Quick Hit – One of 500 in US: 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP

Mini sideEagle-eyed blog reader Hans Mertens, owner of a first generation 2006 GP1, sent me this unicorn.  Had no idea the GP package was something special for the diminutive hot hatch, but read this Car and Driver review that echoed Mr. Mertens enthusiasm for the track package that turns the Mini into a street-legal race car.  Not terribly fast – only a handful more horsepower, but handles like hell.

Among the many suspension tweaks, the car is lowered, with six piston brakes vice four on a normal Mini Cooper John Cooper Works, diffuser, wing, and a cool brace in the rear hatch that I thought was for hanging suits and shirts for an I-95 trip to Florida.

Car and Driver moaned about the high purchase price (about $40,000 new) but you can have it for half that at $19,998 here in Los Angeles, California, and be one of 500 owners in the US!  It’s non-transferrable, but select CarMax locations can override that (my guy Si Sultan here at Dulles is one of them!). 2013 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works GP

Bullitt Update – Another One at 50% More!

New BullittPosted the 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt selling for $15,998 – way underpriced – with only 23,000 miles last month here.  It was in Louisville, Kentucky.  It’s on the left below.  Today an almost identical 2009 Ford Mustang Bullitt showed up in Greensboro, North Carolina for $22,998 – 24,000 miles.  I knew the first one was a bargain!  It’s on the right below. I so need a reader to partner with me to flip unicorns when CarMax gets the prices wrong.  Second time I’ve seen a Bullitt for thousands under market price, and there have been others.   Sigh.  Find this Bullitt here – not as good a deal but still a nice retro Mustang. Pair of Bullitts

One of 334 (in silver) ….or 1,829 – 2009 Pontiac (Holden) G8 GXP

gxp sideUnderstand GM only imported 1,829 of these Holden Commodore based Pontiac unicorns for two years (and 334 in silver!), and while the 410hp V8’s are impressive, wondering why they hold their value so damned well.  The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP sold for just over $44,000 ten years ago, and this one is selling for $26,998 – they are usually in the $28-29k range on CarMax.  Even more puzzling, for just a few thousand more you could buy this 2014 Chevrolet SS, which is to me a nicer, newer, Australian equivalent.

Hoping readers can educate me on what makes the GXP so special – perhaps it’s that Continue reading “One of 334 (in silver) ….or 1,829 – 2009 Pontiac (Holden) G8 GXP”

A Sad Record Setting Jaguar Journey – Unloved XJ8 Wandering Out West

xj8 34Wrote about this 2009 Jaguar XJ8 L unicorn a year ago almost to the day in this post.  It was in Fort Myers, Florida, selling for $18,998 with 58,000 miles.  Of the 200 cars I’m tracking in my CarMax profile, this one has been in the bin the longest.  By miles.  Literally.  Was surprised to see it turn up this week 3,000 miles away in Fairfield, California, halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento, and the home of Travis Air Force Base and the Jelly Belly headquarters (those are two separate factoids).JourneyI mistakenly wrote in August 2018 that it had sold, since it vanished from the net for so long but it had not.  Oddly, in one year there’s been no price reduction, despite possibly Continue reading “A Sad Record Setting Jaguar Journey – Unloved XJ8 Wandering Out West”

BMW B7 Binge – Three Exclusive Luxury Sedans

Used to seeing the occasional BMW Alpina B7 unicorn in the CarMax inventory, and maybe a B6 from time to time, but today there are three B7’s for sale in the $40k range. Only a couple of hundred of these $130,000+ sedans make it to the US yearly. Add a couple grand for a five year, 150,000 mile MaxCare warranty and you’ve got a worry free long distance cruiser! This review (and BMW press release suggests the 2013 and up models amped up to 540hp (and 194 mph top speed!) but CarMax lists all three at 500hp. Not sure why. This 2012 model is the “bargain” at $40,998 with AWD, auto cruise control, black on black, and heated steering wheel – but not much else. Find it here in Shaumburg, Illinois – full ads at the bottom of the page. In the middle of the pack is this 2014 for $44,998. It’s an L model, just the Cold Weather and Executive packages – no auto cruise control…but if you’re into baseball the interior must have come from Wilson.It’s here in Burbank, California.Last is this beautiful 2014 L model at $48,998. Got the NASCAR look black wheels, Driver Assist Package, auto cruise control and nifty video screens in the back. Find it here in Murrieta, California.

