PPI for a Carmax purchase?

First time poster, long time browser... 996 gurus - I know that the consensus of the group is to always do a PPI for a used 996 for the obvious reasons. My question is, has anyone purchased their car from Carmax? I'm looking at a 2003 C2 that's got incredible low miles (15k) and options, and the right set of colors. I've brought up the idea of a PPI, but it looks like that can't happen off-lot, and they insist that their 100 or so point inspection is thorough. In addition, they are offering a supposed bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that covers a fairly comprehensive list of items, including engine and seals and whatnot. My only recourse would be to actually purchase the car, then use the 5 day return policy to get the car checked. I'd rather not go through that if I don't need to, especially because of timing/schedule considerations. For those of you who have purchased a Carmax car, how difficult has it been to utilize the warranty? Has anyone gone through a blown engine replacement under their warranty? I appreciate any recommendations. Thanks, Davin

I have bought two cars (not P-cars) from CarMax, well actually three. You see the first one left a few drops of oil on the driveway and I returned it within the 5-day return policy. It was a suprisingly easy process. Sure there was a bit of paperwork to sign, but it wasn't bad at all. In fact, it was that experience that will keep me considering CarMax in the future. So if you pull the trigger and then do a PPI and find significant issues, just return the car and you will be out nothing. On one of the cars I purchased, I got the extended warranty. I will never do that again. They just don't come through on the real costs of parts. They have their own view of what is retail, and will always claim that the dealer is marking things up beyond that. I know some dealers try to get away with this, but I believe I was thorough in my investigation of parts pricing, and the warranty would only pay what they felt retail should be. So sure, they might cover a blown 996 engine, but will try to tell you that the retail of a replacement engine is something like $4000, and you will be left to argue it out with them or go to court. IMO, you would be better off putting the money that you would have paid for the CarMax warranty into a savings account, and using it as an emergency repair fund if needed. I think the risk/value relationship would be more in your favor that way than with the CarMax warranty.

I'm calling BS on Carmax. There is no harm in letting you doing the PPI. Hell, if they really wanted you to buy the car, they would drive it over to the PPI themselves. Most car places will do anything in their power to get you to sign the dotted line. Since they are so adamant about not letting you get the PPI, I would be worried that they didn't know squat or were hiding something. I would tell them that the deal is contingent upon the PPI. If they balk, I would walk. -td

I purchased my car from Carmax back in 10/07. 1999 C-2 with 27k miles one owner (paid $27.5). The Carfax was perfect, all of the information checked out. I took it for a PPI and everything was as it should be for a vehicle with such low mileage. Last month the cars computer went out and the ignition switch was a beginning to stick at times. The warranty company paid to have both fixed. I paid $1,250 for the extended warranty, and the cost of the repair was $1,280. I had my car back in 3 days. I would definitely buy from them again. Where else can you get a warranty on a 10 year old vehicle? You can search the web and find both positive and negative feedback on the company, but they definitely came through for me. I now have 37K on the car and it's running great. That’s my $0.02.

One other thing. There is a 5 day return policy as rroobbcc stated. Worst comes to worst, return it.

dgallego, Im not sure where you are located... but here in Houston there was a 2003 silver C2 that had pretty low miles at Carmax. I called and made an apt to see the car a few months ago, and when I got there I meet up with the sales woman, and she said she would pull the car around to the front to show it to me. 10 minutes or so later, she walked up to me and said the car had been "pulled" by the manager. I pressed a little bit and she said they were performing some air conditioning work on it... I don't know the whole thing sounded fishy to me. Im only re-telling the story in case you are looking at the same car. Otherwise, I've heard generally good things about purchasing from Carmax.

The 100 point Carmax inspection on a 996 is a joke. All it will guarantee is that everything obvious works and the car has never been in an accident. They will know next to nothing about Porsches unless you are just lucky. It is NOT a PPI. Depends on the local shop, but about 8 years ago, our local Carmax couldn't tell the difference between my plain Isuzu Trooper and the LX version, worth about 2k more, even though all LX's have sunroofs and two tone paint, neither of which mine had. When they offered me LX money for my plain Trooper, I took it and ran. Just beware...You WILL pay more at Carmax, plain & simple, but it will most likely be a clean car with low miles.

Guys, Thanks for the responses so far. The car in question is a 2003 C2 Coupe, Tiptronic, in Dark Teal Metallic with Black leather and only 15k miles. Carfax gives it a clean history with 2 owners. Anyway - I'm heading out tomorrow morning to check her out again. I've decided that I have a few options. Buy the car w/ warranty and: 1. Get the PPI done within the 5 days. If that goes royally bad, return it and get my money back 2. If the PPI shows minor things, I can have Carmax fix these items within the 30 day grace period 3. If anything major happens after 30 days, I should be covered for 6 years or 60,000 miles by the extended warranty 4. If anything major happens after 30 days, I can get the car fixed via the warranty and then just resell it back to Carmax if I don't want to deal with this anymore. I realize I'll probably be out of pocket some money, but consider it a lesson learned. Not to get all superstitious or anything since I haven't yet bought it, but I happened to find this car by accident. If you're interested, here's the story: I just recently subscribed to Carfax and was using the service to look up several VINS during my hunt. I've been looking for a non-white/grey/silver tiptronic coupe with black interior for months. I accidentally clicked on the carfax feature to email you new available cars. The next morning I got an email that a GREEN coupe was available less than 15 miles from me. I called up Carmax and the sales advisor was confused - he JUST got the car the day before and it hasn't even been prepped for the website, and wasn't even on the lot for show. I decided to just drive down and check out the car since it was fairly close by. I wasn't thrilled about a forest green 911, since that's what I thought the color was. I get there at night, took a quick test drive, and parked it inside the service bay. I get out of the car and then realized it wasn't forest green, but teal! Not to mention, PCM/nav, heated seats, and the upgrade sound system. Honestly, the only thing this car doesn't have that I'd prefer is the litronic lights. I think I could deal w/ the halogens or get a retrofit kit. Thanks for listening. Davin

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That is true for some cars, but not all. Just like any other place, you have to do your research and be patient. I thought we got a good price on the X5 we bought there ($8K less than KBB, $6K less than Edmunds - based off the figures I ran, not the CarMax sticker). We paid what seemed to be the going rate for our 335i, but it was in high demand last summer. Even BMW only had 3 used 335s within 500 miles of my home at the time, and the closet was in Ohio. So I was happy to get mine at the CarMax 10 miles from my house, even if it wasn't a super great price. What does amaze me about CarMax prices is the amount they are charging for some of the typical "economy" cars. We have been looking for a car for my daughter, who gets her license in Sept. We could almost get a 3 year old 3-series BMW, for the same price as a year old Mazda 3. I guess the high gas prices and increased demand are elevating the resale values of small cars. I wish we didn't have to buy her anything, but I will either have to pay the hit to my insurance, as she will be a potential driver of the 996, or I spend the money on a car to keep the insurance down. Either way I am going to be out some dough. Sorry for drifting off topic like that.

PPI or bust....

Well - thanks for all of your responses. As an update - I am now the proud 10-hour owner of the 2003 996 in question. I've been driving the car all day and it drives like a dream. I will post my impressions on the car as well as an intro in another topic, but as you all suggested, I will still get a PPI setup within the next 2 days. If the results are completely disastrous, I can still return the car to Carmax within 5 days. Thanks again for everyone's advice.

Congrats!