Quick Hit – Rare (for CarMax) Dirt Cheap 12 Year Old Audi S5

A 2009 Audi S5 by itself isn’t all that much of a unicorn. Lots of ’em out there. But every day I surf the CarMax website to see what’s in the older car bin and today was rewarded with this cheap 12 year old German pony car. CarMax has 43,678 cars in their nationwide inventory as I write, and only 67 2009 models. When I started this blog four years ago CarMax told me they only sell cars 10 years old and newer. Over time I learned that wasn’t quite right as there were always 11 and 12 year old cars for sale. But CarMax has been quite disciplined about European cars, and it’s rare to see one older than 10 model years for sale.

Before we go over the features, specs, and performance that make the S5 a cool daily driver, and other than being old, what I like about this Audi is that it’s only $14,998. There are 85 of these first-generation (2007-2012) S5’s with similar mileage (less than 100,000) on Autotrader today, and most are actually selling for more than CarMax is asking. And of course, I’d be real surprised if any of those are offered with an optional three year warranty up to 150,000 miles. This car has 98,000 miles, so you can pretty much buy the equivalent of a new car warranty with MaxCare for this old car. Did I mention it’s 12 years old? I did?

So about the car. The first generation S5’s were equipped with the 4.2 liter V-8 motor making only 354 hp, and yet they ripped high-four second 0-60 mph runs. All of them are AWD. When I returned from Germany in 2010 I saw my first S5 in Virginia downshift and scream up an exit ramp in a rush. The acceleration was awesome and the noise ear-splitting. Loved it. Later I was stunned to learn how relatively low the horsepower was compared to it’s rivals – BMW and Mercedes six-cylinders make almost the same output. But the S5 is more raucous and fast. All of the reviews I read from 2009 were complimentary both on performance, and the “stunning” design (used by several car magazines). This car also has seat heaters, auto cruise control, nav and rear view camera, blind spot monitors, and Bluetooth. Find it here in Southlake, Georgia. Well, damn. Took me 20 minutes to put this piece together and it shows now as “Currently Not Available”. But that’s the beauty of having the stock number – you can always track it! I’ll try to post if it becomes available again.

Cleaning House – 7 Eclectic Unicorns Piled Up in My CarMax Profile

Got a number of unusual or interesting CarMax unicorns piling up in my saved list and thought I should share a quick post to get them on the blog.  Most, but not all, are enthusiast cars.  Some are just…different.  Your call.  Here we go.jag xf side

Start with a car I’d actually own – a 2014 Jaguar XF Supercharged.  Decent price, 470hp supercharged V-8, two-owner car found here in Irvine California.  Only five-years old and a good candidate for MaxCare. 2014 Jaguar XF Super $23,998 49k Irvine 3-20 Continue reading “Cleaning House – 7 Eclectic Unicorns Piled Up in My CarMax Profile”

10 Low-Grade Low-Priced Unicorns Somebody Wants. Maybe You? (If not I have 10 more!)

Doing a bit of house cleaning.  Have over 200 unicorns in my profile, some more intriguing than others, and thought I’d get 10 of them out here for you to pick through.  In my years as an auto enthusiast I’ve learned there are car fans and car clubs for pretty much every car out there.  These caught my eye – some I’d actually own – and others because they are an interesting combination of price, performance, mileage, and maybe extinction?  Anyway will keep the writing short and get them to press.  Here we go.

G37 side

2011 Infiniti G37X

Only 6,000 miles on this modest beauty.  Not yearly – total!  A decent 328hp and AWD.  Here’s an Autoblog review.  This two-owner Maryland car sold for almost $40,000 when new eight years ago and is available here in Midlothian (near Richmond) Virginia for $20,998.  Nice car and thought the depreciation would be more.  The crazy low miles are to blame.

2011 Infiniti G37X $20,998 6k Midlothian

S5 side

 2010 Audi S5 4.2 Prestige  

Drove one of these before I bought my 911 and was really impressed with the all around poise and performance.  Reminded me of my old Camaro with the long nose and two door look.  Except that was a slow six cylinder.  Anyway, this 2010 is both low-priced AND low miles AND pretty well equipped – seat heaters, blind spot monitors, rear view camera and AWD.  Sold new for about $58,000.  Has the 354hp 4.2l V-8 also found in the Continue reading “10 Low-Grade Low-Priced Unicorns Somebody Wants. Maybe You? (If not I have 10 more!)”

