CarMax on Cranston and Warwick Border is Running on All Cylinders

After a lengthy construction project at the desolate former home to Building 19 on Route 2 right at the Cranston and Warwick border, CarMax is now open.

The new store is the company’s first Rhode Island location and it coincides with a $5,000 donation to the Cranston YMCA, a $10,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Warwick and a major disruption to the used car business in this part of Rhode Island.

The 15,000-square foot store is planted on an 8-acre site that straddles the border of Rhode Island’s second- and third-largest cities and more than 300 cars are kept in stock.

CarMax ups the ante in the local used car market game for a variety of reasons, much of it due to the company’s size and the scale of its operations. A CarMax looks and feels a lot like a new car dealership and they have a complete service department along with a carwash on site.

The company says each car is inspected during a 12-hour or more process to make sure every car that rolls off the lot will be problem free and up to date on its maintenance.

The CarMax model promises no-haggle pricing and few hassles. The lot is overflowing with late-model and lightly used cars that only people who follow the automotive industry and enthusiasts would know aren’t new. The company also offers a 30-day warranty on all vehicles and their optional full bumper-to-bumper warranties, while sometimes pricey, are legendary in enthusiast circles, especially since one automotive journalist bought a used Land Rover, notorious for being unreliable and prone to electrical gremlins, and has since had CarMax happily make a slew of expensive repairs.

The company also has a five-day, money-back guarantee on all cars and offers quick appraisals on trade-ins.

Company officials said they’re excited about doing business in Rhode Island and noted the company’s charitable efforts will be ongoing now that CarMax has a presence in the area.

“We have great admiration for these organizations and look forward to building relationships with community partners in the area,” said Ric Raposo, location general manager of the Warwick CarMax store. “Our associates take pride in our involvement in the communities where we live, work and play.”

For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.