Tony Dedios from the Irvine Carmax was like a breath of fresh air. My fiance and I had been looking for a new car for a week. While that may not seem like a lot - an entire week of dealing with dealerships felt like a full time job. After hours and hours filled with annoying, haggling, sales people and overpriced base models we had had enough. A friend at work recommended we try Carmax - and what a blessing it was! You could feel the difference instantly. I submitted a request online and Tony called within minutes. Super friendly and not pushy he made an appointment for us later that day. He even transferred a car from another location and had it ready for us by our appointment time. We got there and were greeted right away. First time we had ever been in a Carmax but we felt at ease - not like normal dealerships where you can feel the hawks circling ready to prey on their meat. Tony quickly got my car appraised and I got more than I expected. So easy. He provided a brief history about Carmax and showed us how every car they carry has to be "Carmax quality" - no frame damage etc. They run full reports on all their cars to be sure of it - even check VIN #s all over the car to make sure they match. We then looked at the car we came in for and realized it wasn't for us. He walked with us around the lot filled with all makes, models and years. The idea of Carmax is great because it provides customers the opportunity to look around at cars they never would have thought they'd like. We got a totally different car than what we came in for. Newer, better gas mileage, and cheaper - ahh we're so happy! And all the while we never once felt pushed or pressured. A TOTALLY DIFFERENT CAR BUYING EXPERIENCE - While I've seen the commercials and billboards before, now I get it...this is EXACTLY "the way car buying should be!" Thanks! read more

There's several reasons I would downvote this and unfortunately have to be this extreme. Basically the staff are kind of tools at best and mainly bored looking teenagers. Cringe worthy talking points and mixtures between scowls, glares or robotic answers. Or worse overzealous and eager to apply hardball tactics for used car appraisals that I personally experienced today. I would have let it slide as just a waste of time but trying to convince me my truck was worth substantially less based upon some phantom accident and fear mongering just is egregious. Luckily I had it appraised for much more by my local dealer only days before. Surprisingly they were a lot more friendly, transparent, honest and giving advice on what to do. So definitely l didn't try to insinuate damage or trump up whatever scratched they can find to depreciate the value excessively(for a dealer at least) I did however miss their valuation window at the original dealers by coming here . To be fair maybe I just got caught on a bad day or they thought I was ignorant. The haggle free price though seems more of an advantage for them though so I gather they prey on ignorance, market ploys and mass volumes auctioned to dealers. And the local dealerships talked poorly of them and the person even described them as their middle men essentially profiting off the dealer. Two monkeys, less bananas off my back. Weird analogy. I just wrote this cause I was angry over my lost evening and adding mileage to my truck. They do lag and customer service leaves a tremendous amount to be desired and expected. Just everything felt so wrong and sketchy from the get go so I could be biased but the end offer discrepancy was a hard fact to argue. It's just a large purchase or transaction so don't ever be afraid to walk away if something feels off, particularly not if everyone's best interest is being considered. And to Carmax.. change your fucking practices. First like of taking cars for test drives without notifying the owner.. or or or.. wait for it.. Putting paper fucking floor mats on my cleaned unmatted floors so you can take your bffs morons boots and sludge the floor in the passenger seat (covered the driver). Don't drive my truck quickly around ans turn fast to park cause you didn't realize I was watching you. Of course then allege problems that never happened when I already told them far beyond all detail any inspection or history would show and getting an excellent condition inspection days before (didn't tell them because I was more verifying the first offer as opposed to theirs). I know it's not your car and not your problem how you treat others time and possessions. So even for douchey standards fine, but for gods sake change your fucking filters in your drinking fountains if you don't offer anything at all while waiting forever you cheapasses. I've drank pool water at water parks better than that. And give your employees healthcare so they can all afford antidepressants or at least spike the water fountain. Be ready to Play [games] or WALK AWAY. Just be on your toes and always skeptical. read more

