Category: Monthly Finds (…but unicorns move fast! These may be gone.)

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$15,998 Nissan Juke Nismo RS – Ugly Unique Unicorn (and Extinct)

Juke sideNissan imported a good 200,000 plus Nissan Jukes into the US, but only about 2,285 were the Nismo RS unicorns during the 2014-2017 run for the RS. Owners on the Juke Nismo forum think the six-speed manual model to be fairly rare.  Nismo of course stands for ニッサン・モータースポーツ・インターナショナル株式会社 Nissan Mōtā Supōtsu Intānashonaru Kabushiki-gaisha, or Nissan Motorsport per Wiki.  The plain Juke and Juke Nismo came with a 188hp turbo four, and the Juke Nismo RS beefed up to 215hp.  See, its not all about the red mirrors!

The crossover was available with a 6-speed manual transmission and all wheel drive and good for a 0-60mph in an okay mid six second run.  The suspensions were quite tweaked and lowered for the RS models, but I don’t get lowering an elevated crossover that started out as a much lower car in the first place?   Here’s a review from Autotrader.

The Nismo RS got good marks for the shit-hot race car seats and for being fun to drive. That said, Car and Driver named the Nissan Juke as one of the 20 ugliest crossovers and described it has “frog faced”.   Beauty is in the bug eyes of the beholder, I guess.

New Nissan Juke RS models sold for almost $30,000 so would have liked to have seen these for cheaper at CarMax, but the price isn’t that far off of the similarly low mileage comps on Autotrader.   Unfortunately this model is 2WD.  CarMax has a 4WD Nismo RS but it’s automatic.  Will be on the lookout for a 6-speed 4WD model and update if I find one.  Find this low-mileage, two-owner 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS here in Boynton Beach, Florida. 2014 Nissan Juke Nismo RS

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1 (or 2) of 1,972 – Almost New 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT (Plus a Cheaper One!)

ext 1 side poleThe Wiki on the third generation Cadillac Escalade EXT – a more elegant Avalanche – says it was the General’s answer to the “failed Lincoln Blackwood”, and fails to mention the EXT was not exactly a success.  Only 1,972 were sold in its final year – 2013 (there were 52 2014’s sold, making them real unicorns!).

This single owner California truck, though, has only 7,000 miles on it and is really quite nice.  Sold for maybe $70,000 when new, so not thrilled with the minimal depreciation – the low mileage I guess keeps the price high.  That’s why I threw in the $35,000 model at the bottom of this post.  The Mexican-made 2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT had a 403hp 6.2 liter V-8 and a six speed transmission, and Motor Trend gave it fairly high marks for performance in this review.

It also had the “Convert-a-Cab” composite pickup bed that can be expanded into the truck’s cab through a bottom-hinged door – per Wiki.   Yes, there are almost 200 of these third-generation EXT’s available on cars.com, but none are even close to this mileage, and one with 16-30,000 miles are selling for more.  Not saying it’s a deal, but it’s not crazy if you like these.  Find this truck here in Fresno, California.

2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT 1 $49,998 7k Fresno

2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT $35,998 72k Milwaukee
THE MUCH CHEAPER BONUS TRUCK!
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Quick Hit – 2011 Jaguar XJ Supercharged for $25k. Pretty Good Deal?

XJ SideThis 2011 Jaguar XJ Supercharged has been on and off the website for a few weeks, and it always vanished before I could catch it for a blog post.  So thought I’d do a quick one.  The four most attractive things about this unicorn are that it’s a big luxurious Jaguar, it has a 470hp supercharged V-8 engine, it’s a single-owner California car, and it’s only $24,998.

Very few supercharged XJ’s on CarMax drop to this price.  It was once a $90,000 Jaguar.  The down side? It’s not an XJ L, if that matters to you, and the plastic “stay the hell outta here” plastic engine cover is really dusty.

The MaxCare warranty is a must to shift the repair risk to CarMax, and no idea what that will be.  Other than that, there’s a lot to like about this car.  Check out this Car and Driver review for an expert opinion.  Find this car here in Los Angeles. 2011 Jaguar XJ Super $24,998 55k LA

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Quick Hit – Cheapest Range Rover in Years at $16,998

Not much to say and not much time to say it. Don’t believe this low mileage, two owner, 10 year old Range Rover Sport will be on the market long.Only a 300hp V-8 but can’t imagine a better SUV for this price – provided you splurge on MaxCare. A money loser for CarMax but a helluva beater. Find it here in Parker, Colorado.

