Ray, wanted to get your thoughts on CarMax. I have read some reviews on them which sounds quite good. But I have never purchased a car from them.

A couple of years ago, I took my Dodge Durrango over to get it appraised, not for trade in but just a straight up sale. They only offered me $1,500 for it. It was 8 years old and had 85K miles on it, clear title. I couldn't believe how low the offer was, but the toyota dealer offered $4,500 for the car in trade for a new car for my wife.

My question, since this time when I buy a car, it is going to be used not new, should I even bother with carmax again? It seems that their claim to fame is about not negociating on the sticker price, where as with most places it is perfectly acceptable. What is Carmax's "game" they play, if there is one. If I had desired to purcahse a used car, would they have offered the same $4,500 that the Toyota dealership did?? i think not....

You may not understand my answer without a detailed explanation, but here is the short version,,, 100% my mind says the true offer for your trade at the Toyota dealer was close to the $1500. maybe even less. Long story short without a trade there was around $3000. discount. or more.

CarMax offer cash for cars which are close to reality while most other dealers will offer you a trade price based on MSRP. CarMax are not perfect, but a safer bet compared to many other dealers.

When you test driven the used car that you want to buy " don't commit " send me a link

Yes, Ray I will send you a link when i get close to a car.

Would you please expand on your comment that states "true offer for your trade at the Toyota dealer was close to the $1500. maybe even less. Long story short without a trade there was around $3000. discount. or more." ?

Thanks for your reply, with so many web pages on my site I get lost sometime, thought I covered how a dealer can offer huge for a trade that is worth much less on web page #19.

Not having been on that page for sometime and now reading it, I come to realize the contents got carried away with other area's at the time, the page needs a makeover,,, lol,,, plus a subject line with the statement.

How can a dealer offer $1500.cash for a car - and another dealer offer $4500. in a trade ?

will post in this thread when when the updated web page is ready for view.

Great, glad to ask something that may not have been fully addressed before. And thansk again Ray for your help too as the information has been quite eye opening to say the least.

In the meantime, I have another question and it relates to CarMax, if they (carmax) offered an extended warentty would you place them in the same category as other 3rd party warrenty providers? I know you wrote extensively about the subject on your site, but thought that carmax might be a difference maker in your mind (or maybe not)...

I mentioned CarMax is not perfect, like any other dealership the bottom line is huge profit, buying from CarMax will be same useless warranties. Buying the car is one process,,, once you leave the dealership having purchased an extended warranty you're in the hands of the warranty provider,,, should you have issues cry all you want to the dealer,,, they know deep inside you been a pigeon but their hands are clean, and they feel so bad the warranty they sold you for " example " $2200. they made close to $1000.