A few months ago, I found the 2022 Alpina XB7 unicorn below on the CarMax website, the first I’ve seen on my favorite used car lot website. Bookmarked it, and it vanished for a long, long time…until today. It has been on reserve, and it’s now available. I did some digging and found that BMW launched the Alpina version of this full-size X7 SUV, known as the XB7, back in 2020. It has sold a couple of hundred units every year in the USA and abroad – all made in Spartanburg, South Carolina. So far, 2,800 units through 2024. I’ve never seen one on the road. Poked around on the CarMax page a little more, and found they have three of these Alpina XB7’s! Unlike the Alpina B6’s and B7’s I’ve posted before, the XB7 is not identified as a separate model from its X7 counterparts; it’s there under “Trim”, like the X7 M50i or X7 M60. And even then, it’s listed as a BMW X7 Alpina, and not an XB7 as it’s officially named by BMW. It’s on the rear hatch. Let’s go to the vehicles.
2022 Alpina XB7
2021 XB7 in California.
2021 XB7 in North Carolina.
Going to lump these three together since they are nearly identical, except for some pricey options, and a huge $20,000 gap in price between the least and most expensive, even though they’re only a year apart. The 2022 is listed at $86,998, the middle 2021 for $73,998, and the bottom 2021 is “only” $67,998. The SUV’s sold new for $140-150,000 just three or four years ago. Depreciation is your friend here. You could easily drop $68k on a three-row Suburban or Escalade and not get this level of Alpina performance or panache.
2022 XB7
The interiors of all three XB7’s are nearly identical, and all well equipped, and in fact are also indistinguishable from the base X7. The Alpinas get a logo on the steering wheel, some different looks in the driver’s dashboard screen, and buttons instead of paddles for quick shifting. All three get automated cruise control, heated, cooling, and massaging seats, Apple CarPlay, heads-up display, heated steering wheels, and all the latest and greatest safety and technology features. All three get a 10 out of 10 as “loaded” models. I’d agree.
2021 XB7 – the $74k one.
2021 XB7 – the “cheap” one.
Yes, the shifter in the Alpina is crystal. It doubles as a wine stopper. Not.
The back seat is where the differences happen. The $87k and $68k XB7’s have the $850 optional rear captain’s chairs, and only the middle one ($74k) has the $2,200 optional rear entertainment system. Wonder if it wasn’t possible to have both? Another distinction is that the two most expensive XB7’s have the base Harman Kardon audio system, and the “cheap” one has the $3,400 optional Bowers & Wilkins audio. I’m liking the $68k one more and more.
Third-row seats below in all three look nice and likely suck for grown-ups.
The Alpina XB7 matters most in performance over the regular X7’s. Alpinas are not as bawdy as true “M” models, keeping some of the luxury ride you get in a normal six-cylinder X7 and even the V-8 powered X7 M50i. With larger turbos in the 4.4 liter motor, a less restrictive exhaust, and transmission tweaks, the Alpina pumps up power from 523 horsepower in the M50i to 612 in the XB7. Acceleration drops from 4.1 seconds to 3.7 (about the same as, ahem, a 2021 GLE63 AMG?), and the governed top speed leaps from 124 mph to a claimed 180 mph. From a nearly three-ton, three-row AWD SUV.
An awesome sound. Car and Driver says it’s a reasonable 77db cruising….until you do this.
Engine bay shots are obligatory. Identical triplets….almost. One of these is not like the other and I dare you to find the CarMax lapse in one of them!
Let’s wrap up the discussion of the three with a little bit of info on each, and then a much cheaper alternative at the bottom!
The 2022 Alpina XB7 above is a three-owner car on paper, although the first was a dealer. It has 24,000 miles and appears to still be under the manufacturer’s warranty, but not for long. It’s currently available in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Here’s the link if you want to track it.
StockNo: 26601185 VIN: 5UXCX6C17N9M88445
The middle-of-the-road 2021 Alpina XB7 is available in Palmdale, California. Here’s the link. It’s a one-owner car, always in Burbank.
StockNo: 27622632 VIN: 5UXCX6C1XM9E24076
The “bargain” 2021 Alpina XB7 is coming soon to Charlotte, North Carolina. Here’s the link. It was a two-owner vehicle, originally from Vegas and Montana, until it made its way east. I highly recommend MaxCare for this, which should be available up to 125,000 odometer miles – about 87,000 more.
I’ve been haggling with the CarMax website bot for the last half an hour, trying to get the MaxCare cost and terms. It claims it turned me over to an agent, who claims MaxCare is $2,200 for five years, 150,000 miles. That’s total bullshit. CarMax doesn’t go past 125,000 miles on European cars, and the price is likely $7-8,000. I pushed back, and now the “agent” says I can’t get the price until I create a build order. Untrue. I’ve gotten them before. Either inexperienced, a bot, or dishonest. I suspect they’ll disconnect me. If I get it, I’ll update.
This post is a little special. It marks the eighth anniversary of my little corner of the internet: The CarMax Unicorn Blog. Eight years of hunting down rare, fast, and sometimes impractical cars. While most people see CarMax as a place for gently used Civics and family-approved SUVs, I see it as a safari—where the occasional unicorn pops up between the beige herd. Today’s roundup? Eight unicorns worthy of the anniversary spotlight. Enjoy.
Opening with a sleeper, a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 sedan. Not an AMG, reasonably priced, low miles, well equipped. This car is for the more secure driver who doesn’t need to be flashy. That’s not me just yet. This car sold for maybe $65,000 new. Car and Driver said the “smooth twin-turbo V8” translates to “grandma’s luxury sedan that secretly eats Mustangs for breakfast.” (Sorry, Jerry.) This is also the last year for a V8 in a vanilla E-class that’s not an AMG version. I think that’s about the same time all 5-series V8’s for BMW became “M550’s”?
Above, we have a handsome interior where we can find adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, heated and cooling seats, and a panoramic sunroof. Below is the 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8, which produces 402 horsepower. With AWD, the Mercedes hits 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds. The same as Guenther, my 2004 S55 AMG. And this is not an AMG!
I love that this 2014 Mercedes E550 is priced less than $30k and has a ridiculously low 16,000 miles on it. Hardly broken in. This sleeper is coming soon to Omaha, NE. Track it here.
Stock No. 27507414 VIN WDDHF9BB2EB028372
The Mercedes is a very nice, very fast sedan, but it’s not rare with over 67,000 E-classes of all trim levels sold in the US in 2014. Below we have a 2016 Jaguar XJ Supercharged, more rare with only 3,834 units imported.
The 2016 Jaguar XJ Supercharged was also more expensive than the Mercedes when new, at perhaps $90,000. Car and Driver noted the “aluminum chassis, charismatic V8… basically a British muscle car wearing a tux.” I like the black and white scheme, like a Panda or cop car? Or a tux, but Car and Driver beat me to it.
