Last fall I needed a new car - and decided, for the first time ever, to get a used car. I knew exactly what I wanted: a 2002-2006 Volvo S60 sedan (preferably black), with cloth seats (preferably heated). A manual transmission. Fewer than 50,000 miles. And I didn't want to pay more than $16,000.
I called the local Volvo dealer that we'd bought our previous five cars (new) from; the salesman said he'd see what he could do, but sounded curiously disinterested, given the way car sales have been of late. I called other local dealers. I looked in the papers, on Craigslist and online.
I found a couple of prospects: one in Rhode Island (it turned out the seller wasn't actually sure he wanted to sell), and one in California (the dealer was eager to make a sale - but I'd have to fly out to see the car).
But I'd also emailed Carmax, a national "auto superstore" with a Web site, and a showroom about an hour from me. A salesman called the next day and promised to find my car. A few days later, he called back to say he had it - in California. I'd have to pay $900 for shipping, but I didn't have to take the car once I saw it.
From his description, it had everything I wanted except for heated seats (probably because it came from Southern California), and the price was well under my limit. So I ordered it.
The car came in ahead of schedule. I test drove it, and everything was good. When it was time for me to take delivery, the salesman drove it to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in my town, so I didn't have to make the hour drive to pick it up.
It had a 60-day warranty, and I needed to have a couple of minor things adjusted. Both times the service department was terrific. When the service manager said he'd call me at work at 2:30 to tell me if the car was ready, he called at exactly 2:30. The car was ready when he said it would be.
It was the best service I've gotten from any car dealer. The motto on the Carmax Web site reads "The way car buying should be." And it was.
(And in case you're wondering, I'm not related to the owner.)
- good job!
