Carvana Gladiator purchase

[BourbonRunner]

I wouldn't buy from Carvana, they have a well documented history of borderline fraud and at least poor business practices. They try to turn-and-burn sales so quickly that they often don't have titles in-hand for the cars they are selling.

Search "Carvana Title Problems" some people have been waiting months to get their titles, others have ended up with Carvana demanding the car back but also refusing to return the trade-in because they already sold it.

Yup. They move a little too fast for their own good.

That said, I'll sell another car to Carvana but wouldn't buy one through them. I sold them my C3004M at the height of the crazy used market during Covid and walked away with a check for well more than I'd expected. They had it back up on the website for sale within 3 days. There is no way in hell they went through that car properly to get it up and gone.

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[SREAD]

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[SREAD]

It looks like Carvana has bought up a bunch of Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealers and is in the new car business now. It is attractive being able to skip the total pain in the ass that conventional dealers put you through with the pricing games, add ONS, bait and switch ,etc,etc. They give you a competitive price up front and that is what you pay. While I might buy new from them, I would never buy a used car from them, although I did sell my used car to them and it was pretty quick and easy. Not sure what you do for service, warranty work etc, but that is pretty much the case now days no matter where you buy.

 

[jeepin_sid]

Honestly, I'd rather have my own insurance before it gets delivered, even if the delivery company has insurance. When I bought my BMW I had it delivered from Idaho. It arrived covered in road grime (winter storms), and after inspection I found it was damaged. Tried to work with the delivery company but they basically tried to disappear. Luckily I already had my own insurance on it, they went after the transport company and I paid zero dollars for the repair.

One day of extra insurance isn't going to break the bank, and it's cheap.. well... insurance in the event something happens.

That's a very good point.

 

[jeepin_sid]

It looks like Carvana has bought up a bunch of Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealers and is in the new car business now. It is attractive being able to skip the total pain in the ass that conventional dealers put you through with the pricing games, add ONS, bait and switch ,etc,etc. They give you a competitive price up front and that is what you pay. While I might buy new from them, I would never buy a used car from them, although I did sell my used car to them and it was pretty quick and easy. Not sure what you do for service, warranty work etc, but that is pretty much the case now days no matter where you buy.

I went to the local dealership and they were trying to sell me a Brand new 2025 Gladiator Rubicon they had sitting on the lot for a go while. We liked it. It was discounted and had all the creature comforts and safety features. But then my buddy (who has owned quite a few jeeps over the years) mentioned I should check out Carvana. So I did, and when I saw the very heavily discounted brand new 2026 Gladiator Rubicons, I couldn't believe it. I talked to the dealership again, they called me back a couple days later and said; "no way can we even come close to those prices, it is frustrating". I literally only lost $2000 on my 2024 Toyota GR Corolla Circuit Edition, and my beat up rock crawler JL 2 door, they gave me triple what I expected. Plus the cost of the vehicle and free shipping. No dealer fees was another selling point. Yes it is frustrating I have to wait till Friday, when it said get it today. But I can't argue the price or the free shipping. This was too good a deal to pass up. I'm literally saving money by buying this Rubicon! I did financing through the credit union and will be saving on monthly payments, registration and insurance, going from two cars to one that does what it took both them to do plus now we are getting a truck bed.

 

[Hootbro]

This is all internet conjecture, but my understanding reading of things is that there is no free lunch with buying new from Carvana for any CDJR product and there will be trade offs.

If all one values is the upfront deal, then it is great but I have heard Carvana is not really setup to be a full warranty and servicing dealership for CDJR products. That leaves some customers to then have to try and use traditional CDJR dealerships for warranty and servicing work that will be less than cordial knowing you bought from Carvana rather than them.

In my opinion, this is some quasi way that Stellantis is trying to break up the traditional dealership model and poke at state franchise laws.

 

[BourbonRunner]

In my opinion, this is some quasi way that Stellantis is trying to break up the traditional dealership model and poke at state franchise laws.

You might be onto something. Tesla has duked it out in court to end the state-sanctioned monopolies and had moderate success with direct to consumer sales in locked states like North Carolina (moderate in that the state tried to legislate against Tesla to protect the franchises, then limited them to only 6 dealers).

I'd much rather pick my new car out online and do all the paperwork before having to waste hours sitting in some prick of a finance manager's office for hours trying to hammer out the docs while he tries to put his kid through college trying to sell me add on warranties. The only part of the car buying experience that is enjoyable is the test drive. The rest of it sucks eggs.

I can't recall if it was Kuniskis or someone else that specifically said the dealer experience is a major issue for the company.

Selling franchises to an online outfit like Carvana changes the game entirely. I don't know if it's the right move but I welcome the disruption.

 

[NC_Overland]

I wouldn't buy from Carvana, they have a well documented history of borderline fraud and at least poor business practices. They try to turn-and-burn sales so quickly that they often don't have titles in-hand for the cars they are selling.

