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

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Cheapest S-Class Ever (2007 S550)….and Ignore the Risk of M273 Meltdown!

2007 S550By themselves, S550’s aren’t really unicorns ($35,000 or less, 60,000 miles or less) given that today CarMax has six of these on lots nationwide.  Not rare. And this one technically isn’t either, with 67,000 miles.  But rarely do CarMax S550’s drop below $25,000.  Snaring an S550 for less than $20,000 is a deal.  Of course, it’s only a deal with MaxCare bumper to bumper protection, because this three-owner model will be expensive to fix.  I suspect the warranty will be offered to 125,000 miles, and five years from the date of sale.

And the warrant is CRITICAL for a 2007 S550 per Jalopnik and their piece “For The Love of God, Don’t Ever Buy A 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550” from 2016.  Jalopnik warns that this model is cheap to get into, but has a little gear called the “M273” that will catastrophically fail and meltdown your S550 engine.   And that takes me back to the premise of the CarMax unicorn – with the MaxCare warranty I really don’t care if pistons explode through the hood into the night sky.  Jalopnik warns that the cost of used replacement S550 engine with installation is around $6500.  CarMax or Mercedes wouldn’t put in a used engine, so it will likely be a new engine and this car will run forever!

I don’t think you’ll find a more luxurious ride at this price.  Find it here in Irving, TX – if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.  I suspect this car will move in days.  2007 S550 $18,998 67k

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Quick Hit: Niche Extinct Low Mileage Sedan – 2007 Saturn Aura XR for Cheap

2007 Saturn Aura XRNormally I look for more oomph in unicorns but I’m also intrigued with extinct cars that have more to them than meets the eye, for cheap.  This 2007 Saturn Aura XR, what one reviewer called “…..an American-built Opel that looks like a Japanese copy of a German car”, and was the top of the line Saturn during its four year production run.  That run ended when Saturn was discontinued by GM in 2010.   This car, believe it or not, was the 2007 North American Car of The Year.  Decent comfort and features, a 252hp six-cylinder, and relative obscurity and anonymity – all for $12,599.  Not sure if you even need the MaxCare warranty – but I’ll bet it’s not that expensive, and for an extinct car why not?  Second car? College kid? This one owner car, driven less than 2,500 miles yearly, can be found here in Denver, Colorado.  If the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred. 2007 Saturn Aura XR $12,599 27k

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Another Jaguar XJ8 For Cheap (the car that got me busted)

XJ8LCarMax doesn’t carry very many XJ8’s.  Maybe three or four in the years I’ve been tracking.  I blogged about a 2008 Jaguar XJ8 with low miles and a low price tag in January, and it wasn’t until April when another popped in Las Vegas.  Been toying with the idea of buying a unicorn for the sole purpose of driving and reselling (with MaxCare Warranty ) and maybe defraying the cost of driving some interesting cars, and maybe turning a profit. So foolishly, and impulsively, I did my guerrilla tactic  to take it off the market – putting it on hold while I figured out what to do next.  But when I bought Etta (my 911) somehow my CarMax profile got changed to make my wife’s phone number the primary contact.  So yes, she got a call to coordinate HER appointment to see a Jaguar in Las Vegas.  I plead the fifth and let the car go.  It disappeared for almost a month. Today it showed up in Fort Myers, Florida.  Something about these old school XJ8’s I find very appealing.  A V-8 without too much horsepower, luxury and room, and above all, style.  Of course repairs can be expensive, especially as one reader pointed out – the air suspension, that’s why we get the warranty.  Find this two-owner California car now in Florida here – if the link is dead perhaps the car is on hold, sold, or once again being transferred.  2009 XJ8L $18,998 58k Fort Myers FL

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Will Sell in 24 Hours….Or I’m Buying and Flipping! – 2012 Alpina B7 Unicorn for Cheap.

