Blogging my nationwide hunt for affordable CarMax enthusiast cars. Automotive Unicorns.
Here’s the short version – the details are in the pages above. I was surprised to find that CarMax carries real driver’s cars, enthusiast’s cars, and has them at decent (for me) prices, with reasonable mileage, and offers spectacular extended bumper-to-bumper warranties that makes owning these cars affordable. I call them “CarMax Unicorns”. I am not affiliated in any way with CarMax and I suspect I’m one of their worst customers. Continue reading “Welcome to the CarMax Unicorn Blog”
Here’s the 2018 essay that took the stuffing out of me. Sharing it is now an annual tradition. Enjoy and hope you all have a nice holiday!
My Dad was a station wagon guy, and maybe someday I’ll own one if I tire of having an SUV. It’s a family tradition. I’m not sure what keeps me from moving in that direction. A couple of CarMax unicorn wagons hit the inventory, so I searched the inventory for more interesting ones that might be worth sharing. CarMax has 2,400 cars listed as “wagons,” although many are questionable. Four-door hatchbacks, really. I’m going to run through eight of them a little differently than usual and see if I can get this out quickly before they’re all gone. The “Highs and Lows” are all from Car and Driver reviews.
2015 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S
The E63 is a legitimate unicorn—a high-performance enthusiast car that has depreciated a bunch. At $48k, it’s just above my unicorn threshold, but maybe it’ll come down in price? It’s a beautiful color with low miles and a badass motor. Unfortunately, there are no rear-facing third-row seats like in normal E-wagons to let the kids watch the traffic disappear behind them.
HIGHS: This is not a vehicle for the measured and rational. It’s absurdity overload, unchecked enthusiasm manifest. It’s all ate up with hedonism
LOWS: It doesn’t have the 664 lb-ft this engine makes in the full-size S-class AMGs.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2013 Acura TSX
I’m bracing myself for Roger’s wrath, but I’m intrigued by this 11-year-old Acura with only 900+ miles on it. I have no idea why people don’t drive their cars. It’s not a terribly sporting vehicle, yet you don’t see many of these on the road. It’s in a three-way tie for second place (whatever that means) on my list at $24,998. Last, probably no need for MaxCare for this Acura, although you could get coverage until it’s damned near vintage and another 140,000 miles!
HIGHS: One of those rare cars that needn’t be fast to be fun or have a trunk to be stylish.
LOWS: One more gear, please.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack SE
What’s so special about a VW Golf Alltrack? Well, it’s one of two wagons at CarMax with a manual transmission. The other one is a VW Golf Alltrak also. That said, with AWD and a slightly elevated suspension, the VW could make a case that the Subaru Outback is also a wagon. Subjectively ruled the Subarus out for this. The other interesting thing about this wagon is it’s five years old and still under manufacturer warranty for another year and 24,000 miles. Again, no MaxCare is needed. How proud would my Dad have been if I had a manual transmission wagon?
HIGHS: Energetic handling, refined interior, generous cargo space.
LOWS: Below-average fuel economy, lazy infotainment-screen response, costly compared with the less SUV-ish Golf SportWagen 4Motion.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2019 Buick Regal Tourx Essence
I like this Buick wagon way more than it deserves, first and foremost because it’s a German Opel, albeit with an American motor—like my Merkur. You’d think I’d know better. This is Buick’s first wagon since the enormous Roadmaster gave up the ghost almost 30 years ago. This Regal has nothing to do with the Buick Regals manufactured in the US until 2004, or the Buick Regal wagon of the 1980’s. Buick started importing Opels as Regals from 2008-2017, and then this estate from 2018 until it was discontinued in 2020. Makes this Regal a true unicorn, since it’s extinct.
HIGHS: Nice lines, huge cargo hold, low starting price.
LOWS: Recalcitrant transmission, commodity-car interior, neither sporty nor rugged.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2014 BMW 328 XI
For $2,000 less than the Buick, you can get a more refined German compact estate, the BMW 328 XI. It’s five years older than the Buick and a few more miles. The drivetrains are similar – 2.0 liter turbo four cylinders making 240-250 horsepower and AWD, both hit 60 mph in about six seconds, but the BMW gets far better reviews as a driver’s car. The Buick has more modern features, like Apple CarPlay. Tradeoffs. Of course, I like the gold over tan senior citizen color combo.
HIGHS: Low and nimble feel, wagon cargo versatility, nearly 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance, closet hatchback.
LOWS: Creamy six-cylinder no longer available, gets pricey with options.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2018 Jaguar XF S
Now that I think about it, the Jaguar XF S saloon may be the most solid unicorn wagon overall. Pricing, at $36,000, is right in the middle of the pack, and so is performance from the six-cylinder supercharged motor—a low five-second 0-60 mph. The “shooting brake” is also a lovely design. The only British car in the bunch.
HIGHS: Stunning looks, lithe dynamics, it’s a wagon.
LOWS: Lacks refinement for the price, subpar interior environment.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2024 Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV T8 Polestar
A Swedish made, plug in hybrid, designed by “Polestar” and manufactured in a Chinese-owned factory? Third quickest to 60 mph on today’s list, after the E63 and RS6? Way too much for my simple blogging brain to digest. I understand Polestar to be Volvo’s acquired tuning shop, like AMG and Alpina, although entirely electric currently. As a 2024 model the Volvo Polestar is the most modern and well equipped on the list.
HIGHS: Impressive EV range, solid hybrid performance, did we mention it’s a wagon?
LOWS: Slow AC charging, modes buried in menus, limited front-row storage.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
2021 Audi RS6
Finally, the all around world class champion of high performance wagons, the Audi RS6. A few more horsepower and a little faster than the E63. The RS6 is considered to be more exclusive with far more limited production numbers than the E63. Can and Driver bemoans the exotic price, but if you have $90,000 to spare…..?
HIGHS: Mind-melting, brain-rattling V-8; light-footed dynamics; fun for the whole family.
LOWS: Thirstier than a salmon in the Sahara, exotic price.
THE WHOLE CAR AND DRIVER REVIEW
(NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
The Polestar. You know it’s fast – it has yellow seat belts! Heated and cooling seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio, Apple CarPlay, auto cruise control, panoramic sunroof. Comfortable car.
The BMW 328. Could be just about any BMW 3-series. Clean tan interior belies 40,000 miles and 10 years old. Not much in the way or modern features. Not even a rear view camera. Pretty straight forward and ideal for folks who complain about too much automation?
The Acura TSX. Looks a little dated and despite less than 1,000 miles looks more tired than the BMW of the same age. CarMax calls it a “10” although all it has over the BMW is a rear view camera. Reliability over personality, I guess.
