Even for the kids, if we buy used its only CPO. I don't want any uncertainties, and it seems to me so many brands have CPO programs (at least the ones we buy), that I'd be suspicious of someone selling a car that couldn't make the cut. YMMV.

We bought a car from Carmax a couple of years ago and were pleased with the process. We were not completely sure that we wanted to buy, but I saw something that spoke to me. We went for a test drive but wanted to sleep on it. We placed a free hold on the car for a couple of days so we could think about it. We wanted financing from another source, too. I liked the no haggle aspect as we could go home and decide if we were okay with the price. It was not a screaming deal but it was a fair price. If there is any problem within a certain time frame, they would fix it and they are a big enough organization to back that up. We noticed an intermittent squeal on the brakes within the first month and they replaced them. They also decided to replace the rear brakes too. It was not necessary yet, but they were getting kind of close. My Dh can fix quite a few things on cars, but we opted for the extended warranty to cover things that could possibly go wrong that he would not fix. We would absolutely shop there again as we tend to buy used cars.

We bought DH's 2017 Honda Accord from Carvana. It still had the factory warranty on it and only 10,000 miles.

Still, an inspection ASAP within the 7-day return window is a MUST no matter how old the car or mileage. They will take it back no questions asked if you are in the 7-day window. The 7 days starts the day you take delivery so it's really like 6 days.

You can pay cash or do your own financing. Do not use their financing unless you have not so great credit.

Some people have issues getting their permanent plates. We had no problems and the plates arrived in plenty of time. Still, there can be nightmares and people have had cars with expired plates they couldn't drive and then people were sold cars that Carvana apparently didn't have a clean title to them. So, it can be great, or it can be a nightmare. We had a good experience, but this was also pre-pandemic. We have one of vending machine elevators a few miles from our house.

Not exactly related to your question :), but I noticed our local Carvana "vending machine" was completely empty the other day. Maybe they are having a hard time getting cars? Or maybe they are selling them so fast that they can't keep it stocked?

Here is the car just as it got down the vending machine. then we were able to check it out in the bay. A giant thunderstorm came in so we were hanging out there for a bit before driving home.

The car was in a few days early. We had gone out to dinner the Saturday evening before and drove by there on our way to and from the restaurant, and it had just come off the hauler. So, it was pretty dirty but we could see it matched up well with the online photos. They did a very nice detail on it, but again, I've heard of people getting dirty cars.

This car was a 2017 and DH was at a Honda dealer ready to buy a similar 2016 with same color and trim level but they would not come down in price at all and gave him about $2,000 on trade. He got this 2017 for less than what he would have paid for the 2016, with the remainder of the factory warranty on it. And we sold the old Accord for more money than that to my mechanics at the independent shop who resold it.

Unfortunately, sometimes the elevator breaks. But it is possible the demand for cars may be a factor.

Most car lots around here are pretty sparse. It's a computer chip from China manufactures can't get so right now the car industry is in a bind. Used cars are GOLD right now due to the lack of new cars. What a world we live in. We just bought a car from a dealer this past winter. I was rather surprised by some of the questions and apologies about the length of time it all takes. We had cash so we weren't waiting on financing but it still does take TOO DANG LONG! Now I know why, people are really buying from these other places. I don't see myself ever going that direction.

I regularly drive by the overflow lot for Honda, and it is empty! The Subaru overflow lot had about 10-15 cars the other day but they must have just gotten some in.

BTW if you order a car, you will get it. There just won’t be a selection on the lot. Most of the incoming cars are sold.

I did not know that there were actual vending machines. (I thought it was a virtual thing.) How fun!

I bought my last car through Carvana and was pleased with the whole process. I wanted a smaller Jeep than the one I had, (Grand Cherokee), and I ended up with a 2016 Compass with very low milage and absolultely no rust. Living in the north country where we have winter conditions 6 months of the year, all the local resale vehicles were prone to rust. This one came from a southern location and was nice and clean. I had no difficulties with the process and had my own financing.

Rust? really? I can't recall the last time I saw rust on a car that wasn't antique. I think the materials they use today make rust very rare?

@mtnrdredux_gw rust underneath on cars in the NE is very common due to all the salt used on the roads during the (longer) winter season.

Yes, I'm in the Northeast and I know about salt and rust, but it's funny ...just the other day we pulled up to a light and there was a rusty truck, and I remarked that you hardly ever see that anymore. When I was a kid rust on cars was common but it seemed it was almost eradicated? Maybe not!

I dunno, i just assumed heidi was talking about the rust underneath. ???

Yeah very little automotive rust these days and I’m in MN where we probably use more road salt that anyone. I have a car that’s seen 10 MN winters and no signs of rust. In fact the last car I had with rust was the first one I bought in 1978. It rusted through the trunk after eight years such that snow came up through the trunk in the winter. We used to buy after market ”rustproofing” treatment but they don’t even offer that any more.

@3katz4me intetesting! i am in the south, so this is all greek to me! After i read Heidi”s comment i googled and thats where i read about rust underneath. The article is from 2019.

Still, watch for cars from the north and do get them looked at.

DH’s car was a California car.

Speaking of rusting underneath, when my grandma quit driving in 1978 we got her low mileage 67 Chevy Impala. DH and I were just married and I had a nice 73 Mustang so we thought we were really lucky to get this extra car - could store the nice one in the garage all winter. Not sure how long we had it before DH rear ended someone at a pretty slow speed. The rusted frame dropped on the street so that was the end of that.

I always have my mechanic check out any used car i am considering. If the dealer balks at that, and none ever have, I move on.

Well, I've never heard of either one of these used car services! HA! Not sure if this is available where we live or not! It would be great to buy a used car that had some guarantee that it would be OK or you could return it or it would be fixed. Our only used car experience was a nightmare!

RUST, we got it here! (NE Ohio) HAHA!

2katz, whenever we'd watch American Pickers, Counting Cars, etc., and there were some great 60's or 70's muscle cars, I'd tell DH which ones were owned by my siblings or other relatives. Of course, in Buffalo, NY, none of these have survived.

We found rust under the hood. Colorado uses salt on the roads.

We use Echo park. We've bought AND sold...we're VERY happy with them. We stopped in @ Carmax, just never found what we were looking for...and they don't pay as well for a used vehicle. That's just locally...it could vary.