Here’s the ads for all three: If it were me I’d be happy to get into the Alpina club with the $40k model, although this year we’ve seen two in the high $30’s at CarMax. Enjoy.

Quick Hit – Cheap Volkswagen CC VR6 – Mini CLS?

Never occurred to me but this review took notice that the 2009 Volkswagen CC VR6 resembles the first gen Mercedes CLS that I thought was cool (and still do). CarMax offering this smartly styled, low mileage (42k), three-owner (one accident) 280hp AWD German sedan here in Austin, Texas for $13,998. If only it had a manual transmission!

Quick Hit – First Audi Q8!

Not really a unicorn at this price, but amused that a used 2019 Audi Q8 is already on a CarMax lot. Only 5,000 miles and at $64,998 it’s about $12,000 less than a new one (priced one out with same packages on Audi’s web site). BTW – experimenting with blog post on phone – appreciate patience! Unremarkable review on Car and Driver except intrigued it’s the same chassis as the Bentley Benteyga and Lamborghini Urus (and just saw a Urus roar away from a stoplight here in Leesburg, Virginia this morning!). Suspect it rides well although underpowered. No need for MaxCare – still under dealer warranty for some time. Find it here in Columbus, Ohio. 

Quick Hit – 2010 Camaro With 2k Miles! Need You More Than Want You……

2010 Camaro….and I want you for all time.  This adorable 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS unicorn has been on a CarMax lot in Wichita lot for over a week and got an alert today it dropped $1,000 (again).  C’mon….it has been driven just over 200 miles PER YEAR by a single owner!  I would even skip the MaxCare warranty – no need. It’s a new car.

With a 400hp 6.2 liter V-8, pristine interior, and a six-speed automatic, it’s perfect for enjoying driving the main road, searching in the sun for another overload.  Or maybe you just need a small vacation.  Car and Driver described this car as “Quiet + Calm Ride = Surprising Comfort” in the 2010 review.  Find this nearly new Camaro in Wichita here. 2010 Camaro $23,998 2k Wichita

 

Bargain Bullitt – 1 of 1,400 and Will Be Gone By The Weekend

New Bullitt

Old BullittThe 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt unicorn below popped up today in Georgia.  Too new to have photos on the web yet so added a file photo.  The attraction of this car is the stupid low miles, not to mention it is one of 1,400 made in 2008 and pretty damned cool.  Here’s the last one that I covered from CarMax that was quite high-mileage, and a few more I found here with low miles and price tags north of $20,000.   Saw one with 4,000 go for $22,998 at CarMax.  However……check out the disclaimer below on the CarMax vehicle history page.   I have no idea what that means but maybe that’s why this Bullitt is a bargain?    Here’s a pretty favorable review from Road and Track back in the day.  Maybe you already bought a 2019 model – add an older one to your collection!  Add a cheap five year, 125,000 mile MaxCare bumper to bumper warranty and drive the snot out of the car.  Find this Bullitt here in Norcross, Georgia.  If the link is broken it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.  Will add photos when they pop.2008 Ford Bullitt

Bullitt Disclaimer

The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns

Corvette front

The Trump administration and the Iranians are circling once again and oil prices are skyrocketing – what better time to pick up a bargain 600 hp unicorn before they become extinct!  And CarMax has 19 of these high-horsepower bad boys on lots nationwide.  Almost all of them are General Motors products, with one Audi and one BMW from our (for now) European ally, the Germans.  Been watching, and (surprise) no Hellcats have made it to CarMax, and Ford isn’t making a Mustang that bucks 600.  So here’s what we have today (CarMax listings at the bottom).

M760 SideThe lone BMW M760 is a beautiful, big sedan that squeaks in at 601hp from a 6.6 liter twin-turbo V-12.  This is the motor Rolls Royce uses in the Ghost and Wraith, I’ve learned.  If you’ve been here before, you know I have a thing for V-12’s.  (Check out my S600 with a measley 510hp here.)

This 2017 BMW M760 has only 14,000 miles, and is loaded with AWD, auto cruise control, and a business class backseat – at 206″ long it’s almost business jet sized – and tops the price list today at $97,998.  According to this Motor Trend reveiw the M760 once sold for maybe $170,000.  It’s a one-owner car still under dealer warranty (buy the MaxCare Continue reading “The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns”