Buying and Selling Vehicles - Anyone have any experience selling a car to Carmax?

I have a 97 Honda Civic HX with 82000 and with my work schedule I dont really have time to sell it myself and was thinking about trying Carmax. Have any of you ever sold a car to Carmax? How was your experience? Do they gennerally give trade-in value or possibly a little better? I thought about just trading it in when I buy a new car but was told Carmax usually gives you a better deal.

I don't have any experience with doing that, but common sense would tend to make me say I doubt you'll get anywhere near top dollar for it. After all, Carmax will need to turn around and sell it to make a profit or take it to auction. Either way, the more they pay you up front the more they have to make on the sale to turn a profit.

Run an ad in a local 'trader' paper. Get an answering machine for people to leave their numbers. Selling it yourself usually brings in a better price. Just don't over price it.

Carmax will give you a reasonable trade-in price and they'll buy it for that price. Probably a little less than you could negotiate on a trade and definitely less than you could sell it for on your own, but it's a no hassle time saver if you just want to get rid of it.

Kelly Blue Book has these listed,
http://cars.kbb.com/go/search/search_results.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=22&sort=true&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=MILES%2CYEAR+descending%2CPRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_18_%7CH-%7CD-_214-1_%7CN-N%7CR-10000%7CI-1%2C5%7CP-YEAR+descending%2CPRICE+descending%7CQ-descending%7CY-_1997_%7CX-popular%7CZ-15936&sortId=&aff=carskbb

these,
http://cars.kbb.com/go/search/saved_listings_print.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&cid=&searchType=22&criteria=K-%7CE-%7CM-_18_%7CH-%7CD-_214-1_%7CN-N%7CR-10000%7CI-1%2C5%7CP-MILES+ascending%2CYEAR+descending%7CQ-ascending%7CY-_1997_%7CX-popular%7CZ-15936&certifiedOnly=false&aff=carskbb


Seller Photo 1997 Honda Civic HX

Price $6,250

Mileage 83,100

Body style Coupe

Ext. Color Black

Int. Color Grey

Trans. 5 SPD MANUAL

Engine 4 Cylinders
Description: Black 2-door FWD Coupe, 83100 miles, 5 SPD MANUAL, 4 Cylinders. Stock# 03924. Features: Air Conditioning, Alloy Wheels, CD Player, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Rear Window Defroster, Tinted Glass.
Standard Features: 14 inch Rim Size, Power Brakes, Power Steering, Dual front air bags/active belts, 5 speed manual Transmission, AM/FM Radio, 097 Cubic Inch Displacement, Tilt Wheel, Front Wheel Drive, 4 Cylinders
Seller's Notes: Small Town = Big Savings, See more photos at www.TopQualityMotors.com, Each car has a free 6/6 warranty, All Cars CARFAX Certified, Call us at 888-632-3231 WE DO NOT ALLOW UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS!
Stock #: 03924
VIN: 1HGEJ7126VL062781



Top Quality Motors
603 N. Henry Clay Blvd.

Ashland, MO

877-818-4435






Seller Photo (1 of 6) 1997 Honda Civic HX

Price $5,495

Mileage 72,033

Body style Coupe

Ext. Color Silver

Int. Color Black Cloth

Trans. automatic

Engine 4 Cylinders
Description: Silver 2-door FWD Coupe, 72033 miles, automatic, 4 Cylinders. Stock# 40. Features: ABS, Air Conditioning, Alarm, Bucket Seating, Cruise Control, Driver-Side Airbag, **Low Mileage**, Passenger-Side AirBag, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Steering, Power Windows, Radial Tires, Rear Bench Seat, Rear Window Defroster, Remote Alarm Control.
Standard Features: 14 inch Rim Size, Power Brakes, Power Steering, Dual front air bags/active belts, 5 speed manual Transmission, AM/FM Radio, 097 Cubic Inch Displacement, Tilt Wheel, Front Wheel Drive, 4 Cylinders
Seller's Notes: Gorgeous 2dr honda civic.... with low mileage....and it also comes with a nationwide warranty.... come check it out for yourself
Stock #: 40
VIN: 1HGEJ722XVL059087


