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CARMAX Just Sounded The USED CAR Market ALARM | Episode 996

CARMAX Just Sounded The USED CAR Market ALARM | Episode 996

CarEdge Live Jan 08, 2026 32 min
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About this episode

CarMax's interim CEO has raised alarms about the high prices in the used car market, announcing plans to cut prices and increase marketing efforts by 2026. The hosts analyze the implications of these changes, comparing CarMax's pricing strategies with those of Carvana. They explore various used vehicles, highlighting the affordability crisis as prices remain exorbitant. The discussion delves into the potential future of car ownership, suggesting that many Americans may soon be priced out of the market altogether, leading to a shift towards alternative transportation methods.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Toyota Corolla

"...ota says you can have it all, with the Camry, the Corolla, and the Corolla Cross."

The Toyota Corolla is a small car that many people buy because it's dependable and doesn't use a lot of gas. It's popular around the world and is often chosen for its low cost and good reputation.

Car

Toyota Camry

"... Savvy, Toyota says you can have it all, with the Camry, the Corolla, and the Corolla Cross."
Concept

hybrid powertrain

"An available iForceMax hybrid powertrain belts out up to 326 horsepower."

A hybrid powertrain uses both a gas engine and an electric motor, which helps save fuel and is better for the environment. It can give you more power while using less gas.

Term

horsepower

"An available iForceMax hybrid powertrain belts out up to 326 horsepower."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can go faster and accelerate better.

Term

Carvana

"I will say this, yesterday I received an email from Carvana, in regards to one of the old clubmen that I used to own, and if you remember on the 22nd of December, I got a notice from them that the value of the vehicle had fallen to $19,600..."

Carvana is a company that sells used cars online. You can buy a car from them without going to a dealership, and they even deliver it to your home.

Term

clubman

"...in regards to one of the old clubmen that I used to own, and if you remember on the 22nd of December, I got a notice from them that the value of the vehicle had fallen to $19,600..."

A clubman is a type of Mini Cooper that has more space and extra doors. It's designed to be a bit more practical than the regular Mini, making it easier to get in and out of the back seats.

Term

vehicle value

"...that the value of the vehicle had fallen to $19,600, and yesterday I got an email from Carvana saying, great news, as of January 7th, that very same clubman is now worth $20,600..."

Vehicle value is how much a car is worth. It can go up or down depending on things like how old it is, how many miles it has, and how much people want to buy it.

Concept

underwater inventory

"Yeah, it's almost as if he's saying that their inventory is underwater. Oftentimes, dealerships will look at their used-car inventory, and they'll suddenly realize that the $1,000,000 worth of used-cars that they have on the ground is only worth $750,000."

When a dealership's cars are worth less than what they paid for them, it's called being 'underwater' on their inventory. This means they might have to lower prices to sell those cars and recover some money.

Car

Ford F150

"Let's look at a Ford F-150. Okay, we're going to go with America's favorite used car."

The Ford F-150 is a popular pickup truck that many people in the U.S. use for work and personal purposes because it's strong and can carry a lot of stuff.

Concept

best-selling used vehicle

"The Ford F-150 maintains its decades-long grip as the best-selling used vehicle in America."

The best-selling used vehicle is the car that people buy the most when they are looking for a used car. It shows which cars are popular and trusted by buyers.

Term

fair price

"The first question I'm asking is, is this a fair price?"

A fair price is what you should expect to pay for a car based on how much it's worth. It helps you know if you're getting a good deal or not.

Term

mileage

"...the mileage is a bit high for the year."

Mileage is how far a car has been driven, measured in miles. A car with high mileage may have more wear and tear than one with low mileage.

Term

miles

"Yes, with 53,000 miles. So many miles. It's a lot of miles for the year."

'Miles' means how far a car has driven. The more miles, the more wear and tear it might have, which can affect how much it's worth.

Term

trim

"I'm not doing the same trim. The trim was what, a Lariat, I think?"

Trim is like different versions of the same car that have different features. Some trims are fancier or have more options than others.

Term

MSRP

"...four model years old, okay? 80,000 miles. That's 20,000 miles a year. And you want to try and sell it for $40,000."

