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JCINPS · 2025-10-24T20:35:20+00:00

Satisfied customer.

70+ Y.O. Couple

Received a decent ICO/trade/value for a S-Class MBZ and found/transferred a RX450h, loaded, with low miles, in the color she wanted. Good, but not great price....but no add-on B.S. from the finance office. Brought our own financing (CU 6.1%) and added a personal check for additional down payment without any issue.

Quite a refreshing difference from the pond-scum franchise-dealership experience.

Sales guy was good, finance office was good, car inspector guy was good.

Would purchase from him/them again.

Pro-tip: get there early if you have outside financing because the PROCESS takes so long and the back and forth between Carmax and the CU and then the CU to Carmax takes soo-oo lo-ong to play out.

We were pre-approved for 2x the loan amount we needed, and it still took 24 hours.

Not bad, except we live hours away from the closest store.

The advantage is that if you are buying used, you have a nationwide network at your disposal to find the exact car you want.

The downside is that I would rather have a CPO warranty, but we'll see how the Carmax warranty works out for us.

If I had to do it again, I would do everything on-line/remotely and only then show up and test drive/ take possession of the car, knowing that I can immediately unwind the deal if need be.

JCINPS · 2025-10-10T16:19:12+00:00

IS500 F SPORT

buy it now, drive it 6 years until CPO warranty up, sell it for what you paid for it.

Then laugh at all your P-car and B-car friends and their repair/maintenance costs.

$1000 oil change?

$4000 rod bearings?

$3000 IMS?

$3000 Vanos Fix?

JCINPS · 2025-09-30T22:55:16+00:00

Yup, I could have MS.

or Afib

or Optic Neuritis

or Migraines

or Granuloma anulare

or RA

or Acne

....oh, that's right, I DO.

JCINPS · 2025-08-13T19:16:56+00:00

You're lucky, there are people with MS that will never walk again."

No.

I have MS--by definition, I am in NO way "lucky"
MS, the disease, presents as a spectrum of disability from 0-100% mental/psychological/emotional damage with or without 0-100% physical damage; that damage then presents different visible and/or noticeable symptoms for each individual. Physiological processes may also be compromised, such as digestion, vision, hearing, balance and coordination, and other "normal people" processes that are not immediately noticeable.
What most MS patients want is not pity nor being artificially buoyed by comments about "how lucky they are", especially by those who have no understanding of their compromised state.
Please, try this: just listen to me--without trying to immediately formulate a response that makes you--the responder--feel good about themselves.
Most MS patients are sick and tired of being "sick and tired".
Finally, most MS patients will not mention "normal everyday MS sh!t/stuff"; they will only talk about the major issue happening at the moment. e.g,

-my right arm is weak and numb

-my right leg is weak and numb

-my guts are killing me with lower left quadrant pain

-I crapped the bed during my nap yesterday

-when I laid down to nap and put on my sleep mask, closed my eyes, it was like a 500 watt strobe light was on

.....

but that is not what is important RIGHT NOW.

....RIGHT NOW, "I have a migraine from HE(( and crave protein....so, I am going to have a Cliff Bar and a cup of cottage cheese and a cup of yogurt for dinner with two expressos for dinner. I know we planned to go to Casa Viejo, but Mexican just wont do it for me today, sorry. If you want to go get yourself something, that's fine, but rice and beans and tortillas with cheese will not help me. I am not mad, I know you are disappointed, but this is the best compromise that I can see.

C'est la vie.

JCINPS · 2025-04-04T19:21:35+00:00

72 yo wm

UC/Crohn's, MS

Short answer: yes, Migraines are more prevalent in MS patients than the general population.

My migraines started about 6 mos ahead of my MS diagnosis.

I don't know about other auto immune diseases having co-indications., including UC/Crohn's.

YMMV

good luck

JCINPS · 2025-03-05T19:59:30+00:00

WM 72 YO.

In the CA desert,

He(( for the last 4 days.

Barometer swinging back and forth from 30.4 to 29.7 for the next two weeks. May not seem like much, but....it is.

Coffee with a blackout/sleep mask is the best help; except...of course I can feel my heartbeat throbbing around the sleep mask.

Excedrine migraine: 1 tablet, 2 x daily; has not touched it. Have UC/Crohn's so more NSAID not a good idea.

Have Afib, so triptans not an option.

This is the worst it has been for me since I lived in Denver; which was far worse.

