Author: Chuck Banks

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Yet Another 1 of 248 – 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis With Ultra Low Mileage*

MarquisStill intrigued with these Panther-platform dinosaurs, especially the ultra rare ultra low mileage ones.  Only 248 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis models made in the final year.  This one has only 14,000 miles (*although sadly during one of those drives in 2018 the car was in an accident in Florida).  And the 4.6l V-8 only packs 224hp – just a few more than a four cylinder VW GTI of the same era.

But that big beautiful (heated) bench seat, column shifter, and four-dead body trunk (or suitcases and golf clubs) takes me back to another time. Here’s the last 2011 I posted about two years ago…lower price but higher miles.  If you can get over the accident, this one’s way nicer.  And just for fun, the great NY Times review “Heavyweight for a Requiem” from back in the day is to good not to reprint.  My favorite lines:

  • It’s the kind of car dad bought because his buddy at the Kiwanis Club owned the
    dealership and he didn’t want something flashy like a Lincoln. A car you could wear
    a hat in.
  • Wallowing anachronism that it is, the Grand Ma has its charms. It rides as if the tires aren’t just smothering out the road’s divots, but giving each of them a somber, dignified burial.
  • The engine’s initial response is strong, but it quickly runs out of breath and by 5,500
    r.p.m. it’s exhausted. The transmission sort of slides at that point into the next gear
    and heaves a sigh of relief.
  • InsideLine.com clocked it accelerating from a standstill to 60 m.p.h. in a leisurely 9.3 seconds; it also plowed through a quarter-mile run in 16.8 seconds while reaching 83.9 mph.
  • Somewhere along its developmental journey the Grand Marquis
    picked up power rack-and-pinion steering that is shockingly sweet, with good oncenter feel, precise calibration and good feedback. 
  • This is a car unconcerned with carving corners or blitzing across the
    autobahn. It’s built for people who have lived long enough to have already had all the drama they want in their lives.
  • INSIDE TRACK: You may miss it, but you didn’t really want it.

Find this 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis LS here in Orlando.  Where else?!

2011 Mercury Marquis $15,998 14k Orlando May 2020

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Quick Hit – 2009 BMW 750Li for a Stupid $15,998.

BMW 750 sideAgain, to quote one of our readers, “driving rich” is the whole ides of this blog – acquiring high end, highly depreciated unicorns from CarMax and leveraging their bumper-to-bumper MaxCarewarranty to protect against extraordinary repairs. I wish I could remember who sent that to me.  Anyway, this low mileage, 11 year old long wheelbase BMW 750Li is very, very nice for a stupid low $15,998.  It’s also the first year of the fifth generation, no bubble-butt trunk lid.

Here’s the review from Car and Driver when the car was new.  When the car sold for just under $100,000.  And here’s a long term testfrom Automobile magazine.  It’s modestly equipped with blind spot monitors, lane departure, rear DVD, and seat massagers,  and also comes with a 4.8 liter twin-turbo V-8 good for sub-five second 0-60 sprints.  This is a real autobahn cruiser at a used Corolla price.

I would not own this without MaxCare, and my experience is that MaxCare for 750’s is expensive.  But with a starting price of $15,998 it’s worth a try.  Think about it – the warranty can protect you until the car is 16 years old, and for maybe almost 100,000 more miles.  That’s driving rich.  Find this two owner, accident free luxury car here in Pleasanton, California. 2009 BMW 750 $15,998 54k Pleasonton

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Quick Hit – Nearly New 2011 Nissan Cube Krom. Someone Somewhere Likes This.

Cube sideAdd the Nissan Cube Krom to the list of cars I didn’t know existed, perhaps for good reason.  I like looking for older, ultra low mileage cars in the CarMax inventory and this little unicorn just keeps catching my eye.  Turns out Nissan’s Krom editions were opportunities for buyers to choose lots of accents and options that weren’t available on the run of the mill cars.

Back in 2011, when this car was new, someone actually spent about $22,000 and made the choices you see here.  Not sure what they really thought of that choice, since the car was only driven 10,000 miles in the nine years since.  I love the color and I love the ballsy faux chrome front end, and I love that 2011 was the last year for these Krom cars.

