Buying at Carmax - more reliable than other used dealers?

[Anonymous]

Been looking online for about a week for a used car and am wondering - the Carmax prices are higher than independent dealers. Is the added price worthwhile, meaning, does buying from them provide additional peace of mind? Do they do more to ensure they aren't selling lemons than the average independent dealer?

[Anonymous]

Try PenFed True car buying service.
It is free and it pulls in all area dealership inventory with you plugging in make, model, years considered, #miles you'd consider, price limit, etc into their search engine.
Then you can compare, they mark fair, good or great deals.

To answer your question, no.
They'd like you to think that though.

[Anonymous]

They all buy their cars form auctions and some have more overhead than others so that impacts the prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try PenFed True car buying service.
It is free and it pulls in all area dealership inventory with you plugging in make, model, years considered, #miles you'd consider, price limit, etc into their search engine.
Then you can compare, they mark fair, good or great deals.

To answer your question, no.
They'd like you to think that though.

Thanks - just noticed this extended warranty they have. https://www.penfed.org/auto/vehicle-protection-plan Would that cover a new transmission? Anyone have experience with that?

[Anonymous]

They warranty their cars and have a great extended warranty. There was a good series on a popular autoblog where the writer bought a range rover in terrible condition and then used the carmax warranty to return it to good condition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They warranty their cars and have a great extended warranty. There was a good series on a popular autoblog where the writer bought a range rover in terrible condition and then used the carmax warranty to return it to good condition

Interesting. Might be especially helpful on used higher end cars.

[Anonymous]

I've bought several cars from Carmax and been very happy. Always got a one or two year old car. Zero problems. Fast and easy means a lot to me too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They warranty their cars and have a great extended warranty. There was a good series on a popular autoblog where the writer bought a range rover in terrible condition and then used the carmax warranty to return it to good condition

Yes, and then Carmax changed their warranties afterward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've bought several cars from Carmax and been very happy. Always got a one or two year old car. Zero problems. Fast and easy means a lot to me too.

I've never bought a car from Carmax, but my friend bought a Mercedes and a BMW and a Lexus, and was very happy with all of them. They honor their warranty. Something happened with the BMW, and she was able to return it and buy another one. You definitely save money buying a 2 year old car from them. I couldn't find a hybrid, so I bought a new car, but if they'd had a hybrid, I would have bought from Carmax based on my friend's experience there.

[Anonymous]

I bought a car last spring from Carmax (I had also purchased one there about 10 years ago) and am very happy with the whole experience.

I was looking for a particular model of car and was pricing them among dealers. I found that new/used car dealers (like, Subaru or Ford) would have the car at a cheaper price but then have 'thousands' of dollars in added fees! (one dealer had $3200 in 'fees' and Carmax was $600) And didn't have the warranty that Carmax has.

So I got my car at a no haggle no suprise price, got a good warranty (that I didn't have to use), and I did get an extended warranty after much research-again haven't had to use yet (hopefully never).

[Anonymous]

So, the listed price at Carmax is not the out the door price either?

[Anonymous]

How much does the extended warranty cost? I know it depends on what car you buy, but would love to hear actual cost and if it's worth it - in the time since they changed the warranty due to the vlog post from the guy who killed the great deal!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, the listed price at Carmax is not the out the door price either?

PP here-not sure how you got that from my post, the fee at Carmax in my state is tax, title and registration. That will vary by state, but there aren't 3K random 'fees' like I found at other places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much does the extended warranty cost? I know it depends on what car you buy, but would love to hear actual cost and if it's worth it - in the time since they changed the warranty due to the vlog post from the guy who killed the great deal!

It varies. I got the longest and most mileage one they have, with the highest deductible ($300) because I commute and rack up the miles like whoa, and plan to keep it until the wheels fall off. Haven't had to use it, car has been perfect so far.

[Anonymous]

I bought a car from Carmax, and was super happy with it and the experience was great. My last car was new, but if I were to buy a used car again I would definitely go back to Carmax.