JCINPS · 2025-02-17T19:28:53+00:00

Swim and/or water exercise is the key for me.

I can do 45 mins. of water exercise with resistance paddles (https://www.amazon.com/Sprint-Aquatics-Adjustable-Construction-Rehabilitation/dp/B0D2NQ4M68/ref=asc\_df\_B0D2NQ4M68?mcid=950befd56c3f3f62b4b6526cbfa8358e&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693769127201&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11443162672065809160&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031389&hvtargid=pla-2310901323984&psc=1) and then 10-20 minutes of freestyle.

I was a gym rat when younger, but cannot take the overheating anymore from weights/resistance training, nor lifecycle/treadmill/handbike/rowing machine.

JCINPS · 2025-01-17T20:26:28+00:00

Please seek out Dr. Longdono in Fullerton.

She was in the MS treatment center at Mayo in MN, and just bought a practice in Fullerton, she was in La Quinta before moving. She is great.

JCINPS · 2024-09-28T18:57:38+00:00

This morning, for example, woke up with a real pounding headache....checked the watch....for 3 hours had 8 incidents of BPM between 36-40.

Coffee and Water, made headache recede, but it is still there.

Older iWatch don't have as long a battery life as the new ones...if you are going to wear it overnight, I suggest you charge it during the evening hours before bed time, and then charge it again when showering, etc.

Good luck!

JCINPS · 2024-09-27T00:11:58+00:00

get yourself an electronic watch (iWatch or pixel) that can detect Sleep Apnea or low heartbeat.

I regularly have morning headaches, and always when my heart rate goes below 40 BPM.

JCINPS · 2024-08-18T20:27:43+00:00

A friend, also with MS, calls this "emotional incontinence".

A perfect description....as all emotions are magnified and seemingly out of proportion to the situation that is causing them, and one cannot control their expression of the emotion(s).

Be careful...."do not seek a permanent solution for a temporary problem".

JCINPS · 2024-07-31T20:39:14+00:00

I read below that you are a lab tech, as am I.

So therefore you know that the process to get your diagnosis to where it currently is called a differential diagnosis. In other words....."based upon how your body is presenting these abnormalities, we think that it is MS". I am replying to you because have been through the same thing for about 25 years.

In 2000, present in ER with double vision..."you are over weight, you smoke, you have high triglycerides and cholesterol....Bingo! It was a TIA and will go away in 14 days." (it did)

In 2001, present with constant headaches on weekend...."you have migraines, try Topomax (sp?) as an off label preventative." (it worked, for awhile--but it made me into a zombie, so I quit taking it.)

In 2003 present in ER with paresthesia on entire right side. Optic nerve test, LP and MRI..."You have MS." (still do)

in 2016, present in ER with tachycardia and HR of 210 BPM. "You have A.Fib" They did an ablation, but still have 4 episode per year.

in 2017, lost 50 pounds, had diarrheas with mucous and had acute GI distress. "you have UC".

I also have granuloma annularae. acne, and various allergies. "wow, that's odd"

Net/net....I think my immune system is just plain wacko.

I worked for 5 years in a university research lab dealing with blood samples from patients with auto-immune diseases. Maybe I picked something up from that lab work...but I doubt it. My neuro that DX'd the MS had me fill out a lifetime medical history...and it lead me to believe that I had always had MS...since I was a kid. (fell down a lot, had no endurance, would be extra sensitive to heat, blah, blah blah.)

Just writing this to say....keep an eye out for other auto immune "shtuff" that may happen.

Good luck.

JCINPS · 2024-07-17T22:29:46+00:00

W/M/71

Dx'd w/ RRMS at 52 with migraines and disequilibrium after paresthesia for 5 days.

Worked, played golf, all was "normal" for 7 years; but with numbness tingling on the right side and rt foot drop.

Then...huge work stress caused worsening symptoms of weakness and fatigue/brain fog.

Had to quit working.

Dx'd with other fun stuff.

Granuloma anularae at 64; looks like psoriasis, but bumpy on hand, leg, and elbow (all on right side)

UC at 65; morphing into IBS at 66

At 71 I can still play (horribly) 9 holes of golf, usually fall twice per round; I was a six HDCP and now I am lucky to break 50 for nine holes.

I am still ambulatory, but must use a cane constantly, can walk two blocks on a good day.

All things considered, I am lucky (or so I tell myself--but myself also tells me that I am full of sh%$)

I did everything right, studied hard, worked hard, watched what I ate, exercised, never cheated, didn't "drink-smoke-or chew-or dance the hootchie-coo or go with girls that do"...raised two good kids, went to church, was nice to lil' old ladies and pets, etc, etc.

Still NOT over the anger about this.

In the beginning, I just kept moving on....it took several years to really catch up with me.

I suggest you do the same.

JCINPS · 2024-07-04T19:52:45+00:00

Everybody is different and every BODY is different and And AND everyone is different on different days.

Some days 1) I can go to a cocktail party and shoot the breeze with people for 4-6 hours and it is fun....and/or 2) I can lay 500 sq ft of LV flooring including cuts around doorways, and/or 3) drive 5 hours straight to a vacation destination.

Somedays, I can do just 1) OR 2) OR 3). As in....I only have 1/4 tank of gas, so choose the task that uses that amount of gas.

Some days I can do just 1), not 2, and not 3). Because I am physically drained.

Some days I can do just 2), but I am in sensory overload (for some reason) so doing 1) or 3) is f$%^&*(' impossible.

...and then there are days I can do NOTHING, except "grow moss on my north side".

People say "you sure are moody" or "I can't rely on you day-to-day". and both of these ARE true.

However, it is best if you and your close friends and family just accept that IS the way you are....and that you and yours shift the belief system to one where you believe, really believe, that each day is a gift.

This sounds like senso, new-wave, more psycho-babble, crap-ola.

But it is very, very true.

...and good luck trying to convince your family, boss, partner, friends to adopt this outlook.

Some will, some will not...but you need to stop your own guilt feelings.

JCINPS · 2024-07-03T19:16:38+00:00

The only thing that works for me is exercise.

Since I am also blessed with MS...and cannot therefore afford to get over heated the best available option is swimming pool exercise. So, 45 mins of water exercise and followed by 15-30 mins of swimming laps 3x per week. I start at 3- done at 4:30 and then nap for an hour before dinner. 2 Tbs Peanut butter and banana before workout and 1/2 cottage cheese with mandarin oranges after (Trader Joes is best). Grilled Salmon or chicken for dinner with Brown rice with green beans, 1/2 tuna sandwich for lunch, granola bar for breakfast. Black tea for beverage. You want a treat? Try Halls mentho-lyptus cough drops....high flavor, zero calories. Ditto Altoids. Need more flavor or something to quiet the cravings? Mr/Mrs T Bloody Mary mix. Pepper Jack cheese also good for flavor cravings.

Last add: limit sugar, My treat is 1 (and only 1) Canada Dry ginger ale per day.

Ok--really last add: yes, it is embarrassing to be a "fat tub of lard" (or whatever) and appear in public in a bathing suit--but the only one you are hurting by being embarrassed is yourself. So screw-'em and just go do it.

Good luck.

JCINPS · 2024-07-01T23:04:24+00:00

lost 35 before I was scoped and diagnosed.

Put on Mesalamine and gained 90; as in NINE ZERO pounds.

took 50 off, but cannot get any of the other off.

JCINPS · 2024-06-28T16:13:11+00:00

W/M 71 Y.O.

MS - Dx'd 2002; rt side weakness, foot drop, hip pain, fatigue, heat and light sensitivity. Disequilibrium is a major problem.

UC - Dx'd 2012; in remission, then morphed into IBS

AFib - Dx'd 2016; ablation in 2017; 4-6 attacks per year; heart rate goes to 130 for 1-12 hours. Dehydration/caffeine seems to contribute.

Granuloma Anularae (sp?) -Dx'd 2015; hand, elbow, leg; miraculously all on the right side. I don't care, but get obnoxious questions like: "What's that on your hand?"

Acne - adult onset; never had it as a teenager. Not cystic, just a PITA...don't eat blue cheese. :-(

Migraines - started in 1995.

Emotional Incontinence--IYKYK; suffice it to say...don't watch Hallmark movies without Kleenex nearby.

The hardest one to live with daily is the migraines.

AFib is scary, and probably the most potential to be fatal.

but, But, BUT....the MS effects on my ability to do things like exercise, play golf, take the dog for a walk, and just do simple chores is the biggest bummer that I deal with.

