Author: Chuck Banks

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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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Cleaning House – 7 Eclectic Unicorns Piled Up in My CarMax Profile

Got a number of unusual or interesting CarMax unicorns piling up in my saved list and thought I should share a quick post to get them on the blog.  Most, but not all, are enthusiast cars.  Some are just…different.  Your call.  Here we go.jag xf side

Start with a car I’d actually own – a 2014 Jaguar XF Supercharged.  Decent price, 470hp supercharged V-8, two-owner car found here in Irvine California.  Only five-years old and a good candidate for MaxCare. 2014 Jaguar XF Super $23,998 49k Irvine 3-20 Continue reading “Cleaning House – 7 Eclectic Unicorns Piled Up in My CarMax Profile”

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Quick Hit – Cheap Porsche Cayenne SUV Daily Driver – $19,998

2009 Porsche Cayenne S $19,998 43k Littleton 3-20Who doesn’t need a basic AWD SUV unicorn to haul mulch and tools and the family and the occasional tail gate party?  One with a little style and oomph? Thinking a low mileage 2009 Porsche Cayenne S might fit the bill, especially a one-owner, accident free Texas “truck” that even comes with a tow hitch.  A real working man’s truck.

This one sold new 11 years ago for about $60,000 given the options (Bose stereo, heated seats and steering wheel, moonroof, and satellite radio – yes that was a paid option back then).  The 385 hp V-8 pulls this 5,000 lb vehicle to 60 mph in just over six seconds – not terribly quick – per this review in Left Lane News in 2008.

A GTS or Turbo Cayenne would be a bit faster, but I’ve never seen one near this price.  This 2009 GTS I wrote about last fall was $25,000.  Also covered a nearly identical 2009 S model here last summer priced at $24,000.   I think with the MaxCare warranty (a must) and taxes this 2009 Porsche Cayenne S would wind up being $25,000, and that still seems to be a bargain.  Find it here in  Littleton, Colorado. 2009 Porsche Cayenne S $19,998 43k Littleton 2 3-20

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1 of 200 – Half-Price Highest-Priced Volvo Ever; 2017 XC90 Plug In Hybrid T8 Excellence

IMG_3106The 2017 Volvo XC90 Plug In Hybrid T8 Excellence was billed as the most expensive Volvo ever sold, and it was, with an MSRP of $106,000.  It was and is the most opulent Volvo you can buy.   Only 200 or so came to the USA, and it’s a real unicorn.  That said, I’m seeing info from back then that dealers were offering over $20,000 discounts to move the 2017’s to make room for the 2018’s.  And this one is selling for “only” $54,000.  Thanks to reader Mustafa Gardezi for spotting this rare beauty.

Barron’s reviewed the car here, and described the interior……“On the inside, the news is clearer. The Excellence replaces the five or seven seats of plebeian XC90s with four very plush, heated, and ventilated nappa-leather buckets, equipped with massagers. Surprisingly, even with fewer seats, leg and shoulder room isn’t greater than in other models. Thirsty? Just reach for the midcabin cooler and pour a beverage into one of the two Orrefors crystal glasses that come with your ride. Then, if you’re sitting in back, plunk your glass down on a folding tray table. Bored? Use one of the video display tablets to play a game or catch up on some fake news. In all, the passenger compartment is a welcoming cocoon of fine materials and tasteful understatement, although the Orrefors-inlaid gear selector is a bit cheesy.” Continue reading “1 of 200 – Half-Price Highest-Priced Volvo Ever; 2017 XC90 Plug In Hybrid T8 Excellence”

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Quick Hit – Entry Level BMW X6?

X6 SideIt’s not an X6M.  Not terribly well optioned.  Two accident car.  Not even made in Germany – perhaps that’s a good thing if you want an “American” SUV (South Carolina).

