Quick Hits – Seven Old Fashioned Family Sedan Unicorns

Time to get back to blogging after being totally consumed by the successful auction of my 1971 Fiat 124 Spider on Bring a Trailer – and yet another search for my next unicorn. Will post about both later, but it’s mid-January and I’ve hardly shared the cars piling up in my profile faster than a snowy stretch of I-95 in Virginia. Speaking of which, with another snow storm headed our way this weekend I thought I’d post seven sedans worthy of loading up and heading south to sunnier places. I can picture all of these with a clothes hanger bar spread from coat hook to coat hook over the back seat, with nicely pressed shirts and slacks at the ready for beach bars and buffets. Let’s start with one I didn’t think I’d see at CarMax again, a 2011 Lucerne Super.

I last blogged about a Lucerne Super here, another 2011 with 77,000 miles priced at $11,998. This one has 90,000 miles and lists at $19,000 – just another reflection of how crazy used car prices have gotten. If a front wheel drive 292 hp Northstar V-8 is what you’ve been waiting for (Mick?) this car is for you. I do find the lines and wheels to be quite handsome, actually, and while CarMax describes it as “fully loaded” (for 2011) it only has a heated steering wheel and heated seats – a bit austere for me.

You can find this 12 year old Buick here in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (where my Fiat is headed!).

Stock # 21016725  VIN # 1G4HK5ES3BU129006

If you want a full size sedan but not with the Lucerne’s high mileage, here’s a nearly new 2010 Cadillac DTS. Only 14,000 miles from a single owner. Same motor and drivetrain as the Lucerne, less horsepower at 275 (guess it was bumped up for 2011). Quite pretty family cruiser. Even has air conditioned seats.

This 2010 Cadillac DTS is deep in my saved list, meaning it has been on and off the inventory for some time. Yesterday it was on. Today off. Track it here in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Stock # 21014919  VIN # 1G6KH5EY4AU112617

Maybe the 2011 Cadillac DTS below is the best of both worlds? Has the higher horsepower motor, mileage in between the Lucerne and the red DTS at 39,000, all the same features, and still a “deal” at $20,998?

This silver 2011 Cadillac DTS is in Birmingham, Alabama after a life with its single owner in North Carolina. Find it here.

Stock # 20597333  VIN # 1G6KD5E66BU118771

Every year I get to do a “1 of 248” Mercury Grand Marquis post, since Mercury only released that many in 2011 before Ford’s Panther platform was discontinued that year. Of the 248, I swear CarMax has resold a half-dozen or more. The Grand Marquis is rear wheel drive and a ridiculous 224 hp from the 4.6 liter V-8.

I have no more original thought on the Grand Marquis. The best I can do is point you to my post here from almost four years ago, where I pointed readers to the New York Times review ““Heavyweight for a Requiem”. (Ignore the crappy WordPress formatting.) Find this rare car here in San Antonio, Texas.

Stock # 21481478  VIN # 2MEBM7FV5BX606888

The fifth sedan to make the list is another Panther, a 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis, this one with the inexplicable (to me) simulated convertible roof. I have to be careful here not to violate a theory of mine that every single car, and variant, out there has a fan club and try not to judge a car as good or bad, attractive or hideous, just because it’s not for me. I do believe that, and from time to time I blow it – last time was with this Lexus HS 250h when I tried to be funny and slam the car, only to find I have a blog reader who owns one and loves it. Lesson learned. And I’m the guy that will go to bat every time for the ’77 Gremlin I owned in my early Army days. I just don’t get simulated convertible tops. I’ve owned a couple of convertibles and they look gorgeous with the top down, utilitarian with the top up. And yet some drivers must enjoy the look of the top up, without enduring the wind and sun with the top down?

This 2010 Grand Marquis was here in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday – not today. (If you absolutely must have a Grand Marquis today here’s a 2010 in Louisiana that’s still on the market for only $14,998!)

Stock # 21641097  VIN # 2MEBM7FV2AX626269

The Northstars and Panthers make me nostalgic for big ole American sedans, and yet if I had to pick an older sedan off the lot for myself I’d probably look more at the two below. The first is this 2010 Lexus LS 460. Not cheap at $31,998 but it is fairly loaded with low miles. Pretty car with nice wood paneling and a far more potent V-8 with 380 hp. It also has more modern features like self-parking, rear view camera, adjustable suspension and more. Hell, it has the comfort package, the sport package, and the luxury package. What’s left?

Find this 12 year old Lexus here in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Stock # 21807358  VIN # JTHBL5EF8A5098059

Suspect if you’re still with me, you’re one of the readers who knows I cannot write about big highway cruising sedans without coming back to the Mercedes S-class. On New Year’s Day I took mine on one more last road trip (Hank Williams’ last ride) before prepping it for sale, and there’s not a lot like it out there. This is a nicely equipped 11-year old S550 with enough horsepower at 382 – similar to the Lexus – seat massagers, tons of room. And rear seat entertainment for the grandkids. What do the six cars above have that this Mercedes does not? Funny you should ask. I need to update the MaxCare warranty page of this blog to reflect a change in CarMax warranties – European cars now are only offered with MaxCare up to 125,000 miles while American and Asian imports still top out at 150,000 miles. Some European cars also limit the term to 48 months, not 60. This Mercedes is good for 125,000 miles and 60 months, though. Must pay attention to that before buying, and as always, I wouldn’t own a car like this without MaxCare.

This 2011 Mercedes S550 is here in Garland, Texas.

Stock # 21588380  VIN # WDDNG7BB5BA414516

That’s enough for now. Enjoy the weekend!