CarMax doesn’t carry very many XJ8’s. Maybe three or four in the years I’ve been tracking. I blogged about a 2008 Jaguar XJ8 with low miles and a low price tag in January, and it wasn’t until April when another popped in Las Vegas. Been toying with the idea of buying a unicorn for the sole purpose of driving and reselling (with MaxCare Warranty ) and maybe defraying the cost of driving some interesting cars, and maybe turning a profit. So foolishly, and impulsively, I did my guerrilla tactic to take it off the market – putting it on hold while I figured out what to do next. But when I bought Etta (my 911) somehow my CarMax profile got changed to make my wife’s phone number the primary contact. So yes, she got a call to coordinate HER appointment to see a Jaguar in Las Vegas. I plead the fifth and let the car go. It disappeared for almost a month. Today it showed up in Fort Myers, Florida. Something about these old school XJ8’s I find very appealing. A V-8 without too much horsepower, luxury and room, and above all, style. Of course repairs can be expensive, especially as one reader pointed out – the air suspension, that’s why we get the warranty. Find this two-owner California car now in Florida here – if the link is dead perhaps the car is on hold, sold, or once again being transferred. 
Will Sell in 24 Hours….Or I’m Buying and Flipping! – 2012 Alpina B7 Unicorn for Cheap.
I’m fairly good at spotting cars that will vanish in 24 hours or less and never be seen again. Mercedes CL600’s and CL63’s, BMW M5’s with V-10’s, 10 year old Mazda B2300 pickups with 2,000 miles…..they go quick. CarMax carries only one Alpina B7 at a time nationwide, usually, and today they have two. They are also usually way above my unicorn level of $35,000 and 60,000 miles maximum.
This 2012 Alpina B7 (F01) is the only one that meets my criteria. Auto Cruise Control, 500hp hand-built twin-turbo V-8, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, night vision, driver drowsiness detection, air leveling suspension – executive comfort, exclusive production – only hundreds sold in the US annually – and it sold new just six years ago for over $120,000! Yes, there will be exorbitant repairs, and that’s why this car, like Guenther, my first CarMax unicorn (2004 S55 AMG) and Etta, my second CarMax unicorn (2008 911), this ONLY makes sense if you spend a couple of grand more on the MaxCare extended warranty and transfer all that financial risk to CarMax. With that, you can be out the door for less than $40,000 and NEVER have a major repair bill. Depreciation and MaxCare allow us to drive cars way beyond our means without going broke!
Find this two-owner car here in California – if the link is dead the car has either sold (and I predict by May 9th it will!), is on hold, or being transferred. And for those new to the blog, per my Bio and Disclaimer please remember this is a hobby – I’m not affiliated with CarMax, make no money on this, not even ads on the blog!
From the Rick Hendrick BMW review in 2012: “We drove an Alpina B7 and came away thinking the Alpina is the closest we should expect to come to an M7. We don’t expect to see BMW build an M7 because its size and weight would prevent it from achieving the sporty character BMW expects in an M model. Having the Alpina B7 means they don’t have to play that card. Continue reading “Will Sell in 24 Hours….Or I’m Buying and Flipping! – 2012 Alpina B7 Unicorn for Cheap.”
Unloved 2008 Audi A4 3.2 – “Not Quite a Golf R32” But Still a Hoot?
This 2008 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro unicorn has been sitting on the lots for a long, long time. Since last fall I’ve watched it bounce around the Midwest. I don’t know why. It has a 255hp, 3.2l six-cylinder engine and I believe Tiptronic transmission (even paddle shifters!), and all wheel drive and unlike it’s Golf siblings, a trunk!. Readers more astute than I pointed out to me that it’s not the high-performance engine of the VR6 in the EOS and Golf R, but not a lot of Audi A4 sixes out there. This little sleeper reminds me of the A6 with the 4.2l V8 I saw last summer for almost the same price – both old school Audis that are far more capable sedans than their austere looks, and low price, would suggest. Decent gas mileage, heated seats – great commuter car. If I were a college kid wanting some spunk and no State Police attention, I’d give it serious consideration. Driven less than 5,000 miles yearly. For another $2000 or so I’d add MaxCare and have no repair bills until the car is 15 years old and hits 150,000 miles. Find it here in Illinois – if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being once again transferred!
Three Stupid Low Mile Muscle Cars From The Noughties
I’m fascinated with CarMax’s ability to scarf up ridiculously low mileage cars, especially unicorns for enthusiasts. Here are three horsepower-heavy beasts that have been driven not more than hundreds of miles per year, and because of the MaxCare strategy of offering bumper-to-bumper warranties on everything on the lot, you could guarantee no major repair bills for another 5 years and 125,000 miles for not a lot of money. But as with most old-school V-8’s, do you really need a long-term warranty? Links are added below the photos – if dead the cars are sold, on hold, or being transferred.
2007 Ford Mustang GT500
Another Mazda! 2009 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed Manny Tranny Cheap
If you read this blog you know I prefer at least 8 cylinders*, perhaps 10, and I rue the 12 cylinder I passed on. What you don’t know is I have an affection for hot hatchbacks after owning not one but two 70’s era Ford Fiestas (the German ones, not Korean) before the first gen VW GTI made it to our shores. Since then I’ve tracked hot hatches, but I have to admit I missed this one. Stumbled on this 263hp 4 cylinder beast, with 280 ft-lbs of torque, and a 6 speed manual transmission. Embarrassed I thought “Mazdaspeed” was just a marketing thing. But with a sub-six second 0-60 I guess it’s the real deal. It’s a WRX and Golf R challenger for half the price. Usually my targets are all about leveraging the MaxCare warranty, but I’m not sure that’s even needed for this street racer. Find this one in Houston here. If the link is dead, the car is sold, on hold or being transferred. BTW….over to you engine experts….does this 2.3l turbo have any ancestral relationship to the 2.3l turbo Pinto motor that was in my 1986 Merkur Xr4tii?