July 2020 – The Carmax Unicorn Blog

July 27, 2020

Quick Hits – 11 Peculiar Finds (10 of Them Bargains)

Thumbing through the cars saved to my profile and a few that just surfaced today, and came up with this quick list of interesting, odd, or special unicorns. Not necessarily all cars I would own, but they are peculiar finds that coupled with a MaxCare warranty could be something different. Here we go.

I was surprised to see this bargain 2010 Mercedes S550 for $23,998. Same body style as my 2010 S600, not as much horsepower at only 382, but it is “4Matic” four wheel drive – and those four wheels look to have some cool aftermarket rims. Beautiful single-owner, low-mileage Oklahoma car found here in Colorado Springs. Great opportunity to “drive rich”! 2010 Mercedes S550 $23,998 33k Colorado Springs

Continue reading “Quick Hits – 11 Peculiar Finds (10 of Them Bargains)”

July 22, 2020

Coming Soon! 1 of 884 Gentleman’s Jaguar to Georgia – $19,998

xj8 side Between us, there’s a new “Coming Soon” category on the CarMax website. That’s where I spotted this 2019 BMW M850i that sold quickly, and today the above beautiful ultra low mileage 2009 Jaguar XJ8 L unicorn. Only 22,000 accident-free miles by a single owner in Georgia. It’s a nice gray over tan sedan with bluetooth, heated and cooling seats, adaptive suspension, and Alpine sound system. Big back seat, and big four-body boot for you mobsters.

xj8 shift It’s not a fast car with the 300hp 4.2l V-8 with a mid-six second 0-60mph run, but it’s fast enough for motoring down the interstate. Here’s a lengthy review from The Car Connection. Jaguar folks know it as the X358. I know it as the last year for this model before the XJ became a sleek, angular and more modern car. Seems Jaguar only sold 884 of these in 2009.

Interesting that CarMax generally limits European offerings to 10 years old or less, with a few stragglers. At this time there are a total of 11 European cars from 2009 on the CarMax lots and this beauty will hopefully be one of them. And the beauty is that CarMax will still sell you a 10 year, 100,000 mile MaxCare warranty on this 11 year old Jaguar – guaranteeing you no massive repairs until the car is 21 years old! Almost vintage. Probably a $75,000 car new and not cheap at $19,998, but unique. Find this lovely car here soon just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

August 2019 – 2009 Jaguar XJ8 L – $20,998.

May 2019 – Unloved 2009 XJ8 – $19,998. Continue reading “Coming Soon! 1 of 884 Gentleman’s Jaguar to Georgia – $19,998”

July 13, 2020

Quick Hit – Another 1 of 500 BMW Alpina B7 L Models for “Cheap”

B7 Side This is the newest BMW Alpina B7 unicorn I’ve seen CarMax offer, a 2014 “L” model for $39,998 – a good $100,000 less than when new just six years ago (or the price of a new Camry?). It’s fully loaded, with auto cruise control, heads up display, lane departure, blind spot, heated/cooling seats, and even includes my beloved night vision. (I had to have it in my Mercedes S600 – I almost NEVER use it!)

b7 wheel Also has the full rear seat entertainment system treatment. The rocket ship is good for 194 mph, or a 0-60 mph run in 4.2 seconds if you run outta room trying for top end. Here’s the 2013 Car and Driver review.

I’m puzzled because CarMax has the 4.4l twin-turbo V-8 engine listed as 500hp, and every review I read says it pushed 540hp. Obviously MaxCare is a must to protect against B7 bankruptcy. For comparison, here are the other Alpina B7’s I’ve covered.

Previous Alpina B7’s at CarMax

In September, 2017 I spotted this 2011 B7 in Duarte, California, selling for $39,998 with 43,000 miles.

February, 2018 brought us a nearly identical 2011 B7 model in Los Angeles for $39,998 but with 41,000 miles (yes, had to check the VIN to make sure they weren’t the same!)

And in May, 2018 this 2012 B7, another California car with higher miles at 56,000, sold for a mere $33,998! I predicted a quick sale and it went in a day.

In March of 2019 we saw this 2012 model for sale in Chicago at $40,998 with 49,000 miles (also had a $65k B6 for sale then too!)

May of 2019 we saw three B7’s for sale at the same time – a 2012 and two of the higher-horsepower 2014’s, all in the $40-48,000 range.

Wrote about this one that was mysteriously sold in August 2019 for $37,998, and popped up for sale again at the same dealer for $39,998 this year. No idea how that happened.

This 2014 two owner, accident free race car is available here in Charlotte, NC – a little frightened because I’m in Fayetteville, NC now. An omen? 2014 BMW Alpina B7 L $39,998 41k Charlotte 7-20

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020

Quick! Stupid Good Deal on a C63 AMG!

Had to pool over and post after seeing this while at a stoplight. This beautiful blue 2009 Mercedes C63 AMG unicorn just surfaced up north much to my surprise. Only $21,998 and 31,000 miles. Sweet 6.3l V-8, detuned from the E63 to 451 hp. Navigation and heated seats. It’s a one owner car, and yes that one owner did have an accident in Kirkland, Washington some time back. But it is a very low mileage car and a very low price. It’s also a pretty hot car.But it is a very low mileage car and a very low price. It’s also a pretty hot car. CarMax generally sells European cars not more than 10 years old, and this 11 year old sedan is a bargain. It’s also a perfect candidate for Max care. Think about it, you get a warranty until this car is 16 years old. And with this mileage you can probably buy another 100,000 miles coverage. Find it here in Hartford Connecticut.

July 4, 2020

One Year Wonder – 2008 Opel…errr Saturn Astra – $7,998

astra side This isn’t my normal unicorn, and yet I’m sure this car appeals to somebody, somewhere. It does something for me. First it’s extinct, as all Saturns are. Second, it’s a one year wonder, in that Saturn imported these Astras only in 2008. Third, and I kinda gave it away, it’s a German Saturn, a European GM Opel, which makes it unique in its own right. The Opel Astra was the second biggest selling hatchback in Europe (after the VW Golf).

And this one has a manual transmission! And it’s been driven only 4,000 miles yearly in California, and in Havre de Grace, Maryland near my home town! And normally I wouldn’t recommend the MaxCare extended warranty for a car this simple, but did I mention this car is A) extinct, and B) German? And yet I always think there’s something nifty about owning a car under warranty through it’s 17th year, and for another 100,000 miles, without worrying about repairs. Continue reading “One Year Wonder – 2008 Opel…errr Saturn Astra – $7,998”