Monthly Finds (…but unicorns move fast! These may be gone.) – Page 29

August 10, 2018August 11, 2018

Quick Hits – A Pair of White Knights for $22k – BMW 750i and Merc CLS550

Been working much and writing little, and when I wait to think deeply about the unicorns I’m finding they are too often gone by the time I blog. So without further ado….

750 Surprised at the price tag ($22,998) of this 2012 BMW 750i, a two-owner California car. With 400hp from a twin-turbo V-8 and a boatload of luxury features, this once nearly $90,000 car would seem to be a bargain – with MaxCare of course to avoid stupid high repair bills. Drive rich. Find it here in Los Angeles. If the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2012 BMW 750 22998 55k LA

2008 CLS This first-gen CLS-550, more sleek and far better looking than its angular successor, is also even less expensive than the BMW. At $21,998, or $50,000 less than it sold for 10 years ago, this relatively low mileage sedan seems to offer style at a bargain. It’s admittedly a little older and little slower than the BMW, giving up 18hp, and the interior isn’t as plush….and yet for the price of a Camry you can driver one of the prettiest Mercedes of the modern era. IMHO. Find it here in Indiana.

2009 CLS550 21998 50K INDY

July 25, 2018

The Last of the V-8 S4’s…With a Stick!

V8 S4 No real reason to want a little Audi S4 with a big V-8 engine, other than the rumble and roar and bragging rights. This 2009 Audi S4 unicorn was the last year the car was powered by a 4.2 liter V-8, transitioning to a supercharged V-6 for 2010. The V-8 is not much faster, but at least the fuel economy sucked. And it’s a little nose heavy. But a 340hp V-8 engine AND a manual 6-speed AND a convertible AND low mileage (5,000 miles/year) AND a low price ($18,599) AND a pretty blue color when so many are black or silver…….makes this an attractive scooter for summer. Car And Driver had the sedan as one of its 10 Best Cars for 2009 and ran the convertible to a top end of 162 mph! Throw in the MaxCare warranty for another five years and 50,000 miles for a couple of grand and you’ll have an unusual, inexpensive car that almost seems vintage already. The car was $57,000 new. Here’s a Car Guru review if you want more info. Here’s also the link to the CarMax page; if it’s dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred. My hunch is this one moves quick…..like the last of the V-10 S6’s that got scooped up a few weeks ago before I could even write about it!

2009 Audi S4 $18,599 46k Chicago

July 13, 2018December 31, 2018

Five Year Old V-12 Bimmer – Over $100,000 Less Than New – By Chuck Banks and Mustafa Gardezi

760 REAR VIEW Beautiful BMW with a wicked and rare 535hp V-12 unicorn. Somebody paid about $150,000 for this 760Li just five years ago, and it’s now selling for $37,998 with 57,000 miles. Looks like roughly 10,000 7-series were sold in 2013, and as far as I can tell 2% of those – or 200, were the V-12 760’s. Checked the VIN and this one has the $5,200 “Individual Package” with Merino leather and the $3,700 Bang and Olufsen audio, but sadly no night vision. Why skimp there? Especially when the buyer chose to spend $50,000 more for a new BMW 760 than they would have for a BMW 750?! Perhaps to get that .3 sec 0-60 edge? I wouldn’t care – the V-12 roar is worth every depreciated penny. It goes without saying, but I have to say it anyway because someone will moan “these are expensive to fix!” that you do NOT own one of these without the MaxCare warranty, effectively shifting financial risk to CarMax for a few thousand more. Find this four owner LA car here; if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold ore being transferred. 2013 BMW 760 V12 $37,998 57K

June 29, 2018

M5…M6 – Whatever It Takes (to own a V-10) for less than $30,000!