The Buick. Clean and Germanically efficient, too. Apple CarPlay, heated steering wheel, Bose sound system, navigation, and remote start. Nothing great to say. Nothing bad either.
The Jaguar. Has a sporting look to it. The same interior across the Jaguar brand in 2018. Heated and cooling seats, Meridian audio, navigation, safety stuff like cross traffic alert.
The Mercedes. I once owned a 2010 non-saloon version of this from CarMax for about 48 hours until something blew under the hood and I returned it. But in that 48 hours I found the cockpit to be a friendly place where everything was right where it was supposed to be. Well, except for the odd seat controls wedged between the driver’s seat bolster and the center console. Seems odd. This E63 is loaded. Auto cruise control, self-parking, seat massagers. If it had self driving and Apple CarPlay I would ditch my GLE63 and buy this.
The Volkswagen. That third pedal would be the clutch, and that’s what makes this more special and fun. This 2019 car also has Apple CarPlay, cross traffic alert, and heated “leatherette” seats. Adequate. A simple, functional, fun wagon to drive yourself.
The Audi. The interior says “RS” with the stitching and the upholstery. It’s high-tech. The cargo floor (way down below) has a motorized cover. It’s got the Driver Assistance Package and Executive Package. Auto cruise control. Heads up display. No seat massagers. I’m out.
(Answers at the end!)
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1. Buick. 2. BMW 3. Mercedes 4. Jaguar 5. Volkswagen 6. Acura 7. Audi 8. Polestar
2021 Audi RS6
2015 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S
2024 Volvo V60 Recharge PHEV T8 Polestar
2018 Jaguar XF S
2013 Acura TSX
2019 Buick Regal Tourx Essence
2014 BMW 328 XI
2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack SE
This 2014 BMW 328 XI is here in Austin, Texas. It’s a single-owner car that got bumped in the butt once. Just dropped in price by $1,000. Wonder why?
Original MSRP: $42,000.
STOCK NO: 26476987 VIN: WBA3G7C50EKN36268
This 2013 Acura TSX is currently reserved here. It’s a one-owner car that spent the last 11 years in Dallas, Texas. Did I mention it has less than 1,000 miles?
Original MSRP: $32,000
STOCK NO: 25846374 VIN: JH4CW2H60DC000678
The 2019 Buick Regal Tourx Essence is being transferred to Columbia, South Carolina, at the moment. Here’s the link. It’s a two-owner Florida wagon. Buy MaxCare. It’s German.
Original MSRP: $41,000
STOCK NO: 26522155 VIN: W04GV8SX6K1015943
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack SE is reserved here in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s a one-owner car that spent the last five years in Baltimore, my home town!
Original MSRP: $31,000
STOCK NO: 26154364 VIN: 3VWM17AU6KM503666
The 2018 Jaguar XF S is a two-owner car that’s been in Ohio and Kentucky and is reserved here in East Haven, Connecticut.
Original MSRP: $70,000
STOCK NO: 26512200 VIN: SAJBM2FV6JCY65617
The Mercedes E63 AMG S is currently reserved here in Irvine, California. It’s a two-owner California car that had one minor accident in 2021.
Original MSRP: $105,000
STOCK NO: 26554952 VIN: WDDHH7GB4FB123539
This Polestar is currently here in Orlando, Florida. Single owner, accident-free. Was leased just a few months ago – default?
Original MSRP: $63,000
STOCK NO: 26522012 VIN: YV1H60EP1R1616556
The 2021 Audi RS6 Avant is reserved here in Tampa, Florida. It’s a one-owner car that unfortunately rear-ended someone in Miami in 2023. Going too fast in a too fast car? Had to be towed away. Still the hottest wagon CarMax has.
Original MSRP: $116,000
STOCK NO: 26508128 VIN: WUA1CBF28MN903542
Chrysler ended production (again) in 2023 with a limited run of final edition 300C models – 2,000 for the US market and 200 for Canada. A bit of a unicorn. Rumor has it all 2,200 cars were preordered within a half-day of becoming available in 2022. Chrysler beefed up some parts and trim here and there, but the coup de grâce was the upgrade to a 6.2-liter V-8 pumping 485 naturally aspirated horsepower. More than the SRT-8 but not as much, not even close, to the Hellcat motor that was never offered in the 300C anyway. Well, CarMax has two of these Final Edition models for sale. Autotrader has another 28 for a little more money, although none sell above the MSRP of $56,000 when new. Folks probably weren’t buying them as investments anyway.
The Chrysler 300C debuted in 2005 (not the 1950’s version) and hasn’t changed a whole lot since then. Car and Driver posted, “The 300’s styling, interior comfort, and driving dynamics earned it 10Best honors in 2005 and 2006.” The second generation spawned in 2011 and got a facelift in 2015. For better or worse, the 2023 Chrysler 300C is almost a straight-line descendent of the original. Sales started to plummet in 2019, and the model was discontinued in 2023. We will miss all the cool trim levels. Not just the SRT-8, but the Varvatos, the Uptown, and the Motown trim levels as well.
(My apologies to regular readers for plagiarizing here and there from my blog two weeks ago that included the 2019 300S. I’m hoping to cross-post this on David Fesz’s Facebook page, “Unique Cars For Sale 2.0“. Give it a look. Moderator Rick Jaeger is way more clever than I will ever be.)
The 2023 300C Final Edition got four-piston Brembos and a limited-slip 3.09:1 rear end. With an eight-speed automatic, it hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. I got a chuckle from Car and Driver’s review: “Chrysler unlocked a couple of unique achievements with the 300C. At wide-open throttle, we recorded 88 decibels, an absolute roar that tops even the Lamborghini Urus Performante. And this long, angry barge is also the only car in recent memory that can use every bit of its 160-mph speedometer.” Something to be proud of.
Inside, in addition to specially stitched and logo-embossed Laguna leather seats, the Final Edition gets a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, panoramic sunroof, auto cruise control, heated and cooling seats, rear heated seats, heated steering wheel, automatic headlights, and Apple CarPlay. And some carbon fiber here and there.
I have my own history with the 300. Back in January 2016, we had a blizzard in Northern Virginia on a Sunday morning, and I needed to be in North Carolina to work by Monday morning. My neighborhood was impassable. Airports and Amtrak were shut down, but the National Car Rental at Reagan National had a few cars for rent. I answered an ad on Craigslist offering 4×4 rides for $100, not much more than a regular taxi! I asked my daughter to take down the license plate of the Jeep when it came in case I got murdered. I did not. I rented a very nice Chrysler 300S and raced in the night down the single-plowed lane of I-95. It was a remarkable ride, and I had no complaints about the Chrysler. Like many rental cars, I could see myself owning them…..for a while.
