars and sales people assisting them. We met first with the sales guy from online and on the phone, signed the usual stuff then were taken back to talk with the financial guy. We made our choices and had things signed within ten minutes. The price was exactly what they'd advertised on thier web-site. And that was that. I might mention that we did have the option of test driving the Camry, but we both knew we were going to buy it, so we didn't bother. In hindsight, that was probably a silly move on our part, but as mentioned, we've both been in Toyota's so often we knew what we were getting and weren't surprised in the least when we got in the car and drove it home.
While we waited for the guy to go get it and bring it out front to us, the sales guy explained everything there is to explain about a new car and then some. By the time we got in the car to drive away, with a full tank, we felt like we already knew our new car.
In short, we found every single aspect of purchasing this car through CarMax to be a pleasure. The only thing we weren't too crazy about was the interest rate on the loan. That was the only thing about the whole process that we couldn't nail down before driving over to the lot and that we felt a little uneasy about afterwards. Could we have done better at a dealership? We don't know and likely never will. But we still feel we bought our car at the right place.
We would heartily recommend purchasing a car through CarMax to anyone considering buying a new car, especially if you already know what you want and are familiar with the prices others are charging.
We've had the car for a week now and just love it. A review of the Camry will come after we've had it for at least six months. But so far, it's exceeded our every expectation.
Published by s.e. Jones - Featured Contributor in Technology
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19 Comments
Post a CommentSo glad I read these reviews (other than the Toyata typo) before buying a used car. I will NEVER EVER go near a Carmax!!
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anyway, the sales process is pretty smooth at Carmax, but service after the sale is horrible. Avoid taking the vehicle back to Carmax for service if you can avoid it.
I've bought 3 cars at Carmax. Experience has always been good until now. I bought a Tahoe from the Modesto store a month ago. Within a week I could tell something was wrong with the suspension. Called the store to schedule a service appointment, and the first "available" appointment was on 11-29. Really? Are they that busy? I live 70 miles away, so I drove the truck to the store on the evening of 11-28 and dropped it off so they would have it first thing on the 29th. They didn't even look at the truck for two more days. Again, really? What good did having an appointment do me? Anyway, after they finally looked it they called and told me they had diagnosed the problem and had to order parts. They told me it would be ready to pick up today. Before I headed to the store (70 miles) today, I called and learned that they had ordered the wrong parts and it would be at least another day. That's five days without my vehicle, and they made no offer for a loaner. Also, th
I bought a car at Carmax and paid cash. After discovering that the car had front end damage, I returned it. They happily took the car back. BUT since I paid cash for the car, they are giving me a big hassle with reimbursement. Ten days later, they have the car back, AND my $18,000. How much longer do I have to wait for reimbursement? No one can tell me that. Do not buy a car at Carmax!
People are friendly but they even admit to me that they buy trade-Ins at auction prices and NOT trade -In prices. They quoted my 2003 VW GTI for $3,000 while i got it trade-in for $7,500 at a dealership for a new car.
Good! After reading article and comments I know I won't waste my time at CarMax. Thanks!
Ultimately, I would deal with Carmax in the future, but only if I did not have a car to trade in (see next post).
Recently purchased a vehicle from Carmax. Have no complaints about how I was treated or about the vehicle itself. My only complaint concerns the vehicle we intended to trade in. We had purchased it 15 months ago for about $9,500. Carmax offered us $3,000 (about 1,000 below Kelly's "fair condition" value). Granted, its a year older and 25-30,000 miles farther down the road, and there is a minor ding in the door (when I asked if we got the ding fixed, how would that change the value of the car, the salesman said not much, as those kind of repairs are cheap for them to make in house). Today, I looked at the Carmax website. They have 2 similar vehicles, one, same year, 15,000 less miles, and they are asking $10,900, the other, one year older, 38,000 less miles, asking $11,000. I think Carmax's game is to lowball trade ins, then hide behind their no haggle policy and refuse to negotiate a fair price, and turn around and make a killing on the trade in. I would buy from Carmax, but
My advice - give it a few weeks and you'll be singing a different tune!
My experience with Carmax in Irvine, CA has been very, very negative, and I'm beginning to realize the place is a sham. As for their "thorough inspection" - bull. I took my car to an independent mechanic and right away they found several problems. Sure, you have a 30 day warranty, but the bottom line is Carmax lies when they say they're selling you a quality car and boasting that they guarantee them. In my situation, I brought back the car right away so they could fix the alignment and balancing of the weeks and a rear brake light. First of all, the service department didn't return my messages and I had to stay on top of them to abide by their warranty. When I got the car back, I then realized the spare tire in the truck was obviously defective. HELLO!! If I had changed a flat tire on the freeway and unknowingly replaced it with that tire, I could have been KILLED!! When I left a message with the service
After my apparaisal, I spend 4 hours there waiting for my check while selling my car to them. SO if you are selling, get prices from them, but go somewhere else to sell it.. T