CARMAX PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER! CarMax sold me a vehicle with tires almost ten years old. Michelin recommends replacing tires every five years regardless of mileage because the rubber compound ages and dries. The right rear tire was severely worn down and the left rear tire blew out while I was driving on the freeway. My car could not even make it to the shoulder, 911 was called and police had to stay behind my car with flashers to prevent collisions until a tow truck came to move my vehicle. There are hundreds of fatalities a year due to blown out tires (including the tragic death of Paul Walker) and it is upsetting to know such a large, well-known company would be so careless towards their customers and they are willing to risk your life to save some money. I write this review to expose CarMax's deceptive business practices (which 11 consumer groups have already requested the Federal Trade Commission to investigate), and to more importantly educate people who are purchasing vehicles from this company. PLEASE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID. This was my first car purchase, I didn't have much knowledge on cars, and was new to the area so I was unable to bring someone knowledgable with me or find a mechanic I trusted to inspect my purchase. I was completely mislead by their "guaranteed quality inspection," which was the only reason I chose to purchase a car through them as oppose to anywhere else. So please ensure you educate yourself about tire safety before purchasing a vehicle at CarMax or any other place. (For example: A tire with a DOT code of 4404 was made on the 44th week of 2004.) As far as customer service, they could care less. I physically went to the location and was assured by the salesmen who sold me the vehicle and his manger that I would receive a call from someone who could assist me in two days. I waited almost one week and never received a call. I had to contact customer relations myself and got nothing but aggressive grief and my complaint was never even filed in their notes! They will rush you to purchase a car, have you sign up for overpriced car insurance so you can drive it home (don't make this mistake either - they say you can cancel at anytime, but what they don't tell you is you will pay a hefty fine for canceling), and then ask you to write a good Yelp review and take a survey. As you can see from my account I was nothing but a positive customer towards CarMax and now that I have a complaint, I am treated like a second rate citizen. My two cents on CarMax: They are just as crooked if not more than any other place you can purchase a used vehicle, but what's worse is they disguise themselves as trustworthy. They literally told me they are "the good guys of used cars." Wolves in sheep's clothing is a far more accurate description. You are better off hiring a mechanic to come with you to inspect a used car at another place or independent seller and avoid getting ripped off on the price. Their "quality inspection guarantee" is nothing but a peace of mind, which again makes it even worse because now you are driving a potentially dangerous vehicle thinking that it is safe! read more

CarMax - Manufactured on the 44th week of 2004, completely unsafe tires - Used Car Dealers Near Me - Irvine, California

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Be very cautious when getting an appraisal for your car and make sure to do your own research first! We took a car in for an appraisal and were quoted a very lowball price after being told by Carmax that the car had frame damage and could not be resold. It's true that the car had been in an accident but to our knowledge, there had never been any actual frame damage. We checked the CarFax report which did not list any frame damage and also consulted with the body shop that did the work who also confirmed that there was no frame damage. While I have heard of others who have had decent experiences when getting an appraisal and selling their car, my experience was much different. read more

This is the 2nd time I've been here and both times they tell you to wait 20 minutes and it ends up being 1.5 hours. After complaining that the car has been looked at and parked for 30 minutes, a random counter guy goes back and brings out the appraisal. They offered 60% of bluebook value, what a joke. So unless you have lots of time to be screwed around with and insulted by a joke of an appraisal, i highly recommend not coming here. Maybe try another location. read more

Worst experience yet. They could care less about customer service as I was had waiting for over 30 minutes at what felt like an industrial warehouse. No to mention their rude, and careless employees that give you a dirty, grotesque feeling deep down as most of them are poorly put together and dirty themselves. Never again. read more

I bought my car from them 4 months ago... I bought a warranty with my car. Something happened to my car that the warranty covered... And they said they couldn't help me! I pay extra money a month for the warranty just so they can reject me! I will NEVER purchase a car again from here. Nor will I recommend anyone to Carmax. Thank god I work for a ford dealership otherwise we would have some serious issues. read more

Our first experience with CARMAX (at the LAX location) three years ago was great. I have to say that our second experience was STELLAR! Karen Botticello was our rep for the day, she was extremely knowledge, friendly, accommodating and guided us through the entire process. My wife wanted to find a reliable and safe car for our 20 month old and we got just that. The Irvine office had a lot of friendly and helpful people as well. People there look like they genuinely enjoy their work which is always nice to see. I hope next time we have to buy a car, Karen is still with CARMAX! read more

Be really careful. I got my car appraised by carmax and sold it in a week for TRIPLE their appraisal! Heard from others subsequently that they are not realistic. I won't go back there. Very disappointed! read more

