Price Makes 'Sparks Fly' between Owners and Their Cars

RICHMOND, VA--February 13, 2012: When asked what made the sparks fly when deciding to buy a car, nearly half of all respondents said price was the leading factor, according to a new survey conducted for CarMax, Inc. , the nation's largest retailer of used cars. The car of their dreams and lifestyle changes were other major factors, according to the survey. Additionally, men were more likely than women (35 vs. 27 percent) to say the car's personality or features (horsepower, MPG, etc.) was what made the sparks fly.

“Our customers are passionate about their vehicles”

CarMax wanted to know about the love connection between owners and their vehicles to help kick off a five-week Love Your Car Facebook contest. To enter the contest, visit the CarMax Facebook page and share a picture and caption to show how much you love your car. For complete contest rules, visit CarMx on Facebook.

"Our customers are passionate about their vehicles," said Joe Kunkel, senior vice president of marketing and strategy at CarMax. "Whether it's the color, features, style or just a great price, everyone loves their car for a different reason."

The survey also asked respondents why they "broke up" with their last car -- 37 percent said "not meeting my needs" -- and why their car continues to "go the distance" -- 45 percent chose "makes financial sense." More than 1,000 adults were asked the following questions through an online survey conducted Jan. 20 through Jan. 24, 2012 by Ipsos Public Affairs. The results are considered accurate within ±3.1 percentage points.

Consumers can search thousands of quality used cars on www.carmax.com or visit their local CarMax store to browse a large selection of vehicles. Each vehicle is reconditioned, goes through more than a 125-point quality inspection and comes with a free online Vehicle History Report. Consumers can search vehicles from 30 top brands by fuel economy and features, read customer reviews, review reliability ratings by J.D. Power and Associates and obtain safety ratings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, all on carmax.com. All vehicles come with a 30-day limited warranty (60-day in Conn. and 90-day in Mass.) and a five-day, money-back guarantee.

About CarMax

CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and one of the FORTUNE 2012 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 107 used car superstores in 52 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2011, the company retailed 396,181 used cars and sold 263,061 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at CarMax.