Inside, we have the standard Jaguar interior, aka luxurious. This one has heated, cooling, and massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, adjustable suspension, and Meridian audio. Alas, no adaptive cruise control. I think the angry red shrieking Jaguar on the shift knob is a bit much, though.
The big cat sprints to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, a whisker below the Mercedes, thanks to the 5.0-liter supercharged V8 rated at 470 horsepower. Only rear wheel drive, though.
This more exclusive 2016 Jaguar XJ Supercharged is available here in Phoenix, AZ. At $34,998 and only 28,000 miles, it’s a solid, limited-run unicorn that will make you feel like you’re driving rich.
Stock No. 27206652 VIN SAJWA1CE7GMV94093
The Jaguar is nice for gentlemen (and ladies) wanting refined performance, and yet for something more visceral, more German, more raw, and more rare, I’d offer up the 2015 Audi RS7 below. Somewhere on the auto forums, it is said fewer than 2,000 of these hit our shores annually. In fact, of the “RS” Audis, only the RS5 broke 3,000 units sold! Audi only sold 8,000 or so “7” models combined (A7/S7/RS7) in 2015!
The 2015 Audi RS7 sold for maybe $110,000 when new a decade ago. This one is not as nicely appointed as the Jaguar, but it does feature adaptive cruise control, a heads-up display, and Bang & Olufsen audio.
Car and Driver buds liked its “supercar pace, hatchback practicality.” Translation: it’s a rocket ship with a Costco trunk. I have always loved the A7 shape, especially the earlier models, and the gigantic trunk.
The Audi RS7 is most badass under the hood, though, with a “tiny” 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 good for 560 horsepower, and with AWD and an 8-speed tiptronic transmission, it stomps to 60 mph in only 3.4 seconds.
This is a lot of car for $43,000, and given its high-performance drivetrain, MaxCare is a must. That will push you close to $50,000 out the door, and you’ll be pleased with how quickly you will go once out that door, I think. At the moment, this RS7 is on reserve in Cool Springs, TN. Here’s the link.
Stock No. 27430045 VIN WUAW2AFC6FN900489
Perhaps you like an Audi four-door, and yet you want something smaller, newer, and yet with spunk and exclusivity? And maybe you’re not obsessed with big motors like me? How about a more diminutive 2018 Audi RS3? It’s a good 20 inches shorter than the RS7, almost the same price, and half as many miles. Stunningly, it is just as quick as the RS7!
The 2018 Audi RS3 was a $60,000 car new. Car and Driver raved about the 5-cylinder noise “half rally car, half angry chainsaw.” The criticism at the time was that this was a lot of money for a small car with a cramped back seat. Now that it’s depreciated to $44k, it’s more reasonable. I’ve tracked CarMax RS3’s for a year or two, and they were all in the $50-60k range. This is the cheapest one I’ve seen to date.
Surprisingly, the RS3 features auto cruise control, which I did not expect. Also has Apple CarPlay, seat heaters, and a bunch of safety features, although not too much else in the way of appointments. It does have a 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder motor generating a whopping 400 horsepower. Coupled with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic and AWD, it hits 60 in 3.5 seconds and has an Audi-claimed top speed of 174 mph.
This special little Audi RS3 is on its way to Puyallup, WA. Track it here.
Stock No. 27601964 VIN WUABWGFF9J1905332
Here in America, though, we love our SUV’s, especially ones with a third row. If this were a Zoom call, I’d ask how many of you have actually ridden in the third row as an adult. I have, in a Suburban, over bad roads, and I still need chiropractic work because of that (or so I think). When I bought my Mercedes GLE63 I deliberately avoided three-row SUV’s. I’ll never use the seats, and although minor, they do take up cargo space even when folded flat. A lot of folks want a third row, and some want high performance and unicorn exclusivity. The Mercedes GL63 AMG is all that and more.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG was the last year for GL’s before they were rebranded as “GLS” vehicles. Yes, you could enjoy a very nice GL550 (and here’s a nice Designo for about the same price), although the GL63 AMG adds the AMG Airmatic Sport Suspension, high-performance brakes, the AMG sport exhaust, and the AMG body styling – and 121 more horsepower! The GL63 easily sold for $120,000 new and is a quarter of that now. That’s some wonderful depreciation for us unicorn hunters.
This SUV has heated, cooling, and massaging seats, a heated steering wheel, a Harman Kardon audio system, a rear entertainment system, automated parking, adjustable suspension, and, while it doesn’t say it has adaptive cruise control, looking at the steering wheel stalks, I have a hunch it does. Loaded.
The GL63 is powered by a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at 550 horsepower, and with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and AWD, will hit 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Car and Driver reviewed it and said, “Imagine a 5,800-pound family hauler that thinks it’s a drag racer. Terrifying and hilarious.”
In addition to being luxurious, fast, and rare, this once-$120,000 SUV is now $33,998 and has only 36,000 miles. This is a steal. Track this family hauling race car here. It’s reserved in Killeen, TX, where everything is big.
Stock No. 27637669 VIN 4JGDF7EE1GA679032
Maybe you haven’t started a family yet, or are an empty nester like me, and have no interest in an SUV at this time. Well, like the RS3, the car below has now dipped into unicorn pricing territory and is a bit special – the BMW M850i xDrive. I was fortunate enough to attend the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 when the car made its U.S. debut. As the successor to the 6-series, it seemed big and exotic as a grand touring coupe. Sometimes, though, I look at it from the side and see Mustang. Car and Driver thought Accord Coupe. BMW owners don’t pay $112,000 to be confused with a Ford or Honda. And it certainly doesn’t have the panache of the first-generation 8-series, with its hideaway headlights and V-12, a good 25 years ago.
The 2019 BMW M850 I xDrive may not be a stunner outside, but it’s a world-class performance car and damned nice inside. It’s a lovely cockpit, although not loaded. Apple CarPlay, heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon audio, heads up display, and heated and air-conditioned seats. But damn, those seats look comfortable.
As with all modern BMW V8’s, they get the “M” moniker even if not a full “M-series” car. It doesn’t matter. The M850 has the same 4.4 liter twin turbo, although amped up to 523 horsepower. With an eight-speed ZF transmission and AWD it hits 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, the quickest of the eight cars I’m including today. For what it’s worth, a true “M8” coupe can be had from CarMax for another $20,000, and that buys you another 94 horses, and only a tenth of a second or two faster. Worth it?
You can find this 2019 BMW M850 here in Irvine, CA, where it’s currently on reserve.
Stock No. 27453214 VIN WBABC4C52KBU96194
The BMW is a big two-seater. If you’re in the market for something more nimble, and even a convertible, how about a Porsche Boxster with less miles for less money? The one below is the only one in the unicorn range (<$45,000 / <60,000 miles), and CarMax only has three at any price. They used to carry far more. Same with Caymans – only a handful anymore. What gives?
