Carvana? Buying a car sight unseen online (1 Viewer)

[ehinton200]

Curious if anyone has any first hand experience with Carvana.com where you essentially pick out a car online and have it delivered to you. The site says they don't use stock pics so you're seeing the exact car you're going to receive but still make me a little nervous. Guess I'm old school and use to going into the dealership but maybe this is how the kids do it these days. Anyone have any specific experience with this site

 

[Galileo]

No thanks.  I need to sit in a car and get the feel of it.

 

[tjnc09]

Curious if anyone else has made use of the Carvana.com sight where you essentially pick out a car online and have it delivered to you. The site says they don't use stock pics so you're seeing the exact car you're going to receive but still make me a little nervous. Guess I'm old school and use to going into the dealership but maybe this is how the kids do it these days. Anyone have any specific experience with this site

I don't see any point to this site.  Are they advertising prices are cheaper?

Everything is online now.  Take a few weeks to price shop and find a few options you can see and test in person.

 

[Courtjester]

I don't know, I am actively shopping for a car and the ones I was looking at seemed to be higher there than what I was normally seeing. if you did this, you would definitely need to see the Carfax.

I would love to go get a car from a big vending machine though. .

 

[Copeman]

I recently bought a car, and through my many searches, cars from Carvana always came up.  I passed as soon as I saw it was from Carvana..  No way would I put thousands on the line for anything sight unseen.

 

[glvsav37]

IDK, I'm looking for a commuting car and I know the basic model I want....might be worth checking out. 

 

[rockaction]

My brother buys cars on eBay but has protocol. It has worked really, really well for him. I'll ask him what his protocol is if I see him this weekend. I know it involved independent inspection at the dealer of his choice (paid by him), title and VIN confirmation, and him generally arranging it to pick it up to inspect and drive, but he's done it with higher-end used cars, and it's worked for him. 

He was trying to get me, a bunch of years back, to buy a Honda Prelude on eBay but I declined. Still rue the day. That thing looked sweet. Back when Prelude styling looked retro sweet, that is. '97-'01. 

 

[Eephus]

We bought a car online through Beepi.com.,  Our old car died and we didn't have the time or inclination to go around the Bay Area looking for a replacement.

It was a good experience.  The delivery was on schedule pretty much to the minute and the car's condition was immaculate.  I'd definitely do it again except that Beepi burned through all their venture capital and is now defunct.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Four years later...anyone changed their mind or had any experiences?

It must be working - they're still around.

 

[otb_lifer]

i did this once with a couch ... a ####### couch

never again - set me back 1k, and the lesson was learned. 

that's all i got on this. 

 

[Skipdog77]

i did this once with a couch ... a ####### couch

never again - set me back 1k, and the lesson was learned. 

that's all i got on this. 

Couchvana?

 

[otb_lifer]

Couchvana?

Castro Convertible rag top 

 

[zamboni]

The only valid reason to use Carvana IMO is to avoid having to deal with slimy car salespeople (no offense if there are some here). But I too would have a very hard time plopping that much coin down sight unseen.

 

[Zegras11]

The only valid reason to use Carvana IMO is to avoid having to deal with slimy car salespeople (no offense if there are some here). But I too would have a very hard time plopping that much coin down sight unseen.

I've used Carmax many times to both buy and sell. The price is the price.  Wife is thinking of selling her Toyota Highlnder.   Carmax said they would give us $24,800. Carvana $22,200.

 

[Nugget]

I’m way more interested in selling them a car than buying one from them. 

 

[Nigel]

We sold my wife's car through them recently. Engine light was on and she needed to get it fixed to pass inspection. I won't get into what was wrong but two different mechanics agreed it would cost $10K+ to make it inspection-passable. Got the minimum fixed to get light off. Took it home and filled out a form on the car, answered everything 100% honestly, and received an estimate within 5 minutes. Someone came to the house two days later and looked it over, started it, then handed us a check for $16,100. Put it on a flatbed and they were gone, 5 minutes total. When we said hello to the lady who showed up with the check it was the first Carvana person we'd spoken to. 

I would never buy a car from them. 

 

[FairWarning]

Coworker bought from Carvana, had no problems.

 

[fruity pebbles]

We sold my wife's car through them recently. Engine light was on and she needed to get it fixed to pass inspection. I won't get into what was wrong but two different mechanics agreed it would cost $10K+ to make it inspection-passable. Got the minimum fixed to get light off. Took it home and filled out a form on the car, answered everything 100% honestly, and received an estimate within 5 minutes. Someone came to the house two days later and looked it over, started it, then handed us a check for $16,100. Put it on a flatbed and they were gone, 5 minutes total. When we said hello to the lady who showed up with the check it was the first Carvana person we'd spoken to. 

I would never buy a car from them. 

Im shocked the stock is down 80%. Whole company is built on a ponzi scheme of cars continuing to increase in value. 

 

[trogg78]

If you buy from them get an inspection right away. I think they do give you an opportunity to return it.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

If you buy from them get an inspection right away. I think they do give you an opportunity to return it.

Yes, it's 7 days no questions asked for returns.

My last 2 car purchases and last 3 home purchases have been sight un-seen in person (video tour for the homes), although neither car purchase was through Carvana.

 

[nirad3]

I would never do this.  I may sell a car to them, but buy?  Not a chance.

 

[Gopher State]

My son purchased a KIA car from them   Perfect car, without all the drama and pressure to purchase after market warranty, paint sealant, etc.

 

[kupcho1]

I bought one back in July.  Fairly easy process.  Great customer service. Paid more than I expected, but that's just the used car market.

 

[FBG26]

I wouldn't be too worried about buying a car from Carvana, if the curb is getting something that's been in an accident it something. They buy cars that have accidents on the Carfax but they don't sell them. They give you a pretty low offer and then sell it at auction if you sell to them. I know because I thought about selling my car but the offer was too low due to an accident in the vehicle history. 

 

[FBG26]

Im shocked the stock is down 80%. Whole company is built on a ponzi scheme of cars continuing to increase in value. 

I don't think it's that at all. The whole idea seems to be to do so much volume that they know pricing better than anybody else. And they are fine with low margins if they can make it up in volume. 

 

[nirad3]

My son purchased a KIA car from them   Perfect car, without all the drama and pressure to purchase after market warranty, paint sealant, etc.

I bought a Kia from the dealership and had absolutely zero pressure to buy the after-market warranty, paint sealant, etc.  I guess it just depends on the dealership or the salesperson.