Buying a Car Online: If you're considering buying a car through an online seller, be careful. Carvana has been banned in at least one state (Illinois) and other sellers have had...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

If you're considering buying a car through an online seller, be careful. Carvana has been banned in at least one state (Illinois) and other sellers have had problems or shut down. They may offer good prices, but do you get what you paid for. Carvana is still advertising a lot online.

Father and son team -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhwKYEvXFR8&t=108s

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I HAVE to test drive a car to see how it behaves and the ergonomics it has, or doesn't.
I will never, ever buy a car on-line.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

A friend of mine purchased a car through Carmax in Gilbert, Az. Things could not have gone smoother. There was a minor issue with the vehicle when it was picked up. They took care of it quickly, at no charge.

I guess one's mileage may vary.

--Bob

jerryc41 wrote:

If you're considering buying a car through an online seller, be careful. Carvana has been banned in at least one state (Illinois) and other sellers have had problems or shut down. They may offer good prices, but do you get what you paid for. Carvana is still advertising a lot online.

Father and son team -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhwKYEvXFR8&t=108s

anotherview Loc: California

CarMax sells only used cars. Part of its reputation arises from its careful attention to the buying process which it has computerized as much as possible. The sale comes down to lot of signatures. A car becomes almost a commodity. Still, a buyer must scrutinize everything presented, including a test drive and eyeballing the condition of the car. Yes, CarMax will quickly fix the little flaws that exist. I speak from experience, having co-signed for others and accompanying buyers as moral support.

rmalarz wrote:

A friend of mine purchased a car through Carmax in Gilbert, Az. Things could not have gone smoother. There was a minor issue with the vehicle when it was picked up. They took care of it quickly, at no charge.

I guess one's mileage may vary.

--Bob

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I know of one instance where a guy bought a car through COSTCO's service and the dealership wouldn’t honor the negotiated price.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Dealers will be reluctant to honor any warranties on cars they did not sell. Can't blame them; they have to take care of their own customers first.

BebuLamar

Longshadow wrote:

I HAVE to test drive a car to see how it behaves and the ergonomics it has, or doesn't.
I will never, ever buy a car on-line.

I say the same about cameras but there is a point in time when that's the only way.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

BebuLamar wrote:

I say the same about cameras but there is a point in time when that's the only way.

Yup, agreed.
Years ago I saw a Canon camera in a box at Costco and bought it.
My old cameras were film Canons, so I was not too worried. Still pleased with it.
Of course they had pictures of the camera on the box....

Cars, a whole 'nother story.

avflinsch Loc: Hamilton, New Jersey

Longshadow wrote:

I HAVE to test drive a car to see how it behaves and the ergonomics it has, or doesn't.
I will never, ever buy a car on-line.

The process is simple, and you essentially get a 1 week test drive. If the car fails to meet your expectations in the first week you can simply return it.

I purchased my latest car from Carvana last July. I had been watching their site for a very specific model with low mileage. A car popped up late on a Wednesday evening, and I had all of the paperwork done in a few minutes, they gave me the option of picking it up at one of their vending machines on Friday or having it delivered on Saturday. I took the delivery option (mostly because I would have needed to arrange some car shuffling since I wasn't trading anything in).

2014 Mini Roadster S, with only 6400 miles (it now has around 17,000)

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

avflinsch wrote:

The process is simple, and you essentially get a 1 week test drive. If the car fails to meet your expectations in the first week you can simply return it.
...
...

Too much hassle....

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

avflinsch wrote:

2014 Mini Roadster S, with only 6400 miles (it now has around 17,000)

Cute. I've never seen one of them.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

My son had a good experience with Carvana. Toyota Sienna delivered as represented in the online description and received the title with three weeks. I read several online complaints that Carvana purchasers were without the title monthes after the purchase but not his deal.

avflinsch Loc: Hamilton, New Jersey

jerryc41 wrote:

Cute. I've never seen one of them.

They only sold around 7000 of them in North America over a 4 year period & they are a blast to drive.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

jerryc41 wrote:

If you're considering buying a car through an online seller, be careful. Carvana has been banned in at least one state (Illinois) and other sellers have had problems or shut down. They may offer good prices, but do you get what you paid for. Carvana is still advertising a lot online.

Father and son team -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhwKYEvXFR8&t=108s

One should never buy a car from Carvana.

1. You will not be allowed a test drive.
2. You do not get a prepurchase inspection.
3. Carvana delivers cars without clear title.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

fetzler wrote:

One should never buy a car from Carvana.

1. You will not be allowed a test drive.
2. You do not get a prepurchase inspection.
3. Carvana delivers cars without clear title.

But, but, but it's cheaper and I can do it from my sofa.