Jalopnik: carmax

CarMax: 285 HP Dodge Caliber SRT4 For $16,769, $10K Off MSRP

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:00:30 EST

Proving the Carpocalypse isn't all bad, CarMax is selling a new 285 HP car equipped with a six-speed manual transmission for $16,769, or about $10K off the MSRP. The catch? It's a Dodge Caliber.

If you drive on down to the LAX CarMax in Inglewood, California you can pick yourself up a brand new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 for the low price of $16,769 or about $10,000 off the MSRP of a comparably-equipped SRT4. For this low price, less than the MSRP of the base model Caliber, you get a turbocharged little monster capable of an electronically (and aerodynamically) limited 155 MPH top speed, a 0-60 jog in the low 6's and a quarter-mile time of 14.5 seconds.

Although we weren't exceptionally fond of the car when we reviewed it, we came away impressed with the car's gobs of available power and crisp gearbox. We called the car a "decent value" when it was above $20,000. For less than $17,000 this is an incredible amount of horsepower for incredibly little money.

CarMax currently offers new cars at five locations in the US, but this is the best deal we could find at any of the new vehicle locations. And before you ask, you can't get the cars transferred to your local CarMax. But at this price, grab a one-way ticket to LAX.

[CarMax via Motive Forums]

How To Avoid A Flood-Damaged Car

Andrew Stoy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:20:00 EDT

Given the flooding in the upper Midwest earlier in the year, and the fact that many folks likely chose not to escape recent hurricanes by car, chances are better than ever that you're going to encounter a salvaged flood car on the used vehicle market. Sellers are generally required to disclose flood damage, but unscrupulous retailers have been known to ignore such rules. To help, vehicle mega-retailer Carmax has put together a list of things to look for when checking out a used car that point to possible previous flood damage. Our advice: If it's still wet, walk away. Full list and release below.

CARMAX ADVISES HOW TO AVOID FLOOD-DAMAGED CARS

RICHMOND, Va. (September 29, 2008)—In the wake of a destructive hurricane season that brought flooding to many areas of the country, CarMax, Inc., (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, is advising consumers on how to avoid purchasing flood-damaged vehicles.

“Consumers should be aware that some businesses and individuals may try to sell salvaged and flood-damaged cars without revealing the vehicle history,” said Gary Hickman, purchasing manager for CarMax in Houston, Texas. “Flood-damaged cars that are not structurally or mechanically sound could be repaired, re-titled, and sold to unsuspecting buyers.”

CarMax’s car-buying team offers ten tips for identifying a vehicle with possible flood damage:

1. Check for a moldy smell inside the car and feel the carpet for dampness
2. Ask questions about an older car with a brand new interior or carpeting
3. Check for rust under the brake or gas pedals
4. Look for dirt or rust under the dashboard and floor mats
5. Inspect the bolts and screws under the seats for evidence of rust
6. Check the undercarriage for excessive rust
7. Check inside the trunk under the carpet in the spare tire well area for rust, dirt or sand
8. Look for corrosion, water marks, or a thin brown line on the exterior of the vehicle
9. Check to see if the electrical system works
10. Check the VIN number with AutoCheck or Carfax to see whether a flood claim has been filed or a salvage title has been issued on the vehicle

CarMax provides a free AutoCheck vehicle history report for every used vehicle. CarMax’s team of approximately 900 car buyers nationwide is trained to detect whether a car has frame or flood damage. CarMax will not retail any car that has flood or frame damage or an odometer or title discrepancy.

[Carmax]

Black Is In, Yellow Is Out When It Comes To Used Car Color Preferences

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT

According to a somewhat non-scientific report by used car retailer CarMax, Black was the most frequently searched color for used car buyers in February with 36% of all searches, followed by white with 17%, blue with 11% and red with 10%. The four least popular colors were silver with 9%, gray with 6%, green with 4% and yellow with 2%. Sorry about that Nick Hogan, apparently our "what's your favorite black car? QOTD is changing minds. Press release below the jump.

CARMAX REPORTS MOST POPULAR VEHICLE COLORS

RICHMOND, Va. (March 11, 2008) - CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX) the nation's largest retailer of used cars, reports the color black has topped the list as the most popular color for vehicle searches conducted on carmax.com in February.

"We find color choice is a very important consideration for customers when car shopping," said Mark Simmons, Purchasing Manager in San Diego, California. "I am not surprised that black tops the list. The color black looks good on nearly every make and model."

Used car shoppers' top five color choices for online searches in February were:

Color Choice Percent of Searches
Black 36%
White 17%
Blue 11%
Red 10%
Silver 9%

Other colors of interest to online shoppers included gray (6%), green (4%) and yellow (2%).

Online shoppers can use the CarMax website to search the company's inventory of more than 25,000 new and used cars. The website showcases each vehicle with multiple photos, the no-haggle price, and information on features, options, fuel economy and customer reviews. In fiscal 2008, carmax.com averaged more than five million visits per month. Additionally, approximately 70 percent of in-store customers visited the website before coming to the store.

[Source: CarMax]