The 2023 Chrysler 300C Final Edition is currently reserved here in Fresno, California. You can track it using that link or search on CarMax for the stock number or VIN below. It’s an accident-free car that oddly lists three owners on the road in just over a year. I wonder if that’s a paperwork issue, a repossession, or a sale and return to CarMax? It’s the lowest-priced 300C Final Edition I can find, and it’s still under manufacturer warranty for another two years and 26,000 miles. If MaxCare were cheap, and sometimes it is because you’re only buying the handful of years post-manufacturer warranty, I might recommend it mostly for the electronics and higher-tech doodads. The motor and drivetrain should be fairly reliable for this old design. As reliable as a mass-produced Chrysler can be. Scroll down if you’re interested in the second 300C Final Edition!
Stock No: 26506546 VIN: 2C3CCAPJ5PH542472
There is no need for screenshots of the lower-mileage one below, which costs $5,000 more. It’s an identical twin but with 3,000 fewer miles. This one is coming soon to my local CarMax in Dulles, Virginia! Here’s the link. You can also find it by the stock number and VIN below.
Stock No: 26187633 VIN: 2C3CCAPJ0PH501957
This started as a blog post for a single sedan, a legitimate unicorn, and then I got carried away. Saw another and another. Either driving enthusiast cars or more luxurious cars. “Driving rich,” as one of my favorite blog readers described it. To narrow them down I ran a search for similar cars; sedans with V-8 motors, less than 60,000 miles, and less than $30,000. I didn’t even add all the gee-whiz stuff I normally want, like seat massagers and auto cruise control. Ended up with 20 cars around the country, and narrowed it down to these top seven, in my humble opinion. Going from lowest price to highest, although it did work out that leaves the best for last.
I’m starting with a 2015 Hyundai Equus Signature. Whenever I see one on the road, I think if I wanted a really good car at a really low price and I was less vain, I would debadge an Equus and confuse everyone. These cars always make me doubletake. This was the last year of the second-generation Equus. In 2016 it became the Genesis G90. A legitimate extinct unicorn.
The Equus is fairly loaded with auto cruise control, air-conditioned and heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and contemporary for 2015 safety features like cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitors. The Equus has 45″ of front seat legroom, more than any other car in this class. I’ve owned a Mercedes S55 and a Mercedes S600, and in both, I never needed to put my seat all the way back for my 6’4″ body (and legs). The Equus has almost four inches more legroom than the Mercedes S-class!
The Equus has a gigantic trunk. It would make a really nice cross-country cruiser. Below, we have a 429-horsepower 5.0 liter naturally aspirated V-8 mated to an eight-speed transmission and rear-wheel drive. It does an old-school 5.6-second 0-60 mph run—decent but not great.
The 2015 Hyundai Equus sold new for about $63,000. It’s had two owners in New England and one accident. Last summer, it was for sale in Maryland near me and is now here in Bloomington, Illinois. It has low mileage and a low price, and I wouldn’t bother with MaxCare. It’s a fairly reliable car and not terribly expensive to fix.
Stock No: 25465422 VIN: KMHGH4JH7FU095219
For the record, the next car is the unicorn that fits the bill for my original definition of such and was what I wanted to write about today. And maybe the second best bargain here. This is a 2014 Audi S6 from back when they came with V-8 motors. A more performance-oriented car by far than the Hyundai.
There was a time when CarMax sold the awesome Audi S6 with the Lamborghini-derived V-10 motor. Here’s a blog post from 2018 when you could get one for about the same price as this one. I test-drove one and loved it, but I knew I’d get tired of hearing myself tell everyone everywhere, “No, really, it has a Lamborghini motor!” Car people probably already know, and non-car people probably think either I’m full of crap or I swapped in a V-10. Either way, it was not a good match for me. Audi moved from a V-10 to a more efficient and equally powerful V-8 for the 2013 model year. Alas, in 2019, Audi again migrated to a six-cylinder in the S6, and again equally powerful and more fuel efficient. Not nearly as exciting, I suspect.
The 2014 Audi S6 is a Prestige model and loaded with features: auto cruise control, heated and cooled seats, heated steering wheel, heads-up display, cross-traffic alert, Bose audio, and even a WiFi hotspot. Unfortunately, there are no seat massagers. I love the quilted seats. With the adaptive air ride suspension, it has to be a comfortable, well-handling ride.
As noted, the 2014 Audi S6 has a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, making 420 horsepower. It has a dual-clutch automatic with AWD and can hit 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, which is very respectable. I doubt it sounds as naughty as the V-10.
The 2014 Audi S6 was sold new for perhaps $80,000 a decade ago. It’s a three-owner, accident-free car that has spent its time in Delaware and Pennsylvania. It’s coming soon to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Here’s the link.
Stock No: 25599046 VIN: WAUF2AFC5EN163360
Maybe you like the Audi V-8 motor lots but have matured or been promoted to the executive level and don’t really want a performance car. I have the perfect “driving rich” car for you.
Here’s a totally loaded 2014 Audi A8L sedan in a beautiful blue over tan for only $4,000 more than the S6 and with half the mileage. This is a grown-up’s Audi. An executive car at a Honda Accord price. This was once an $84,000 car.
The Audi A8L has the Cold Weather Package, Driver Assistance Package, and Luxury Package. It also has auto cruise control and seat massagers, front and rear sunroofs, and heated and cooled front and back seats. CarMax says it has rear-seat entertainment, and I normally think of the DVD system, but I don’t see it below. Still pretty loaded.
The Audi A8 also has the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 420 horsepower, the same as the S6, although it somehow makes 444 ft-lbs of torque over the 406 in the S6. That pushes the larger A8 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds to the S6’s 4.6. Still good. I like this car, yet it reminds me I haven’t seen an S8 or A8 W12 on CarMax in a long time. Those would be more special.
This 2014 Audi A8L is currently here in Escondido, California, after spending much of its time in Florida. It’s a two-owner, accident-free luxury cruiser.
Stock No: 25976902 VIN: WAUR2AFD2EN009100
The one criticism I saw in the Audi A8 reviews is that it lacks the panache of a Mercedes S-class, so I had to include one. I really miss mine. A base model S-class still looks expensive and luxurious on the road.
This 2014 Mercedes S550 has the highest mileage of my picks at 56,000, and yet it’s affordable at $27,998 after CarMax just indicated the price was reduced by $1,000. This is the sixth generation S-class, the W222, and 2014 was the first year for this new model.
