WidowPC Gaming Computers - CarMax - a Fellow Fanatical Supporter

On my quest to fine the ultimate WidowPC gamer car I stumbled upon the Toyota Tacoma. I currently have a Acura TL with these fancy black leather seats and whenever I got to a lan party I end up scratching the leather with my computer hardware and monitors. This and the irritating lease feeling of driving someone else's car got to be too much and we're returning it.

So, despite dreading the hack and slash of the car dealership haggle... My wife and I had the most pleasant experience buying a car last night. We went to the Austin Carmax after doing a few hours of research on Consumer Reports Online and some pricing research for the 2002 Toyota Tacoma I had figured would be the most reliable, coolest looking, best bang-for-the-buck gamer's paradise on wheels.

The sticker price (which is a no-haggle price at CarMax) was $2000 below the sticker price of the local Toyota "preowned" dealership. So, I didn't feel like I needed to haggle. The price was already below the Kelley Blue Book value.

After we arrived, I was impressed by the knowledge of the CarMax sales people and how friendly (and low pressure) the atmosphere was. I asked my salesman, Will, about it and he said that they are commissioned-based but that the commission is the same for every car. So, there is no pressure for them to "upsell" me. I felt like I want customers to feel while shopping at WidowPC...relaxed and confident I was getting the straight talk on the product I was considering.

I was so impressed, I told the staff there that I would blog about it and so here I am. If you're looking for a car do the due diligence research on Consumer Reports Online and make sure the make/model/year combo is a good one. Then go to CarMax.com to find it in your local area. Note that this only works with used cars which are the only cars I recommend. They are the only ones with reliable track records because new ones haven't been out long enough for you to know if they perform well in accidents, are really safe, break down a lot, etc.

Anyway, excellent experience and I highly recommend CarMax.

UPDATE, 26 Sep 2005: Received a letter from Will, my salesman, thanking me for buying the truck at CarMax, and offering to answer any questions I have. I also received the license plate (in the past, with other dealers, it took weeks for the license plate to come), and the payment coupons last week. They really have it together! By the way, I still love the truck.

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Comments

Posted by: Jon at January 10, 2006 09:17 PM