The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns

Corvette front

The Trump administration and the Iranians are circling once again and oil prices are skyrocketing – what better time to pick up a bargain 600 hp unicorn before they become extinct!  And CarMax has 19 of these high-horsepower bad boys on lots nationwide.  Almost all of them are General Motors products, with one Audi and one BMW from our (for now) European ally, the Germans.  Been watching, and (surprise) no Hellcats have made it to CarMax, and Ford isn’t making a Mustang that bucks 600.  So here’s what we have today (CarMax listings at the bottom).

M760 SideThe lone BMW M760 is a beautiful, big sedan that squeaks in at 601hp from a 6.6 liter twin-turbo V-12.  This is the motor Rolls Royce uses in the Ghost and Wraith, I’ve learned.  If you’ve been here before, you know I have a thing for V-12’s.  (Check out my S600 with a measley 510hp here.)

This 2017 BMW M760 has only 14,000 miles, and is loaded with AWD, auto cruise control, and a business class backseat – at 206″ long it’s almost business jet sized – and tops the price list today at $97,998.  According to this Motor Trend reveiw the M760 once sold for maybe $170,000.  It’s a one-owner car still under dealer warranty (buy the MaxCare Continue reading “The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns”

Rare 2008 Audi RS4: One of 300 Sold in US

RS4 SideStumbled on this adorable, aggressive 2008 Audi RS4 convertible this morning while surfing for CarMax unicorns over hot coffee and looking out the window at the remains of the Polar Vortex and thinking spring can’t come too soon.  Rare to be this brutally cold, and even more rare to come across an RS4 at CarMax.  In fact, never been one since I’ve been tracking.  Car and Driver tells me the car originally sold for a whopping $85,000, and with only 300 imported in the US, it’s more rare than the R8 supercar!

Audi stuffed the 420hp, 4.2 liter V-8 into this little convertible, mated to a manual six-speed transmission, and all wheel drive.  Is that a sexy engine bay or not?  The car is good for 155 mph-plus and a 4.6 second 0-60 time.  It’s fast.  Loaded.  Rare.  Expensive.  I would predict a quick sale, but $31,000 for a 10 year old Audi might take longer.  We shall see. I’d still spring for MaxCare protection to drive pretty much repair free.

Find this low mileage, four-owner – and one accident 🙁 unicorn here in Fresno, California.  If the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 RS4 $30,998 43k Fresno

$109k Porsche 911 Carrera 4S…and The Five Cars I’d Buy Instead With $109k – By Chuck Banks and Mustafa Gardezi

2017 PORSCHE CARRERA 4S – $108,998

911 SideThis is only the third $100,000+ car I’ve covered in the year+ that I’ve been blogging about CarMax unicorns.  That’s a lot of money.  (Keep reading and I’ll share the five cars I would buy with that same wad of cash and have almost as much fun.)   This 2017 911 Carrera 4S is a nice enough one-owner California car with a seven speed manual transmission and 420hp good for 3.5 second 0-60mph and 190mph top speed.  Not a big fan of the bordello red interior but maybe I’d get over it.  Speed does that.  I’m loving Etta, the base Carrera unicorn I bought last year, but have my eyes on a 4S (not this 2017….this 2011!) to get me all wheel drive, more horsepower, and more options.

The Carrera 4S is considered an all-weather 911.  I want one.  This 911 4S is fairly well optioned with the convenience package, sport package, and driver assist package, and while I have no idea what it cost new, the base price was $110,000 and assorted reviews, like this one in Car and Driver, suggests the options push these cars well over $150,000 just as fast as its 0-60!  For what it’s worth, the car dropped $1,000 already in the few days it’s been online.  Find the car here in Roseville (Sacramento), California – if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2017 Carrera $108998 13k

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FIVE CARS I’D BUY INSTEAD

(ALL OF THEM, NOT ONE OF THEM!)