But this 2010 BMW X6 does have AWD and a decent 400hp 4.4 liter twin turbo V8 good for a mid-5 second 0-60mph run.  Heated seats, heads up display, low miles for a 10 year old car, and a read seat DVD system for the kids.  And it’s only $20,998.  Hard to find a comparable SUV for that price.  Could easily use this as a daily driver work truck!  Find it here in Buena Park, California.  2010 BMW X650i $20,998 50k Buena Park 2-28

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(Sorry) Another Quick Hit – Very Cheap Jaguar XK!

Jag sideWouldn’t ordinarily write twice in one day (mostly because I always lose much time when I start by deleting the 30 comments spammed from hairstylists and escorts from India – bizarre) but this 2011 Jaguar XK is too pretty and too low priced not to get on the blog quickly.  Seems to be a bargain unicorn.

The Jaguar XK is an elegant design and a decent sports car, and always tempting as a daily driver.  I’ve shipped in a couple of XK’s and XKR’s and always regretted not buying, and even made this ridiculous trek to eyeball one that was selling for $26,998.  yet for $23,998 this one is way lower than most 2010’s and 2011’s I’ve seen at CarMax.

Car and Driver reviewed the 2011 XK when new, and was most complimentary of the 385hp 5.0l V-8, an 85hp increase over the previous generation XK and good for a 5.0 second 0-60mph run, as well as all of the accoutrements – heated and air conditioned seats, heated steering wheel, 525-watt Bowers & Wilkins stereo – but were not fans of the unreliable electronics.  Of course, that’s why I’d add $3-4,000 for MaxCare just in case the car fails.  The car was over $80,000 new and is almost a quarter that eight years later.  Find this one owner car Jaguar XK here in Atlanta, Georgia.2011 Jaguar XK #23,998 50k Georgia 2-6

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Quick Hit – Lovely Loaded Lexus LS 460 for $19,998!

LS 460 sideThis big old Lexus unicorn has been on and off the net for a few days, and is a perfect example of what one of our readers called “driving rich” (please remind me who I stole this from?).  For $19,998, or the price of a used Toyota, you can drive a sweet luxury car with very, very low miles – maybe 3,400 miles yearly.  Seriously, a 12 year old Lexus with 40,000 miles?   Air conditioned and heated seats, auto cruise control, rear view camera, heated steering wheel, and automated parking? Very nice.

And a 380hp 4.6l V-8 with an eight-speed automatic good for sub-6 second 0-60.  Car and Driver reviewed the 2007 LS 460 (the first year of this fourth generation – no real reviews in 2008 worth reading) here and noted it was still a bargain over equivalent German sedans, but at a $70,000 sales price wasn’t the steal it was when introduced in 1989.  Thinking at $19,998 this single owner, accident free California car just might be a steal.  CarMax has many Lexus LS 460’s with over 100,000 miles for not much less.  Wouldn’t even spring for MaxCare. This car is too reliable and low mileage to break much.  Find it here in Sacramento. 2008 LS 460 $19,998 40k Sacramento 2-6

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Super Bowl Unicorns: CarMax Kansas City vs CarMax San Francisco?

What else to do before the big game but to match up unicorns at the Kansas City and San Francisco dealerships?  KC has a deeper bench with 352 cars that meet my unicorn threshold (Less than $35,000 and 60,000 miles) against San Fran’s 249.  Some interesting  choices (alas none worth a hoot in each teams’ colors) and I went with my final criteria – what would I drive away if I needed a car today from either dealership and had a bag with $35,000 in cash?   My picks are below.s90 side In San Francisco we have this gorgeous 2017 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription.  Thought this was a striking design inside and out from the start.  Willing to tolerate the 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder since it puts out 316hp since the car is so good looking – and AWD!

Fortunately this Volvo is made in Sweden – I’d rule it out if it was a Chinese-made Volvo (nothing to do with coronavirus!).  Find this single-owner Volvo here in Serramonte, California.2917 S90 T6 $30,998 40k Serrramonte Continue reading “Super Bowl Unicorns: CarMax Kansas City vs CarMax San Francisco?”

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