MSRP is the price that the car maker suggests you should pay for a new car. It's like a starting point for negotiations when buying a vehicle.

Car

Ford Four Model

"three model years old, 23, 24, 25, or into 26. Four model years old, okay? 80,000 miles."

The Ford Model T is one of the first cars that many people could actually afford to buy. It changed how cars were made and helped more people own a vehicle, making it a big deal in car history.

Term

dealer fees

"...it's really kind of crazy when you look at these numbers."

Dealer fees are extra costs that car dealerships might charge when you buy a car. They can include things like paperwork fees and other charges that aren't part of the car's price.

Term

Out-the-door price

"If you go to the out the door calculator. Your wish, my command. So we're looking at, what, somewhere around $43,000, $44,000 out the door?"

Out-the-door price is how much you actually pay for a car after adding everything together, like taxes and fees. It's the total cost to get the car home.

Term

Interest rate

"Okay, and the average interest rate on a pre-owned vehicle? Yeah, it's not eight, it's closer to 10."

The interest rate is how much extra money you pay when you borrow money to buy a car. A higher interest rate means you'll pay more each month.

Term

new car payment

"That is the average new car payment today is $772. But again, Dad, that's actually in that market area, the lowest priced F-150, aside from one other one."

A new car payment is how much money you pay each month when you buy a new car on credit. It can change depending on how much the car costs and how long you take to pay it off.

Term

used car prices

"It is an indication that used car prices across the board,"

Used car prices are how much you have to pay for a car that someone else has already owned. These prices can go up or down depending on how many people want to buy used cars.

Company

CarMax

"Again, CarMax is coming out and saying we need to cut prices to try and drive sales. CarMax and Cargon are the two largest used car dealers in the United States."

CarMax is a big company that sells used cars. They have a lot of cars to choose from and make buying easier by having fixed prices without negotiations.

Concept

retail automotive

"So if this is the new normal and it appears that it is, this is really the death knell of retail automotive as we know it. And what do I mean by that?"

Retail automotive is how cars are usually sold in stores called dealerships. But now, with high prices and options like Uber and Lyft, fewer people might want to buy their own cars.

Concept

ride-sharing services

"You will see people utilizing Uber, Lyft, robo taxis, Waymo, whatever the hell it is, but people won't be owning their own cars."

Ride-sharing services are apps like Uber and Lyft that let you get a ride from someone else instead of owning a car. This can be cheaper and easier for many people.

Car

Toyota Tacoma

"...tomobile ownership. Dear Unstoppable, the Toyota Tacoma is raring to go. With more muscle and more metal..."

The Toyota Tacoma is a type of truck that can handle rough roads and tough jobs. It's known for being strong and lasting a long time, making it a favorite for people who need a reliable vehicle.

Company

Cox Automotive

"I bring this up in the context of Cox Automotive. They own Mannheim auctions, which are the largest car dealer used car auctions out there."

Cox Automotive is a company that helps car dealers and buyers with information and services related to buying and selling cars, including auctions.

Company

Mannheim auctions

"They own Mannheim auctions, which are the largest car dealer used car auctions out there."

Mannheim auctions are big events where car dealers buy and sell used cars. They help dealers find the cars they need for their lots.

Term

VIN

"I'm going to do the VIN search. Oh my God."

A VIN is like a car's fingerprint. It's a special number that helps you find out details about the car, like who made it and when.

Term

window sticker

"Okay, so we've got here the vehicle, the window sticker, for the most part, it should be accurate here."

The window sticker is a piece of paper attached to a new car that shows how much it costs and what features it has. It's like a menu for the car.

Term

brand new

"It was $23,000 brand new."

When a car is called 'brand new,' it means no one has ever owned it before. It's fresh from the factory and usually comes with a warranty.

Term

depreciation

"So even if it was $25,000, we're not talking a big amount of depreciation here from the past couple of years."

Depreciation is how much a car loses value as it gets older. For example, a new car is worth less after a few years because it's used and not as 'new' anymore.

Concept

dealer markup

"...as a result, these car dealers have to drop prices. That's the only thing that they can do to sell the inventory."

Dealer markup is when a car dealer charges more than the price suggested by the manufacturer. This can happen when a car is very popular or in short supply.

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