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I needed a shower the last time I bought a used car from a dealership. I see why Carmax gers away with overcharging since they don't pull much of this crap.

It was one of those mega dealerships along i45 near clearlake. A couple year old forester with 25k miles on it advertised for 26k was about 32-33k new.

Walked in, drove it and said I would be happy to buy it for advertised price. Things went downhill fast. Guy comes out with an itemized invoice for literally more than the new price. So many absurd fees. Got a bit heated with the guy over how exactly they recondition a 25k mile single owner car. I should have just left but ended up in hours of arguments to come down to the price they had listed on the internet.

It was the only highly optioned forester in the right color and mileage that my wife wanted in Houston area. I felt bad about giving them any of my money.

few years later bought my focus st at planet ford. They had a big sale advertised when ford said they were no longer selling them. IN and out no problem, paid cash price they had listed which was 25% off MSRP.

I think dealers are fighting back in the age of internet info. Since I am trying to never finance another car in my lifetime i think I wll stick to cash purchases of private owner cars.

We did buy our minivan from carmax. Completely pain free and pleasant process. THough I am sure we paid 1500$ more than we should have.