2008 M5 V10 Some cars are all about the motor. And some motors are more special than others. I’m tracking the dwindling number of V-10’s and V-12’s carried by CarMax, and I think snagging one of these unicorns with the MaxCare warranty is still a bargain. Special engine – no unexpected repairs – what’s not to like? The 500hp BMW V-10 found in the 2005-2009 M5 and M6 is pretty special. I drove both, with the SMG transmission, and snapping through the gears up to 8,000 rpm is a pretty exciting (scary?) rip-roaring experience. Old school horsepower mated to a high-tech transmission. I’m still kicking myself for not buying the 2008 M6 with less than 40,000 miles for only $23,998. That was a deal.

For now, these two are available from CarMax. The one owner California M5 link is here; if it’s dead the car is sold, on hold or being transferred. The Connecticut M6 link is here; same story on the link. 2008 BMW M5 $29,998 49k Santa Rosa CA

2008 BMW M6 $28,998 39k HARTFORD CT

June 11, 2018December 31, 2018

1 of 634 – 500hp Club. 2008 CLS63 AMG. $100k Unicorn for $27,998 – by Chuck Banks and Ahmed Gardezi

CLS63 I love big V8 horsepower and big sedans that do 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. I love taking advantage of other people’s depreciation. I love owning expensive to buy and more expensive to repair cars that aren’t my problem with the MaxCare warranty. Even 10 year old first generation cars that came to America in limited supply. The Mercedes gurus show 5,775 2008 Mercedes CLS’ were imported, and only 634 were the 507hp beasts shown here. Yes, it’s a five-owner car making its way from Florida to Vegas to Bakersfield, home of Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens. Here’s a good review of a similar CLS63 in Car And Driver. This once $100,000+ car reminds me much of Guenther, and makes me nostalgic. Find it here – if the link if dead it’s sold, on hold or being transferred. Surprised it’s been around a week – $27,998 plus a warranty seems like an opportunity for the right buyer.

2008 CLS63 $27.998 51k

June 1, 2018June 11, 2018

1 of 71 – 2008 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car Replica….signed by Emerson Fittipaldi

Indy Corvette Okay, there were 500 2008 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car replicas sold by Chevrolet, butaccording to the pace car registry only 148 had a manual transmission, and of those only 71 were convertibles. Special enough for me. The pace car came with the Z51 suspension, the “NPP” dual mode exhaust (and pretty much no one knows what the NPP stands for), chrome wheels, two-tone interior, and personally signed and numbered by Emerson Fittipaldi on the right rear fender. And the cheesy graphics on the sides. This two-owner car has fairly low miles and can be found here in Columbia, SC. If the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 Corvette Indy $29,998 24k

May 25, 2018

Update – MaxCare Coverage for the 1 in 1,963 Porsche 911 50th Anniversary

Me and 911 Had the opportunity to be in Tampa and dropped in on this beauty I wrote about last week. The 911 – not me. The 2014 Porsche 911 50th anniversary car and currently the most expensive vehicle CarMax has nationwide. It will be hard to get back in Etta, my 2008 unicorn, but at $109,998 you could buy THREE of my base Carreras! Anyway, had a chance to chat with sales rep Royal Dombrow and get the MaxCare coverage options and cost. I was really surprised how cheap the warranty was. This car still has some factory warranty, limiting CarMax’s risk somewhat, but for just another $5,000 you can drive this puppy another 100,000 miles without an unexpected repair bill. The car is still on the lot – call Mr. Dombrow (813-625-7467) and go make an impulsive buy. It’s one of only 1,963! (Get it?)

911 MaxCare

May 21, 2018

Good Things Come in Pairs – Sub $20k Old Euro Sedans That Should Make You Rethink Wanting a Camry. Or An Accord.

I have nothing against Camrys and Accords and have owned both. Mostly I liked the value and reliability. But they were cookie cutter and that was before I stumbled on CarMax unicorns and the MaxCare warranty that allowed me to own a (once) $120,000 Mercedes S55 AMG beast, Guenther, for less than I paid for either the Camry or Accord. Changed my life. If I only has $20,000 to spend on a daily driver I would seriously consider these.

