Reader Buys the 2008 Chevy HHR SS!

February 5, 2019February 2, 2019

Reader Buys the 2008 Chevy HHR SS!

HHR SS Side No, I don’t get a commission. Just wanted to share that a kind reader told me he bought this 2008 Chevy HHR SS I wrote about in November. When folks tell me they buy unicorns I post I always want to know how it went – make sure that my experiences aren’t off the mark from theirs. I’ve bought four CarMax cars and transferred many more, helped a half-dozen friends make a purchase, and now I think I have four readers who bought cars I’ve written about. Anyway, the HHR buyer’s transfer was about as miserable as mine, taking a long time to execute and not much tracking along the way – plus a damaged bumper that was immediately fixed. Fortunately, he told me the delay spared his car from being on the lot when kids broke in overnight and tore up about 20 cars. But the sale went flawlessly and he has a really low mileage, well-preserved HHR. The buyer passed on MaxCare since he’s an accomplished mechanic. Thanks for letting me know!

2008 Chevrolet HHR SS $13,998 41k Puyallup

February 4, 2019February 2, 2019

Quick Update – My Mercedes S600 Sequel (Part III?)

As I wrote here, the bargain 2008 Mercedes S600 I transferred in from the West Coast went missing – first incorrectly told the car was accidentally sold in Ohio (an honest mistake – CarMax goofed and shipped an Audi S6 in from the same dealer for me, and that car was relayed to Ohio and sold) then advised the S600 had a failing transmission and would not be sold at all. I was skeptical. Thought for sure a CarMax employee pulled it from inventory for personal purchase. At $22,998 it was a steal. But I have confirmed the car was sold to a wholesaler and is out there somewhere. So a faithful blog reader (who is a far better sniper than I – he also found the first S600) scored me another one in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It’s new (2010), nicer, but more expensive at $30,998. I think I’m in. CarMax transferred it to my local Dulle dealer…..and maybe a hiccup already. The ABS light is on, so they sent it to a Mercedes dealer who needs two weeks to fix. CarMax assures me it will be mine when it returns. I’ll be watching. Hoping to make up for the first one I passed on in 2017 – although pleased that a blog reader bought it! 2010 S600 $30,998 46000 Lancaster

February 3, 2019February 2, 2019

The Grand Marquis Mystery – Why The Interest? (Shout Out to Unique Cars 2.0)

2011 Grand Marquis.JPG Got a fascinating and gathering interest in Mercury Grand Marquis’ as unicorns (like the ugly one at the bottom of this blog) because of the generosity of David Fesz and his far more widely followed automotive Facebook page Unique Cars for Sale 2.0. The page notes, “You’ve discovered a better place to share rare automotive sightings discovered FOR SALE online with other enthusiasts, plain and simpler.“ It’s a closed group but if you ask, and you’re not an ass, you get added. Lots of cars posted there I haven’t seen in years. And they are okay with me posting some of the more unusual CarMax unicorns I find there.

And that’s what has me confounded – when I looked at the number of historical hits on my blog over the past year plus, I found the single most spectacular spike I’ve had was for my post on March 8, 2018 – and they all came from the link I posted on Unique Cars for Sale 2.0. Not the CarMax offered BMW and Audi V-10 powered cars, the Mercedes V-12, the Porsche 911‘s, or Jaguar XKR – but for a 2011 Grand Marquis of all things. I found the car interesting at first because it was gigantic, cheap at $14,000, with only 41,000 miles. A little more research though and I found only 248 Grand Marquis’ came off the Continue reading “The Grand Marquis Mystery – Why The Interest? (Shout Out to Unique Cars 2.0)”

February 2, 2019

Rare 2008 Audi RS4: One of 300 Sold in US

RS4 Side Stumbled on this adorable, aggressive 2008 Audi RS4 convertible this morning while surfing for CarMax unicorns over hot coffee and looking out the window at the remains of the Polar Vortex and thinking spring can’t come too soon. Rare to be this brutally cold, and even more rare to come across an RS4 at CarMax. In fact, never been one since I’ve been tracking. Car and Driver tells me the car originally sold for a whopping $85,000, and with only 300 imported in the US, it’s more rare than the R8 supercar!

Audi stuffed the 420hp, 4.2 liter V-8 into this little convertible, mated to a manual six-speed transmission, and all wheel drive. Is that a sexy engine bay or not? The car is good for 155 mph-plus and a 4.6 second 0-60 time. It’s fast. Loaded. Rare. Expensive. I would predict a quick sale, but $31,000 for a 10 year old Audi might take longer. We shall see. I’d still spring for MaxCare protection to drive pretty much repair free.

Find this low mileage, four-owner – and one accident unicorn here in Fresno, California. If the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 RS4 $30,998 43k Fresno

January 17, 2019

Quick Hits – Three Old School Merc Unicorns; Cheap E550/S550/SL550

Here’s three cheap 11 year old Mercedes unicorns, all different rides although powered by the same 5.5l 382 hp powerplant, and all in their own way be a hoot to own and drive. Reliable E550 family sedan, JR Ewing SL550 drop top, and a luxobarge S550 each for the price of a Honda. And with MaxCare, no high unexpected repair bills. What’s not to like? Check them out below.

Sorry only one outside shot of the SL550 on the CarMax page so far, so the interior will have to do. But this is a hard top convertible loaded with seats that heat, cool, massage, and serve up cappuccino. Great Bose stereo (used to own a Merc with one!) and the sport package. This Car and Driver review from 2007 called the car “Very entertaining for a car so aloof in the city.” Driven about 5,000 miles yearly this car is just getting broken in, and seems like a decent ride for $22k. Find this 2008 Mercedes SL550 here in Tacoma. If the link is broken the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred. 2008 SL550 $21,998 54k Tacoma

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January 7, 2019

Quick Hit – Cheapest M3…and a Better One For $7,000 More.