Carmax - I think I love you! I could be mean and dock one star because this location didn't have the same bright and airy showroom (just like in the commercial) that the Costa Mesa location has; but I'm feeling good, and will give them the star back because the service was EXCELLENT! I believe the guy who helped us was named Jay. This time my bf was hoping to deliver his 2002 Corolla with 241K+ miles on it to its final resting place. Another guy (sorry, didn't catch his name) did the test drive and all the while I think my bf and I were both crossing our fingers. The guy came back, said the car was fine, and within minutes, my bf had a sweet little check in his hands. I don't know where Carmax gets its associates. Seriously. They are the NICEST people I've ever come across. Have they signed pacts with the Man downstairs or something? Or are they former In-N-Out employees? I will never know. What I do know is Carmax is awesome! Maybe they'll want me to be in their commercials! Hmm... In any case, this is 2 out of 2 good experiences at different Carmax locations. read more

I recently bought a car from Patrick H. At the Lake Forest location. I had very specific criteria and he was wonderful in trying to help me. He kept in close touch and when he found a car he thought I would like called me. I am very happy with my purchase and would recommend Car Max highly. read more

I'm working with a car broker to buy a new car and he suggested I go to Carmax for an estimate for selling the car I am replacing as it's often a better deal than trading in when you buy. It's in fantastic condition. No one believes me when I tell them it's nearly 8 years old. Spotless, well maintained, no cosmetic issues whatsoever. Carmax offered more than $2500 under the low end of KBB's trade in estimate and more than $4000 under what my broker expected they would offer. I couldn't believe it and the car broker was shocked it came in so low considering the car's condition. Even the dealership I'm getting my new car from offered $2000 more sight unseen. I can't see how selling to Carmax is a good deal at all. read more

Went to Carmax Irvine on Saturday the 18th found a red VW Beetle for 7000 almost $8,000 call back today on the 20th told them I was interested and they told me the vehicle is now 11,000 dollars I smell a rat anyone with common sense please stay the hell away from that place! If they pulled that stunt with me then I'm sure they have done it before protect yourself do your homework. Buyer beware shop around. read more

LOVED LOVED LOVED my 'person' who helped me with test driving and weeding out what car I wound up getting. Tom E. was SUPER attentive and made sure I got connected to all the right people to finish up a relatively smooth transaction. What I am STILL waiting on is I am missing a few items that were 'supposed' to be included with the car and I am STILL waiting after 2 wks. I hope it all gets worked out this week. But, the car hunt is NEVER fun for me and Tom made me want to come back to THIS Carmax to ultimately purchase. Thanks Tom! read more

I needed a reliable, safe car that I could afford. First, I went online and searched the car inventory. I "held it" online and then I went into Carmax and was greeted by the staff. The salesperson who assisted me (Cristina S.) is knowledgeable and extremely patient. I made sure to ask many questions. It was a No brainer, with the 30 days (or a certain mileage) Carmax gives you to love it or return it. I received a decent trade in value for my old car and ended up financing a new used vehicle. They took care of all the DMV paperwork. The service department even took care of some minor concerns I had. They even went above and beyond and installed a brand new battery. When they serviced my car for the gear shifter, the technician noticed corrosion on the battery and replaced a new one covered under the warranty. From my experience, every staff member at this location has been very helpful and friendly. Super grateful to have a Carmax so close by! Special thanks to Cristina S. and Jose C. read more

Ohh Car Max, thank you for buying my crap Kia Sportage. I can't believe you gave me money for it. Thank you for selling me a beautiful, reliable and reasonably priced Honda Civic. Thank you for making the buying process easy so I didn't have to play the haggle game. Thank you for only taking up 2 hours of my time to buy a car. read more

Angela in the business office made our experience selling our Tahoe fun and easy! She was happy to help, energetic and funny. We were hesitant to sell our Tahoe but Carmax gave us the right money and had the friendly staff to make it worth it. Thank you Angela! read more