B7I’m fairly good at spotting cars that will vanish in 24 hours or less and never be seen again.  Mercedes CL600’s and CL63’s, BMW M5’s with V-10’s, 10 year old Mazda B2300 pickups with 2,000 miles…..they go quick.  CarMax carries only one Alpina B7 at a time nationwide, usually, and today they have two.  They are also usually way above my unicorn level of $35,000 and 60,000 miles maximum.

This 2012 Alpina B7 (F01) is the only one that meets my criteria. Auto Cruise Control, 500hp hand-built twin-turbo V-8, 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, night vision, driver drowsiness detection, air leveling suspension – executive comfort, exclusive production – only hundreds sold in the US annually – and it sold new just six years ago for over $120,000!  Yes, there will be exorbitant repairs, and that’s why this car, like Guenther, my first CarMax unicorn (2004 S55 AMG) and Etta, my second CarMax unicorn (2008 911), this ONLY makes sense if you spend a couple of grand more on the MaxCare extended warranty and transfer all that financial risk to CarMax.  With that, you can be out the door for less than $40,000 and NEVER have a major repair bill.  Depreciation and MaxCare allow us to drive cars way beyond our means without going broke!

Find this two-owner car here in California – if the link is dead the car has either sold (and I predict by May 9th it will!), is on hold, or being transferred.  And for those new to the blog, per my Bio and Disclaimer please remember this is a hobby – I’m not affiliated with CarMax, make no money on this, not even ads on the blog!

2012 Alpina B7 $33,998 56k

From the Rick Hendrick BMW review in 2012:  “We drove an Alpina B7 and came away thinking the Alpina is the closest we should expect to come to an M7. We don’t expect to see BMW build an M7 because its size and weight would prevent it from achieving the sporty character BMW expects in an M model. Having the Alpina B7 means they don’t have to play that card. Continue reading “Will Sell in 24 Hours….Or I’m Buying and Flipping! – 2012 Alpina B7 Unicorn for Cheap.”

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Unloved 2008 Audi A4 3.2 – “Not Quite a Golf R32” But Still a Hoot?

2008 A4 3.2This 2008 Audi A4 3.2 Quattro unicorn has been sitting on the lots for a long, long time.  Since last fall I’ve watched it bounce around the Midwest.  I don’t know why.  It has a 255hp, 3.2l six-cylinder engine and I believe Tiptronic transmission (even paddle shifters!), and all wheel drive and unlike it’s Golf siblings, a trunk!.  Readers more astute than I pointed out to me that it’s not the high-performance engine of the VR6 in the EOS and Golf R, but not a lot of Audi A4 sixes out there.   This little sleeper reminds me of the A6 with the 4.2l V8 I saw last summer for almost the same price – both old school Audis that are far more capable sedans than their austere looks, and low price, would suggest.  Decent gas mileage, heated seats – great commuter car.  If I were a college kid wanting some spunk and no State Police attention, I’d give it serious consideration. Driven less than 5,000 miles yearly.  For another $2000 or so I’d add MaxCare and have no repair bills until the car is 15 years old and hits 150,000 miles.  Find it here in Illinois – if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being once again transferred!2008 Audi A4 $14,599 45k

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Another Mazda! 2009 Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed Manny Tranny Cheap

2009 Mazda3 MazdaspeedIf you read this blog you know I prefer at least 8 cylinders*, perhaps 10, and I rue the 12 cylinder I passed on.  What you don’t know is I have an affection for hot hatchbacks after owning not one but two 70’s era Ford Fiestas (the German ones, not Korean) before the first gen VW GTI made it to our shores.  Since then I’ve tracked hot hatches, but I have to admit I missed this one.  Stumbled on this 263hp 4 cylinder beast, with 280 ft-lbs of torque, and a 6 speed manual transmission.  Embarrassed I thought “Mazdaspeed” was just a marketing thing.  But with a sub-six second 0-60 I guess it’s the real deal.  It’s a WRX and Golf R challenger for half the price.  Usually my targets are all about leveraging the MaxCare warranty, but I’m not sure that’s even needed for this street racer.  Find this one in Houston here.  If the link is dead, the car is sold, on hold or being transferred. BTW….over to you engine experts….does this 2.3l turbo have any ancestral relationship to the 2.3l turbo Pinto motor that was in my 1986 Merkur Xr4tii?2009 Mazda3 Mazdaspeed - $16,998 46k

