Category: 5/2019

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Quick Hit – Fastest (Rare) Wagon Ever? – 2018 Mercedes E63 S for $92k

E63CarMax had a Mercedes E63 wagon for sale last month for $70,000 or so that came and went so fast I couldn’t write about it.  This 2018 E63 S is a bit more pricey at $91,998 and fortunately (for me) it’s lingered for a week or so.  This wagon is spectacular on every level.  Twin turbo 4.0 liter V-8 pumps out 603hp, nine speed automatic, good for a 3 second 0-60 mph time and a 180mph top speed.  All wheel drive. Distronic auto cruise control.  Automated parking.  I could go on and on.

Only a couple of hundred make it to the US.  Here’s the gushing Car and Driver review.  Or the equally exceptional Jalopnik review.  Everybody loves this car.  It’s a single owner car, still under manufacturer warranty, so not sure I’d spring for MaxCare.  It sold for maybe $130-140,000 last year and is now available for $91,998 here in Los Angeles. 2018 E63S $91998 15k LA

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Quick Hit – 2008 Jeep Wrangler X Driven 10 Miles PER WEEK!

Jeep SideI’ve driven a Jeep off road (tons of fun) and on the highway (lotta noise) and not really for me.  But for a brand that has survived being owned by American Motors, Chrysler, Daimlier, Fiat, and maybe Renault next, and a World War, it must have something going for it.  Was surprised to find this 11 year old, lovely yellow, 2008 Jeep Wrangler X unicorn sporting less than 6,000 miles on the CarMax website today.  That’s 10 miles per week of driving!! But here’s the downside; per this Car and Driver review from 2008, it looks like this car is actually listing at CarMax for the same price as when it was new!

It’s a manual transmission, six cylinder legit Jeep.  With a bad ass subwoofer.  Surprised this little box weighs in at 4,200 pounds.  But it’s a real Jeep.  And with these miles, you could buy the MaxCare warranty for up to 150,000 miles.  Think about it – you could drive five more years, almost 30,000 miles a year, worry free with a bumper-to-bumper warranty.  That would be a rough 30,000 miles of highway driving annually!   Find it here in Los Angeles. 2008 Jeep Wrangler X $21,998 6k LA

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Remembering and Honoring Those Who Have Fallen for America – Five American Cars for Memorial Day

God bless America. Thought I’d take a moment to pick out a handful of unicorns that fit this holiday. Start with that American icon, the Jeep Wrangler Freedom edition. Six cylinder, six speed manual transmission, real four wheel drive, cruise control, found here in Albuquerque. Continue reading “Remembering and Honoring Those Who Have Fallen for America – Five American Cars for Memorial Day”

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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

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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

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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”

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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”

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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.

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