If I could give this place a negative review, I definitely would. To begin, I purchased my black Honda Accord back in April in Irvine, drove from San Diego, with a few minor repairs that were needed. The repairs consisted of front/rear bumper scratches, a dent on the passenger frame, smell of smoke, and minor side dent. I was told I was going to get a call within a week to set up my appointment for the repair; never did. I proceeded to call them instead, left a message, and never received a phone call back. Funny enough, their voicemail says, "we will give you a call back within one business hour." Seems like they don't know what an hour is here at Irvine. I continued calling at least once a week, again, no call back. I then called the sales rep that sold me the vehicle Uri Dominguez... That was a dead end also. He said, "definitely, I will let them know (whoever them is) and they will give you a call" - guess what?! NEVER received a call. Since then, when ever I call there is no answer, so I leave a message. Same for Uri. This has been going on back and fourth since April and last week when I spoke to someone, FINALLY, they had the audacity to tell me, "there is no longer anything we can do since its been past 30 days." I was beyond livid. I'm still upset about it. It is unacceptable for many reasons, but the most important ones are: 1) I NEVER RECEIVED a call back! 2) I am now expected to pay for the damages that I did not do. 3) I am paying a price that I could have been paying at a Honda dealership. 4) These customer service employees are a complete joke. I was in the market to purchase 2 more vehicles for my brothers and I'm glad this company showed me what they stand for. They've lost a handful of customers on this end. I also don't think these people realize that there's a potential law suit for not fixing the repairs on this vehicle that it ALREADY had and repairs that I was told would be fixed. I have records of outgoing calls with no incoming calls from CarMax and now you're expecting me to pay for these damages?! Hilarious. It's like you sold me the vehicle, got your commission, smiled us out your door, and have been laughing at our needs ever since. Pathetic. read more

Worst customer service ever. I came in to get my truck appraised and I arrived 15 minutes before my appointment that I scheduled. They said my appraiser step out but they will get someone else and I was first on the list. So I waited and waited for 35 min, 20 min after my appointment time. So finally after another 25 mins after they get someone to appraise my truck they said they would only buy my truck for under 9k. It was a straight slap to the face and insulting. I had people and other dealerships offer 5 to 6 thousand more than what they offered me. Complete waste of an hour of my life when it should of only took 20mins. What was funny is that I was probably 1 out of 5 customers that were in the building with probably 20 sales associates so that actually pissed me off more and that they took they're sweet time to appraise my truck. Never go there and I will never go there again. read more

Buying my car was very easy. However, within less than a week I felt a weird jolt every time I came to a stop. Or when the gears shifted from 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st. I texted the guy who sold me the car who told me to contact the service department. I left SIX messages. No response. I called in the middle of the business day. Also, the middle console was broken!! Less than week, my tires starts to lose pressure. I had to pay to get it fixed. Mind you this was less than a week after buying. The salesman told me there was absolutely nothing wrong with the car. So I have 3 car problems within a week. At this point I have left 7 messages with no call back. Finally SIX WEEKS later, I get a call back. I thought there was something wrong with the breaks. So I make an appointment to get it looked at and get the middle console fixed and to get the breaks looked at. I arrive early for my appointment. Give them my car. They take 40 minutes to get someone to drive me back to my office. They make me late for work. When I was told they would be ready to drive me to work. I come back after work and they didn't even fix the middle console. They look at my breaks and everything looked good. So now, I have to schedule another appointment to my console fixed. I come back a week later and tell them I am still feeling the weird jolt whenever I stop. They don't look it. I'm late to work again. At this point the jolting of my car is worse and really hard. I talked to the manager in the department and he says that they don't diagnose cars here! WHAT. I have been telling them about this problem since the week I bought it. I ended up taking my boss out to lunch and let him drive the car. He says, "Alyssa this isn't the brakes this is the transmission". So I call the corporate to file a complaint and of course no one calls me back. I will never ever recommend buying from this CarMax again. I used to love CarMax I had been here multiple times with other people and always got great service. I would always recommend buying from here but NOPE. Never again. I ended up having to take it to Hyundai and getting it diagnosed and repaired. They sold me a car with a broken down shifter and they told me I might have to get the transmission replaced. HA. Are you kidding me. I just bought this car and I might have to drop 3k very soon? I finally get a hold of someone at corporate and they told me they would call me back...NOPE. No one has called me back. I will never ever recommend buying or selling. Update: The down shift is broken and so is the transmission. I am going to have to put in $3,000 into a car I just bought. And the business owner responded, this issue HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. Another update: I have been in contact with the service department. The manager called me last week and said "we will check on the alleged problem". It's right there on the report from Hyundai! So I went in this morning at 8 am. Checked in. I called this afternoon to get an update and they checked for code, none were found, just like the report from Hyundai said. They're going to replace the tranny fluid. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP THIS PROBLEM. I know how to check the tranny fluid myself. My neighbor checked the tranny fluid, Hyundai checked the tranny fluid. They said, "it's a little dirty". THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SOLD ME A CAR WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION. THERE'S NO DENYING IT. So I still recommend anyone steers clear of this place. Worthless service department and staff. An update about two months later: Carmax called me that day and confirmed that the transmission has to be replaced. They have me come in so they can get me a loaner car and verify my insurance. At this point I a not mad anymore, I am just done. They give me a beautiful loaner with a tank full of gas. They call me everyday to give me an update as to where my car is and whats going on. They ended up getting me a rebuilt tranny from Hyundai. It took about 2 weeks for them to replace and everything. I didn't mind because I loved the loaner car they gave me and I really didn't want them to Mickey Mouse the job. In the end, it cost about $2,500 for the replacement and labor. I paid $0 out my pocket. The 6 month warranty covered everything. I am grateful. My car feels like new again and like I said I've had it back for bout 2 months and have had no problems. So at this point, would I recommend buying a car from them? I don't know. The real question is: do you actually care? Probably not. This was my experience and the next time I am ready for a new car, I will not be coming here ever again. So the question again is, do you actually care? Probably not. But here is my honest review. I hope it helps you. read more

