The auto industry and American buyers are shunning the sedan, and my hunch is that it’s cyclical. We went nuts for front wheel drive hatchbacks for a while, then minivans, now SUV’s – I’m betting sedans will be back at some point. Here’s seven that caught my eye for various reasons and I thought I’d unload them all at once. Enjoy.
It wasn’t just the red that caught my eye. This 2014 Audi A4 Prestige S-Line has a manual 6-speed coupled to a 220 hp 2.0 liter turbo four. Not a lotta manual transmissions at CarMax – of the 60,000 cars on their website today only 1,500 have manuals.
This little Audi is also well equipped as an S-Line and Prestige model. It’s a one-owner accident free Minnesota car (love the Audi AWD) and only 30,000 miles – and it’s still here in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. (Pssst – there’s a cheaper manual 2012 A4 here in Puyallup, Washington but it’s the lower horsepower model and higher mileage. This doesn’t count towards the seven.)
Very nice sleeper sedan here – a 2016 WRX STI Limited with only 8,000 miles. It also has a manual transmission, AWD, and a crazy 2.5 liter 305 hp four cylinder motor. The Audi A4 wouldn’t have a chance. Of course, this is a good $8,000 more than the Audi.
The WRX just screams rally car to me. Pike’s Peak. Michele Mouton. So many of them come with the boy racer wing that this wingless, ultra low mileage sedan and slick silver color just got my attention. Find this single owner WRX here in Oxnard, California.
My best bud had an Infiniti M45 and I loved it. We’ll ignore that he once had a Citation X-11 and I loved that, too. This 2009 M45X is selling for only $14,998 but it does have some miles on it – all by a single owner from Illinois. This car sold for over $50,000 new back in the day, and in that day 325 hp from a 4.5 liter V-8 was good enough.
The interior is quite handsome and luxurious. Interesting for an 11 year old car, this model has automated cruise control – a highway cruising feature I can’t live without. Bluetooth, Bose, lane departure warning, air conditioned and heated seats, and AWD. And beautiful blue over tan – my favorite combo. Not seeing many third generation M45’s any more. Only 8,500 2009 models were made. You can get one here in Tampa.
I’m on a roll. This is a Korean AWD V-8 cruiser. How did it come to my attention? Two ways – reader Jerrell Maple got me interested in G90’s, and as many of you do, sometimes I search by compiling features I like and see what comes out. In this case, I plugged in AWD, Apple Car Play, automated cruise control, a heated steering wheel, and a V-8 motor. And a price tag under $40,000 (otherwise the BMW M550ix is just a better car!).
By checking those boxes, out came the 2018 Genesis G80 Ultimate. Powered by a 420 hp V-8 and having every single feature I could want in a car, it’s a really, really nice bargain at $36,998. If I wasn’t so vain I’d buy one and debadge it. Oddly it’s a three owner car – what’s that all about? But it’s still under the Genesis warranty so no need even for MaxCare. Jerrell likes G90’s or this would be his. So it’s still here in Tinley Park, Illinois.
Well, this is also an AWD luxury sedan, but not an eight cylinder. That said, this 2014 XTS Vsport Platinum has a powerful 410 hp turbocharged 3.6 liter six. That’s good for a mid-five second 0-60 mph run. No slouch at all for a two ton sedan. A nice alternative to the rough and ready CTS-V.
With handsome two-toned interior and every feature the Genesis above has – except Apple Car Play. It’s also $10,000 cheaper, and almost $50,000 less than new. Yes, these were $70,000 cars new. It’s a two owner, accident free Illinois car here in Omaha, Nebraska.
I try not to cover cars that are not currently available. This 2011 Mercedes E550 luxury came online yesterday and went offline while I was writing. I’m so hoping it comes back. It’s a great example of “driving rich”, in that it’s a nicely appointed low mileage German sedan for not a lot of money.
Two-toned like the Cadillac. Air conditioned and heated seats. Adjustable suspension. Bluetooth and Harman Kardon sound. Blind spot monitor. The 5.5 liter V-8 is good for 382 hp. Not bad. But here’s the clincher.
Only 18,286 miles on this nine year old car. Damned near new, except it was a nearly $60,000 car back then. Now only $20,998 it’s here in Duarte, California – or hopefully it will be again!
The 2011 Lincoln Town Car was the final year for the Panther platformed luxury yacht. And this one is an ultra low mileage (30,000) Signature Limited model. What’s special about a Signature Limited? Absolutely nothing – that’s what the base Town Car was called in 2011. Let’s keep that between us. I’d feel special in this, an old school car – baby blue like Frank Sinatra’s eyes over an interior as tan as Trump.
Tan as Trump? That was kinda dumb. Pale like Pence more fitting. Regardless this was a $57,000 buy when new and is less than $20,000 now. I wouldn’t even spring for MaxCare. The 4.6 liter V-8 is solid, a little underpowered at 239 hp. And while the car looks enormous it’s only 150 pounds more than the Cadillac XTS above, and still 600 pounds less than my S600!
What’s with this oddly configured Town Car trunk? I swear it looks like there are hidden compartments for running guns or other contraband. If this scratches your itch, this two owner Town Car is available here in Kenner, Louisiana.
Excellent choices in your “Seven Somewhat Unicorny Sedans” piece! Confirms my feeling that you and I are brothas from anotha mutha. This is Joe, who came SO CLOSE to getting that Audi W12. I watched for that for weeks after it slipped away between us. Funny you love Genesis G90s. I bought one (used, at a Lincoln dealer); a 2018 only 16 months old, less than 17k miles, paint protection film, Weathertech liners everywhere, custom dash cover. Loaded to the gills, at less than 1/2 the sticker price. Still more than three years Genesis warranty remaining (I called Genesis to confirm, always sure I’m going to get screwed anywhere but Carmax). My wife doesn’t care about cars at all, but immediately fell in love with it and it is now her’s. Bought a new 2020 Bullitt Mustang for myself as a consolation prize, but I love that Genesis (and I’ve had several MBs and a 7-series). Pretty fussy about cars, and my tastes obviously cover a broad range. Anyway, keep up the great work. The only thing I don’t like about your blog is that every time I read it, it’d suddenly three hours later, because I go from one…to the next…to the next. Keep it up!
Thanks Joe. Jealous on the Bullitt. I kept being tempted by the 2008 models CarMax had – including one with something stupid like 8,000 miles. I hope you’re liking yours. Makes me wanna watch the movie again.