This is a 2015 Porsche Boxster, and a pretty basic one at that. Heated and air-conditioned seats, Bluetooth….and parking sensors. Not even a rear-view camera. But it is a terrific handling Porsche and quick enough. Car and Driver considers the Boxster “the gold standard for ‘fun with the top down‘.” Porsche sold just over 3,000 of these in 2015.
Inside the Boxster is the same as the Cayman and 911. This is a third-generation Boxster, the first originating in 1996, and it’s one newer than Etta, the 2008 Porsche 911 I enjoyed for a few years. I can tell you once I got the seat angled just right, I never had to adjust it again, even on long trips, and was always comfortable. And I’m 6’4 220 lbs. Unfortunately, the Boxster has no back seat, and the firewall prevents reclining much at all, so I cannot fit in one.
That’s the rear trunk above, and the front trunk below. Or is it the other way around? Unlike the rear-engined 911, the Boxster is mid-engined and thus the extra trunk in the back! If there was a picture of the motor, that’s where I would share that the base model is a 2.7-liter flat six rated at 265 horsepower, and only 206 ft-lbs of torque. It has a seven-speed dual clutch automatic and zips to 60 in about 5 seconds flat. The Boxster doesn’t accelerate as quickly as any other car in this group of eight, and yet the handling, the open-air cockpit, and the wail of the flat-six make for a spectacular motoring experience.
After the 2016 model year, Porsche switched to a turbo-four in the Boxster and Cayman (as 718 Boxsters and 718 Caymans), a different sound. Although the 2015 Boxster sold for around $50,000, and this one hasn’t depreciated much in 10 years, it’s the cheapest Porsche sports car CarMax has. This low-mileage 2015 Boxster is on reserve in Oxnard, CA. Here’s the link.
Stock No. 27426885 VIN WP0CA2A89FS120662
Sometimes my blog posts make it seem like I have a bias towards European cars, and it only seems that way because, well, I have a bias for European cars. I’ve been obsessed with cars since I was a boy, and when I moved to Germany in the Army at the age of 20 (still a boy), I was overwhelmed by the variety of enthusiast cars. But I’ve also owned Toyotas, Hondas, Acuras, and even a Mazda RX-7. So to wrap this up, I looked to the East for something unusual and found this.
This being a 2015 Hyundai Genesis Ultimate. Why? It’s a big coupe, based on the Hyundai Genesis sedan platform, featuring a V6 engine, a manual transmission, low mileage, and a low price. Sometimes I rue not having a stick shift anymore, now that my Fiat 124 is gone, and I run through the CarMax inventory looking for a cheap three-pedaler just to thrash through the back roads. This seemed to be a “good enough” coupe.
Inside, we have a decent cabin with seat heaters, Bluetooth, navigation, an Infinity sound system, and a six-speed shifter. What else would you need in a spare car?
Usually, I’d say a lot, but this is less than $24,000. Only 34,000 miles. And even though the venerable ten-year, 100,000-mile Hyundai drive train warranty has expired, I’d pass on MaxCare. This is not an unreliable car, nor an expensive one to fix. That said, it’s been suggested that the Hyundai Genesis coupe is a good candidate for drifting, and if that’s your plan, maybe MaxCare is in order?
The 2015 Hyundai Genesis Ultimate might be a tough sell as a unicorn, although there aren’t too many of these coupes. I recall the hoot I had driving a 6MT Nissan Altima coupe cross-country a couple of times for a friend, and this Hyundai reminds me of that car. Someone is having the 2015 Hyundai Genesis Ultimate shipped to Albany, NY. Track it here.
Stock No. 27131119 VIN KMHHU6KJ0FU130566
That’s a wrap for my eighth anniversary blog. I am grateful for the comments and the email exchanges we’ve had about your experiences with your own unicorn hunts. Still hovering at about 200 email subscribers for the last few years, so I think I’ll keep poking around the CarMax web page every day, hoping to find something unusual that would make someone say, “You bought that at CarMax?!” Thanks for hanging in there with me.
The CarMax search engine continues to flummox me, almost eight years after I started this blog and 12 years since I bought Guenther, my first CarMax unicorn. Last night, I did a search that surfaced the 2013 BMW M3 convertible below, similar to, but better than, my own, and I downloaded and drafted some photos into this blog post. Today, on a whim, I wondered how many European cars remain in the CarMax inventory, given they tend to limit holdings to 11 years, as opposed to 12 for everything else. A long time ago, CarMax told me the guidelines were 10 for Euros and 12 for the rest, and yet I’ve found that to be squishy. At the moment, CarMax has 1,708 2013 models of all kinds, of which only 25 are European makes (all BMW’s and VW’s). Clearly, they are being phased out. Oddly, this 2013 M3 does not show up when I search for all 2013 European cars. But it’s here.
I’ve always been intrigued by what unique cars will no longer be available from CarMax once the 11, 12, or 13-year sunset timeline hits. As noted last time I found one of these BMW’s, 2013 was the final year for V-8’s in the M3. Soon, you won’t be able to snatch one and protect it with MaxCare. Here’s one more chance; this car is a great deal.
BMW stuffed a V-8 into the M3 from 2008 to 2013, in the E90 (sedan), E92 (coupe), and E93 (convertible). It’s the only generation of M3’s to sport a V-8 engine, making the E93 the only V-8 convertible combination. That said, BMW made maybe 30,000 of these, so it ain’t all that rare. This one, with less than 18,000 miles after 12 years, is a bit unusual.
For me, I love having a V-8 M3, and I love having a convertible, and I love that the hard top convertible gives me the best of all worlds – a beautiful convertible when it’s sunny, and far quieter with the roof up than in a soft top. And unlike most soft tops, it looks darned good with the roof up. I know modern M3’s with a twin-turbo inline six is faster and I don’t care. A V-8 with an 8,400 rpm red line is pure joy.
Inside, the M3 cabin is sports coupe efficient. Note the seat extensions, perfect for holding Pop-Tarts during commutes. The interior looks brand new. The features are few – no rear view camera (parking sensors only). There are rain-sensing wipers, Bluetooth, and navigation. I stumbled on a fascinating audio feature, however, that allows me to rip CD’s to an internal 12gb hard drive. I absolutely love it, since I have hundreds of CD’s from the old days. Wish I had this in all my cars!
The heart and soul of the E93 is the 4.0-liter, naturally aspirated V-8, pushing 414 horsepower to the rear wheels. The dual-clutch, seven-speed transmission nudges the M3 to 4.4-second 0-60 mph sprints. And it sounds awesome doing so. There’s an “M” button on the steering wheel that allows for tailoring the engine, transmission, and suspension to a number of customizable configurations. I set my “M” button to be the max for all. I really got a kick out of letting my friend “Jerry” drive the M3 in “M” mode when I first got it, and for a bit, we were wondering why the dash was dinging audibly as he screamed up a deserted road. It turns out my configuration turned off rev limiting, and he was zooming past 9,000 rpm! (Redline is 8,400.) We laughed all the way to the bar. The M3 is also extraordinarily balanced in handling and braking. It’s quite the all-around driver’s car.