Here’s a review from Automobile Mag back in 2011.  Cubes in general never sold very well.  I suspect there are not a lot of Cube Kroms out there.  It comes with a 1.8 liter 122hp four banger.  I wondered at the “Power/Cycle” knob by the shifter and had to Google it – turns out it rotates through accent lighting.  Who knew?  Why?

Rental cube Full disclosure, because my then-teenage daughter suggested it, on a vacation to Texas I actually rented me a Cube.  In the land of pickups no less.  The things we do for love.  Don’t tell my wife I posted this.

 

 

If a Nissan Cube Krom is your thing this is a nearly new one for half price. Find it here in Athens, Georgia.

2011 Nissan Cube Krom $12,998 10k Athens 5-20

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Happy Mother’s Day – The Queen’s Range Rover (Sorta) for $23,998!

My mother never had a license or drove a car in her life, and passed away last year at 92.  And here’s Queen Elizabeth II driving a Range Rover at the ripe old age of 93 (when the photo was taken I think – she’s 94 now!).  Ignore the media hullabaloo that she’s not wearing a seat belt, it’s still impressive.  Live on the edge at that age!RR Side So to celebrate here’s a low mileage 2012 Range Rover Sport HSE unicorn at a bargain price.  Once sold for about $80,000 and is now $23,998.  Or less than 20,000 British pounds if you’re so inclined.  This Range Rover Sport is adequately equipped, with four wheel drive, optional nine speed transmission (not sure that’s accurate – thought they only had an optional eight speed?), heated steering wheel and so on.

Not tremendously equipped, but good enough.  Same with the 375hp 5.0 liter V-8.  Good enough, although I’d have to wait on the occasional supercharged Range Rover that drops into the $25,000 range (like this one from last year).  Or if supercharging is too much oomph, this stupid cheap one at $16,998 that stayed on the net for a very short time would do. Here’s the review from 2012 in Top Speed.  Of course, I’d especially want MaxCare to protect myself from repair bills.  Find this two-owner California car here in Loveland, Colorado. 2012 Range Rover $23,998 45k Loveland

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One…and Two of 89 – 2017 Cadillac ATS V Coupes with 6-Speed Manual (And a One of 261 2016 Model to Boot!)

BLACK ATSV SIDENot often we score three, count ’em three nearly identical unicorns for sale at CarMax.  What makes them rare is that not a lot of manual transmission Cadillac ATS V coupes were sold; 261 in 2016 and only 89 in 2017.  Makes the 2017 manny coupe one of the more rare cars here.  Featuring the 2017 black model because it’s “reasonably” priced in the middle of the three, has the most features (sunroof and Apple Carplay) and low miles.  Pix of the other two are at the bottom.

All of the cars are two owner cars (the black one spent its life in Florida – the other two in Texas and California) but this one still has a year plus and 22,000 miles of GM warranty – will make MaxCare relatively cheap, and I would recommend that extended warranty should the twin-turbo V6 blow.  If I owned it, that would be my goal.  These cars sold for $65-70,000 new, depending on options. I prefer more depreciation, but still special.

The Cadillac ATS V gets surprisingly good reviews (here’s one from Car and Driver in 2016) for it’s 464 hp 3.6l six, 0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 189 mph top speed, and 1g lateral handling.  Read some other reviews that are also complimentary, with the only squabbling about whether it’s a legitimate contender to the BMW M3.  Ain’t going there.

But I recall Car and Driver flogged the 2016 Cadillac ATS V sedan around Virginia International Raceway as part of the annual “Lightning Lap” comparison, and it equalled the Mercedes C63 AMG S and actually beat the Mercedes E63 AMG S and Audi RS7 – both V8’s  with over 500hp.  Another review only complained that the ATS V is the smallest Cadillac and doesn’t have the sex appeal of it’s European competitors.  Maybe so.  But the ATS V was only sold from 2013 to 2019 and and was replaced by the CT4 in 2020.  Makes this one of 89 (and its sister below) a fairly rare unicorn.  Find it here in Doral, Florida.2017 CADILLAC ATS V $39,998 28K DORAL FL 4-20 Continue reading “One…and Two of 89 – 2017 Cadillac ATS V Coupes with 6-Speed Manual (And a One of 261 2016 Model to Boot!)”