This process was smooth and simple for us. Paul Schweizer guided us completely through our purchase process. Thank you.

This place is a joke. I noticed that my drivers side mirror was ripped. It looks like it got caught in the window. I bought the vehicle in Irvine, which is over an hour from me on a good day. It was first a hassle to get them to have the vehicle serviced in Escondido. When I did get a call from Escondido they wanted me to drop off the vehicle and leave it there all day while they sewed the visor ? Seriously ? Sew it !!!! Come on really ? What the you know what !!!! Jokers. read more

CarMax - Used Car Dealers Near Me - Irvine, California

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I worked with Janna Cantrell and she was a pleasure to work with. Honest, quick to respond and asked all the right questions to figure out how to find the best fit for me. Thank you! read more

Please don't be enticed by the ease of the CarMax experience. They make it easy for you to walk out the door with a car, I'll give them that. The other thing about CarMax is that every INDIVIDUAL that I have dealt with has been very nice to me (hence the 2 stars instead of 1), it's the dealership as a whole that has led me to write this poor review. I have no issues with any one person that I have dealt with (my wife had one poor interaction which I will detail below). That's about all I'll give them though. The car you will walk out with will most likely not be in great condition. Their service department will do just enough to hide any obvious flaws. In the almost 2 years that we've had our van, we've been back to have things fixed (and re fixed, and re re fixed) about 10 times... 10 TIMES!! One of their big sells is that withing the first 30 days of owing your vehicle, if ANYTHING is wrong with it, bring it in and they'll fix it for free... Great! What a deal! Except for the fact that they'll take your car for exorbitant amounts of time and then tell you that there really isn't anything wrong with your car... wow, we must have been imagining these things! For several of the repairs, we had to convince them that there was an issues and BEG them to fix it. We brought it in 3 times for an issue with the entertainment system and 2 times for an issue with the engine mount. For the entertainment system, they repeatedly refused to fix it and for the engine mount they "fixed" it and it went bad again a few months later and they tried to charge us even though we noticed it within the first 30 days. Oh, and speaking of the service department, good luck getting an appointment within a reasonable time frame and once they have your vehicle, good luck getting it back in less than a week. Today my wife went into the CarMax service department because the battery was dying on our van. We recently has the alternator fixed and it's about time to get a new battery anyway. Upon calling CarMax, they tried to schedule her to come in in 1 1/2 weeks just to get the battery checked... that's it. I plan on buying and replacing the battery myself, I just want to check the battery. Instead, she just drove there and asked them to check and they tried to charge her $80... to CHECK THE FREAKING BATTERY!!!! They tried to convince my wife that there might be other problems like the alternator (which we just had replaced) or other electrical issues that I know are not the issue. I know a decent amount of cars and do many repairs myself when I have the time. I just wanted them to test the battery. My wife said she didn't want them to check those things, and just to check the battery and they refused to do it without charging her. Their service department will try to nickle and dime you to death and they rarely get it right the first time. The impression I've repeatedly gotten from them is that they're incredibly dishonest and will do anything for an extra buck. So that is my warning Yelpers, go to CarMax at your own risk... I hope you read this CarMax, because I'm never purchasing another vehicle from you, I'm warning all of my friends and family to never purchase a vehicle from you, and I'm never going back to your pathetic excuse for a service department. read more