So if I had $109,000 to spend on wheels, what other options would I have?  How about five cars totalling the same amount, and giving me most of what the 2017 911 Carrera 4S does….and more?  This was the best all around package I could assemble….had to adjust here and there as cars sold and others came on the market while I was mulling it over.  Would be interested in what others would pick.  Add comments or email me with your selections – five cars totaling not more than $109,000.  Let’s go.

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#1 DRIVE FAST

Clearly, a 911 has to be at the front of the pack.  Been watching these race since I first went to Le Mans in 1981, and now that I own one I’m in love.  Not $109,000 in love, so I’m including the most decent, cheapest 911 on the CarMax lot at this time.  This $43,000 2008 911 Carrera S is almost Etta’s twin, the only difference being the S has 30 more hp, adjustable suspension, and bluetooth – and it’s $8,000 more expensive.   But it’s 10 years old, low mileage, and nearly new inside.  Yes, it’s an automatic, but trust me, you get over that.  Nailing the perfect used Porsche seems to plus up the price by $10,000 with every must have feature.  Here;s a thorough review from 2008 that notes a 4.5 second 0-60.  This clean little 911 is currently here in Los Angeles.  Earlier this week it was in San Diego.  Next it will move to your driveway? ($66,000 left to spend!)

2008 911 S $42k 37k LA NOW

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#2 DRIVE RICH

I have a blog reader who bought the Mercedes S600 after I almost did called the notion of driving deeply depreciated unicorns “driving rich”.  Loved it.  So for the second car in the stable I went looking for the most luxurious sedan, with the most features, that I could affordably include.  Had to pass on the Alpina B7 and BMW 760 V-12 – both were in the $40,000 range and had fewer creature comforts than this bargain 2011 Audi A8.  When I plugged in the essentials – a V-8 engine, auto cruise control (who wants to do their own braking anymore?), heated steering wheel, adjustable suspension, air-conditioned seats, blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, and seat massagers – all for under $30,000.

I was surprised to find them all in this Audi A8 at only $27,000.  And wasn’t a must have, but the A8 has all wheel drive as a bonus.  And a trunk that easily holds four bodies.  I also dig the tan seats – usually the silver cars have the scorching in the summer black seats.  The drawback?  Only 372hp.  A bit of a weakling in the luxo-barge category after being spoiled by Guenther, my Mercedes S55 AMG with 493hp.  But for comfortable commuting or highway cruising it would be hard to beat this Audi A8 in this price category.  Car and Driver reviewed the car and ripped an impressive 4.8 second 0-60mph run, and also noted 27 mpg on the highway.  This four-owner car split its time between California and Ohio and is now available here in Cincinnati. ($39,000 left to spend.)

Audi A8

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#3 DRIVE BIG

An SUV is a must have for anybody’s fleet, and the bigger the better, since we all think we need to “haul stuff”.  Needs to be four-wheel drive and powered by a V-8 to leave no doubt cold weather will lose in a bare knuckle brawl.  Doesn’t hurt to have luxury features.  The tough guy image will only take you so far.  But if that tough guy is Eddie Bauer, all the better.  For the record, I had no idea who Eddie Bauer was, or even if there was an Eddie Bauer, until I started writing this.  Eddie was an early 20th century outdoorsman from Washington who started his own cold weather gear business, outfitting World War II pilots and Himalayan mountain climbers with life saving equipment.  (Thinking there’s a future blog coming on car models named after people.  Stay tuned.)

This 2007 Ford Expedition EL Eddie Bauer is a bit old, and a bit worn at 80,000 miles (a good candidate for MaxCare that will take this truck repair free to 150,000 miles until it is a whopping 16 years old!), but seems to be a pretty good value.  It’s a one owner Colorado truck with a recorded accident to the right rear – could be it got rear ended, but my guess is with no rear view camera the owner backed this behemoth into another car in an Orvis parking lot.  Eddie Bauer probably never imagined his name attached to such a beautiful truck interior, with two color panels, air-conditioned and heated seats – survival essentials in 2018.  Third row seating and a rear seat entertainment system will keep everyone happy on the climb to Everest.  My buds at Car and Driver reviewed the truck here, writing “Big as a spacecraft, and tends to drive like one too“.  There are better SUV’s for the fleet I guess, but none at $17,998.  It’s here in Colorado Springs.  ($21,000 left!)

