1/2021 – The Carmax Unicorn Blog

February 3, 2021

Quick Hit – $28k Jaguar XKR

Haven’t seen many hardtop Jaguar XK’s on CarMax and even longer for an XKR unicorn. A little dated but the lines are still lovely. I don’t think this one will be available long so winging it with a blog post by phone.

It’s a 2012 model with 57,000 miles and if you go to the CarMax website you’ll see some of the worst marketing photos ever. Maybe that’s why the price is reasonable?

Identical to the Jaguar XF inside, the car has a heated steering wheel, air conditioned and heated seats, and a rear view camera. Adequate but not overly equipped. For a car that sold new for $103,000 I’d expect a little more.

The power plant is impressive. A 5.0 liter supercharged V-8 with 510hp good for mid-four second 0-60 mph runs. It’s not a 550hp XKR-S, but plenty faster than the 385hp XK. Choose your poison. This three owner, accident free California-Florida car is here in Mobile, Alabama.

January 23, 2021January 23, 2021

Quick Hit – Mercedes ML63 AMG and ML550 (And Last Mercedes Post For a Bit!)

I’ve run out of patience with CarMax for this post, and despite this being the third and fourth Mercedes covered in a row I gotta get it done. A very affordable badass Mercedes ML63 and an even more affordable and well equipped ML550 have been on and off the CarMax website for days, and I have been unable to catch them on the web on the same day for a post – so here it is anyway. Let’s start with the ML63 AMG, even though it’s not currently available I have not gotten the CarMax update that it’s gone.

This 2013 ML63 AMG (I think) was offered for $35-37,000. Fairly loaded with auto cruise control (Distronic Plus), seat massagers, heated and air conditioned seats, upgraded Bang & Olufsen audio – there’s a lot of luxury in the cabin. On the outside some slick running boards and black wheels. But that’s not why you want this SUV.

You want the ML63 because of its hand built, 5.5 liter 518 hp AMG motor. That, along with AWD and an adjustable suspension turn this family hauler into an SUV racer. Motor Trend turned a 4.8 second 0-60 mph run. And it’s got a tow hitch, if you need to ring along your cigarette boat. Admittedly, this SUV is a one accident vehicle, that drives down the price. But it sold new for just under $100,000 and is now a third that. Find this three owner 2013 Mercedes ML63 AMG here in Kansas City, Missouri. Hope it comes back on the market!

January 20, 2021January 20, 2021

Quick Hit – 2010 Mercedes CL550. A Cheaper Alternative to Yesterday’s CLS63?

The Mercedes CL-class became the S-coupe in 2014, but it’s the same premise; an S-class from the (missing) B-pillar forward in every way. The 2010 CL coupe is the same as my 2010 S-class (S600) for the driver and passenger. At $24,998 there’s a ton of luxury in this unicorn at a bargain price. Again, room in the wallet for MaxCare I would not do without. Thanks to reader Cannon for alerting me to this beauty.

The CL550 has automated cruise control (Distronic Plus), air conditioned and heated seats, seat massagers, a heated steering wheel, AWD, and the cool (but totally unnecessary) night vision assist. CarMax gives it a 9 out of 10 on the features and yet I cannot think of what it does not have.

Okay, it doesn’t have a rear seat to speak of, similar to the CLS63 I covered yesterday. It’s about the driver and passenger. It has a filthy engine bay (shame on you CarMax) with a 5.5 liter V-8 that makes only 382 hp – adequate but not even close to the 500+ in the CLS63 AMG. But not everyone is a horsepower hog like me and most will find this plenty good for a luxury cruiser. The CL550 is a unique alternative to the CLS63, and $13,000 cheaper! Find this two owner, accident free car here in Fort Bend, Texas.

January 19, 2021January 19, 2021

Quick Hit – 2012 Mercedes CLS63 AMG – $37,998

Going to keep this short since CarMax unicorns keep showing up and disappearing on their website faster than I can get to them. What we have here is a low mileage (40,000) 2012 Mercedes CLS63 for a really decent price. Leaves spare change for mandatory MaxCare. It sold new for maybe $95,000 and maybe more. I cannot tell if it has the far more expensive Performance Package – the red calipers suggest it might. What say ye, readers?

For $38k you get a luxury four door, four passenger coupe with a 5.5 liter, 518 hp turbocharged motor, adjustable suspension, and auto cruise control (Distronic Plus). Perfect for stop light launches and highway cruising. Car and Driver claims a crazy 3.8 second 0-60mph run here. But wait! There’s more!

The car is pretty much the same as an E63, although the coupe design limits interior room a bit. But it has seat massagers, heated and air conditioned seats, blind spot monitors, lane departure, rear view camera, and Bluetooth. Not bad. Hard to go wrong with a car like this! I like gold cars – reinforces the idea of “driving rich”! Find it here in Irvine, California.