jjutsa

My father purchased an 08 z06, 3 LZ from Carmax a few weeks back. They provided him with a carfax (high-level, and missing the detailed history page) confirmed the manufactures warranty still applied and said it passed their "rigorous" inspection.

They sold it to him for around 52K. Black on Black with < 4k miles.

Okay, so this is where it gets a bit crazy. A few days after the purchase, he had problems with the TPS and the right side mirror. Since it was still under warranty, he took it into Chevy. The dealer realized the side mirror was an aftermarket part, not OEM and that there was overspray on the rear bumper (indicating a paint job was recently done).

When Carmax was called, they swore the vehichle was in "mint" condition and that if the car was in an accident, they would have known it.

Not buying it, the following day he went to get a second opinion the at a different Chevy dealership and paid for an full inspection (from frame to electrical). When he walked in, the dealer ran the VIN and discovered the vehichles warranty was "blocked" by GM. After further research, the vehicle was traced back to a Chevy dealer in Florida. That dealer was then contacted and they confirmed that the vehicle was a total loss due to a storm a few months prior.

Somehow, it was repaired and auctioned off where Carmax then purchased it and tried to resell the car at over 52K.

Although they admitted fault, the best they could do was try to offer to get him into a more expensive z06.

When he refused, and asked for the BMW he traded in, they returned it with a missing key.

Never did they offer to reimburse him for his expenses (400.00 inspection fee at chevy). Nor the missing key.

Today, he traded in the BMW for a new vette, but I thought I'd share this horror story with the folks on the forum so that that z06 doesn't get resold to someone else.


Here is the Carmax dealer he purchased from:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...x%2C+ir&aqi=g3

This is the dealer in Florida:
Suburban Chevrolet
2650 S Federal Hwy
Stuart FL 34994
772-287-3232

VIN:1G1YY26E885118640
08, CORVETTE Z06


Can you guys believe this!!??
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070709 - Update--email sent to corporate


071309 - Update--2nd email sent to corporate as I have yet to hear back from the original one I sent a week ago. Their website states they will contact you within 2 business days...looks like business as usual for CARMAX!
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mgtr

Caveat Emptor! In spades, baby!

HyperX

What ?? Carmax ripping off someone? Unpossible!!!

RicK T

I'm surprised.....but I'm not surprised. It's amazing what goes on these days. Glad he got into a new one and hope he's happy with it.

ChefMark

As long as CarMax has been around I have never heard of one good car they sold. There must be one car out there...

gatti-man

carmax is horrible. Why would anyone buy a vette there?

bimmerborn

Carmax or carwax ?

cor28vettes

Instead of listing the Chev dlr (Suburban Chev in FL), why not list the address of the Carmax dlr. The Chev dlr sold it at auction. I see no fault there. That's where lot rot usually ends up.

On the $400 loss + key: Check with the Clerk of Court in your county to see if you can file a small claims. If so, add total expenses such as your time by the hour (time off from work etc) on top of 400 plus the value of not having that key. Carmax will settle out of court or they will lose this one. Don't forget to call the newspaper advising all the dirty little details. You won't need a lawyer. It's clear cut to me just reading your OP. You did well on recovery so far.

cor28vettes

Salient collusion that Carmax left out the DETAILS page.

The last Carfax I reviewed had ea page referenced to the others - page 1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4, 4 of 4.
There are details to the details. Buyers watch for this.

RichieRichZ06

The VIN does not show a branded title, just a warranty block. Usually a total loss results in a branded title through DMV.

BTW, I bought our car from CM and it was a great transaction.

Rocketmanwpb

I am surprised that Car-Max behaved as described. I have sold two cars to them that they noted the vehicles had body panels replaced and they advised that they would be sending the cars to auction.

I have also had friends and relatives purchase vehicles from them with no problems.

I would call their corporate office and advise of the bad experience and provide them with your expenses, if they don't reimburse you then I would follow through in the small claims court as previously described.

CQRT

I understand the bad taste in your mouth - - but why not hold their feet to the fire for a newer, better Z and run your own Car Fax before the deals done ?

07C680U

Everybody loves to bash Carmax!...Are they perfect?NO...sometimes mistakes are made.But they did try to make things right...try that at your local stealership!

Kent1999

Here's one -- My 2006 coupe is from CarMax. Over two years ago, and its 100% good and exactly as they represented it to be.

I also know quite a few very satisfied CarMax customers, both Vettes and non-Vettes. I was very very happy with the service and the deal I received, and they will be my 1st stop next time I shop for a used car. Sorry you had such a bad experience.

Cheers,
Kent

boz524

come on, you could of bought it at Bill Heard

I have had some good luck with CarMax but it certainly varies from location to location

Deep Silver C6 Z51

The title should have been branded rebuilt.

I always do an inspection for paint issues, panel alignment, etc. when I'm looking to buy a used vehicle.

Anything fishy like overspray, components that don't work, odors, irregular tire wear, etc. and I'm out of there.

I just don't think I could buy a used Z06 from CarMax.

Wayne88

I think this would be more accurate: 'Although they admitted fraud.'

smallblk400

That's sad & shady!!!!

Kent1999

1) There was a missing page, and the buyer didn't ask the question "Where is the missing page?" before spending $52,000? I guess if you have never seen a CarFax, you might not know it is missing?

2) To the best of my memory, every CarFax I've seen has the VIN status on the very first page - the high-level overview page that was provided. If he saw page 1, he should have seen the VIN status. What happened? CarFax guarantees their results, so there might be some recourse if you can produce a "clean" CarFax on what is a branded title car.

I think the Florida AG would be VERY interested in that Florida dealership that sold the car and did NOT disclose the 'total loss', thus leaving the title unbranded. A simple phone call might prove interesting, as the State takes a fairly dim view of Title Fraud, especially at the Dealership level.

At any rate, its too bad your Dad had such a bad experience buying his Vette. Hope his next experience is better!

Cheers,
Kent

AORoads

Interesting stuff above, and if the OP or his father were interested in pursuing the matter further, this might be the route to go. I've been dealing with CarMax off and on for over 10 years and never had a bad experience.

I see one of the posts above that states buyer wasn't exercising dlilgent caution, always a necessity. If Richie is right by the vin he checked (and I have no cause to doubt him), that car didn't leave the dealer in Florida as a total loss. Therefore, it didn't become a total loss until later by someone else's definition. How and why I don't know.

Maybe that tv ad about "CARFAX" where the salesperson tries to substitute car fox wasn't seen.....