CarMax tends to sell a lot of BMW (E90) M3’s in the upper $20k and lower $30k range, usually in higher numbers and higher mileage than I’d prefer for unicorns. Right now they have 50 M3’s for sale all the way up to a 2018 for $69,000. But these two caught my eye – a high-mileage 2008 for only $22,998, the cheapest M3 I’ve seen them sell, and a low mileage 2009 for $29,998. Here’s the Motor Trend review of the E90 M3 from back in the day.

The 2008 is a hard top convertible and an automatic, the most plentiful, cheapest configuration you’ll find at CarMax. It’s high mileage at 81,000 miles, and on other car forums (fora?) folks moan that used M3’s are often beat all to hell, but as always, I say “who cares?!” as long as you buy the MaxCare bumper to bumper warranty. Don’t care how trashed the mechanicals are as long as they are covered for another 50,000 miles.

This one has some wear and tear but the seat bolsters are fine – as with my 2001 BMW 3-series they are the first to go with big butts sliding into the driver’s seat. It’s about the engine (8,400 rpm red line!) and the handling and the braking. Find this two owner car here in San Jose – if the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

This single-owner 2009 M3 is neither a hard top convertible nor an automatic, and really low miles for a 10 year old car. The body lines are tight and neat, uninterrupted like the hard top convertible. And with MaxCare I think you can get another five years and ridiculous 100,000 miles of coverage – drive the snot our of it worry free. Find this one here in Memphis. 2009 M3 $29,998 33k Memphis

January 7, 2019

S600 Update – Not Accidentally Sold After All…..

…..but still not mine. After days of busting chops, CarMax tells me the 2008 Mercedes S600 V-12 was not accidentally sold in Ohio, but was deemed not sellable to customers due to a really bad transmission. I found it on the Dulles lot last week. I have asked a number of times why CarMax went ahead and completed a Virginia State inspection (see sticker below) after the car was deemed not sellable, but no response. They tell me it’s going to a wholeseller. Asked for documentation confirming it went, but no response. Until I verify that, I’m still suspicious this car is going to a CarMax insider. It was a bargain at $22,998 and 44,000 miles. They refunded my $899 transfer fee and have offered to ship another car from anywhere for free. No S600 has been that cheap – and there have only been three – in the two years I’ve tracked CarMax. Will be hard to match. And if I see this S600 sold to an individual and not a wholeseller I’m going to flip out on them! And I will know where this car goes.

January 1, 2019January 1, 2019

CarMax “Loses” Another Car? My S600 is Missing! Help?!

Sorry – didn’t blog in December because I was working on another unicorn. A blog reader pointed me to a 2008 Mercedes S600 for $22,998. A bargain V-12, with night vision, auto cruise control, and every feature imaginable. I paid almost $900 to transfer in from Las Vegas. Been waiting….and yesterday CarMax Dulles Sales Manager informs me THEY ACCIDENTALLY FORGOT TO RECEIVE IT PROPERLY, TRANSFERRED IT TO OHIO, AND SOLD IT!!! I don’t believe it for a second. This also happened to a 2014 BMW 550i that was highly optioned and $5,000 below comps. The sales manager’s email suggested he wanted to offer a “potential solution” but haven’t heard from him since. Welcome thoughts from readers on how best to work this with CarMax – there have only been three S600’s offered by CarMax in the last two years. May be awhile until another comes in. There is a 2010 on Autotrader…..maybe CarMax should buy it for me?

November 25, 2018

Quick Hit – The End of the Run 2009 1/2 Pontiac G8 GT – $19,998

G8 GT side Pontiac as a company ran outta gas in 2009, and sadly this Holden Commodore……er, Pontiac G8 GT unicorn went with it. The big Australian sedan has been resurrected as the Chevy SS and will cover one soon. Often when I see a Pontiac G8 GT or GXP in a driveway, the owner also has another enthusiast auto; an original Landcruiser FJ or a Mazda RX-7 or something that says they like what they like.

Been watching this 2009 1/2 Pontiac G8 GT because it seems to be a well-balanced value at only $19,998, with lower miles and price than most (check out the comps at the bottom – two other high mileage cars and a six-cylinder G8), and because it isn’t selling. Then again, back in the day these sold poorly anyway. It has been transferred once so far. Would welcome thoughts from Pontiac experts on why it’s not sold. Admittedly it is only a GT with a 355 hp power plant, not the 400 hp in the more coveted GXP (usually selling for $10,000 more than a GT). It doesn’t have a sunroof, but the 2009 1/2 got Bluetooth! The interior of this one owner car looks nearly new, with seat heaters in the front. It is a 10 year old extinct car, so I’d still roll for the MaxCare warranty. Here’s the Motor Trend and Car and Driver reviews from back in the day. Find it here in Chicago.

2009 Pontiac G8 GT $19,998 39k Chicago

4 G8

November 22, 2018November 27, 2018

The Genesis of the Thanksgiving Fiesta at Plymouth Rock – The CarMax Version

Our annual Thanksgiving celebration odyssey really starts in England in the early 1600’s during the reign of King James I, sometimes incorrectly considered a 4Runner to Crown Victoria and the Grand Marquis of the times. Pilgrims and Puritans hoping to escape religious persecution envisioned a better life and liberty in the New World, set sail in 1620 on the Mayflower, and initially, the Speedwell intending to boldly traverse the Atlantic.

Not much of an armada or grand caravan, really, as early in the journey the Speedwell had to return to port twice after taking on water, and the Mayflower continued its pathfinder cruze alone. At about 100 feet in length, the regal Mayflower was not a large vessel but for reference purposes, think of it as twice the size of the small corvette warships of the 1700’s.

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