This S550 is fairly well equipped with the Comfort Package, Driver Assistance Package, and Premium Package. It’s got seat massagers, heated and cooled seats, Burmester audio, a panoramic sunroof, and a power rear sunshade. It doesn’t say it has auto cruise control, and I cannot see the stalk adequately to doubt. That would be disappointing. It does have an air suspension and rides so smoothly.
The 2014 S550 is powered by a 4.7-liter, 455 horsepower twin-turbo V-8 coupled to a seven-speed automatic transmission. It hits 60 mph in the same amount of time as the Audi A8 – 4.7 seconds—which is still excellent for a 4,400-lb sedan.
This 2014 Mercedes S550 is here in Kearny Mesa, California. It’s a one-owner accident-free car, once $99,000 or so, and for now, decently priced at $28k. If you’ve always wanted a Mercedes S-class this might be right for you.
Stock No: 26186334 VIN: WDDUG8CB3EA045708
A couple of Audi’s and a Mercedes, and next thing you know, I’m accused of being a Euro-car snob….and for the most part, you’d be right. I Fell in love with German cars in 1981 when the US Army sent me to live in Germany, and I went to the Frankfurt and Geneva auto shows. Changed my life. But I still like two-ton Yankee sedans and am happy to share one that might be a hoot.
The Chrysler 300S debuted in 2005 (not the 1950’s version) and hasn’t changed a whole lot since then. The second generation spawned in 2011 and got a facelift in 2015. For better or worse, this 2019 Chrysler 300S is almost a straight-line descendent of the original. It was 2019 when sales started to plummet, and the model was discontinued in 2023. Chrysler ended the line with a limited run of 2,000 final edition 300C models with a 485 hp 6.4 liter 300C, and those sold like hotcakes. This is not one of them. Not even a 300 SRT. But it’s all we got for less than $30,000 with a V-8, and it’s really not that bad.
The 300S has auto cruise control, cross-traffic alert, air-conditioned and heated seats, Apple CarPlay, and an Alpine audio. It’s a very comfortable highway cruiser. Back in January 2016, we had a blizzard in Northern Virginia on a Sunday morning, and I needed to be in North Carolina to work by Monday morning. My neighborhood was impassable. Airports and Amtrak were shut down, but the National Car Rental at Reagan National had a few cars for rent. I answered an ad on Craigslist offering 4×4 rides for $100, not much more than a regular taxi! I asked my daughter to take down the license plate of the Jeep when it came in case I got murdered. I did not. I rented a very nice Chrysler 300S and raced in the night down the single-plowed lane of I-95. It was a remarkable ride, and I had no complaints about the Chrysler.
Motor Trend reviewed the car in 2019 and said, “Despite its age (like 1 million years old now), the basic car here is still remarkably entertaining. It does all the right stuff—brakes and turns in adeptly, corners with not too much understeer, and accelerates in a nice, powerful RWD manner.” It’s a good enough large RWD sedan. The V-8 is a 5.7 liter Hemi making 363 horsepower. With an eight-speed automatic it will dash to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Up there with the Equus and American made, if that’s important to you.
I could drive this car all day long if it was an SRT model. That said, it’s a bit pricey for a 300S. You can find it here in Norwood, Massachusetts.
Stock No: 26568198 VIN: 2C3CCABT8KH743851
For the same price as the Chrysler, you could have an older Lexus that could scratch the itch for luxury and probably greater reliability. Lexus spun off from Toyota in 1989 with the introduction of the LS400 in the US, a blatant clone of the Mercedes S-class. It was offensive and bad form until it outsold Mercedes and became the benchmark for quality. Thirty-five years later, the flagship sedan is still manufactured in Japan and, after five generations, now hosts a six-cylinder. Sales peaked in 2007 and are now down to less than 5,000 units in the US. A third of the Chrysler 300S!
What we have here is a low-mileage 2013 Lexus LS460 that was not a new generation but was completely remade inside and out that year, although riding on the fourth-generation chassis.
The Lexus LS460 is still nicely appointed for its time, with air-conditioned and heated seats and a heated steering wheel. It’s a nice ride and probably quite comfortable, albeit dated. I suspect this car is for a driver who appreciates a luxurious ride and isn’t as fixated on technology or high-performance driving. When I joined the private sector in 2013, this car was new, and it seemed every realtor or small company executive had one of these, and they seemed to be the top of the line. (The cars, not the executives so much.) This was a $67,000 new car – $20,000 more than the 300S, but the Chrysler has more features. The Lexus has more class.
I’m always amused by the engine bay cover in the Lexus LS models. I don’t know any other manufacturer that 100% hides the hard-working parts so thoroughly. Would it be insulting if I said I suspect most, but not all, Lexus LS460 owners have never opened their own hood? (Honestly, I only open mine to add windshield washer fluid.) Under there, I am told, is a 4.6 liter engine making 386 horsepower. Zero to sixty in the same time as the Equus and the Chrysler.
This is a two-owner, accident-free sedan that’s lived in Florida and Colorado all its life. It probably doesn’t even need MaxCare. It’s coming soon to Parker (Denver), Colorado. Here’s the link.
Stock No: 26537867 VIN: JTHBL5EF5D5123987
FINALLY THE BEST SEDAN OF ALL FOR LESS THAN $30,000!
For $6,000 more than the Audi S6, you can buy this high-performance and fully loaded BMW: a 2013 M5. It’s fast. It’s comfortable. Like the S6, it once came with a V-10 from 2004 to 2010. In 2011, this “F10” generation became the first with a turbocharged engine. Like the Audi, I’ve driven both an M5 and an M6 with the V-10, and at 8,000 rpm they howl. Unfortunately, the ride dynamics beat the hell out of me, and my favorite CarMax service tech, Ryan, had not yet taught me how to configure the settings to be more livable as he did for my M3. Things might have gone differently.
Before we get to the drive train, be impressed with the features. Every single thing I had in my S600. Everything I have in the GLE63 except self-driving. And it’s a third of the price of the GLE! Auto cruise control. Heated, cooling, and massaging seats. Heated steering wheel. Heads up display. Power rear sunshade. Bang & Olufsen audio. Driver Assistance Package. Executive Package. Self-closing doors. AND NIGHT VISION!
Under the hood is the 4.4 liter twin-turbo V-8, which produces 560 horsepower, the most of today’s sedans. With a 7-speed twin-clutch automatic, it rockets to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. I don’t want to brag (yes, I do). That’s the same as my GLE (but did I mention at a third of the cost?) This is an exceptional car. It’s .4 seconds faster than the V-10 was to 60.