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2015 BMW 760 Li V-12 Reduced to $44,998 (and CarMax Covid-19 Impact)

760 side(CarMax Covid-19 impact at the bottom.)  Just got an alert from CarMax that this car dropped another $1,000.  Okay not the deal my 2010 Mercedes S600 was last year at $30,998, but this 2015 BMW 760 Li unicorn is much newer than mine, and here to say there are few things as sweet as a V-12 European motor.  Silky sooth, powerful, and quiet power plant for big luxurious European sedans.  Not a lot of them sold here.

This BMW 760 Li sold for probably $150,000 new ($50,000 more than the V-8 750) and is now only $44,998.  Fairly well equipped car with auto cruise control, seat massagers, and most every luxury amenity (although no night vision) and was first listed a month or two ago for thousands more.  Check out that back seat.

The twin turbo 6.0 liter V-12 launches the BMW to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and a governed top speed of 155mph.  Saw a review that hit over 190 mph on the autobahn in Germany.  Find this beautiful car here in Raleigh, North Carolina.  And of course, don’t buy without MaxCare!20155 BMW 760 Li $44,998 31k Capitol Blvd 4-2020

CarMax Covid-19 Update – Last wrote about CarMax and coronavirus here.   Learned this week CarMax has laid off 15,000 of their 27,000 employees nationwide.  Half of their 200+ stores are either shuttered or by appointment only.  Inventory is at 55,000 cars….financial analysts saying that’s at an all time high for “year end” – but fiscal year end for CarMax is the end of February.  I’ve written before that CarMax tends to beef up to 70,000 cars during this period, dropping to 45,000 or so at the low point in the fall – so not sure what that’s about.  I do know that something is up with transfers – not the free regional ones, but the long distance transfers we pay for.  Transfers that used to be $750 are now almost $1,500, and the $949 coast to coast moves are now $1,999.  Don’t know if that’s a real increase due to real cost jumps, or a price that says “we really don’t want to do long distance transfers at this time”.  What I do know is there would have to be a really, really unusual deal to get me in a CarMax at this time – say a 2015 S65 AMG Coupe?

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Update – 2012 BMW Alpina B7 Resurrection? More Expensive – What Gives?

B7 Side

Blogged about this 2012 BMW Alpina B7 here in August, 2019 when it was selling for $37,998 – almost $100,000 less than new.  And now this unicorn is mysteriously up for sale again by the same Pompano Beach, Florida CarMax dealer for $39,998 – $2,000 more than it sold for by the same dealer in September, 2019. – and with another 1,000 miles on it   The vehicle history on the CarMax website clearly lists the car as having sold then.  Can’t believe it was returned under the seven day return policy and off the market for six months.  Not sure what gives – why it’s back and why the price increase – and the dealer won’t answer my questions on the phone.

In short, the 2012 B7 is powered by a 4.4 liter, twin-turbo, 500hp V8, a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, and all wheel drive. The car does 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and is limited to 174mph.  Maybe 500 imported annually.  It’s still a bargain IMHO, and still worthy of MaxCare to protect against huge repair bills.  Find it (still) here in Pompano Beach.  2012 Alpina B7 - $39,998 46k Pompano 4-2020

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Quick Hit – 1 of 20! Jag Wag. Sportbrake. 2018 Jaguar XF S First Edition.

jag xf sideWagons are making a bit of a comeback (even Buick’s selling one) so pleased to see this pretty 2018 Jaguar XF S First Edition unicorn available at CarMax.  But thanks to reader and avid car guy Mustafa Gardezi I learned that only 20 – count ’em 20 – of these First Editions were imported to the US painted in “Farallon Black” – a metallic paint with red and blue flakes normally reserved for Jaguar Land Rover’s SVO personalization cars.  Fairly rare, old chap! The CarMax photographer captured it not at all.