Above, we have an example of CarMax publishing photos of cosmetic imperfections on select cars. They include this shot of the driver’s door, and yet in all the other photos, I can’t see a problem. The car is a two-owner, accident-free model that’s been in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Henderson, Kentucky, from the start. It’s here in Bakersfield, California. When new, it sold for perhaps $80,000 and is quite reasonably priced at $34k. I don’t know of anything new that’s this much visceral fun for that amount. Of course, I love MaxCare, although like the Porsche 911 I once owned, my M3 has only this year broken enough to recover what I spent on MaxCare (most of that was a $2,000 audio amplifier failure!). And still, CarMax is no longer sharing on the web what the MaxCare terms are – used to be five years and 125,000-mile cap on European cars. I need to call them and ask why the change.
It would be tempting to sell my 50,000-mile 2013 M3 and replace it with this 18,000-mile M3 and reset the clock. It really is a blast to drive, especially topless, and I love it. But I still have dreams of replacing mine with a 911 next year, when I’m down to one year (but maybe 60,000 miles) of Maxcare. Make me an offer? This M3 is currently reserved here at LAX, California. This may be the only airport CarMax I’ve ever heard of.
Sometimes, I remind myself that not everyone is pursuing 600 horsepower and can be more reasonable than me (see my GLE63 here!) I find really nice unicorns for grown-ups. Unlike yesterday’s Alpina B6, here’s a very nice, low-mileage BMW 650i Gran Coupe with the same motor…almost. This sedan is more affordable and more sedate – yet still high-performance- and meets all the unicorn requirements. And super low miles.
As far as accoutrements, the 650i is fully loaded, with heating, cooling, and massaging seats, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, auto cruise control, and Bang & Olufsen audio – all the same stuff on the Alpina B6. The car has the Cold Weather Package, Comfort Package, Driver Assistance Package, and M Sport Package – so you get M logos almost like a real “M” BMW. I like the unblemished, handsome, tan interior.
And unlike the Alpina from yesterday, two keys!
The 650i has the same 4.4 liter V8 the M6 and B6 are based on, albeit without the beefed-up tuning and horsepower. It “only” makes 445 horsepower, and yet, with the eight-speed automatic, it will pull off a 4.5 second 0-60 mph run and hit a governed top speed of 155 mph. That’s sleeper sedan numbers there! I’m 12 years into my CarMax unicorn ownership experience. While my GLE63 does sub-4 second 0-60, the other CarMax cars I’ve owned – the Mercedes S55 and S600, the Porsche 911, and the BMW M3 – all did mid-4 seconds to 60, and I was perfectly happy. I swear my next car will be more reasonable, and I’ll stop chasing horsepower.
The 2015 BMW 650i Gran Coupe sold for maybe $80,000 ten years ago. It’s less than half that now and has a ridiculous 19,000 miles on it. MaxCare will see you through another five years and 106,000 miles of driving, if you choose, on a ten-year-old car. That seems like a deal. This car is here in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Only a couple hundred expensive Alpina B6 unicorns make their way to US shores annually before depreciating like hell. We like depreciation. We also like that when they make it onto a CarMax lot, we can protect ourselves from financial ruin by buying the MaxCare warranty, which will cover this nine-year-old somewhat exotic car until 2030 and another 90,000 miles.
This one is a 2016 Alpina B6, a 6-series Gran Coupe modified by BMW partner Alpina. It’s a cousin of the BMW-produced M6. The difference? The B6 has 40 more horsepower, all-wheel drive (X-Drive), an eight-speed automatic instead of the “M” seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and costs $4,000 more than the M6 when new. As with all unicorns, it’s all about tradeoffs. Reviews suggest the lower horsepower M version is more aggressive, and the Alpina is more like a luxury car with a more powerful motor.
Inside, the Alpina looks a whole lot like any B-series Gran Coupe. This one has air-conditioned, heated, and massaging seats, a heads-up display, a heated steering wheel, Bang & Olufsen audio, and auto cruise control. Everything you need for high-speed cruising.
The downside of the Gran Coupe for tall guys is the seating position. I’m 6’4″, and the last time I drove an M6 Gran Coupe, I was disappointed with how far behind the B-pillar my noggin was. You can see it in the CarMax shot above (the seating position, not my head). That made getting out of the car harder than usual, having to twist and thrust my torso up and past the pillar. It was a deal breaker. Below, you can see the Alpina logo on the steering wheel that distinguishes the Alpina from a vanilla B-series, and the infuriating photo CarMax provides to indicate they only have one key for the car. You’re on your own to get a second. Total bullshit for a company with $2 billion in profits last year.
Back to the motor. The 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 makes 600 horsepower and with X-Drive will rocket the 4,700 lb sedan to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. It has an electronically limited top end of 200 mph. Yup – TWO HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR! The M6 has a governed top speed of 155 mph. That’s why you pay the extra money!
Maybe they’re out there, but I don’t know where you can get a 200 mph, limited-production German car (or any car) for $44,000. And throw in maybe $5-7,000 more for a near bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that’ll last until the car is 14 years old. The 2016 BMW Alpina B6 sold for maybe $125,000 when new. And now selling for a third of that. Tomorrow, my daughter and I are going to CarMax to look at a 2025 Honda CRV for $44,000. Which would you rather drive? This is an accident-free, three-owner car that lived in Illinois and Florida (wealthy snowbird auto enthusiasts?). Oddly, it’s available only here at the Bradenton CarMax with no option to transfer. I’m heading to the Daytona 500 this week. I’d happily buy it for you and drive it back. Email for instructions on how to get me the cash!
Stock No: 27020592 VIN: WBA6D6C50GGK18284
And just for fun, here are the last two Alpina B6s I found at CarMax.
My Dad was a station wagon guy, and maybe someday I’ll own one if I tire of having an SUV. It’s a family tradition. I’m not sure what keeps me from moving in that direction. A couple of CarMax unicorn wagons hit the inventory, so I searched the inventory for more interesting ones that might be worth sharing. CarMax has 2,400 cars listed as “wagons,” although many are questionable. Four-door hatchbacks, really. I’m going to run through eight of them a little differently than usual and see if I can get this out quickly before they’re all gone. The “Highs and Lows” are all from Car and Driver reviews.
2015 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S
The E63 is a legitimate unicorn—a high-performance enthusiast car that has depreciated a bunch. At $48k, it’s just above my unicorn threshold, but maybe it’ll come down in price? It’s a beautiful color with low miles and a badass motor. Unfortunately, there are no rear-facing third-row seats like in normal E-wagons to let the kids watch the traffic disappear behind them.
HIGHS: This is not a vehicle for the measured and rational. It’s absurdity overload, unchecked enthusiasm manifest. It’s all ate up with hedonism
LOWS: It doesn’t have the 664 lb-ft this engine makes in the full-size S-class AMGs.