This 2013 BMW M5 sold for close to $100,000 eleven years ago. It’s deeply depreciated, loaded with luxury, and fast. Everything you could want in a unicorn. I suspect MaxCare isn’t cheap, but it’s mandatory. Drive this car until it explodes. Get it fixed for free. Then drive it some more! Find it here in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia.
Stock No: 25827769 VIN: WBSFV9C5XDC773174
Hope you hung in there for all seven cars. Now back to writing about running. After a nap.
Regular blog readers know I’m not current on EVs and probably never will be. So I was surprised to get an email from a reader and car guru named Cannon giving me a heads-up on this Tesla Cybertruck unicorn – a $100,000 2024 pickup EV.
Cannon knows I have neither the time nor inclination to get smart on Cybertrucks, so he okayed me sharing what he wrote in his email. Pretty much, he said,
“This is the first Cybertruck I have seen them offer. It looks like the step down dual motor. It will be interesting to see how long they have it. Tesla just a few days ago dropped the Foundation series $20k premium to buy one. So the replacement cost from Tesla dropped to $80k. Can’t imagine a lot of folks will line up to buy this at $100k. I guess all it takes is one person though. The stainless doesn’t seem to age well. For a truck with 6k miles it looks dirty.”
Over the years, Cannon’s observations have been spot on. And the Cybertruck does look dirty. Here in Northern Virginia, Cybertrucks are not uncommon yet striking when spotted on our streets. I’m not a fan of the concept, but I have to applaud the boldness of the design. Visually, there is nothing like it on the road. I never noticed the giant single wiper until I clipped the photo above. The headlights are bizarre and severe.
The dash seems sparse and dull. I’d better be able to pull up Netflix on that tablet. I’m sure the dashboard is a work of art from a design point of view. The rest of the interior below looks more conventional.
I had no idea (duh) there was a storage bin under the hood, like a Boxster.
And the pickup bed is 6′. Looks conventional, too, under the cover.
By the way, Cannon also mentioned that CarMax has started selling Rivian’s, which I did not know. Started last spring. I’m a bit embarrassed to not have known that. Did I mention I’m not much of an EV guy?
You can track this 2024 Tesla Cybertruck here in Los Angeles, California. It’s a one-owner vehicle and is very much under Tesla’s warranty until 2028, at 50,000 miles. I have no position on whether MaxCare is right for EV’s, but it would only extend coverage by a year anyway. You have to wonder how much of a beating the owner took selling this car to CarMax, or whether it was a repossession? Enjoy.
Stock No: 26559418 VIN: 7G2CEHED1RA006343
I couldn’t help myself. My wife sent me the meme below long ago. If you’re a Cybertruck owner, forgive me.
I’m really not mocking the Cybertruck. I just needed the material.
But if I were spending $100,000 on an EV pickup, I think I’d go with the Rivian below now that I know they sell them. It’s freakish in a cool way and more traditional if you will.
And with the money left over from the Cybertruck, of course, I’d buy a Raptor!
Finally, I sing this song at every music gig I play. It seemed right here. Thanks again, Cannon, for the Cybertruck idea!
“Mazdaspeed” started in 1967 as an independent racing team (per Wiki) and later ran a pair of Group C Junior cars in the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 12th and 18th overall. Surprisingly, I was there in 1983, and these photos of the 717C’s are mine. The Mazdas ran with the 13B Wankel rotary engine that was also in the first-generation RX-7. Another coincidence….my first grown-up car was a 1985 Mazda RX-7! It’s below, albeit with a 12A carbureted motor, not the 13B. A little-known fact is that when you’re young and buy your first two-seater sports car, your wife will become pregnant in months, and the car will be jettisoned for a sedan. Anyway, in 1991, Mazda won Le Mans overall. Wasn’t there for that.
What’s the point? Mazdaspeed was to Mazda what AMG is to Mercedes, and Alpina is to BMW, I guess. In 2003, the first retail Mazdaspeed Protege was offered, followed by the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Miata in 2004, the Mazdaspeed6 in 2006, and finally, the Mazdaspeed3 in 2007. The Mazdaspeed3 continued in production until 2013. And that brings us to the unicorn below.
The first generation Mazda3 was introduced to the USA in 2004 as the successor to the Protege. The Mazdaspeed3 was imported from 2007 to 2013 with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder motor, turbocharged and intercooled. The second generation, launched in 2010, had bigger brakes and stabilizer bars and a number of engineering upgrades to the motor. And the hood scoop was legit, dissipating heat from the too-hot engine.
The Mazdaspeed3 also had a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential powering the front wheels. It zoom zooms to 60 mph in the low five-second range. The top speed is an impressive 155 mph.
The interior of this 2013 model is sparse, though. Bose sound, CD player, Bluetooth, a USB and aux port, and cruise control. CarMax rated it 2 out of 10 on features. Decent seats and a stick to row your own gears. A driver’s car, I guess.
The Mazdaspeed3 has a big old trunk and can haul some gear as a four-door hatchback.
The fun stuff is below a 2.3-liter, 263-horsepower motor with 280 ft-lbs of torque. Reviews suggest some torque steer, although it’s not horrible. It handles well. It’s a bit of a sleeper.
The 2013 Mazdaspeed3 sold for maybe $28,000 new. It’s only lost a third of its value in 12 years. My Mercedes GLE63 has lost a third of its value in the 16 months I’ve owned it! The 2013 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed is here at the Dulles, Virginia store. Wait a minute! That’s my store! It looks like the car was sold by the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, CarMax and returned a few weeks and a hundred miles later? Wonder what that was about. I wouldn’t bother with MaxCare, really. Just drive.
Stock No: 25925209 VIN: JM1BL1L34D1824997
(By the way, if you’re into the Mazdaspeed3, take a look at this 2010 model I spotted in 2018. It was $19,998 and had only 10,000 miles on it!)
Care to see how the Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed stacked up against its rivals back in the day? Scroll down a bit.
Continue reading “Quick Hit – Zoom Zoom. Last Year Mazdaspeed3”
Reason #1 – I drove the Mercedes GLE63 from Virginia to Seattle and back, with more than a bit of craziness along the way. Most of of it captured on a dashcam. That’s about a hundred hours of video to sort through so I can write a wildly entertaining blog post on that.
Reason #2—My friend (we’ll call him “Jerry”) rented this 2024 BMW to drive his son from Virginia to California, and I flew out to drive back with Jerry. I have another blog post to do on that road trip, without violating his privacy, of course.
Reason #3 – I have been inspired to resume writing a book on my marathon running experiences, which has consumed much of my free time. I had set it aside for years, and now I have a November deadline to complete it. For what it’s worth, there are more than a few similarities between cross-country driving and marathon running. Someday, maybe I’ll write a piece on that!
All that rationalizing aside, I’m taking an afternoon coffee break from writing about running to blog about these Corvettes. I also got a notification this morning that a gentleman, who I believe goes by Jim, just signed up to follow the blog, and I thought I owed it to you all to stop whining and actually write a blog post.
These Corvettes really don’t fit my standard model for unicorns because they are way over my new threshold budget of $45,000. They’re unique because they’ve hardly been driven—less than 999 miles each. I’m still amazed that CarMax is able to buy up so many ultra-low-mileage cars. At the moment they have about a half dozen cars, three years old or more, with less than 1,000 miles on them. In fact, bump that up to 10,000 miles and you get about three dozen muscle cars, most less than $40,000. Does anyone know why owners don’t drive them more?
The standout here is the 2016 Corvette Z06 above. Over eight years old and less than a thousand miles on it. And a convertible to boot. The C7 Corvette was manufactured from 2014-2019 and was the last of the front-engined cars. The C7 was developed to offset the research suggesting the C6 Corvette had become an “old man’s toy”. The head of Chevy marketing thought too many people saw it as the car of “the successful plumber.” (thanks to Wiki for that – no offense to plumbers?)
Our next two contestants are newer C8s: a red 2020 Corvette Stingray and a black 2023 Corvette Stingray—both in 3LT trim. The 2020 was the first year for the C8, and the mid-engine was GM’s first since the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. These 2020 and 2023 models have targa tops that can be stored in the boot. Not quite a convertible.
The 2016 Z06 (below) surprisingly offered Apple CarPlay with the MyLink 8-inch touch screen, a heads-up display, and air-conditioned and heated seats. The interior looks damned near new, as it should with so few miles. The 2016 Z06 had the Performance Data and Video Recorder with Navigation feature. and front curb-view cameras. Nice to have. The GM of old, though, continued to use the same switches and buttons across more pedestrian models like the Impala and Suburban, detracting a bit from this sports car’s panache.
I don’t know why I said panache. I never use that word, and if I did, I should have saved it for the C8 interior below. It’s very…panachy? As modern and high tech as the whole car. I love that whole bank of buttons on the right side of the console. Pretty sure zipping around turns my passenger wife would be gripping that and accidentally turning stuff on and off. I once sat in a C8 and found it way more roomy and comfortable for my 6’4″ 225-pound frame than the C7. The bulkhead behind the C7 driver’s seat prevented me from reclining the seatback to get more hip room. Not so in the C8, even with the big motor behind me. That said, I found it harder to ease through the C8 doorway and into the cockpit than the C7, and pretty sure I’d be banging my door into every car I parked next to. It was not for me as a daily driver.
The 3LT trim upgrades the 2LT interior to leather-trimmed everything, and Napa leather sport seats with carbon fiber accents. The 3LT upgrade was $4,650 on top of the $7,300 for the 2LT features – an additional front HD camera and HD rearview camera, rear cross-traffic alerts, and blind-spot monitoring. The 2LT also provides heated and cooling seats and a heated steering wheel. Read in Top Flight Automotive: “A feature you might choose for your 2LT trim is the automatic front-lift tool. With just the click of a button in the center console, this tool elevates your front bumper about two inches from the ground to keep your Corvette scrape-free. It’s important to note that this option isn’t standard and is only offered for the 2LT and 3LT trims at an additional price.” I can’t tell if these 3LTs have that – CarMax doesn’t have a tab to search for it.
The 2020 Corvette Stingray has a mere 693 miles!
And the 2023 looks like only 724 miles. (Unfortunately, CarMax’s photo of the 2016 Z06’s dash was taken with the display turned off, so no mileage display. The service history shows an inspection in late August at 940 miles. I’d bet that’s close now.)
The 2016 Corvette Z06 is powered by a monster 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 (above), making a whopping 650 horsepower. With an eight-speed automatic, it will knock out 60 mph in just three seconds. The top speed is 186 mph. Supercar performance on the cheap?
The 2020 and 2023 3LTs are powered by far less powerful naturally aspirated V-8s, also 6.2 liters, producing “only” 490 horsepower. But with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, no manual available anymore, the C8 is still faster to 60 mph, hitting it in 2.7 seconds. Top speed is 194 mph. Highway mpg is 27….obviously not at that speed.
The 2016 Corvette Z06 sold new for maybe $90,000. It hasn’t depreciated very much in eight years. It’s a one-owner, accident-free car that’s been in California from the start. Right now it’s here in Palm Springs. Although the car hasn’t been driven enough to deserve an oil change it has been serviced. I’d still spring for MaxCare for another five years and 150,000 miles. And drive the hell out of it. Quickly.
Stock No: 26422360 VIN: 1G1YU3D62G5601343
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT listed new for perhaps $71,495, although if I recall, nobody was getting the first-year C8 Corvette out the door for under $90,000. I may remember wrong. Of interest is the photo above, which shows a price drop of $2,000. Since I started writing, it has dropped another grand to $69,998. Is CarMax getting itchy to unload this Corvette? It’s a one-owner Florida car currently here in Fort Lauderdale.
Stock No: 26412626 VIN: 1G1Y82D41L5113752
Finally, the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT sold new for about $78,000, or at least that was roughly the MSRP. However, I still don’t think they were really available for that. This one has hardly depreciated in a year, although it was in a “moderate” accident in Greenville, South Carolina, which might give me pause. It’s still under manufacturer warranty, but I’d still do MaxCare. It’s not a coveted 70th-anniversary car, but it’s still a world-class sports car. It’s currently reserved for a drive here in Augusta, Georgia.
Stock No: 26128144 VIN: 1G1YC3D44P5105218
Now back to marathons!
I still can’t understand the CarMax applications. When I searched on my desktop PC, I found that this 2013 Mercedes ML63 AMG was not visible. It is on my iPhone app, though. I saved it in my CarMax favorites so I could find it while writing on the desktop. It shouldn’t be this hard to keep track of unicorns! I would hate to lose track of such an affordable AMG SUV.
Fun fact: When I lived in Alabama in 1993-1994, a couple of states in the US were competing to land the new Mercedes factory that would build the ML-class SUV. Alabama won and threw in an incentive to have the Alabama National Guard clear the land for the factory. The first generation ML rolled off the line in 1997 as a 1998 model, the W163. The second generation ran from 2005 to 2011 (W164), and the third generation from 2012 until the naming convention changed to the GLE class in 2015. And 20 years after that factory opened, I own a fourth generation, if you will, GLE63 AMG! When I lived in Alabama, I drove a Merkur XR4ti – a German sedan with an American motor. My GLE63 is American-made, with a German motor. Not sure what to make of all that.
