Anybody buy from Carmax? They have a car I want but haggling is just part of the process. Not sure how it works without it.
Except hookers don't let you go on a test drive.You walk in, buy the car for the price on the sticker, it's kind of like shopping literally everywhere, but with cars.
Not at CarMax. Instead you wait until they drop their price of their own volition.There is always haggling
No, that's exactly what they do. You can haggle all you want, but they won't haggle back. It's a brilliant strategy, people buy from them because they know they didn't "leave money on the table", doesn't matter what the actual price is as long as they got the best possible price. Carmax is consistently above market value on their cars, but people don't shop around, they go directly to CarMax and buy at whatever price they see.I find it hard to believe that they will let someone walk out without offering something up.
Is it true that they start off with stupid high finance rates and pack payments with all types of extras?
You can charge extra by being a straight shooter in an industry full of bullshitters and con artists.No, that's exactly what they do. You can haggle all you want, but they won't haggle back. It's a brilliant strategy, people buy from them because they know they didn't "leave money on the table", doesn't matter what the actual price is as long as they got the best possible price. Carmax is consistently above market value on their cars, but people don't shop around, they go directly to CarMax and buy at whatever price they see.
I know a bunch of people who have bought at Carmax, and none have had any bullshit with their loans. I also know a few people who hav worked as salesmen there, and they all say the same thing, the pricing model is nutty, but it's consistent. They seem to run a pretty straight-up business, but their main and only advantage is that there is no bullshit, not that you're actually going to get a great deal.
QFTYou can charge extra by being a straight shooter in an industry full of bullshitters and con artists.
one way to avoid the stresses of buying a car is to just fucking steal oneQFT
I'd gladly pay a slight premium to avoid the whole car buying "experience". Such horseshit.
It's not just because I'm cheap that I'm driving a car that's 20 years old.one way to avoid the stresses of buying a car is to just fucking steal one
If they are consistently above market value and you can't negotiate the price to comparable vehicles in the market aren't you "leaving money on the table"?It's a brilliant strategy, people buy from them because they know they didn't "leave money on the table", doesn't matter what the actual price is as long as they got the best possible price. Carmax is consistently above market value on their cars, but people don't shop around, they go directly to CarMax and buy at whatever price they see.
They're not leaving money on the table as compared to Joe Sixpack walking into the same CarMax to buy the same car. There is something to be said about that.If they are consistently above market value and you can't negotiate the price to comparable vehicles in the market aren't you "leaving money on the table"?
We do have auto nation here which is very similar. I may have to pay them a visit to see the process.
Yeah, you're leaving money on the table, but you're leaving it on a different table. You accept the fact that you're likely not getting the best deal on the planet, but it's easy, easy is worth it to a lot of people. Same reason you'd buy any used car from a dealer instead of private party. PP will be the cheapest, but then you have a bunch of hassle when it comes to financing, dealership is going to cost a little less than Carmax, but it a total PITA, CarMax charges a slight premium but makes life super simple, if they have what you want you can be in&out in a couple hours with a warranty, a return policy, and not feel like Elisabath Shue in the shower scene of Leaving Las Vegas. Pick your poison.If they are consistently above market value and you can't negotiate the price to comparable vehicles in the market aren't you "leaving money on the table"?
We do have auto nation here which is very similar. I may have to pay them a visit to see the process.
thanks. i know how it works, I want to know whether it works. The vehicle I have my eye on is rare, the price is competitive to what I've seen. Mileage is slightly higher than others but price is similar or lower for higher miles. It sounds like people get lowballed for weird/old vehicles they trade in, but mine is generic and low miles.i used them. wanted a hard to find vehicle. at dealers you paid a premium for it. finance rates were comparable and they didn’t try any add ons, other than extended warranty, which i didn’t take, as there was some factory remaining. as with anything, do your research and know what your options are.
same on trade in. if you want extra security, i’d buy, take to trusted mechanic for detailed review, and return if something’s amiss.thanks. i know how it works, I want to know whether it works. The vehicle I have my eye on is rare, the price is competitive to what I've seen. Mileage is slightly higher than others but price is similar or lower for higher miles. It sounds like people get lowballed for weird/old vehicles they trade in, but mine is generic and low miles.
Re warranty: MaxCare pays out. See the Doug DeMuro video at the beginning of this thread. But if you’re under factory warranty you can often buy the factory extended warranty still, which is cheaper (at least it was in Toyota-Land by about a factor of two when getting a good price on the Toyota product).thanks. i know how it works, I want to know whether it works. The vehicle I have my eye on is rare, the price is competitive to what I've seen. Mileage is slightly higher than others but price is similar or lower for higher miles. It sounds like people get lowballed for weird/old vehicles they trade in, but mine is generic and low miles.
I am guessing a manual CTS V.so what rare car is sammich looking at
I didn't even know that thing existed. But automatichttps://www.carmax.com/car/14580591
this is like a baby cts-v. baby that has 420 hp. good mix of luxury and sport, with a shit resale value, so half-dentites like me can afford one. Regular CTSes seem to sell for the same price, which is odd, but not a total shock.
you're getting into monocle territory. haven't you seen how we harass s-s-stoney?https://www.carmax.com/car/14580591
this is like a baby cts-v. baby that has 420 hp. good mix of luxury and sport, with a shit resale value, so half-dentites like me can afford one. Regular CTSes seem to sell for the same price, which is odd, but not a total shock.
The Saturn way (minus the paying a premium)QFT
I'd gladly pay a slight premium to avoid the whole car buying "experience". Such horseshit.
Only if..[Doug DeMuro]
How about that 25k S8 with MaxCare and plan to dump it when the warranty is up?
[/DDM]
I paid virtually the same for my RAV4, this one has moar snails instead of a battery.you're getting into monocle territory. haven't you seen how we harass s-s-stoney?
I've never found the warranty to be worth it unless you buy a car with bad reliability, like an Audi or virtually anything German....but you have to make the choice before you buy the car, or you need to consider the price of the warranty in addition to the price of the car. You can score amazing deals on fantastic Audis if you're willing to put up with the maintenance. Like 25k for a 100k S8.
While that may be true, I have my doubts about a webpage that compares Mercury with Cadillac.You will really save a lot of money with that Cadillac over an Audi.
https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/the-most-and-least-expensive-cars-to-maintain-by-maddy-martin.
Luxury cars are always a lot more expensive to maintain as there is a lot more dumb shit to go wrong. Avoid the pointless complicated options that you do not need like active suspension, dynamic roll bars, AWD.
While that may be true, I have my doubts about a webpage that compares Mercury with Cadillac.
But you need long term data to assemble lifetime costs.mercury don't exist no mo', when they did, cadillac was rebounding from years of mediocrity. Indeed, the 2004 CTS was a pretty dismal car in terms of reliability.
Comparing a 2015 caddy with a mercury sable based on reviews from 2005 is not a good comparison.