I’m bracing myself for Roger’s wrath, but I’m intrigued by this 11-year-old Acura with only 900+ miles on it. I have no idea why people don’t drive their cars. It’s not a terribly sporting vehicle, yet you don’t see many of these on the road. It’s in a three-way tie for second place (whatever that means) on my list at $24,998. Last, probably no need for MaxCare for this Acura, although you could get coverage until it’s damned near vintage and another 140,000 miles!
HIGHS: One of those rare cars that needn’t be fast to be fun or have a trunk to be stylish.
What’s so special about a VW Golf Alltrack? Well, it’s one of two wagons at CarMax with a manual transmission. The other one is a VW Golf Alltrak also. That said, with AWD and a slightly elevated suspension, the VW could make a case that the Subaru Outback is also a wagon. Subjectively ruled the Subarus out for this. The other interesting thing about this wagon is it’s five years old and still under manufacturer warranty for another year and 24,000 miles. Again, no MaxCare is needed. How proud would my Dad have been if I had a manual transmission wagon?
I like this Buick wagon way more than it deserves, first and foremost because it’s a German Opel, albeit with an American motor—like my Merkur. You’d think I’d know better. This is Buick’s first wagon since the enormous Roadmaster gave up the ghost almost 30 years ago. This Regal has nothing to do with the Buick Regals manufactured in the US until 2004, or the Buick Regal wagon of the 1980’s. Buick started importing Opels as Regals from 2008-2017, and then this estate from 2018 until it was discontinued in 2020. Makes this Regal a true unicorn, since it’s extinct.
For $2,000 less than the Buick, you can get a more refined German compact estate, the BMW 328 XI. It’s five years older than the Buick and a few more miles. The drivetrains are similar – 2.0 liter turbo four cylinders making 240-250 horsepower and AWD, both hit 60 mph in about six seconds, but the BMW gets far better reviews as a driver’s car. The Buick has more modern features, like Apple CarPlay. Tradeoffs. Of course, I like the gold over tan senior citizen color combo.
Now that I think about it, the Jaguar XF S saloon may be the most solid unicorn wagon overall. Pricing, at $36,000, is right in the middle of the pack, and so is performance from the six-cylinder supercharged motor—a low five-second 0-60 mph. The “shooting brake” is also a lovely design. The only British car in the bunch.
HIGHS: Stunning looks, lithe dynamics, it’s a wagon.
LOWS: Lacks refinement for the price, subpar interior environment.
A Swedish made, plug in hybrid, designed by “Polestar” and manufactured in a Chinese-owned factory? Third quickest to 60 mph on today’s list, after the E63 and RS6? Way too much for my simple blogging brain to digest. I understand Polestar to be Volvo’s acquired tuning shop, like AMG and Alpina, although entirely electric currently. As a 2024 model the Volvo Polestar is the most modern and well equipped on the list.
HIGHS: Impressive EV range, solid hybrid performance, did we mention it’s a wagon?
LOWS: Slow AC charging, modes buried in menus, limited front-row storage.
Finally, the all around world class champion of high performance wagons, the Audi RS6. A few more horsepower and a little faster than the E63. The RS6 is considered to be more exclusive with far more limited production numbers than the E63. Can and Driver bemoans the exotic price, but if you have $90,000 to spare…..?
HIGHS: Mind-melting, brain-rattling V-8; light-footed dynamics; fun for the whole family.
LOWS: Thirstier than a salmon in the Sahara, exotic price.
The Polestar. You know it’s fast – it has yellow seat belts! Heated and cooling seats, Bowers & Wilkins audio, Apple CarPlay, auto cruise control, panoramic sunroof. Comfortable car.
The BMW 328. Could be just about any BMW 3-series. Clean tan interior belies 40,000 miles and 10 years old. Not much in the way or modern features. Not even a rear view camera. Pretty straight forward and ideal for folks who complain about too much automation?
The Acura TSX. Looks a little dated and despite less than 1,000 miles looks more tired than the BMW of the same age. CarMax calls it a “10” although all it has over the BMW is a rear view camera. Reliability over personality, I guess.
The Buick. Clean and Germanically efficient, too. Apple CarPlay, heated steering wheel, Bose sound system, navigation, and remote start. Nothing great to say. Nothing bad either.
The Jaguar. Has a sporting look to it. The same interior across the Jaguar brand in 2018. Heated and cooling seats, Meridian audio, navigation, safety stuff like cross traffic alert.
The Mercedes. I once owned a 2010 non-saloon version of this from CarMax for about 48 hours until something blew under the hood and I returned it. But in that 48 hours I found the cockpit to be a friendly place where everything was right where it was supposed to be. Well, except for the odd seat controls wedged between the driver’s seat bolster and the center console. Seems odd. This E63 is loaded. Auto cruise control, self-parking, seat massagers. If it had self driving and Apple CarPlay I would ditch my GLE63 and buy this.
The Volkswagen. That third pedal would be the clutch, and that’s what makes this more special and fun. This 2019 car also has Apple CarPlay, cross traffic alert, and heated “leatherette” seats. Adequate. A simple, functional, fun wagon to drive yourself.
The Audi. The interior says “RS” with the stitching and the upholstery. It’s high-tech. The cargo floor (way down below) has a motorized cover. It’s got the Driver Assistance Package and Executive Package. Auto cruise control. Heads up display. No seat massagers. I’m out.
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE WAGON FROM THE “WAYBACK”?
(Answers at the end!)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1. Buick. 2. BMW 3. Mercedes 4. Jaguar 5. Volkswagen 6. Acura 7. Audi 8. Polestar
AND FINALLY THE ADS, LINKS, STOCK NUMBERS AND VINS
This 2014 BMW 328 XI is here in Austin, Texas. It’s a single-owner car that got bumped in the butt once. Just dropped in price by $1,000. Wonder why?
Original MSRP: $42,000.
STOCK NO: 26476987 VIN: WBA3G7C50EKN36268
This 2013 Acura TSX is currently reserved here. It’s a one-owner car that spent the last 11 years in Dallas, Texas. Did I mention it has less than 1,000 miles?
Original MSRP: $32,000
STOCK NO: 25846374 VIN: JH4CW2H60DC000678
The 2019 Buick Regal Tourx Essence is being transferred to Columbia, South Carolina, at the moment. Here’s the link. It’s a two-owner Florida wagon. Buy MaxCare. It’s German.
Original MSRP: $41,000
STOCK NO: 26522155 VIN: W04GV8SX6K1015943
The 2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack SE is reserved here in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s a one-owner car that spent the last five years in Baltimore, my home town!
Original MSRP: $31,000
STOCK NO: 26154364 VIN: 3VWM17AU6KM503666
The 2018 Jaguar XF S is a two-owner car that’s been in Ohio and Kentucky and is reserved here in East Haven, Connecticut.