Certified Auto Exchange
82 Highway 35

Keyport, NJ

866-557-5725






Seller Photo (1 of 11) 1997 Honda Civic HX

Price $4,995 (Or Best Offer)

Mileage 93,000

Body style Coupe

Ext. Color Red

Int. Color Black

Trans. Manual

Engine 4 Cylinders
Description: Red 2DR Coupe, 93000 Miles, Manual Transmission, 2WD, 4 Cylinders, Excellent Condition. It comes with a 3yr or 36,500 bumper to bumper warranty with a $50. deductible and a new muffler
VIN: 1HGEJ712XVL066543

Listing Date: Mar 28, 2007


Individual Seller

Seller: Gary

Mobile: 734-674-1565





1997 Honda Civic HX

Price $4,900

Mileage 79,000

Body style Coupe

Trans. 5-Speed

Description: '97 CIVIC HX, 2dr, 5spd, AC, 79K mi, $4,900 Call 457-0821 Updated on 05/02/2007.

Listing Date: Apr 7, 2007

Listing Source: Honolulu Advertiser


Classified Ad
Listing Date: Apr 7, 2007

Listing Source: Honolulu Advertiser

Carmax only had this one.


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CarMax® Vehicle Comparison Sheet

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ValuMax 1998 Honda Civic
HX 2D Coupe
No-Haggle Price: $8,998 *

MSRP: (New) N/A
Invoice Price: (New) N/A
Current Store: Laurel

Transfer Info: Free/4days
Stock #: 4204722
Exterior Color: Red

Interior Color: Gray Cloth

Mileage: 109K

Specifications
1.6L Engine
2 Door
2WD
Manual 5 Speed
EPA Mileage 36/44
4 Cylinders
115 Horsepower@6300rpm
104 Torque@5400rpm
Unleaded

Equipment
Air Conditioning
Power Steering
Cloth Seats
AM/FM Stereo
Power Windows
Power Locks
Alloy Wheels
Rear Defroster
*Price exludes tax, title, tags, and $149 processing fee (not required by law). Vehicle subject to prior sale. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions.

Here are the trade in values,
http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?ManufacturerId=18&YearId=1997&VehicleClass=UsedCar&VehicleId=NS81LzIwMDd8Nzg1MA%3d%3d&PriceType=Trade-In&ModelId=123&Mileage=82000&SelectionHistory=7850%7c3378%7c15936%7c0%7c0%7c&Condition=Excellent&QuizConditions=0

1997 Honda Civic HX Coupe 2D
Condition Value


Excellent
$4,050

Good
$3,650

Fair
$2,995

Looks like they selling them between $5,000-$6,000 but trade in is only $3,000-$4,000.
Here are some on Ebaymotors, http://motors.listings.ebay.com/Honda_Civic_W0QQa10239ZQ2d24QQa10244ZQ2d24QQa38v1yZQQa38v2yZQQa39ZQ2d24QQa39705ZQ2d24QQalistZa39Q2ca41Q2ca38v1yQ2ca38v2yQ2ca10239Q2ca3801Q2ca85Q2ca10246Q2ca33512Q2ca10241Q2ca10244Q2ca39705QQcatrefZC6QQcoactionZcompareQQcoentrypageZsearchQQcopagenumZ1QQfcclZ1QQfclZ3QQfgtpZQQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPostalQQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPostalQQfposZQ5AIPQ2fPostalQQfromZR2QQfrppZ50QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ9QQftrtZ1QQftrvZ1QQgcsZ13QQlopgZQQlsotZQQpf_queryZQQpfidZ2473QQpfmodeZ1QQreqtypeZ2QQsacatZ6256QQsadisZ200QQsaprchiZQQsaprcloZQQsascsZ2QQsaslcZ2QQsatitleZQQsbrftogZ1QQsocmdZListingItemListQQsofocusZunknown
I didn’t find any HX’s but seems they are trying to get more money.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330114004216
price: US $6,595.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150118467728
US $5,300.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150117021401

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200105844175
US $4,795.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150116900793
US $3,499.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300105985375
US $5,800.00
I would list your car on ebay, get a quote from Carmax and also list it on KBB. I don't know the rules on Ebay, like do you have to sell, but I imagine if you put a reserve not met or buy it now price, you don't have to take the offer.