My wife and I are interested in a vehicle or two we see online on the Carmax website in Houston. How are these folks to deal with? We have never bought from them and are in the market for a good used Chevy Traverse or Tahoe. We don't want to make that drive if these people are crooks or jerks to do business with.

TIA for any input and/or comments. Sorry, no rule #1 possible at this time.

(Also posting this in the "Automotive" forum.)

I'd go with Texas Direct over carmax but first post in thE Automotive board and I'm sure you'll find some contacts.

They don't haggle at all.

Sticker is their lowest so don't bother going out there if you're thinking you'd like to wheel and deal.

Yeah they mean it when they say no haggle pricing. Went there once and I think they offered to knock $50 off of a 20+k vehicle for an incorrect option listed on the specs.

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They don't haggle at all.

Sticker is their lowest so don't bother going out there if you're thinking you'd like to wheel and deal.

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I'm actually thinking I'd like to pay and leave (no wheeling and dealing at all). The price they have on the vehicle we are interested is very reasonable - especially for not having to go through the whole haggle ridiculousness. We've checked with a few Houston friends in addition to TexAgs and they seem to have a very good reputation.

Appreciate all the help y'all!

Bought my vehicle there and thought it was pretty painless.

I've never dealt with Carmax, but one of my friends bought a couple of G35's back in the day from them and never had any issue with them.

A few years later, he bought a CPO M5 from a BMW dealership in the Metroplex, took it to another BMW dealership to have some minor annoyance fixed under warranty and they asked "when did you get this repaired?" He looked at them with the WTF look, and they showed him where it had been in an accident, where it was fixed, and all of that jazz. The other dealership covered it up and it was not showing up when he ran the VIN. He took the M5 to Carmax and they immediately found the repair and pointed it out. He ended up getting the original dealership to buy it back for what he bought it for and went on his way. Really adds nothing to Carmax other than they were able to see damage and took that into consideration on their price they'd purchase it for. So, if something they have is below what you're seeing elsewhere in the market, there's probably a reason.

Another happy Texas Direct customer.

Recently purchased a vehicle at the north side CarMax and was very pleased with the service. No haggle, no pressure. I always hope that the entire car purchasing process would be faster, but regardless of where you buy it still takes a few hours before you drive out with your vehicle.

I have never bought from Carmax but I have test-driven there. The nice thing about Carmax is that all their salespeople work salary, so you don't feel as much pressure to make a sale.

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I'm actually thinking I'd like to pay and leave (no wheeling and dealing at all).

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Then go to Carmax.

We went to Carmax, then checked a Chevy dealer up the road on 45. Guy tried to talk us from a Tahoe into a Malibu based on what I told him I wanted to pay. After two ten-minute trips to the printer to get us details on Truck Month (the first time, he must have forgot), the wife and I walked out and went straight back to Carmax, found the person we were working with, and bought the car that hour.

Haven't had any issues with the car.

My dad and I had some time to kill about 5 years ago and stopped by Carmax one Sunday to browse cars. There were a few that were open, including a CTS-V, which had the push button start. Just out of curiosity, I pushed the button and it fired right up. I thought about parking it a couple of rows over to scare then on Monday, but knew the cameras would give me away.

I've heard to be careful with TDA.......

http://texags.com/forums/46/topics/2156714

Have bought 2 vehicles from them and would not hesitate to do it again. Great experience, truly a no haggle or pressure sale.

Looks like their prices are between $2-5 K higher for e couple of vehicles I was looking at compared to other pricing. Take that for what it is worth.

USAA car buying is good I've heard.

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Have bought 2 vehicles from them and would not hesitate to do it again. Great experience, truly a no haggle or pressure sale.

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Ya, I think as long as you do your due diligence to research the car you are buying and make sure it has nothing bad on the carfax, you should be ok. They are great to deal with and I love being able to negotiate without being high pressure sales pitched.

Bought and sold vehicles with them. Always a good and easy experience.

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I'd go with Texas Direct over carmax but first post in thE Automotive board and I'm sure you'll find some contacts.

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Avoid Texas Direct like the plague. Autoboard had a poster whose truck (bent/broken frame) was totaled and sold by TDA within a few months after it was completely repaired.

Carmax doesn't haggle. You either pay their price or go elsewhere.

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Looks like their prices are between $2-5 K higher for e couple of vehicles I was looking at compared to other pricing. Take that for what it is worth.

USAA car buying is good I've heard.

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USAA car buying service is for NEW vehicles only. The only thing they do for used vehicles is consolidate inventory listings from partner dealerships. The one good thing about it is that it shows you the range of prices and whether or not the listed price is a good deal. You can take that info and compare it to the listings at Carmax.

I bought my vehicle from Carmax, and I learned that online inventory tends to move quickly, and there is always fresh stock on the lot that hasn't made it online yet. The vehicle I bought made it on the lot the day before and wasn't online yet when I took it home.

Carmax got your cars, your cars, your cars, your REAL cars, HAHA!

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Looks like most approve of Carmax, so we are heading to Sugarland this evening for a test-drive.

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Don't be a puzzy and go down there and lay your hog on the dealer's desk at a dealership and tell them what time it is. Screw Carmax

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Just looking for a good used vehicle. Has nothing to do with my body parts other than carrying them from point A to point B.

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I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Looks like most approve of Carmax, so we are heading to Sugarland this evening for a test-drive.

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There is no Carmax in Sugar Land.

One thing that's not in their price is the warranty if you want that. Bought an extended one for my car and have been very happy with it.

Buy warranties after the fact. Can buy much cheaper not at the dealership.

Note: this is what I've been told by my friends in the business. They make a ton after a price has been agreed on selling warranties etc to you.

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I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. Looks like most approve of Carmax, so we are heading to Sugarland this evening for a test-drive.

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There is no Carmax in Sugar Land.

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Closer to sharps town.

In the sleazy car business, Carmax is about as good as it gets. Straight forward and easy to deal with. You can shop their entire inventory on line.

We are buying now and it's going great. Thanks for the great help !

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In the sleazy car business, Carmax is about as good as it gets. Straight forward and easy to deal with. You can shop their entire inventory on line.

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I don't care where you shop, but you better be checking both the NADA and Carfax reports if you are buying used. Hell, I'd probably do it even if I was buying new. $50 is a lot of piece of mind for what is typically your second most expensive purchase in life.

It's been proven repeatedly that Carfax doesn't show everything and that NADA isn't exactly "on point" with respect to vehicle values.


Your best bet is an independent mechanic inspection over Carfax.

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It's been proven repeatedly that Carfax doesn't show everything and that NADA isn't exactly "on point" with respect to vehicle values.


Your best bet is an independent mechanic inspection over Carfax.

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This - especially if buying at a place like Texas Auto Direct

When I bought mine at Carmax a few days later I realized the aux port was bad. Dropped it off and they fixed it, no problem. Few weeks later installed a new head unit that eliminated the need, but it was the principle dang it.

Texas Auto Direct

I would never buy from them but I'd sell to them. Have done so twice and got WAY more than what dealerships were offering me.

Hilarious that people don't negotiate and just buy the sticker price on a car.