2009 E550 I have always loved the lines of the W212 Mercedes E550, understated and elegant before Mercedes went all sharp and scary in 2010. Not as high end as the S-class, but a decent daily driver with 380hp and a sub-5 second 0-60. And this one has such low mileage the V-8 isn’t even broken in. Here’s a Motor Trend review of this once $70,000 car from back in the day. It’s now a $17,000 2009, two-owner Illinois and Pennsylvania car is all wheel drive and should be affordable to drive for another 100,000 with the MaxCare warranty. Find it here in Charlotte, North Carolina. If the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2009 MB E550 $16,998 35k

2008 750Li The E65 2008 BMW 750 Li, on the other hand, is a little slower, a little older, a little uglier (I hate the bubble butt trunk), has higher mileage, and yet looks to be a decent cruiser. And it’s cheap. And it’s the long wheelbase model, so like a living room on wheels. It’s a two owner Texas and Vegas car. Jalopnik noted, “You don’t look at the car and think “beautiful.” But if you think about it, you think “perversely attractive.” It has the loathed I-Drive knob. But at $17,599 it still seems like a bargain. I should note, every BMW 7 series I looked at the MaxCare warranty was significantly higher (perhaps double!) than comparable sedans. If that’s the case….not so much of a bargain. Find it here in Georgia.

2008 750Li $17,599 58k

May 21, 2018June 7, 2018

Good Things Come in Pairs – M5 and XKR – Rare 2008 Time Bombs to Bankrupt MaxCare

XKR M5 Yes it’s an odd but delicious pairing. The 2008 BMW M5 with the outrageous 500hp V-10, and the 2008 Jaguar XKR with the supercharged 420hp V-8. The E60 BMW was one of the most popular M5’s, with an 8,000rpm redline, SMG transmission and an alleged (delimited) 200mph top speed. It sold for maybe $90,000 new, and maybe 8,000 came into the US during the E60 run. It’s under $30,000 now and one of the last V-10’s you’re going to see at CarMax. And they will sell you a MaxCare warranty to cover you at least another five years and 50,000 miles – critical if and when when that V-10 augers in. Ayan Basu made my case in Jalopnik two years ago. Every few months one of these V-10 M5’s shows up at CarMax and I so get the urge to snag one. This is a one owner California car found here – if the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred. I am surprised after a few days it’s still available – it vanished once when a potential buyer put it on hold.

2008 BMW M5 $29,998 48k

One of only 500 imported to the US! The 2008 Jaguar XKRis only 420hp, but surprisingly about as fast as the M5. But it is pretty. Aston Martin pretty. It sold for almost $100,000. It’s more stylish and refined, so here’s an appropriate review from The Hunt. This XKR has low mileage despite being a five-owner car and bopping around New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Mississippi before being transferred to Wichita for sale. I love the XKR so much I passed not once but twice on buying a newer model. Maybe three times. Sigh. We hear about Jaguar reliability, and every time I note that a reader writes me to say their Jaguar wasn’t a problem at all. But if you’ve been here before you know with MaxCare I really don’t care – for a few thousand dollars I shift the financial burden of tens of thousands of dollars in repairs to CarMax. Everybody wins. Find this beauty here – if the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 Jaguar XKR $27,998 39k

May 21, 2018June 7, 2018

Good Things Come in Pairs – Mercedes S63 Unicorns: 0-60 4.6 Seconds! (W221)

2010 S63 Don’t often see S63’s in my unicorn range, and here’s a pair that remind me so much (sadly) of Guenther, my first CarMax unicorn. Style, executive comfort, stupid fast for a 4,700 lb sedan. Ignore the bubble-butt trunk if you can. Both are 518hp V-8’s with Active Body Control (ABC), auto cruise control, and just about every option you could imagine in a $150,000 S-class. And as with my S55, these cars are outrageously expensive to repair (the ABC fails after 50,000 miles – $5-7,000 bill) and you don’t want to own without MaxCare, which makes them free (to you!). The 2010 is in Fredericksburg, Virginia (too close to home!) and the 2008 is in Los Angeles.

2008 MB S63 $34,998 39k

2010 MB S63 $34,998 55k