Thalia and Emily helped me pick out my new car! Great service and affordable prices!! Thank you guys

Their certified checklist is an absolute joke. They obviously did not care how the car went out. If I had not purchased the extended warranty I would have gone broke. Real lack of professionalism... kinda like a bad Walmart experience. Avoid at all costs. BTW they offered me $1900 for my Honda so I sold it on Craigslist for $5500 !!! Rip offs... read more

We were really disappointed with our experience. We had heard great things about Carmax so when we wanted to sell my car we took it there first. We were offered $1,000 below Kelly Blue Book even after they said my car was taken care of nicely! We went across the street to Toyota and we offered more there. read more

Never go here they give you a bullcrap contract. They bank company they give you is in Texas so they don't go by California laws. They try to take your car from you. Even when it's paid off. And they screw your credit. They said they repossessed the car but I paid it off. And I'm still fighting to take it off my credit. If I could give them a zero rating I would!!! read more

I had my used car appraised and went to Carmax to pay off negative equity and accept their offer. The sales associate said the transaction wouldn't be complete until 9PM. It was 730. I said that was fine because I didn't want to come back the next day. After waiting well over two hours, I tried to pay and my bank declined the transaction due to large dollar amount security hold feature. The carmax sales associate said I had to return tomorrow and start the process over. I was slightly upset. But I went outside and called my bank. They released the hold and asked me to have Carmax try again. I go back inside less than 10 minutes later and Car Max associate says they have already put my vehicle away. I know this was an excuse and she just wanted to go home. She could have helped, but instead I have to come here again and do a GroundHog Day complete w masks and limited breathing routine. Just be advised that there is a significant wait time and no they don't care how long it takes as long as employees get to go home. Customers can come back and start over again. I know for a fact they could have and should have completed this transaction for me same night. Fairly poor customer service overall. read more

A couple of years ago I purchased a 2008 Mercedes Benz SL550. The car was responsibly priced and looked great. Unfortunately I was in a hurry when it came time to sign the contracts. I didn't notice until later that an extended service contract had been added to the deal. At first I was upset with CARMAX but eventually got over it. A short time later I had MB service the car because I felt something wrong. The motor mounts had to be replaced. Less than a year later the entire air conditioning unit had to be replaced. Just these two issues cost several thousands is dollars to replace. Now I was happy that I was taken advantage of because the parts and labor were covered under the extended warranty. I only paid the $500.00 deductible each time. When I purchased the car CarMax the showed me their version of car fax and assured me the car had never been I an accident. I recently decided to trade in the car. While shopping three different dealers showed me their Carfax reports and all three shoed the car had been in a accident and was towed. Immediately the trade in value dropped several thousands of dollars. I've tried to reach out to Audrey Larsh the GM five times now and she still hasn't returned my calls. Now I'm having to deal with the CarMax corporate office in Virginia to get some resolution regarding the fraud. The Morale to the story is don't buy from CarMax so you don't end up like me filling a lawsuit to recover your losses. read more

Easily the best car buying experience I have had. No hidden costs you know what you are going to pay and how you are going to pay. No pressure to buy a certain car, you can test drive as many cars as you want until you find the one you really want - they only show you the cars in the budget you tell them. read more

From the moment I reviewed the car max page on the internet till I drove out with my new car the whole experience was five stars. I was greeted and consulted by Ivie, a sales rep. We had two vehicles in mind because we had set one aside. But throughout the day we saw another one that caught our attention. Ivie never rushed us while we were there, never tried to push the sale, never tried to push a particular vehicle or brand. Ivie was communicative and professional from the beginning until the end. Also 5 stars to the car max team that were always courteous with paperwork and the whole process. I recommend Ivie and the Irvine car max crew if your looking for a car. Tip: browse around before going in. Compare and inform yourself about which vehicle you like. read more

What a disappointment! After a year of trying to diagnose an engine oil consumption/shaking/vibration/low oil pressure problem with our BMW 325 - over 70 days out of service with 49 days for the last time in....they have run us out of the extended warranty. As we feared, and told CarMax many times, they would find the cause after the warranty ran out. And so it happened - 2,000 miles and 2 months later - a $3,000 inspection authorization is needed to find out what is wrong with the engine. The extended warranty company from CarMax is running away and so is CarMax. It's all laid out in a spreadsheet! Repair after repair. The service writer Sandra Cervantes knows the whole story and is helpless to do anything while the managers have stuck their feet in the sand. We were the most loyal CarMax customers ever. Now, it is time to tell a year's worth of stories about their failure to diagnose the problem correctly while the warranty was in effect. You know what they say...treat a customer right and they will tell 10 people...treat them wrong...and they will tell 50 - or in the case of the web...thousands. It's not too late CarMax to correct this situation. Are you listening or still hiding because this is now something that will cost you money instead of charging the extended warranty company? read more