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10 Years Old-Driven 900 Miles a Year – Bargain 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Mazda MX5Mazda Miatas are beloved by real auto enthusiasts and car magazines as one of the great balanced roadsters of all time, and ridiculed by manly men as effeminate.  Nothing I can do about that.  This one is an automatic, though, for the ladies*.   If I could fit in one I might own one.  Here’s a 10 year old one with stupid low miles at a budget price.  Throw in the MaxCare warranty  if you really want to never have a repair bill, but with a low-mileage Mazda that’s like unnecessary like a belt and suspenders.  It’s a one-owner car Virginia car, and it looks like that one-owner rear ended someone in the first year of ownership.  Perhaps that matters to you.  Find it here at Dulles, Virginia for $15,998.  If the link is dead it’s sold/on hold, or being transferred.

*Kidding.  My 911 is automatic.2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata GRand Touring $15,998 9k

 

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Well This is New! CarMax Now Carrying Used Teslas

2017 Tesla Model S 90DNot often does CarMax add a brand.  Last one was Genesis as a Hyundai spin-off.  Before that Fiat.  And no Alfa Romeos yet (waiting for a cut-rate Giulia Quadrifoglio!).  But today I spotted a new one, the first Tesla, and now a second one on the CarMax website – both in Irvine, California and non-transferable.  Did a Google search and the Tesla owner forum is a buzz – they misunderstood that CarMax has a partnership with Tesla to sell new ones.  Not so.  Just another used car.  They’re not happy.  Will be interesting to see what the MaxCare warranty costs.  Will work on that soon.  Find the cars at these links: 2015 Tesla Model S85D and 2017 Tesla Model S90D,2017 Tesla Model S 90D $87,998 6k Irvine CA2015 Tesla Model S 85D $64,998 45k Irvine CA

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1 of 1,250 2008 Cadillac XLR (aka the offspring of Corvette and Allante)

2008 XLRCarMax doesn’t carry Cadillac XLR’s very often, and this is the only one I’ve seen in the fleet nationwide since I’ve been blogging.  At 67,000 miles it’s higher mileage than I would normally include as a unicorn and at almost $29k it ain’t cheap, but if you’re looking for an interesting hard-top convertible, produced in low numbers, with a solid drive train and Corvette C-5 platform pedigree, this may be for you.  There were 1,250 XLR’s manufactured in 2008, and just over 15,000 total during the 2004-2009 production run.  No, it’s not the supercharged XLR-V, or the 2009 last model year, but I’ll let you know if and when one becomes available.  The XLR has the 4.6l 320 hp Northstar V8, not loved by all, but adequate and if covered by the MaxCare warranty  (that will also cover the radar-adaptive cruise control and retractable hard-top!) it should be an inexpensive daily driver.  This four-owner car has hopped between Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Florida and can be found in Fort Myers via this CarMax link. If dead, car is being transferred, on hold, or sold.  2008 Cadillac XLR $28,998 67k

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Unloved 2007 Jaguar XK in California – Keeps Dropping in Price. Why?

2007 XKI started tracking this car last fall – I still have an affection for Jaguar XK’s and rue the XKR I rejected.  This XK has been neglected so long it has dropped $3,000 since I found it.  It’s a pretty basic 11 year old, three-owner, low mileage, California car.  YEs, it only has the 4.2 liter 300hp V8, but it’s plenty perky.  I I am starting to think about flipping a car – drive something for six months and enjoy it, put it on the market back east, and drive it until it sells?  think it’s beautiful and with MaxCare cheap to own.  Go for it.

2007 Jaguar XK $18,998 48k Santa Rosa
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2007 Jaguar XK $21,998 48k Santa Rosa
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