The 2018 XF S Sportbrake sported a supercharged 3.0 liter six cylinder good for 380 hp and a 0-60 mph in five seconds.  The low mileage car (5,000!) is well equipped with auto cruise control, adaptive dampers, AWD, and hideous (to me) red and black interior.  Ironic the last car I blogged about was this 2015 Lexus LS460 F-Sport Crafted Line – also with red and black seats.  Somebody likes them.  This 2018 Jaguar XF S First Edition sold for maybe $85,000 new two years ago and is now $48,998 – over 40% less.  It’s a one owner, no accident car with plenty of miles and years under manufacturer warranty – you might not even need to splurge on MaxCare protection?  Find it here in Houston, Texas. 2018 jag xf s first edition $48,998 5k

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1 of 750 – 2015 Lexus LS460 F-Sport Crafted Line – $38,998. No Baggage.

LS 460 sideDidn’t know there was a Lexus Crafted Line so it caught my eye.  Almost sounds like a joint Lexus-Sears product but that would make no sense.  Turns out the Crafted Line is a limited, high-end add on to a Lexus F-Sport package and only 750 LS models (and 1,500 GS) were made.  Makes it a unicorn, I believe.  The Crafted Line alone does nothing for performance (the F-Sport part does), and instead includes premium accessories, …uh “interesting” two-toned seats (I think they look a little out of place in this luxury car),  and even a matching two-piece set of luggage.  Not seeing the luggage in the CarMax photos.

The Crafted Line includes a Shimamoku trim, “alternating layers of dark & light wood veneers are layered and shaped in a process involving 67 manufacturing steps over the course of 38 days” according to the Lexus Enthusiast website.  (Ashamed I thought in the CarMax pix it just looked damaged!)  The Lexus LS 460 F-Sport sports 386hp vs 360hp in a base model, and sadly Car and Driver reports only a 0.1 second reduction in 0-60mph times.  Check out the engine bay below  – have you ever seen a more buttoned up “stay outta here” cover?

The air-suspensioned F-Sport also corners at .87g’s against .81 for the base model, and also brakes better with upgraded grippers.  This model sold for probably more than $90,000 and for $38,998 isn’t a bad deal.  Check out the Motor Trend review, and the Top Speed review from 2015.  More performance, more style, and exclusivity with only 750 units – along with Lexus reliability means no need for MaxCare.

Despite my whining about the luggage and the seats, I could easily drive this if I hadn’t gone for the Mercedes S600 last year.  Also, if the Crafted Line limited edition doesn’t appeal to you, the same performance is available in a run of the mill LS 460 F-Sport for $3,000 less with this nearly identical model.  Find this two owner Florida car here in Irving, Texas.2015 Lexus LS460 F SPort Craft Line $38,998 38k Irving TX 3-20

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CarMax, Coronavirus, and Customers. Maintain a Safe Distance?

Recommendation: Solo test drives, wear gloves if you “try on” cars on the lot, and buy on-line.Covid-19

Was wondering how Covid-19 would impact CarMax operations.  Their stock plummeted along with most, and yet there are attributes of their business model that concern me.  Here’s a link to the CarMax press release detailing adjustments, which you won’t find on the shopping page – had to go looking.  For the most part they are doing what all major employers are doing for their employees.  Doing the best they can.

Copied the part that addresses customers below.   Wondered about doing test drives with sales reps who may or may not be carriers, and pleased that CarMax will allow customers to do solo test drives if we want.  What’s not addressed is the risk of leveraging one of my favorite CarMax benefits – wandering the lot and sitting in all the unlocked cars on the lot.  Used to do it for fun every now and then.  My local CarMax has 635 cars on the lot.  Imagine hundreds (?) of customers sitting in maybe a dozen (?) cars daily and the opportunity for cross-contamination is huge.  Would be an enormous task to clean all the cars at the end of every shift, let alone several times a day.  Probably not going to happen much.  I’m thinking I’ll avoid the lots for a bit.  Stay safe.  

Taking care of our customers

  • CarMax is working hard to ensure we can support our customers’ transportation needs during these circumstances.
  • CarMax Auto Finance customers who have been negatively impacted by illness due to COVID-19 and need additional assistance with their account should contact our customer service team at 800-925-3612.
  • Customers can test drive a vehicle alone at all open locations if they don’t feel comfortable taking a test drive with an associate.
  • Many CarMax stores offer expedited pickup, which allows customers to do more of the car buying process online in advance and spend less time in store.
  • We also offer home delivery at many of our locations, where customers can choose to complete the car-buying experience from home and have the vehicle delivered by a CarMax associate.
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