I wondered why CarMax offered me so much more than dealers or small, private lots, Kim. I assumed they were paying auction value, not trade in. It was explained to me that trade-in value is set at about 10% below whatever the latest auction value is .... is this incorrect? The guy told me that this is how a dealer protects himself from being stuck with a car, if it does not sell, he knows he can take it to auction and get his money out of the car.

It made sense to me, but it sounds like you disagree. I THOUGHT I was talking to someone who knew what he was talking about, sounds like I wasn't.