Buying a used car today can still feel like an endurance test. Between salespeople proudly offering “manager-approved” prices and the mystery math that appears once you finally sit down in the finance office, it’s no wonder drivers are skipping the traditional lot entirely.

I found a recent Reddit thread in r/Carvana that offered a crowd-sourced audit of how that experience actually plays out.

Would they buy a used car through Carvana again?

The answers were overwhelmingly positive, but not without a few speed bumps.

Many said the process was so seamless they can’t imagine going back to dealership sales talk

Several commenters said the process worked exactly as advertised.

One buyer, who recently landed a car with just 12,000 miles on it, said everything went smoothly from start to finish. “Just did it 3 weeks ago,” they wrote. “Would definitely do it again. Got a fairly new car so nothing much to worry about. The process was so easy.”

Another customer said they both bought and sold through Carvana and saw no reason to return to a traditional dealership. “I’ll never go to a dealer again.”

For them, it was about convenience. No haggling, no waiting around, and no awkward sales conversations.

One buyer said Carvana’s customer service made them a repeat shopper

After noticing a few minor issues with their car after delivery, they contacted the company and said everything was handled quickly.

“They stood behind the sale, corrected a couple of small issues immediately,” they said. “Their SilverRock warranty was nothing but seamless. I’m shopping for another car with them now.”

But even satisfied customers admitted the Carvana experience wasn’t completely without stress

One person who’s purchased two vehicles through the retailer said the hardest part was waiting for delivery. “My delivery date was delayed both times,” they explained. “Nothing major, just my impatience being tested.”

Another buyer described waiting two extra weeks for their car to arrive but still called the process “super easy.” Their advice was to pick a car with a solid vehicle history and understand that delivery times can shift.

One customer who traded in a Toyota Highlander said the financing and scheduling process required some coordination

They worked with a credit union and had to juggle timing for insurance and delivery. Still, they said they’d do it again.

“Getting the credit union rate, insurance, and delivery date to align was stressful,” they wrote. “But when it worked, I was in and out in 40 minutes. I can’t stand talking to car salesmen. I knew what I was getting.”

A few buyers urged shoppers to be proactive about inspections

One customer said their inspection uncovered “around $10,000 worth of issues,” which Carvana ultimately paid to repair.

Another said they made it a rule to get an independent inspection immediately after delivery. “Take it for a prepurchase inspection on day one,” they advised. “Read your contracts. Know what’s covered.”

These experiences show that even though Carvana can simplify the buying process, it doesn’t remove the responsibility to verify a car’s condition. After all, having sold used cars myself in Ohio, many states are “Buyer Beware” when it comes to driving anything sold “As-Is” off a dealership lot.

Across the thread, most customers said they’d buy through Carvana again

They liked avoiding sales pressure, confusing add-ons, and the grind of dealership visits. 

Complaints mostly centered on delayed deliveries and minor mechanical issues, but those were the exception, not the rule.

Carvana isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty consistently delivering on what many modern car buyers want: convenience, transparency, and control. And if the future of car buying is a few clicks away, it seems a lot of drivers are just fine leaving the cologne-clad showroom staff behind.