Four Chevrolet Unicorns That Are NOT A Bargain (But They Are Collectables!)

May 27, 2021May 27, 2021

Four Chevrolet Unicorns That Are NOT A Bargain (But They Are Collectables!)

I’ve covered these unicorns a few times over the last few years. Once I found CarMax to be loading up their inventories and wrote here about the hoarding. They went from a handful to 24 units almost overnight. Sometimes they have none. Occasionally they score a rare manual transmission version and those sell faster than the cars drive. Only a couple of hundred were imported yearly by Chevrolet. Yes, imported and so I just gave it away. The Australian Holden sports sedan imported and rebadged as Chevrolet SS models from 2014-2017. The list price (MSRP) was between $40,000 and $48,000 when new, although they didn’t sell well and were deeply discounted. I’ve read by as much as 20% to clear them from the lots. Chevrolet projected sales of 12-15,000 cars a year and sold maybe 3,000 annually. There were lots of articles on why the SS did not sell well. Poor market positioning. Looked like a Malibu. Overpriced. Now there are lots of articles on what a great enthusiast car this was, with a 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V-8 rated at 415hp, and good for mid-four second 0-60mph runs. Brembo brakes. Adaptable magnetic suspension. Great reviews. And now these once shunned cars are selling at a premium. More than they sold for new, and sometimes more than the MSRP Chevrolet never got. When I started this blog in 2017 Chevrolet was still trying to unload new SS models for under $40,000 and CarMax had low mileage used ones for around $30,000. Now CarMax has a low mileage, but still used 2017 SS offered at $54,000! And it’s not even a manual. Well, enjoy these four collectable Chevrolets. I had hoped there would be one from each model year offered but it was not to be, and if I wait even these may be gone.

The pretty blue 2017 Chevrolet SS with 15,000 miles selling for $53,998.

The 2015 model with 28,000 miles for $45,998. This was the first year for adaptive suspension, btw.

The first year in the US – 2014 – and selling for a whopping $42,998 with 34,000 miles.

Another 2017 for “only” $45,998 with 40,000 miles! And yes, it looks like a Malibu.

Pretty sure the interiors looked the same for all four years?

The motor. Not high horsepower but plenty, and a raucous rumble.

Here’s the link to the expensive 2017 in Knoxville.

Here’s the link to the 2017 in Pineville, North Carolina.

The link to de one in Des Moines. (Seeing if anyone is paying attention.)

And finally, the link to the first year car in Kansas City.

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021

Quick Hit – Last of the CLS550 (W219) Shooting Brakes

CarMax generally carries cars up to 10 years back, so they tell me, although at this moment there are 124 of their 30,000 cars on lots that go back to 2009 – 12 model years’ old. None of them are European cars. There are another 249 2010 models at dealerships, of which a whopping 22 are European (sneak peak – here’s the link to a 2010 Mercedes CLS550 for only $23k coming soon!). And finally, 2011 models – now 10 years old, account for another 350 cars of the 30,000 – and only 39 of those are European. And truly really finally, 2011 was the last year for the lovely first generation Mercedes CLS550 (W219) “shooting brake”. Last year manufactured by Mercedes, and 2021 should be the last year offered by CarMax. A unicorn.

The CLS550 four door coupe is pretty much a more shapely E550 platform, with seating for four, and less room. I’ve been in them and in the E550’s and yes, the sloped roof intrudes on headroom. Everything else is the same, including the 382hp 5.5 liter V-8 that will still get you to 60mph in under five seconds. Not bad. Here’s a link to one of the last CLS550’s I covered – has all the performance info you need!

This 2011 model is selling for $27,998 – pretty high if you ask me even thought it only has 42,000 miles. No auto cruise control but most other luxury features included. Most of the CLS550’s of this era were selling for significantly less at CarMax, including this nice one for only $19,998 just a month ago. MaxCare going to run another $3-5k. But this 2011 CLS550 is a two-owner accident free car from New England, and you can see it here. If it were a CLS63……?

May 12, 2021May 12, 2021

A Really Good Deal on a Jeep SRT-8 (and why I haven’t blogged in weeks)

Oh I so wish this 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 fit the bill for my next family SUV. It’s a damned good unicorn. Over the years I’ve been surprised how much these hot Jeeps retain their value, often costing much more than this one and having far more miles. As of this writing CarMax has seven other Jeep SRT-8’s available or coming soon, ranging from $49,000 for a 2014 model with 56,000 miles to $64,000 for a low miles 2019 model. This hot rod is $38,998 and has only 40,000 miles. That’s a deal.

For 2012 the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 was redesigned with a bigger motor, now 6.4 liters and 470hp, and good for a 4.6 second 0-60 mph run. The Jeep got great marks for handling with AWD and adaptive dampers. Here’s what Motor Trend had to say (I could hardly understand it myself but maybe you will) “The rear-mounted electronic differential also uses clutch packs to send power side to side. The torque vectoring keeps the Jeep turning even when the front end is losing grip. It felt much more natural on the racetrack than it did on our figure-eight. In big sweepers, it is tough to keep a steady speed as small inputs in throttle will cause torque vectoring, but as soon as neutral throttle is needed, the added turning force goes away.” Remarkably, the Grand Cherokee SRT-8 handled as well in the slalom and on the track as the Charger and 300 SRT-8 sedans. The Brembo brakes stopped the 2 1/2 ton Jeep from 60 mph in 106 feet – less than comparable Porsche Cayennes and BMW X5’s. What was unimpressive in the reviews was the outdated five speed automatic transmission with no rev matching on downshifts.

As impressive as all the oomph and performance and raucous V-8, the interior features surprised me at this price point. Auto cruise control. Air conditioned and heated seats. Heated steering wheel. Panoramic sunroof. Carbon fiber trim as standard. This Jeep sold new for just under $60,000. While $38,998 may not seem like much depreciation for a nine year old Jeep, given the prices of all the others on the lots it’s damned good. And with 40,000 miles, add on MaxCare and this thing is good for 85,000 more worry free miles. And yes I checked – accident free and only two owners! Find this 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 here in Torrance, California.