The ML63 AMG is an excellent sleeper SUV, with almost nothing on the outside giving away the performance it’s hiding. The 5,100-pound SUV will hit 60 mph in about four and a half seconds. Maybe 154 mph top-end governed. It sports active damping control, active anti-roll bars, and airbags. Braking happens by AMG 15.4-inch front with six-piston calipers up front and 13.6-inchers in the back. The ML63 has Distronic Plus active cruise control, although not listed on the CarMax site as a feature – drives down the price? Also has blind spot detection, active lane-keeping assist, and Parktronic parking assist. Quite a lot for a 12 year old Mercedes.
Inside, the ML63 offers a 13-speaker Harman Kardon LOGIC7 sound system, heated and air-conditioned seats, and navigation. Alas, there are no seat massagers. However, it’s a comfortable enough two-row SUV. There are people who need three rows, and this ML63 wouldn’t work for them. I only need two rows and have an aversion to hauling around a third row buried in the cargo floor, presuming I’m losing trunk space. Who knows if that’s true?
The 2013 Mercedes ML63 is so fast because of the 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, which produces 518 horsepower, mated to an AMG Speedshift 7G-Tronic transmission and AWD. A performance package was available, pumping horsepower up to 557, but I have no reason to believe this one has that. Mercedes spotters might know.
The 2013 Mercedes ML63 AMG, similarly equipped, sold for $107,000 new. This one-owner, accident-free SUV has spent its entire life in California. It’s selling for just over a quarter of that now. Throw in MaxCare, of course, to protect yourself when that motor or the airbags go bad on you. That’s the whole point of this, right? You can find this affordable 2013 Mercedes ML63 AMG here in Los Angeles, California.
Stock No: 26336149 VIN: 4JGDA7EB8DA121582
Regular readers know I’m a bit of a dinosaur. Addicted to fossil fuels. My decision tree on car motors starts with the number of cylinders (12 preferred) and works down to eights, sixes, and an occasional four for special cars. Entertained a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) once when feeling guilty about my gas guzzlers, but never a true electric vehicle (EV). I know they’re economical and luxurious and quick and quiet. Just can’t see myself in one just yet.
But this one is consistent with my unicorn theory as an enthusiast’s vehicle and deeply depreciated. Like $200,000 new down to $87,000 depreciated. And crazy fast. Like shot out of a cannon. Speaking of which, thanks to reader Cannon for bringing this to my attention and pointing out why the Porsche is special.
The 2020 Porsche Taycan Electric Turbo S is rated at 750 horsepower and 774 lb-ft of torque with both electric motors spooled up, and with AWD silently screams to 60 mph in 2.4 seconds, per Car and Driver. Shocking! The third quickest vehicle they’ve ever tested. As fast as the Bugatti Veyron. Their review also points out this is the first EV with a multi-speed transmission (2 to be exact) and will hit an estimated 162 mph. The down side is range – 192 miles. A Tesla will do over 300 I think. (Read somewhere that 95% of the EVs sold in America are still on the road today. The rest were able to be driven home. 🙂 )
Car and Driver also notes the Taycan will charge from 5 to 80 percent in 22 minutes at the most powerful charging stations, although they are far and few between. Last, Car and Driver distinguishes the Taycan over other EV’s by writing, “Equally unusual, there is no one-pedal driving in the electric Porsche. The Taycan bucks EV convention and provides minimal or no regenerative braking when the driver lifts off the accelerator, depending on which of the three selectable modes is in use.” I have no idea why that matters.
The 2020 Porsche Taycan Electric Turbo S has a handsome interior, with Apple CarPlay, air conditioned and heated seats, and a Bose audio system. (You know what Taycan owners listen to on the Bose audio? AC/DC, ELO, or something current.) Not a very long list of features for a $200,000 car. Can’t see it in this CarMax photo, but Car and Driver also notes, “The Taycan’s hood slopes away too fast to see it from the cockpit, framing the road between its suggestive fenders. ” Having owned a 911 I sort of get that, although “suggestive fenders” sounds like something you’d see in an online dating app?
Front and rear boots have plenty of luggage space for those 192 mile trips.
Making light of this Porsche Taycan Electric Turbo S, and yet this is a serious high performance EV that I wouldn’t say no to if it showed up in my driveway. Still steamed that CarMax is sometimes weaseling customers with only one key. On such a high end car no less. The Porsche may be under manufacturer warranty for a bit, and MaxCare is available for five years and up to 125,000 miles.
At the moment this single owner, accident free EV race car is reserved here in San Jose, California. It says price unavailable, but it’s listed for $86,998. Cash or charge (ha!). Track it with the stock number and/or the VIN below if it doesn’t show up in your search. Thanks again, Cannon!
Stock No: 25631535 VIN: WP0AC2Y11LSA71904
The most rewarding part of being an amateur blog writer is to hear from readers that share an interest in finding CarMax unicorns, and especially when they’ve bought a few of their own. I’ve exchanged email as with as many of you as I can keep up with and even met a few for coffee or a beer. Last week I got a wonderful email from Seth Steiner, a writer himself, who stumbled on this blog after he bought a pair of CarMax unicorns – a 2017 Mercedes GLS550 and a 2017 CLS550!
Here’s his 2017 GLS550 and the email (shared with his permission), with some commentary from me if I can figure out how to distinguish it from his email:
Hello!
My name is Seth Steiner, and I just stumbled across your website today and I found it really interesting. (Chuck Comment: At this point, I’d publish anything Seth sends me. I’m that easy.) I (as I imagine you do as well) enjoy perusing the CarMax website looking for the most interesting vehicles they for whatever reason choose to have in inventory. This comes after our family ourselves picked one of these cars up. Back in September of 2023, my family decided to begin looking for a new car, which from the get-go was decided would be a Mercedes, likely a GLS. What we didn’t know going into this hunt was what we’d stumble into; a Designo Cardinal Red 2017 GLS550 WITH a Designo Quilted Espresso leather interior. A spec I have not seen a single other example of.
(Chuck Comment: Designo, is pronounced “di-ZEE-no”, I was told, after saying it wrong. Per Google AI “Mercedes-Benz “Designo” is a program that allows customers to personalize their Mercedes-Benz with custom paint, leather, and interior trim options. The “Designo” package is available for select models and includes a multi-layered process that uses nanotechnology to protect and ensure the durability of the materials. Some of the options that are available through the designo package include:
Paintwork: High-gloss colors or matte finishes.
Upholstery: Nappa leather in solid or two-tone colors, and ceilings with a Dinamica suede appearance.
Cabin trim: Exotic woods, hand-stitched leather, and stone granite can be selected.”