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Best Low Mileage Chinese, Turkish, Hungarian, Australian, Italian, Swedish, British, Mexican, Korean (South), German, Canadian, and Japanese CarMax Unicorns

Okay MOST of these are actually pretty decent cars, but once the idea of seeing how many import unicorns make their way onto CarMax lots it kind of got away from me.  That said, I was surprised where some of these cars are made….like the Fiats in Mexico and the Jeeps in Italy.  There are a few more surprises.  No kidding.  No lengthy comments or reviews – just cars and links. Let’s get started.

2018 Volvo S90 T6 $39,998 9k Atlanta
THE CHINESE VOLVO. BEAUTIFUL CAR. IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM RIGHT.  
2014 Ford Transit Connect XL $`18,998 2k Twin Cities MN
THE TURKISH TRANSIT.  WHO KNEW?! (WAIT UNTIL TRUMP FINDS OUT.) LITTLE WORK TRUCK HAS 1500 MILES ON IT – HASN’T BEEN WORKING ALL THAT MUCH?
2016 Audi TTS $38,998 1k LA
THE DAMNED NEAR NEW HUNGARIAN AUDI.  ONLY 123 ODOMETER MILES!
2017 Jeep Renegade TRailhawk $22,998 3k Costa Mesa C
THE ITALIAN JOB JEEP – TRAILHAWK.  LESS THAN 3,000 RUGGED OFF ROAD MILES!
2014 Chevrolet SS $36,998 4k Atlanta
AUSTRALIAN CHEVY SS – TRUE V-8 UNICORN. A BARGAIN FUTURE COLLECTOR CAR. 
2016 Volvo XC60 T6 $26,998 10k Ft Lauderdale
LEGITIMATE SWEDISH VOLVO. WITH A LEGITIMATE 300HP 4 CYLINDER MOTOR.
2018 Kia STinger $37,998 2k Tulsa
SOUTH KOREAN STINGER. 365HP SIX. ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES!
2015 Fiat 500 Abarth $16,899 6k Frederick MD
MEXICAN FIAT? A LOTTA FUN FOR 160HP. UNDER WARRANTY. YOU’LL NEED IT.
2014 Jaguar XJ Super $38,998 5k
BRITISH JAGUAR. NO SURPRISE. 470HP. LESS THAN 5,000 MILES IN 5 YEARS? VERY NICE.
2013 Porsche Boxster S $47,998 7k Ft Myers FL
A GERMAN PORSCHE? NO WAY! BABIED BOXSTER S – 50HP MORE THAN A NEWER BASE MODEL WITH 2,000 MILES FOR $4,000 LESS.  ALWAYS TAKE THE HORSEPOWER.
2014 Nissan 370z $25,998 2k Rochester
JAPANESE DATSUN NISSAN 370Z – MANUAL TRANSMISSION, SWEET SIX, LOW, LOW MILES.
2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 $26,998 21k Lancaster
FINALLY, A CHALLENGER FROM CANADA – NOT BAD FOR A 425 HP 6-SPEED SRT-8 PLUM

 

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One of 240 – 2019 Lexus RC F 10th Anniversary Edition – $20,000 Off!

RCF sideThe Matte Nebula Gray painted exterior caught my attention first, then the cool blue interior, and reading the reviews in Motor Trend and Our Auto Expert was surprised to learn this paint scheme on the 2019 Lexus RC F 10th Anniversary Edition is the first on a production car since… the Lexus LFA in 2012.  I kind of dig it.  Also learned the 10th Anniverary Edition cost a whopping $16,000 more than a vanilla RC F coupe.

What do you get for that? Not entirely sure.  Same powertrain – 467 hp V-8 with an eight speed Sport Direct Shift transmission, but the reviews suggest the Performance Package (carbon fiber front spoiler, roof, splitters, rear diffuser, and speed activated rear wing, torque vectoring differential, carbon fiber interior trim, and more!), and blue Brembo brake calipers, wider and lower adjustable suspension, and triple beam LED headlights.