Original MSRP: $70,000
STOCK NO: 26512200 VIN: SAJBM2FV6JCY65617
The Mercedes E63 AMG S is currently reserved here in Irvine, California. It’s a two-owner California car that had one minor accident in 2021.
Original MSRP: $105,000
STOCK NO: 26554952 VIN: WDDHH7GB4FB123539
This Polestar is currently here in Orlando, Florida. Single owner, accident-free. Was leased just a few months ago – default?
Original MSRP: $63,000
STOCK NO: 26522012 VIN: YV1H60EP1R1616556
The 2021 Audi RS6 Avant is reserved here in Tampa, Florida. It’s a one-owner car that unfortunately rear-ended someone in Miami in 2023. Going too fast in a too fast car? Had to be towed away. Still the hottest wagon CarMax has.
After playing three hours of country music in a Virginia brewery Sunday April 7th, I immediately drove deep into the night to Cleveland to be in the path of totality for the April 8th solar eclipse. It was spectacular. (The Eclipse above? Unremarkable, I guess. For more fun, check out this old blog of mine on eclipses!) I had hoped to cruise there in the BMW M3 with the top down, enjoying all things sunny, but I still had all my music gear and so it was the Merc SUV again. Got me thinking, though, about how special convertibles are in spring and fall. I’ve owned three and think everyone should own one at least once in life. So I picked out 10 CarMax unicorn convertibles – cars with less than 60,000 miles, priced below $45,000, and with either some driving enthusiast credentials or at least not something you see on the road every day.
At the moment CarMax has over 63,000 cars on the lots, and only 533 convertibles. Mazda takes top honors with 100 (all Miata MX-5’s, although one CX-30 is listed as a drop top!). Chevy is second with 76 (Camaros and Corvettes), followed by Mercedes at 70 (SLC’s, E400’s, and C300’s), and BMW at 68 units. The most expensive convertible at CarMax is a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT at $95,000 – only 204 miles on it – the cheapest is a cute 2013 Fiat 500 Pop at $13,000. Lots in between. I’m leaving out some good and salutary cars like Miatas and Mustangs and Beetles only because of abundance. Too many to feel unique.
A case could be made for the Polish-built Buick Cascada as a now extinct attempt by GM to introduce the Opel convertible to the US from 2016 to 2019, as well as the Volkswagen EOS, an even smaller hardtop convertible with Golf innards. The Buick wasn’t interesting enough and there aren’t any EOS’s at CarMax right now. And no Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet’s. Or Range Rover Evoque convertibles.
Let’s jump in.
The Porsche Boxster S is an easy choice. Mid-engined, manual transmission, and a sweet flat-6 engine at a fraction of the cost of a 911. And right up front I have to say CarMax, it should be mandatory that ALL convertibles advertised include a picture of the car with the top down!
Not a lot of features on this car, other than air conditioned seats. The 315 hp 3.4 liter motor makes it special. And because it’s hidden, no motor picture on this one. Originally selling for maybe $50,000, it hasn’t depreciated a whole lot. And probably won’t. It’s a two owner, accident free car found here in Tucson, Arizona.
Stock No: 25278196 VIN: WP0CB2A88DS132828
I don’t know much about Mini Coopers, but what I’ve learned has been from my friend Hans. And he usually pings me when a John Cooper Works Mini is on the market and so I thought I’d try to get ahead of him on this one.
The newest car on today’s list as a 2023. Also in its favor – it’s yellow (like the sun!) and another photo with the top down. It’s not a cheap car, selling for maybe $40,000+ new and after 13,000 miles, selling for about the same amount now.
This little Mini (redundant?) is loaded, though. Automatic cruise control, Apple CarPlay, and a heads up display are all modern features. If the trunk wasn’t the same size as the glove box it could be a fun road car. It’s powered by a 235 hp, 2.0 liter turbo four and I’m surprised to see 0-60 mph is only 6.3 seconds. Is that right?
No need for Maxcare I guess since this is still under manufacturer warranty. Find this German built Mini here coming soon in Plano, Texas.
StockNo: 25483370 VIN: WMW63DL07P3P34869
How about some American muscle. The only Corvette convertible that meets my unicorn specs comes next.
Pretty basic Corvette Stingray here. Pretty blue, black wheels, yellow calipers, and a drop top. Not a lot of features – it has Apple CarPlay because it has an aftermarket stereo. It’s fast and sleek and the only way to get a cheaper Chevy V-8 convertible would be in a Camaro, and the Camaro doesn’t have the panache of a Corvette.
What makes the Corvette special is the 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V-8, rated at 455 hp. It’s a light car at 3,300 lbs, and fast. The combination of a good motor and a convertible makes drop top driving audibly fun. Mostly that comes in V-8’s and flat-6’s. Anyone have a four cylinder with a satisfying sound? Guess my Italian Fiat had that. By the way, the Corvette engine bay photo below is the only one I’ve ever seen with a side view. Is that because of the way the hood opens?
This 2016 Corvette Stingray sold new for maybe $52,000. It’s a single owner car and is currently being shipped to West Sahara, Nevada. Here’s the link.
StockNo: 25706858 VIN: 1G1YB3D74G5125126
I’ve had two soft top convertibles, and at the moment a hard top convertible (2013 BMW M3). For daily driver, year round use I prefer a hard top convertible. And that brings us back to an original “driving rich” unicorn – the Mercedes SL550.
CarMax always seems to have a half dozen low mileage, well equipped Mercedes SL550’s on hand. This one is less than $31,000 and fits the bill. It’s not terribly well equipped, but has heated and cooling seats and the wonderful air scarf neck warmers, should spring not be sprung in your area any time soon.
The Mercedes has a 4.6 liter twin turbo V-8 making 429 hp, and 516 ft-lbs of torque. It weighs a good 700 pounds more than the Corvette, trading weight for a retractable hard top. Still does 0-60 mph in the mid-fours.
The 2013 Mercedes SL550 has been shared by five owners over the past 11 years, although with no accidents. Right now it’s in Los Angeles – here’s the link.
StockNo: 24920605 VIN: WDDJK7DA1DF010782
Below we have a 2015 Audi S5 Premium Plus that’s just good enough to make the list and yet not terribly exciting (to me). The 2013 S5’s were the first with the 333 hp supercharged, 3.0 liter V-6, after Audi’s long run with the venerable 4.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine with 354 hp. The V-6 is just as fast, just doesn’t sound the same. And since CarMax doesn’t carry 2012 (or older) European cars now, no more V-8 S5’s. However, from time to time CarMax will have an Audi RS5 that sported a V-8 until 2017. The RS5 has almost a hundred more horses.
This is a low mileage, low dollar Audi soft top with the Technology Package, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, and not a lot else. Again kudos for the photo with the top down.
