Finding the Bolt : CarMax

By the time I’d decided on getting a Bolt, I knew exactly where I’d start my search: CarMax.

This isn’t my first rodeo with them — in fact, this would be my fourth CarMax car.

Why CarMax? A few big reasons:

• I can search inventory across the country and have anything shipped to me (for a fee).

• The selection is solid, and the buying process can be done entirely online until it’s time to pick up the car.

• Listings have plenty of detailed photos.

• Every car comes with an AutoCheck report.

• They have real people you can call with questions.

Now, I’ll be honest — CarMax is usually a little more expensive than other options. But for me, the time it saves (and the headaches it avoids) is worth every penny. I’d rather pay a bit more and skip the drama than spend days arguing in a showroom.

Are they perfect? No. Things can go wrong. But every time I’ve had a problem, they’ve fixed it quickly and fairly — which is more than I can say for most local dealerships.

That’s actually how my CarMax habit began. Years ago, I tried to buy a Chrysler 200 from two different local dealers. It was everything you’d expect from a dealership stuck in 1970: high-pressure sales, endless back-and-forth, little “surprise” add-ons. The same tired games.

Frustrated, I gave CarMax a shot. I was on vacation, sitting in an Airbnb with my Chromebook. Over morning coffee, I searched for the car I wanted, found it, bought it, and had it shipped — all before anyone else in the house even woke up. When I got home a week later, I just finalized the paperwork. No drama, no wasted weekends, no “let me talk to my manager.”

The Bolt search has been just as smooth. In fact, CarMax delayed the sale for a bit when they noticed it didn’t come with a charger. I didn’t have to argue or point it out — they just fixed the issue before handing me the keys.

So while the sale isn’t completely wrapped up yet, so far it’s been the exact kind of car-buying experience I like: no games, no headaches, and everything done at my own pace.

From EV1 to Bolt: A 25-Year Detour

I’ve been chasing an electric dream since the late ’90s — and it’s taken me 25 years, three missed chances, and a lot of “what ifs” to finally get here.

Back in the late ’90s, I had my eyes on the EV1. It was sleek, futuristic, and unlike anything else on the road. The problem? I was too young to afford one, and it wasn’t even sold in Massachusetts. My electric dream was parked before it even left the driveway.

Years later, GM announced the Spark EV. It was no EV1, but it had that same spark of possibility (pun intended). The problem this time? Still not sold here. We ended up buying the gas version instead — fun little car, but not what I really wanted.

When the Spark EV started showing up used, I was tempted. I even looked at having one shipped from CarMax. But the Spark EV was a “compliance car” — built mainly to satisfy California’s emissions requirements. That meant I wasn’t convinced GM would stick around to support the batteries long-term. Turns out, I was right.

Somewhere in there, I briefly flirted with the idea of a Tesla. It had the range, the performance, and the tech — but I wasn’t sold. The build quality left me cold, the vibe felt like the kind of car a BMW 3 Series driver would “graduate” to, and I didn’t love how much control the company kept over the car after you bought it. And then, of course, the price tag landed — which made the decision easy.

Fast forward to recently, and the itch came back. I found myself looking at Spark EVs again… but with the battery degradation they suffer over time, there was no way it could reliably make my daily commute.

Then I spotted it: used Chevy Bolts, priced low enough that I could trade in my ICE car and still have money left over. Longer range, still all electric, and — unlike the Spark EV — built to be sold nationwide.

So, after years of “almost” moments, I finally made the leap. I might not be pulling off the lot in a brand-new EV1 from Saturn of Danvers, but in a way, this Bolt feels like I’m finally driving the future I dreamed of back then.