I didn't know much about Carmax until a couple of weeks ago. I had heard about the no haggle and return policy but not really thought about it in detail and perhaps assumed that it was just more car dealer lies. So I found the car I wanted from quite a number of possabilities on the lot in Irvine. The sales consultant (Amin) was great to work with and took me out driving all the cars, not trying to upsell me or any of the usual nonsense. I ended up buying a car that on the day I was very happy with. After a few days it became apparant that I had not thought through the decision too well as it was just too big and a pain to park. I called Amin and asked if I could return it even though it was 100% my bad decision making and there was no fault with the car. He confirmed no problem and then set about finding the exact car I needed. After a few days of work on his part he found the perfect model and had it brought to Irvine. The return and new sale took a couple of hours and was very easy with no hidden charges or any car dealer garbage. Really positive experiance for me and one that I recommend to others. read more

I was ready to buy the car I saw on line and set up an appointment at 2 pm with this sales person as he said he would come in at noon that day. I called on the day to see if I could come in early. He said he would tied up until 3 pm? I had my friend came to me to give me a ride to Carmax, so that I could drive the SUV home. Ok, I told him that I would come in to check the car at 3 pm. Just before 3 pm, I receive a text from him saying the car I was interested in was transferred? to elsewhere? It's not the way to treat customers, and for me to buy a car from him or a bunch of unprofessional. CarMax to me is a grocery store. Sales man not only has sufficient knowledge, not professional. Who wold I want to give business to them? I rather give my business to people who are willing to attend, a basic stuff. read more

I had my car appraised by Carmax and was offered $35,000 for my car. I mentioned to my sales guy that the brake light on my car was on but that I would replace brake pads before bringing it back. I ordered the pads and had them installed so that brake light would go off. Since the appraisal was more than 7 days old I had it re-appraised and the cut $1,000 from my original appraisal. I got dinged $1,000 for doing the right thing and being honest. I have purchased 4 cars and sold 4 cars to them. They lost a loyal customer. Giving them 1 star since the guy (Juan) that did the paperwork was awesome. DO NOT do business here! Shady tactics read more

This review is quite overdue, since its been awhile since I was there. However, Mark the Manager and Monique the salesperson were very helpful to me. I purchased a car from there (and the process was quite quick and smooth) but wound up having to return it. The car seat from this particular model was hurting my back, severely. And, they let me return it! Even though returning was an intense process, Mark and Monique were patient with me despite not making a sale. Mark was very understanding. read more

I spent 2 hours waiting for my car looked that so i can sell it but i never got a call so i left and 30mins later i get a call so i can get my car appraised. The service here is super slow and there were still a lot of people waiting. read more

Me and my wife went in just to look at the RAV4s that we saw. We were immediately helped by Steve. He didn't come off too strong or pushy for commission. He was simply just very helpful and nice. He then showed us all of the details on this particular car that we liked with a great price on it. We liked the experience so much that we bought the car that same day. The car is perfect for us and the whole experience was smooth and easy. Steve was very helpful and answered all of our questions. This is a new experience for us buying a car so having him be patient and nice the entire time was extremely important for us. We love our car and would recommend this location for car buying. read more

Bottom line up front: Don't believe the hype about them paying more for used cars. They offer significantly less than trade in book value. I was offered more for trade from a dealer. I have come to CarMax on 2 different occasions when I was selling cars since I heard the adds about selling hassle free and getting more than a dealer would offer. I took my 1 year old truck to them and they gave me an embarrassingly low offer on it. I sold it for 9 grand more without trying very hard. About a year later, I took my wife's car (a highly desirable model) in and they gave me another extremely low offer. I understand they need to make money and I expected to get an offer well below retail, but I didn't expect to be offered auction prices for clean, low mileage new model vehicles with clean titles. To give you an idea of their offers, look at KBB or Nada, find the trade in value of your car, then subtract a few thousand and you will be in the ball park. On the upside, their staff is pretty friendly and low pressure. read more