I take that back. The Audi S5 has AWD, unusual for a convertible. For the record, at CarMax only Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes have AWD convertibles. (Jaguar has this badass 2018 Jaguar F-Type R with 550 hp and AWD but it’s $52,000!) Below are examples of CarMax’s new “Cosmetic photos available” section for some cars – this Audi has a paint blemish on the bumper and on the fender.
Car and Driver dashed to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds in the V-6 S5, which is brisk by any standard. They also rated the coupe as tops over the Cadillac ATS 3.6 and the Lexus RC350, for what it’s worth. If you’re more youthful and technologically progressive than me (and most people are) you can get over the V-8 vs V-6 thing and enjoy this motor just fine.
This was a $55,000 car when new and is half that now. The single owner Audi S5 is currently reserved in Clackamas, Oregon, and you can find it here if you want to track or read more.
Stock No: 25452153 VIN: WAUCGAFH3FN009585
Next we have a practical, if you will, Volvo C70 T5, convertible. I like the hardtop convertible, although the weight makes a slow car slower, and yet few buy Volvo’s to push the performance envelope (Polestar notwithstanding). The C70 is a safe car that Autoblog says is “a handsome luxury hardtop convertible with elegant coupe lines that seats four.” I think the car is lovely with the top up or down.
The C70 has the Climate Package, adding heated seats and rain sensors and headlight washers. It’s Swedish tidy inside, and with only 15,000 miles over 11 years it’s fresh.
The downside is a 227hp inline 5 cylinder, a 2.5 liter powerplant that pulls the front wheel drive convertible to 60 mph in the mid-seven second range. Again, Volvo’s not known for performance cars, and this would try my patience. My standard today, though, was a convertible that has some style to it and one you don’t see at every stop light. The C70 T5 fits the bill.
The car is just $23,998 – about $20,000 less than when it was new – and is on reserve here in Norcross, Georgia.
StockNo: 25467726 VIN: YV1672MCXDJ143182
Here’s another very pretty, very affordable, and not very common hardtop convertible that’s also not very athletic. The 2015 Q60 was once the G37 and still is a fancier Nissan 370. Not necessarily a bad thing. This is a beautiful car and the upside of a car that was dated in 2015 and despite a 2016 refresh, didn’t sell well and was put down in 2023, is that like the Volvo, they’re not spotted on every street corner.
Nothing at all wrong with the interior, and it looks well maintained after eight years and 54,000 miles. Heated and air conditioned seats, navigation, and a Bose sound system. Always wondered why Nissan didn’t buy Infinity audio and rename them Infiniti? Room for four. Sort of.
Infiniti carried the same 3.7 liter V-6 power plant with 325 hp from the much cheaper Nissan 370z until 2017, when an upgraded 3.0 liter V-6 twin turbo made its debut. With the 3.7 0-60 was in the mid-fives, and the newer engine cut a full second off of that. (FWIW – Infiniti unleashed a Q60 Red Sport 400 with, you guessed it, 400 hp in hardtop only!)
This 2015 Infiniti Q60 is a two owner, accident free car currently reserved here in Gastonia, North Carolina. It was once a $50,000+ auto and is selling for the same price as the low mileage Volvo C70 above. Which one would you buy?
Let’s get back to legitimate performance cars. When I started writing this piece in Cleveland, after the eclipse a week ago, this hot BMW M3 was not yet on the market. I had included in this draft an identical black M3 that was $2,000 more with 6,000 more miles. That’s what freaks me out every time I prepare to buy a car – next week something better will come along. FOMO.
Yeah, it’s red and somebody is gonna say “ticket magnet” the way you can’t mention Pintos without reflexively smirking “self-immolation” – both references are highly exaggerated. Research has shown that white cars get more tickets than red (Let’s ignore there are more white cars on the road than red – doesn’t help my case.)
If you’ve been here before you know I own a silver version of this car and have a bias. Two years ago I bought a 2013 M3 hardtop convertible, the last year for V-8 M3’s, and love it. Well, I did – drove it to meet an old friend for breakfast this morning, and he showed up in a silver 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo. Sigh.
The heart and soul of the M3 is the 4.0 liter, naturally aspirated V-8. It’ll growl it’s way to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds in “M” mode. BMW ran V-8’s in M3’s from 2007 to 2013, with six cylinders before and after. Keeping in mind CarMax only offers 11 year old or newer European cars, the days are numbered for getting one from CarMax and protecting it with a MaxCare warranty up to 125,000 miles and until 2029. That said, I paid about $5,000 for my MaxCare and haven’t gotten my money’s worth (yet). I’ve put 15,000 miles on it in two years and it hardly breaks.
Don’t wait! This M3 has the back seat wind deflector. It’ll go missing soon. Had to pay $300 to get one.
The 2013 BMW M3 is a real auto enthusiast car, and a red one will get some attention at cars and coffee. I paid $41,000 for mine with 34,000 miles I think, and this one is $10,000 cheaper – but with almost the same mileage. (Make me an offer? Was planning to keep mine two more years but that 911 Turbo looked sweet this morning.) This one is available in Golden, Colorado here.
StockNo: 24832537 VIN: WBSDX9C55DE785352
Going to stick with red cars here on out, since I liked the white/red ticket research from above. This one is a real nice 2019 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth. And a “Fix It Again Tony” comment will get you banned, for being inaccurate and unimaginative! (My 1971 Fiat 124 Spider was one of the most reliable cars I ever had!) This one comes with a no kidding manual transmission. And it’s red. Gotta be fun.
This generation of Fiat 124 Spiders is, of course, a Mazda Miata in vestiário. From 2016 to 2019 Mazda manufactured the 124’s using the Miata MX-5 platform, although the motors were legit Italian Fiat powerplants (the transmission was still Mazda’s.) The 124 is five inches longer than the Miata. And almost 200 pounds heavier, with more sound deadening material. Disturbing fact – CarMax will offer MaxCare for European cars up to 125,000 miles, and for Japanese cars to 150,000 miles. Both cars are built in Japan, but the MaxCare warranty is still reduced for the Italian-badged one. That ain’t right.
The Fiat 124 Spider Abarth has modern stuff like cross-traffic alert and heated mirrors and a rear view camera, and yet a traditional sports car interior. I tried one on once, or at least I tried to, and found it was tighter inside than my 1971. Found Miatas to be too small for me also (I’m 6’4″ and 225 lbs – atm.) The power plant below is a 1.4 liter turbo four, and unfortunately makes the same 160 hp that’s in the non-Abarth 124’s. Only does 0-60 mph in the low six second range. Disappointing, but my old one took 10 seconds to get there. This one has an upgraded suspension over the base 124, though. And a manual transmission!
Here’s a Car and Driver comparison between the Fiat 124 Abarth and the Mazda Miata. Unlike the Miata, the 124 is (again) extinct and no longer being imported. It sold maybe 5,000 units a year, so a bit rare. Not a bad car, and not a total Miata clone. Retained some historical Pininfarina styling. Here’s the link to the 2019 Fiat 124 Abarth, currently on reserve in Spokane, Washington.
