i definitely do not want to trade in my car to mini dealer. i know i won't get much. has anyone sold your car to carmax? if so, did you get the kelly blue book value?thanks!

 

I haven't sold one to Carmax, however I use to work at several dealerships as a manager. They will give you black book value. Black book is wholesale because they have to turn around and re-sell it and make a profit. If you need top dollar I would list it on AutoTrader.com Cars.com and Craigslist.org. If you need cash quickly Carmax may be ok but not top dollar.

 

Carmax is great for trades. I know a guy that works there as the head buyer. They'll give you a very fair, KBB price for your car. They have another side to their business selling the cars they buy at their own auction to other dealers. It's here that they try to turn profit, not buying from customers.

 

carmax will buy your car outright, i think thats what your talking about. its a quick and easy way to sell your car, but you can forget close to top dollar.

its up to you to decide if the extra hassle is worth the extra $$$

 

Carmax will offer you like others have had said, Blackbook.. which is what the average price the car is going for at auction for that week.... they (dealers) get a new blackbook weekly. KBB, Edmunds, and NADA yellow, are all just guesses based on a computer program that each company enters in data.... You'd probably be better off trading it in at the Mini dealer, because what they give you for your trade is the only negotiating you can do at a mini lot (they have fixed prices correct?)

 

This is coming from personal experience with Carmax.When I was looking to get my '08 MCS I was told that Carmax would give me a better price then the dealership would.I went there got a free price quote and it was $1500 LESS then what the dealership was going to give me.Needless to say I traded in my car to Mini and negotiated further off their MCS.Also I saved the difference in sales tax with my trade-in as opposed to buying it with no trade.

 

Why not try to sell it yourself? Craigslist is free, the local paper's classified ads are cheap, as is listing with Cars.com. When I bought my MINI Clubman I sold my used BMW for $3k more than the dealer offered in trade. It was certainly worth the extra effort. Right now MINIs are in high demand. If it's a clean car selling it should not be too difficult.

 

since I have just dealt with them on a Mini...carmax was 4,000 off on their trade values from every other dealer out there. I was not going to buy a car from the dealers, but because I have personal and professional relationships with those dealers, they got "buy bids" from their wholesalers and thats what they would give me for the car.

08 Clubman 4400 miles

Carmax Price: 20,000
Other Dealers: 24-25,000

 

I went through this same situation when I got my MCS last year. I had a 06 Dodge Charge to sell for at least what I owed. The mini dealer offered me 19k, Carmax offered me 21k, and I ended up selling it myself to a guy on craigslist for 25k. I f you have some time, try to sell it yourself. You will definitely make more than if you traded or carmax.

The bright side is that if you can't sell it yourself, at least you have the option of dealer or carmax.

 

I just recently as of Monday sold my 06 Evolution 9 to Carmax, I did not get what i wanted but got very close to where I was comfortable with letting her go. It also helped that I put half down on it so coming out of Carmax I felt fine with it. CarMax will look at your ride for what they think they can get for it wholesale/car auction, so no matter what you most likely will not get what you want :( But a whole lot better then what Mini/BMW will give you.

for quote, Mini/BMW (CA) offer 20k - haha lol (2 different dealers)
Carmax: $25500


good luck!

J

 

You'll always get more selling it yourself. But if you don't want to deal with it, get quotes from both Carmax and the Mini Dealer and go with whichever is higher.

 

Carmax is the worst (in Chicagoland atleast). I have taken several vehicles to them to see what I can get before the dealer, etc. They never even give a fair price (or count the options). Just recently I took them my 06 bmw 325i loaded -sticker high 30's - with 26k miles, they offered me $19,000! The mini dealer offered $25k, KBB is $30K. I have it for sale myself for a price inbetween.

 

I was offered only $2K from mini dealer, Carmax offered $3K and a guy who contacted me from Craigslist offered me $3500. I sold it myself for $6K cash -- try to find a popular spot people park their cars to sell them. Totally detail it out. I parked my car at noon on a Saturday, the guy test drove it Sunday afternoon and we all went to AAA Monday morning to do the transaction for CASH. No checks -- just cold hard cash. I'm a happy camper.
Where do you live? If you're close to Northridge, CA I've got the perfect spot for you!

 

Remember to factor in the additional sales tax you will pay if you sell your car to Carmax, or to an individual, vs. trading your car in at the Mini dealer.