Good Carmax selling experience.

cjchaps

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2000
3,013
1
81
When I met my wife she had a '98 Ford Contour and we just got rid of it last week. We bought an '06 Rav4 and the dealer offered us $1000 for the trade-in. We refused that offer knowing that I could get more for it elsewhere. The day after we bought the Rav4 we took the car to Carmax and were pleasantly suprised at their offer. They offered to buy it for $1700 :Q KBB lists the trade-in price in excellent condition as $1,575($945 for fair condition)!

They did their inspection of the Contour and said "Everything was in good shape relative to the age of the car" which surprised me because here is what I knew was wrong with the car:
1) The A/C compressor needed replacement and the A/C clutch was making all kinds of racket.
2) The back drum breaks needed replacing and were squealing.
3) The car was leaking oil(I found oil spots in my garage).
4) It was shifting pretty hard and I think the shocks/struts needed replacement(the car had over 100,000 miles on it with basically all original parts)

I have no idea what they are going to sell it for but I assume it will be 3 times what they bought it for and some poor schmuck will buy it and end up with a maintenance nightmare.

C/N: Carmax gave me a lot for my car and be careful buying used cars from them.
 

RBBRMADE

Senior member
Oct 28, 2003
491
0
0
They will auction that car and hope to break even.
They don't sell older cars like that.
They were hoping you'd buy another car while you were there, at a later date, or tell your friends about your experience.
Looks like they got #3, and will still hope for #2 next time you need a car.
Ron
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,391
1,780
126
So Carmax will buy old cars from you without you buying one from them? I figured they would only do trade-ins....most places don't want your crappy cars if they're over 5 years old.
 

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
let's hear about your new RAV! I'm waiting a bit to get one, but that IS my next car.
 

PandaBear

Golden Member
Aug 23, 2000
1,375
1
81
So in general where do those older cars go? I haven't seen many cars older than 8 years on the street, and I know for sure most of them last longer than 8 years.
 

cjchaps

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2000
3,013
1
81
We bought the limited V6 last week so I only got to drive it a few times.... but I have been blown away by it. It feels solid, the acceleration is awesome and it handles good for it's size! The stock stereo is a little crappy and the accelerator pedal is a bit touchy but other than that no complaints.

Originally posted by: toekramp
let's hear about your new RAV! I'm waiting a bit to get one, but that IS my next car.

 

Slacker

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,623
33
91
Originally posted by: toekramp
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: toekramp
let's here about your new RAV! I'm waiting a bit to get one, but that IS my next car.
hear ;)

LETTUCE HERE IT FOUR TEH ENGLISH MAGOR

i'm a tard
LoL :laugh:


I sold two cars to carmax, got more than I expected for both of them, they gave me $1200.00 for my wifes beat 98 taurus, and they gave me 20k for my 04 Mach1, I made a thread about it a couple of weeks ago, I was very pleased with the whole experience.

Link to the thread: CarMax gets an A+++ from me.

 

CFster

Golden Member
Oct 16, 1999
1,903
0
76
CarMax doesn't screw around.

They're big customers of the wholesale auto auction I work for, and frequently buy over a hundred cars at a clip - mostly stuff under 5 years old. They have a boatload of buyers that just go around the country buying up cars.

Generally if they want something, they'll get it (out bid anybody). They can do this because they deal in so much quantity, that they can keep their profit margin low.

Did you guys know that Circuit City started CarMax?



 

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
Both myself and my gf have sold cars to them before.
Mine was a 1995 Chrysler LHS that was litteraly on its last legs, It would overheat if driven for more than 20 minutes and the transmission would shudder horribly when trying to go in to overdrive. Got $1000 for it, made me very happy.
My GF traded in her 95 rusting, dented, beat to crap Buick Regal with a leaking intake gasket for $700, the same car had been given to her 5 years earlier when her parents had wanted to trade it in at that time and were only offered $500. Bought a 01 PT Cruiser from them that was immaculate, had an extremely upgraded stereo system and only 7100 miles on it.
 

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
they offered me 23k on my vehicle, then the next place i stopped gave me 25k... so i have one vote against them
 

Slacker

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,623
33
91
Originally posted by: toekramp
they offered me 23k on my vehicle, then the next place i stopped gave me 25k... so i have one vote against them

Carmax offered you 23k cash, was the 25k a trade value? cash money and trade dollars are very different currencies.