Hello,

I am a new member/S2000 owner and I just picked up my '06 today at CarMax. Below is some background information:

I had the vehicle transfered here from California (paid CarMax transfer fee) due to the low milage and acceptable price. The car arrived last Thursday and I test drove the car on Friday. Everything appeared great and I fell in love with it. But, I could not purchase the vehicle on Friday because CarMax was waiting for a title transfer (California to Oklahoma). This is what the car looked like on Friday:

***Placeholder: Photograph***

Well, today I got the call that the title had come in and they were able to sell me the car.

The sale went great. I had a minor issue come up but got a service request (dealer "I owe you") to take care of that issue. I signed the papers and they pulled the vehicle out on the drive. Perviously, I had asked the sales representative to remove the CarMax logo from the trunk and the front license plate frame since Oklahoma does not require a front license plate. When I walked around the car to ensure the task was complete, this is what I saw:

***Placeholder: Photograph***

If you notice, there is plenty WRONG in this photo. Firstly, those top holes are in no way stock (as you all know). Those holes were created by someone drilling in two screws (pictured in the top photo) to secure the license frame. Why would this be done you ask?, I presume because the stock holes had no threads (right of photo) and/or the screws were too large for the taps they attempted to place and use in the stock location (left of photo).

I lost it (still respectful, but very firm in language and tone) and immediately addressed the Sales manger.

This, to me, is "Hidden Damage." I fully understand that I transfered this from a Cali store and the state requires a front license plate, but I transfered this based off what I was told...and I was told the body had no damage. CarMax allows you to ask a Sales manager at the location you are transferring the vehicle from questions regarding the condition of the vehicle. I specifically asked if the body has or had any damage. Their response was no, the car was in great condition.

So thinking that I would get a "Holy cow, yeah we can fix that for you!" response, I was shocked when I got quite the opposite. "Sir, the vehicle is used." or "We don't know if it came to our store like that or not." That second statement really bothers me because it is an outright lie. That car got inspected when CarMax purchased it, the Cali store detailed/serviced it, when the car arrived here in Oklahoma, and when the car was detailed/service here. The other damning fact is that the license plate frame, and plaque all state CarMax on them. This lends me to believe that CarMax made the holes to attach the frame and plaque or knowingly new about the holes when attaching the frame and plaque.

So I am looking at having to have the holes filed, sanded and painted. I am going back up to the store tomorrow to speak with the Store manager after I get an estimate for costs/labor from a local body shop. I am wanting them to either repair the holes themselves or cover the costs to do so through a third party. Returning the car is still an option, as I five days to do so, but is quite the headache with financing and insurance. Plus I would be out the $750 transfer fee.

I love the car otherwise. The miles are great and the overall condition is awesome. I chalk some of this up as a lesson learned about transferring a vehicle from out of state, but in the end, this is inexcusable.

If anyone knows how much I should expect a body shop to quote me for this sort of work, I would greatly appreciate it. And if your in the Oklahoma area, recommending a quality body shop would also be a big help. Also, if anyone has any other thoughts, please feel free to pass them my way. Thanks to all in advance!

 

I would put a plate on the front and be done with it but then I am in Calif. where the plate is required.

Other than that, its just a matter of matching the paint, it is a very easy fix for a competent shop.

 

Congrats on your pickup, ride looks really clean......honestly IMO you are nitpicking with what you think is a major damage. When you ask if there are any "body" damage, that is not consider as body damage. It's consider more of a blimish or scratch, but not a "body" damage. That is why the sales person said what he said. Yes, I agree with you to have the dealership to try and fix it at their cost, but I hight doubt they will repair at their cost. They will tell you again, that it's a used car and used cars are not mint condition as suppose to a brand new car off the show floor.

Good Luck!

 

i had the same issue with carmax, i transfered a car but only from about 100 miles away, when i got home i took of the liscense plate and found that all my paint behind my liscense plate is gone and now i cant just use plate hole plugs i have to get it repainted, it was not covered under warranty

 

tell them if they do not cover the cost to repair the damages, you'll return the car. never mind the $750, they'll give you what you want because they want the sale.

 

i would be pretty pissed off too. luckily it's pretty minor and hopefully you can get it fixed. i just hate having the car repainted though, it's never the same.

 

btw just plug the holes, I had mine done when I was getting other things done.

 

Thanks for the quick replies,

As for being nitpicking, I can't really see that. My issue is this this damage was not disclosed to me (even when asked) and now I might have to pay out of pocket to fix it. My hunch is that the California CarMax store did this to the car (the previous owner came in without the stock front license frame and CarMax had to throw one on to make it sellable). The most logical/simplest answer tends to be the right answer. As for returning the car, I did tell the Sales manager that I would be returning the car if tomorrow's talks do not pan out better then today's conversation. I want them to think that I am willing to return this car if necessary (and as an absolute last resort, I am).

I will keep this forum up to date with what happens tomorrow.

Thanks again.

 

once you get the mod bug, you'll be replacing the front bumper anyways.
don't worry about it.

 

I bought my 06 nfr off carmax last september. i wonder if I should take the license plate off, im scared now.