Back to Chuck – I have seen indications that the paint was another $6,000+ and the interior $3,000 + in 2017 – maybe a $10,000 upgrade to Seth’s GLS550? I would have to agree that this is a rare GLS550!) My estimate is Seth’s GLS550 was easily a $100,000 SUV.
(Back to Seth) What makes this even better is the fact that it was listed online for $42k, but said $48k on the window sticker. Because of this blunder on CarMax’s part, we ended up getting the car for the lower of these two prices! We had to order the car in from CarMax of Tampa into our local store (Capital Blvd Raleigh) for $199, but upon first seeing the car we knew it was the one. Driving it and feeling the 449hp Biturbo V8 just confirmed it.
I asked Seth to share his buying experience, as I never want to appear to be just a CarMax shill, and maybe others don’t have the same pretty good engagement I have had. His response follows:
The buying experience on both cars was lovely. Ordering them to our local store was a breeze. Both of the sales guys we interfaced with were super friendly and easy to work with, and the express pickup option worked especially nicely, as it made paying for the cars easy considering we didn’t have the money quite ready to pay for the cars immediately (just had to transfer but that took a day or two.)
Thought it would be a hoot to see what comparable Mercedes’ might be available if Seth’s GLS550 got your attention, and this was the best I could do. Not bad, but it’s not a Designo (found a pair of lesser Mercedes Designo SUV’s at CarMax today and will add those at the very end!) This is a 2018 Mercedes GLS550 that is pretty much the same platform.
Motor Trend reviewed the 2017 Mercedes GLS550 and confirmed it was the “the S-Class among SUVs.” It’s a luxury SUV with heated and cooling seats, seat massagers, and Apple CarPlay. Oddly, doesn’t say it has auto cruise control. Can that be?
The Mercedes GLS550 (both Seth’s and this 2018 model) sport a 4.7 liter twin turbo V-8 pushing 449 horsepower through a nine-speed transmission, good for a very low five second 0-60 mph sprint. This is one roomy and luxurious SUV that doesn’t suffer in performance. It’s available here in Hillside, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. It was once a (maybe) $90,000 SUV available for half that.
Stock No: 25956099 VIN: 4JGDF7DE9JB127877
From Seth: We loved the powertrain of this car so much that we had to get another car with it, leading for us to get a CLS550 (in a more boring spec) from CarMax, but it only had 36k miles, which was great! Snagging two cool cars that totally fly under most people’s radars from CarMax has been awesome and I totally see why you have a blog dedicated to it! (Chuck Comment: Love you man!)
Anyways, the CLS is a 2017, just like the GLS. We did not end up opting for MaxCare just because we’ve got a guy who has a little shop that has done good work on our other, non CarMax Mercedes (an 05 E320 and 06 ML350.)
So like the GLS550 I had to do my best to find a CLS550 available now at CarMax that might compare. Again, found a pretty good but lesser vehicle. This time a 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 at a low price, with low mileage.
This 2014 CLS550 is almost identically equipped as the 2018 GLS550 above, even with seat massagers, sans Apple CarPlay. It’s a rich silver over tan car, but has the older interior compared to Seth’s CLS. Both cars are second generation. The CLS550 ended in 2023. 🙁 The original, first generation CLS was to me one of the most original designs of its generation. Unfortunately, while based on the E-class platform that fit me fine, the CLS roofline raked a bit dramatically behind the driver, and pushed down on my head.
The 2014 Mercedes CLS550 sold for maybe $72,000 a decade ago. It’s available now for 40% of that here in Modesto, California. It’s also good for MaxCare for five years and (almost) 100,000 miles!
Stock No: 26040071 VIN: WDDLJ7DB3EA101376
I asked Seth to share his buying experience, as I never want to appear to be just a CarMax shill, and maybe others don’t have the same pretty good engagement I have had. His response follows:
Funny thing is we have a free oil change for the GLS that CarMax gave us a pass for, but we can’t seem to get them to pick up the phone and let us book it (advice on scheduling service there would be appreciated!!) (Chuck Comment: Sorry Seth, I missed your question when we were swapping emails. Best I can tell you is I have had a wonderful experience with my Dulles CarMax by wandering in, hanging out in service, and doing my best to be a non-demanding customer with the customer service reps. They have come to know my cars, and when my primary guy ((Ryan)) is out the others are very nice and helpful. Ryan is a superb rep, and I leave him a Christmas card with a gift card for a local restaurant every year (and an extra one he can give the CarMax mechanic who busts his knuckles on my cars). He loves talking cars and I will stay and chat until it seems I’m in the way. I think so many customers are unpleasant, shall we say, and demanding, the reps appreciate a patient one. I actually HATE the CarMax phone menu trying to book service. It blows.)
Final comments from Seth:
The buying experience on both cars was lovely. Ordering them to our local store was a breeze. Both of the sales guys we interfaced with were super friendly and easy to work with, and the express pickup option worked especially nicely, as it made paying for the cars easy considering we didn’t have the money quite ready to pay for the cars immediately (just had to transfer but that took a day or two.) The positive experience on the GLS is what had us buy two other cars from them. (There’s also a 2016 GLE350 we bought before the CLS but that was traded because we didn’t like how it drove lol.)
So far both cars have been absolutely repair free. The TPMS sensors on the GLS have been a little wacky and it’s just thrown the A0 service light, but otherwise it’s been perfectly fine. The CLS (which we’ve really only had for 2 months so far) has been PERFECT and an absolute joy to drive.
Both cars we bought, barring a few minor issues (GLS having weird rear bumper fitment issues, mostly) have been perfect, and the experience as a whole is what has me checking out the CarMax website all the time looking for whatever seems cool. It’s been a lovely experience overall.
What follows is a pair of Mercedes SUV’s with Designo trim; an older 2014 ML350 (before switching over to the GLE) and a 2018 GLE43 AMG. The quilted seats are the give away. My take? The ML350 is a damned good buy if you’re not hung up on horsepower and all vain about AMG stuff like I am. Interesting that someone would splurge for Designo on a basic ML350, though. Similarly, the GLE43 is more modern with some AMG credentials, and yet I’ve driven the six cylinder GLE43 and GLE53 and found them wanting for horsepower. My twisted logic is if it doesn’t have the AMG badge, adequate performance and luxury SUV features are great. But if you want horsepower and the AMG mystique, it needs to have a V-8 (or V-12!) under the bonnet. But that’s just me.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks, and thanks to Seth for sharing!
Stock No: 25600326 VIN: 4JGDA5JB8EA391200
Stock No: 25740989 VIN: 4JGDA6EB2JB078969