2007 Eddie Bauer $17,998 80k Coloroda

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#4 DRIVE TOPLESS

Volvo SIde

Pretty sure it’s written somewhere that everyone should own a convertible at some point in their life.  Too lazy to look it up, but I think it’s in the Bill of Rights or a Beatitude or on the Dark Web, and yet after driving my old Fiat today on a brisk Virginia day, it’s clearly a fact.  Convertible is Latin for “car you don’t need that the wife probably won’t like”.  Get one anyway.  Just never, ever, ever drive with the top down and the side windows up.  Nothing says “I made a mistake buying a convertible but I’m trying to deny it” like windows up and top down.  Sorted through some Miatas and Sebrings and BMW 1-series and decided to go with this high-mileage 2008 Volvo C70 T5 for a number of reasons.  Seat heaters for one.  Pretty blue color and nice Pininfarina lines.   Seats made of “Vulcaflex” (not to be confused with the erectile dysfunction drug by the same name). A center console that had to be made by Ikea.  A great Dynaudio sound system to drown out the dump trucks that try to ruin my top down commute.  Swedish safety features that guarantee you could drive off a cliff into the Baltic Sea and survive (not covered by MaxCare).

The retractable hard top is nice.  Most convertibles looks like shit with the top up.  Or at least the top ruins the lines, like they do on the Jaguar XK.  Whole different topic on why people buy landau roof cars – looks ugly like a convertible but the top don’t go down!  And, by the way, CarMax has 804 convertibles for sale today, and not one with top down photo.  I know I have at least one reader who is a CarMax employee – please pass on the word that top up photos are lame.  Anyway, I blew a big part of my $109,000 budget on the 911 and the A8 and this was the most unusual convertible left for under $11,000. Top Speed did a decent review from back in the day.  Satisfy your Stockholm syndrome with this Fresno Volvo. (Only $10,000 for the fifth car.)

Volvo

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#5 GO FAR

Saudis killing journalists.  Iranians eyeballing the straights of Hormuz.  Gas was once under a buck (at least in my driving lifetime) and now straddles $3 a gallon.  I worry the day is comin’ when we see European gas prices here in the USA, and thinking why not throw in a cool car that gets over 40mpg?  So with two German cars, and American SUV, and a Swedish convertible in the fleet, why not an Italian car? (Let’s ignore it’s made in Mexico and Poland – it’s a sensual little Italian coupe at heart.)   And I absolutely loved the Fiat 500 from the day it hit the cobblestones streets of Europe in 2007.  Keep in mind I only have $10,000 left.   The feisty Fiat 500 Abarth blows my budget, so had to make do with this 2015 Fiat 500 Sport.  At least it’s still under manufacturer warranty for another year – should keep the MaxCare cost down.

This little guy has a 101hp 1.4 liter engine that putts to 60mph in 10.5 seconds – almost identical to the 1.6 liter in my 1971 Fiat Spider – and a manual 6 speed transmission.  Bluetooth, leatherette interior, cool wheels and a rear spoiler – what else do you need?  Here’s the Top Speed review.  As a bonus, here’s the clever and award-winning Fiat 500 commercial “Liberation”. Look for this one owner car here in Kansas City.

2015 Fiat 500 Sport

Perhaps I dig the car so much because I accidentally rented one in 2009 while living in Europe, two years before they were introduced in the US.  I was in Oslo, planning to check off a bucket list item and drive north to the Arctic Circle.  Was offered this Fiat 500 and I declined – too small.  For 50 Euro a day more I could “upgrade” to a VW Polo.  I’m 6’4″.  Both cars looked to be disappointingly small, so I pocketed the 50 Euro and took the Fiat.  I loved it.  North of Oslo the highway disappears into a two lane, winding mountain road.  And it was raining.  And there were so many logging trucks.  And curves.  But I was able to flog that little Fiat 500 and work the gears and pass when I could.

