[ZNation]

I paid the transfer fee at Carmax to have a 2018 Hybrid Limited shipped to my location to buy. Since then I have found quite a few complaints and even safety concerns with the powertrain, hybrid battery and general electrical and functional issues; enough to scare me away from making the purchase. I checked for recalls and there are none open for my VIN. I'm hoping to hear back from someone that has had the recalls done. I will take it for an extensive test drive. What/how should I test while I have it for a test drive? Should I buy the Carmax extended warranty(maxcare)? Should I steer clear all together? Thanks!

 

[mkaz311]

I paid the transfer fee at Carmax to have a 2018 Hybrid Limited shipped to my location to buy. Since then I have found quite a few complaints and even safety concerns with the powertrain, hybrid battery and general electrical and functional issues; enough to scare me away from making the purchase. I checked for recalls and there are none open for my VIN. I'm hoping to hear back from someone that has had the recalls done. I will take it for an extensive test drive. What/how should I test while I have it for a test drive? Should I buy the Carmax extended warranty(maxcare)? Should I steer clear all together? Thanks!

No open recalls should be open since they are selling it. If you have the VIN you could have a local Chrysler dealership lookup its service records. (or maybe on the Carfax report they gave you hopefully)
Do you know the build date of the vehicle? If not it's on the drive side sticker label with tire pressures etc
Most importantly how many miles and how much is the vehicle? Might be same cost to buy new (with current $6750 rebates) and apply the $7500 tax rebate + any state rebates that may be available.

 

[ZNation]

No open recalls should be open since they are selling it. If you have the VIN you could have a local Chrysler dealership lookup its service records.
Do you know the build date of the vehicle? If not it's on the drive side sticker label with tire pressures etc
Most importantly how much is the vehicle? Might be same cost to buy new (with current $6750 rebates) and apply the $7500 tax rebate + any state rebates that may be available.

Is there a way to find the build date using the VIN? It's in transit now. I thought that the $7500 tax rebate was already phased out. Anyways, it's listed right at $33k.

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

Drive it how you would drive any other vehicle.

How many miles does it have? If below the limit highly recommend buying the Mopar warranty. A month after buying my 2018 I bought 8year/125,000-mile warranty from Tom Winkle at Hayes Jeep. Zeigler Auto Group and Tom battled it out until Tom ultimately won the sale at $2800.

If you buy the Carmax warranty you will be stuck with a jack of all trades mechanics working on your hybrid rather than mechanics specifically trained and work daily on your specific vehicle.

The tax credit is only available to the original first owner.

If they sell you the vehicle with open recalls that would be illegal.

My 2018 hybrid has been great!

 

[ZNation]

Drive it how you would drive any other vehicle.

How many miles does it have? If below the limit highly recommend buying the Mopar warranty. A month after buying my 2018 I bought 8year/125,000-mile warranty from Tom Winkle at Hayes Jeep. Zeigler Auto Group and Tom battled it out until Tom ultimately won the sale at $2800.

If you buy the Carmax warranty you will be stuck with a jack of all trades mechanics working on your hybrid rather than mechanics specifically trained and work daily on your specific vehicle.

The tax credit is only available to the original first owner.

If they sell you the vehicle with open recalls that would be illegal.

My 2018 hybrid has been great!

It has 33k miles. And yeah I don't like the idea of having to take it to certain mechs to have work done. The current rebates are pretty incentivizing.. I've never purchased a new car but from what I've heard, I don't want to. I'm not the best negotiator.

 

[ThisSuckersElectrical]

It has 33k miles. And yeah I don't like the idea of having to take it to certain mechs to have work done. The current rebates are pretty incentivizing.. I've never purchased a new car but from what I've heard, I don't want to. I'm not the best negotiator.

The limit to get the Mopar extended warranty is 36,000 miles. I thought it was 48,000 miles when I bought mine. They must have changed terms since then.

This is what I got:

2016-12 MVP_New Maximum Care Web.pdf (mopar.com)

Being yours is used I think this is your option:

Maximum Care Plans (Pre-Owned) - Mopar Vehicle Protection

 

[mkaz311]

It has 33k miles. And yeah I don't like the idea of having to take it to certain mechs to have work done. The current rebates are pretty incentivizing.. I've never purchased a new car but from what I've heard, I don't want to. I'm not the best negotiator.

Honestly if you don't want to negotiate as much look for the cheapest price on TrueCar | New & Used Cars for Sale | Car Pricing & Reviews and it'll usually give you a good basis to start.
Just ask them to lower the price to what you want to pay over email or a visit (reasonably lower), if they eventually can't reach the price you want, then "walk out" and only then will probably chase you down (or call/email you the next day) to give you close to the lowest cost they are willing to sell the car.
Hard to say no to current new car rebates of almost $6750, $7500 federal tax rebate with a new 3 year 36000 mile warranty for free (plus everything a 2021 upgraded 10" infotainment and free adaptive cruise control etc).
There's really no way the 2018 used car can beat that at this point, but it's up to you in the end

 

[CANADAHYBRIDGUY]

All the rebates and incentives is the reason the majority of owners on the site are trading in and up . Good luck and I hope it works out for you

 

[ZNation]

All the rebates and incentives is the reason the majority of owners on the site are trading in and up . Good luck and I hope it works out for you

Probably should have done some more research before I paid $200 to have it shipped! lol I'm finding deals on 2020 limited hybrids for right at what I was going to spend on the 2018.

 

[stop-eject]

As someone who just traded in 2019 for 2021 I can tell you that the used prices on PacHys are stupid high. My bare (before taxes/fees) sale price on a new top of the line Pinnacle was $41500, and I will get the $7500 tax credit on top of it.
Check your taxes to see if you can fully qualify for this non-refundable credit. If you can- don't even look at used PacHys.

 

[triggerhappy007]

It has 33k miles. And yeah I don't like the idea of having to take it to certain mechs to have work done. The current rebates are pretty incentivizing.. I've never purchased a new car but from what I've heard, I don't want to. I'm not the best negotiator.

As long as you have $7500 on tax liability this year, I would also recommend on buying a new 2020 ($3000 less) or 2021. If you're not good at negotiating, consider using a broker. I heard about this website through Jalopnik.com:

Home

automatchconsulting.com

 

[PacificaMinivanFan]

Might be same cost to buy new (with current $6750 rebates) and apply the $7500 tax rebate + any state rebates that may be available.

The tax credit is only available to the original first owner.

It seems to me it would be almost impossible to sell a one or two-year old hybrid without taking a bath on it since buyers would be more likely to buy a new one with the tax credit. Of course, this wouldn't matter to long-term owners.

 

[ZNation]

I was trying to find a way to update the post but I’m not sure how to. Anyways, I appreciate all the good advice and did end up finding a new 2020 hybrid limited that ended up being less than the 2018 from carmax. Very happy that I created this post. Thanks again!