Anyone buy a used car recently? Where did you buy it (dealer, carmax, Craigslist, friend, etc)?

[Anonymous]

Not sure where to buy a used car. We will check nearby dealers and carmax. If you bought a used car recently, where did you buy it? Did it come with a warranty or a return policy? We are looking at Toyota RAV4 or Subaru Impreza or Legacy (for the awd and the small size).

[Anonymous]

Cars.com. use the email to reAch out and negotiate from there

[Anonymous]

Almost bought at Carmax and would go there again for the lack of hassle.

I ended up deciding to go with a newish hybrid model that they just didn't have more than 1 every couple months.

[Anonymous]

You definitely pay a bit of a premium at Carmax but you can't beat the process. Everything is on the website, including the inventory of every Carmax in the country. Transparent pricing with no negotiation, including the transfer fee if you want a car from a different location brought to you local Carmax. Get financing set up with your own bank/credit union/cash and walk in and walk out with no stress.

My first car was new at the dealer. My next couple were from Carmax. I've now moved completely down market and have bought our last two on Craigslist (they were too old for Carmax).

[Anonymous]

Last two via carmax. The process is the draw.

[Anonymous]

Do some research first on the Subaru transmissions.

[Anonymous]

The last one we bought from a highly reputable and recommended used car dealer (not in the DC area). I was a little skeptical of going to a used car dealer but we got a decent deal on a late model, low mileage suv. We've had it for about 6 months and it's been a great vehicle. Exactly what I wanted.

Before that, we had gotten a brand new vehicle from a Toyota dealership at their end of year clearance sale. Another great deal on a great vehicle. That sale should be starting up in the next few months.

We have also gotten and traded in cars over the years through Carmax and would definitely use them again.

[Anonymous]

We have used: dealer, Carmax, and private sellers. Came down to who had the car we liked best and convenience.

[Anonymous]

We bought our car from Carmax. It is more expensive, but worth it in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Auction. But I'm a diy'er with a very high risk tolerance.

[Anonymous]

I bought from a Hertz rental car dealership. They had tons of 2016-2018 models at varying prices. I bought a 2016 Kia Soul with 50,000 miles for $9400. I came in with Bo of A financing approval and did not bother applying for theirs. It did come with a warranty and when I got home noticed a tiny flaw in the glass in the top corner of the back windshield. They had someone out to replace it the next day. All in all, I had a much better experience than I've had buying new.

[Anonymous]

Since when was a refusal of a used car sales company to negotiate over price a good thing? Most used cars have something wrong with them anyway.

[Anonymous]

From a dealer. it was a year old, less than 7K miles and cheaper than Carmax. Fully loaded. Carmax is a rip off. I know a guy who does body work for them. He is expensive, carmax is expensive like heck. Email and negotiate ahead of time is what I did. In fact, almost every time I bought a car, carmax was a worse deal than that same car brand new after negotiating. But, I spend more time like this and yes, get ticked off by slimy dealer workers. Darcars Toyota Rockville is especially bad a mansplaining. Their female rep and I worked the whole thing our and then a "man" came to explain to me ...without listening at all. Walked away there. I end up buying in PG county because people are so much nicer. Also, any dealer in Clarksville is shady too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You definitely pay a bit of a premium at Carmax but you can't beat the process. Everything is on the website, including the inventory of every Carmax in the country. Transparent pricing with no negotiation, including the transfer fee if you want a car from a different location brought to you local Carmax. Get financing set up with your own bank/credit union/cash and walk in and walk out with no stress.

My first car was new at the dealer. My next couple were from Carmax. I've now moved completely down market and have bought our last two on Craigslist (they were too old for Carmax).

How to you justify buying a car from there... when their used are the same price or above the price for a new at the dealer? For example, their Highlanders are above the dealer price for a new one.

[Anonymous]

The last one we bought from a highly reputable and recommended used car dealer (not in the DC area). I was a little skeptical of going to a used car dealer but we got a decent deal on a late model, low mileage suv. We've had it for about 6 months and it's been a great vehicle. Exactly what I wanted.

Almost identical story here except we’ve had the SUV for almost a year and a half. From Auto Lenders in NJ. Found it on cars.com / autotrader.com where I had been looking for a specific model/color/package with less than 20K miles.

Our last car was found the same way but we bought it used from a new car dealer.