One of the top 10 drives in my life.  Took 16 hours to cover the 600 miles, with only one stop halfway in Trondheim to buy gas, coffee, and food.  And not once, not once, was I uncomfortable in those upright seats!   Got 39 mpg and I drove the car hard.  Arrived at 2 am – in broad daylight – and checked off the The Arctic Circle Centre in Saltfjellveien the next morning.  Raced back to Oslo the day after with an equally exhilarating run.  Take your shots at this goofy car, but I’d own one (an Abarth) regardless of the budget.

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So there you have it.  Five cars from all walks of life for $109,000.  No single car was the best in its field, and perhaps you’d rather spend more on an SUV and less on a sports car, or choose a lesser sports car than the 911, but this was the best all around menu for me.  Again, would be a hoot to know what readers might pick – warn you – it’s far more work than I had planned on to mix and match and stay under budget.  Add comments or email me at chuckbanks@thecarmaxunicornblog.com if you’d like.  And if you made it all the way to here, one of my longest blogs ever, you have my eternal gratitude.

 

 

 

1 of 400: A Rare Lamborghini-Powered (Sort Of) Audi S6 V-10 Unicorn for Cheap – by Chuck Banks and Mustafa Gardezi

Every time I think CarMax is getting out of the exotic engine cars with V-10’s and V-12’s they surprise me.  Here’s a 2011 Audi S6 unicorn with the Lamborghini Gallardo derived (and detuned) V-10 engine.  It’s the one and only reason to buy this car, and a good one.  I’ve driven one – turn off the Bose stereo, open the windows and sunroof, and take in the roar.  It’s only 435hp.  It only does 0-60 in the low to mid fives.  It’s nose heavy.  Yeah it has decent electronics, and big brakes, and plenty of room – pretty much like the 3.0 liter A6 that gets way better mileage and is almost as quick – but as I understand it from Audi aficionados, there were less than 400 2011 S6’s imported into the US.  That’s obscure.

This three-owner 2011 S6 started in North Carolina as a brand new $80,000 car, and made its way west to Missouri and is now in Nevada currently at $25,998 and needs a new home.   This was the last year for the V-10 S6’s before Audi transitioned to V-8’s.   Here’s a review from back in the day that pretty accurately describes the car.  As always, I highly recommend the bulletproof bumper-to-bumper MaxCare warranty to protect yourself from unexpected and tragically hire repair bills for exotic Euro-engines.  I know – CarMax covered over $35,000 in repairs to my Mercedes S55.  Find this 2011 Audi S6 here in Reno, Las Vegas – if the link is broken the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2011 Audi S6 V10 $25,998 53k Reno

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

V8 S4No 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

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

Prices Dropping? Unusual Number of Unicorn Alerts

Over the past 24 hours I’ve gotten emails alerting me to price reductions on five of the 43 cars* I have saved in my CarMax profile.  Not a lot – $601 per car, but in the year I’ve been tracking unicorns I’ve never gotten this many.  Curious….New Year’s sale (CarMax doesn’t do sales) or is this related to the massive increase in inventory I blogged about last month ( The $577 Million Car Loan and Other Fascinating CarMax “Analytics” ) .

*I have 110 cars in my profile but many are listed as “No Longer Available”.  I keep them because more than a few resurface in another city, or even a few have been sold back to CarMax and show up back on the market.  That’s how I knew the 2010 Jaguar XKR I declined in January 2017 sold in Maryland, and was traded in and offered again in Virginia in December for $1,000 more than last year!

Here’s the unicorns I’ve been alerted to today:

Mustang GT Price Drop

$17,998 – Stupid Low Mileage 2006 Mustang GT

 Link – If Dead Car Sold/Hold/Transferred

VW EOS Price Drop

$12,599 – Rare 250hp V6 VW EOS

CarMax Link – If Dead Car Sold/Hold/Transfer

PT Price Drop

$10,599 Low Mileage Retro Cruiser 

CarMax Link – If Dead Car Is Sold/Hold/Transferred

Continue reading “Prices Dropping? Unusual Number of Unicorn Alerts”