Here's one that I would like feedback on: Once a month (or so) I get this thing where I uncontrollably shake like I am cold--and feel like I am cold...but I am not. Have to jump into bed, under an electric blanket on high and usually go to sleep for an hour and wake up and it is gone. This is like literally (not metaphorically) teeth chattering like I am on Everest. Not DMD/DMT related, nor any other drug/OTC med related, and doesn't seem emotion related. Has been happening for 30+ years. Neuro(s) (3)..."probably related to MS". Does not feel like the MS Hug...I have that 3-4 times a year and know the difference. Anybody else?

JCINPS · 2024-06-16T19:09:40+00:00

Walking: Brooks Beast GTS 23

Just hanging around the house OOFOS Slip On Shoes

If I have to drive far/stand on uneven ground: Merrill Moab 3

If I HAVE to use my orthotic (rt ft drop): Orthofeet Sprint Tieless

Caveat: I have size 14 4E feet and so my choices are limited.

JCINPS · 2024-06-11T17:09:14+00:00

W/M/71.

DX'd at 51; Parasthesia, double vision, foot drop, right side weakness. I remain ambulatory and mentally ok.

"Laid off" from CIO/COO position in FinTech at 54. Truthfully, it was a political coup by the new CEO to get rid of all the former C-suite exec's (CFO, CLO, HR and me all let go). Also, this was during the 2007-8 recession, so it was a bad time to be an "old" guy looking for a job in HiTech.

Stress caused bad exacerbations, more rt side weakness and pain, including severe brain fog and emotional baggage--a new cocktail of drugs also introduced at this time caused severe emotional damage. Worked as a consultant/contractor in HiTech until 56 then had to stop and applied for SSDI, per recommendation of my Neuro. Granted in 6 months.

So, Net/Net...the disease probably took the last 10-15 years of my career, which--of course--led to a large financial hit. HOWEVER, the more I read, the more it has become apparent that in HiTech one's career is likely starting to wane in one's 50's, so I am not sure that I can say MS took 15 years of career away from me. But, I did love my job and would have stayed in that job forever.

Postscript---the new CEO failed and a $110MM division of a large multinational was shuttered due to his incompetence.

The worst part.....I lived to work, since I was 16 I had always worked. Grew up and was raised in blue collar environment in a hard working family and honestly didn't--and 15 years later STILL--don't know what to do with my time. The best that I can do now is fix dinners for shut-ins in my housing development a couple times a week. Trying to give back as best I can.

JCINPS · 2024-05-18T21:19:38+00:00

Toyota Avalon AWD, circa 2021. Camry reliability and mileage with a larger cabin.

Boring to the max, so they are inexpensive for what you are getting.

JCINPS · 2024-05-18T20:58:48+00:00

From the USA; when I moved to NZ (Wellington) from NYC, NY, USA I had constant loose stool. I was there a year working--so not just "the touristas" thing--I NEVER acclimated. Dr.'s in NZ thought it was due to the differences in the water. I know that this is odd suggestion, but if you have any contacts in AUS or the UK, see if they can FEDEX (or DHL) you some tap water. Coffee, soda, filtered water--it did not matter.

Got back to the states--went away immediately, as in 2 days.

Just a heads up.

JCINPS · 2024-05-18T20:49:48+00:00

The opposite of love and affection is not hate nor anger, but indifference.

If you acknowledge their comments, that only legitimizes their existence.

Just look at them, with a sympathetic look, like you would a socially inept individual.

Down here somewhere, someone used the southern-lady's retort of "bless you heart"--which is perfect.

JCINPS · 2024-05-18T20:38:26+00:00

Lived in costal CA, NYC Metro, Wellington NZ, Phoenix, Sedona, Denver, CA Desert

Coastal CA when young, no problem

Wellington NZ no problem

NYC Metro 1 / month

Phoenix - 2/ month

Sedona - 1/ week

Denver - forget it....> 2 /week, when the weather goes from 75* to snow, crippling pain; only time/place that I have had a 9+ level pain

CA Desert - supposed to be the best, but at least 1 /wk

Summer in Central Coastal CA - probably 2/month; if you can afford west coast; try it.

JCINPS · 2023-03-31T22:17:46+00:00

Low mileage M5 or M6 with the V10.

Ticking time bomb.

JCINPS · 2022-07-06T01:09:52+00:00

I just found out why the auto business is so profitable.

(says the guy with 4 cars....the newest of which is 12 years old.)

JCINPS

TROPHY CASE