All of the reviews I saw flip flopped between the RC F 10th Anniversary Edition and the base RC F coupe, and so I can’t say with any certainly what that $16,000 gets you – except for damned sure some exclusivity, with only 240 of these Matte Nebula Gray models on the streets.  Find this one-owner car originally owned in Washington here in Austin, Texas.  No need for MaxCare – still under manufacturer warranty for four years and 50,000 miles!  The car sold new for about $90,000 just one year ago.  2019 Lexus RC F $69,998 5k Austin

If you don’t care for the high price or exclusivity and upgrades of the anniversary edition you can have the regular old 2015 RC F below with 19,000 miles for only $44,998 – another $25,000 less than the 10th Anniversary Edition model.  Awful tempting.  Find this cheaper one here in Los Angeles.  2015 RC F.JPG

 

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Quick Hit* – Low Mileage 2009 Mercedes CLS550 (W219) “Shooting Brake” – $21,998

2009 CLS sideThe first generation CLS550 remains one of my favorite body shapes.  Produced from 2004 through 2010 but not at all dated to me.  And CarMax only carries European cars up to 10 years old, so just one more year to snag one of these unicorns and capitalize on MaxCare.  Built on the E-class platform but far more style, and not as gigantic as the S-class.  Decent power with the 5.5 liter 382hp V-8 and 7-speed automatic.  Adjustable suspension.

Air conditioned seats and (finally) Bluetooth – for calls only, as Mercedes has that funky interface in the glovebox for music.   Real cup holders, not the single mechanical robotic piece of crap I had in Guenther, my S55 that had me spilling open coffee cups into the passenger footwell while cruising on the highway, leaving a huge brown stain on the carpet like a murder scene.   Not that I’m bitter.

Here’s a decent review from New Car Test back in the day.  The 2009 Mercedes CLS550 sold for more than $70,000 new, and only 2,527 units were sold in 2009.  Thinking $21,998 isn’t too bad for a 10 year old German car eligible for MaxCare – the great bumper to bumper warranty good for another 100,000 miles of risk free driving.  And this car has really low mileage for a 2009.   Find this two owner car in Los Angeles here.  If the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.2009 Mercedes CLS550 $21,998 35k LA  *Quick Hit means I have to post something short and sweet because A) the car may be gone soon B) I don’t have the time to write a lengthy piece and C) I don’t think you all want to read long essays all the time.

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332 Miles – 2015 Camaro

Planning to do a piece soon on CarMax unicorns with ridiculously low miles and thinking this one may not be around that long. A 2015 Camaro with only 332 miles on the odometer. Called the Tupelo dealer to verify. Unfortunately they couldn’t produce the MaxCare numbers. It’s only a 323 HP six cylinder, but it’s got a manual transmission, it’s a sunshiny Yellow, and damned near new for a four year old car. Find it here in Tupelo.

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1 of 48 and The Only One For Sale – Final Year 2010 Hummer H3t Alpha – $31,998

Hummer SWideThanks to reader Hans Mertens this rare 2010 Hummer H3t Alpha pickup truck came to my attention – rare because the Alpha has the 5.3 liter 300hp V-8 instead of the 3.7 liter inline 5 cylinder with 240hp, and because only 48 units were sold in 2010 – the final year of production. 

The V-8 is certainly faster than the I-5, although mileage suffered significantly, and the added weight dropped the payload of the V-8 pickup over the I-5 by couple of hundred pounds.  The truck has full-time 4WD, and the V-8 gets only the four-speed automatic.   The Hummer H3t Alpha sold for roughly $38,000 new, so not terribly impressed by the $31,998 price as I prefer deeply depreciated unicorns.  But it is the only one for sale in the US at the moment so would give you bragging rights in the Hummer community. Hummer BedBragging’s not really what owners do on the Hummer forums I looked at (except for Jeremy the Canadian who wrote this long term review of his Alpha and vowed to never sell his!) – instead they’re a little bemused that their pickups turned out to be so rare.  Reviews are not great for this pickup, from the crushing critique in TheTruthAbout Cars, to Car and Driver claiming “the H3t a niche product from a niche brand, and the era of Hummers as fashion accessories is over.”

The review from PickupTrucks.com got my attention – have to include the summary here:  “The thing about this Hummer — actually, any Hummer — is that its character sucks you in. As a Hummer outsider, you can’t help but approach it now with a weirdly preprogrammed sense of reactionary disdain for the wretched excess it represents. But by the end of your first week, you’re wearing military surplus parkas and growing your beard out. It’s completely incomprehensible. It’s as if the truck was infused with testosterone and it influences your persona.” Hummer int

If you hate it, it’s a tarted up Chevrolet Colorado that’s not very good as a pickup, adequate as an off-roader, and obsolete.  To me, the Hummer H3t Alpha makes no sense, unless it does.   This one-owner 2010 Hummer H3t Alpha spent the last nine years in Connecticut and is now for sale here in Nashville, TN.

2010 Hummer H3T Alpha

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