Search "Carvana Title Problems" some people have been waiting months to get their titles, others have ended up with Carvana demanding the car back but also refusing to return the trade-in because they already sold it.

I’d never buy from them either. They got kicked out of NC for a yr because they can’t even handle simple dmv paperwork. That’s buy here pay here dirt lot level of incompetence.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I could go on a long rant about how I hate basically everything about their business model, other than the basic premise itself. They do everything in such a shady manner. I hated feeling with them at the dealer auctions.

 

[Hootbro]

I can't recall if it was Kuniskis or someone else that specifically said the dealer experience is a major issue for the company.

Ford CEO Jim Farley said similar words. A few years back Ford floated the idea of spinning off their Electric stuff to their own division and go about the Tesla model for sales, deliver and service. Wound up being more of a move to make the current Ford franchise dealerships invest in EV infrastructure.

 

[NC_Overland]

This is all internet conjecture, but my understanding reading of things is that there is no free lunch with buying new from Carvana for any CDJR product and there will be trade offs.

If all one values is the upfront deal, then it is great but I have heard Carvana is not really setup to be a full warranty and servicing dealership for CDJR products. That leaves some customers to then have to try and use traditional CDJR dealerships for warranty and servicing work that will be less than cordial knowing you bought from Carvana rather than them.

Inmy opinion, this is some quasi way that Stellantis is trying to break up the traditional dealership model and poke at state franchise laws.

Nah. I hate carvana, but it’s nothing new. Carmax sold new CJD vehicles roughly 20 yrs ago. Not sure when they stopped.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Ford CEO Jim Farley said similar words. A few years back Ford floated the idea of spinning off their Electric stuff to their own division and go about the Tesla model for sales, deliver and service. Wound up being more of a move to make the current Ford franchise dealerships invest in EV infrastructure.

Thanks, i couldn't recall who said it but i remember it being said.

Nah. I hate carvana, but it’s nothing new. Carmax sold new CJD vehicles roughly 20 yrs ago. Not sure when they stopped.

Carmax had new car stores up until a couple years ago but them getting out of CJD may have been TARP-forced.

In spite of industry claims that it benefits consumers, the closed dealer franchise model is a state-sanctioned, protectionist monopoly that only benefits the dealers. The dealer trade groups throw a ton of money at politicians to maintain their hegemony and their bought and paid for electeds won't do dare to pump the brakes on that money train.

 

[NC_Overland]

Thanks, i couldn't recall who said it but i remember it being said.




Carmax had new car stores up until a couple years ago but them getting out of CJD may have been TARP-forced.

In spite of industry claims that it benefits consumers, the closed dealer franchise model is a state-sanctioned, protectionist monopoly that only benefits the dealers. The dealer trade groups throw a ton of money at politicians to maintain their hegemony and their bought and paid for electeds won't do dare to pump the brakes on that money train.

Yeah, NADA is huge and powerful. It used to surprise me what they accomplish in court, but now I’m less naive and understand.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Yeah, NADA is huge and powerful. It used to surprise me what they accomplish in court, but now I’m less naive and understand.

As someone who has been active in legislative advocacy for my industry for nearly a decade, it's truly disgusting when you see how the sausage is actually made.

Which is part of why at the end of the year I'm stepping down from the various positions I'm in.

 

[DirkG]

The direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales model has been pretty controversial in the US since Tesla has become such a prominent player in the market. EV startups were allowed to bypass traditional franchise laws but traditional brands were not. And yes NADA is very powerful and has been able to push around politically.

I know it varies state by state (there are no federal regulations), so it'll be interesting to see how Carvana navigates DTC selling CDJR vehicles.

If it's successful, we'll probably see more models like this continue. Manufacturers would love to have dealers become service centers and just be able to sell DTC using online tools. Way more manageable and cost effective.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

I'd avoid Carvana like the plague. They've got COUNTLESS lawsuits, 2 finally settled, and many more are still ongoing. They were told by AZ state to stop business until further notice during The Vid due to illegal practices, fraud, and more. I left before hearing anything other than bad experiences more than good ones.

Between selling cars and screwing up the paperwork then demanding them back after the delivery, stealing trade-ins on cars that weren't as advertised (and returned within their period), and the fact they have COUNTLESS title lawsuits for refusing to provide the title even AFTER the vehicle was paid off in full or bought with cash...for YEARS or sold vehicles they didn't even legally own, FUCK Carvana.


AZ Carvana sold car they didn't own

ABC article about woman who paid off car and still can't get title

Another news article from Ohio

Yet another news article from Texas

And another news article from Florida


Regarding the insurance thing: Most if not ALL states require proof of insurance BEFORE they will provide plates as a PRE-requisite for getting the vehicle registered and plated.



You've been warned.

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