Hear me out on the next, and last red unicorn to make the list. It’s a weak case, but not ridiculous. This is the cheapest, not seen everywhere, legitimately holds four adults, convertible you’re going to find at CarMax. Emphasis on cheap. It’s $18k and has only 30,000 miles. (Its identical twin just sold elsewhere on CarMax for the same price with 20,000 miles – you missed a bargain by a week!)
Take the time to read the timely election-themed Car and Driver review here from 2012. It’s wonderfully written. Spoiler – it opens with, “Like a single-issue candidate, the Chrysler 200 convertible has stumped on one appeal. In the car’s case, it’s that the top goes down.”
The review also says the “200’s handling is no longer spastic and clumsy” and that it’s actually well sorted out for a front drive, 4,000 pound car. (I think “No longer spastic and clumsy” was also on my ninth grade Phys Ed report card.) The 3.6 liter V-6 motor pumps 283 hp and does 0-60 mph in about the same time as the Fiat 124 above. Not sure if that’s good for the Chrysler or bad for the Fiat.
My M3 and the Corvette Stingray above are perfect for dropping the top and roaring into local breweries this spring, Chris Stapleton streaming from the Bose. But I would not be embarrassed to cruise (slowly) into our Virginia wineries in this Chrysler 200 with the top down, listening to Kenny G on the CD player. I’m that old. And with MaxCare available for another five years and 120,000 miles I could do that long enough to pay for the car with my social security checks. Now I’m sad. Heading to the bar. If this car’s for you it’s currently reserved here in Gastonia, North Carolina.
I might have pushed it a bit on a few of those 2013’s over the weekend, so felt compelled to offer up this totally legit CarMax unicorn – a 2015 BMW 760Li V-12 for only $40,998 $39,998. Luxury. Exclusivity. Affordable. And plenty fast.
The 2015 BMW 760Li sold for maybe $141,000 new and has dropped a good $100,000 in the last eight years. This one has been on and off the CarMax page and I sort of ignored it thinking I must have already written about it. Wrong. Looks like the last 760 I covered was in the spring of 2020 (we all remember that spring) – this similar 2015 760Li for a few thousand more.
The 2015 long wheelbase model (G12) was new for that year, and just over 10,000 7-series of all kinds were sold in the US. Lost an hour or two trying to find out if there was a 2016 760, before they became M760’s in 2017. Not finding any for sale.
The 2015 BMW 760Li is loaded – even has night vision (above)! Automatic cruise control, seats that heat, cool, and massage, heated steering wheel, heads up display, ands the M Sport Package that I read somewhere allows the top end to hit 190 mph. Rear seat room looks damned generous below. No DVD entertainment system though. Had it in my Mercedes S600 and not once did I use it.
The heart and soul of the BMW 760Li is the 6.0 liter twin turbo V-12, making 535 horsepower. The sedan runs a mid-four second 0-60 mph time, which isn’t spectacular, and yet it is plenty fast for a 2 1/2 ton luxury car. About the same as my S600 was. That said, the Alpina B7 of the same year, albeit a V-8, had a few more horsepower and was a bit faster. But c’mon, wouldn’t you really rather have a V-12? Just once?
Check out the autobahn run below. Quite a rush. Not me. (The most I’ve ever done was 155 mph, governed, in a brand new BMW 540i with about a thousand pounds of dudes – four of us – hauling down the Frankfurt autobahn back in 2002.)
This is a three owner, accident free car that began life in Miami, went to Phoenix in 2021 for a few years, back to Fort Lauderdale and now is on the lot here in Roswell, Georgia. I’d be wondering what NFL or NBA player got traded from Miami to Phoenix then retired back to Florida? It’s also pretty low mileage, and since I started writing this two days ago, the price just dropped $1,000. Again, the car has been on the market quite a while and I have no idea why it isn’t selling. If this isn’t a unicorn, don’t know what is. Of course, MaxCare is a must and as I’ve noted in previous blogs, for some reason the 7-series BMW warranties seem to be a bit more expensive than others. Might be worth it.
Happy New Year’s! With winter storms approaching the east coast I thought I’d open with a “practical” AWD SUV. My New Year’s resolution is to write more because I’m so frustrated unicorns show up and sell off before I can write. It’s easy to make that declaration this week as I’m holed up in a local hotel with Covid for the third time (despite being uber vaccinated) hoping to insulate my family, and I’ve got nothing but time. I’m also out of the market for my own unicorns in 2024 – will stick with the M3 and GLE63 for the time being – so there should be fewer distractions.
Three years ago I wrote about an eerily similar 2013 X5M here, priced about the same, mileage about the same. Are used car prices returning to normal? The X5 made its debut as a 2010 model and doesn’t look all that different almost a decade and a half later. And if we’re going to be nostalgic, it was a friend’s CarMax X5 that got me into the unicorn business in the first place. I drove with a junior coworker on a business trip in 2012, and he had a BMW X5. I asked about repair costs and he told me about MaxCare and all the repairs that he enjoyed at no cost. The following year I bought Guenther and the rest is history.
The second generation (E70) X5, and the first M model with a turbocharged M powered V-8 made its debut in 2010. This 2013 BMW X5 is decently equipped with adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, and a rear view camera. Seems silly, but my 2013 M3 does not have a rear view camera. Not extravagant, but it is good enough. The 2013 BMW X5M probably sold for more than $100,000, so this is a nicely depreciated example.
I’ve never been a fan of red interiors, and yet my M3 has this same color (oxblood?). I kinda like it, and I’ve gotten compliments from others on the unique color. I am vain. It’s not quite whorehouse red, and I’ve learned over the years that as soon as I criticize something about a car I learn that I have a reader that loves the thing I’m ragging on. I get it. The interior is nearly new.
The X5M is powered by a 4.4 liter twin turbo good for 555 hp, and a 4.5 second 0-60 mph sprint. It’s got an eight speed automatic SMG transmission and if you’re lucky you can pull off 20 mpg in tempered highway driving. This particular 2013 BMW X5M is currently being shipped to Newport News, Virginia and can be tracked with this link. I’d be all in on MaxCare thinking for less than $40,000 you too can own a unique Euro-SUV!
This is a bargain BMW unicorn on so many levels. It’s cheap, low mileage, lovely blue over tan, decent motor, and lots of options. It looks like a German police cruiser. If you were screaming east at triple digit speeds on the A8 autobahn towards Austria folks might get out of your way – there is still a speed limit in sections there. But here in the US nobody is going to pay you any attention, unlike similarly decked out Ford Taurus and Dodge Charger sedans. And unlike the Alpina B7 from last month, it’s well within my unicorn price cap of $35,000 (I really need to increase that to $45,000.)
This car has the Cold Weather Package, Driver Assistance Package, and Executive Package. That includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot and lane departure warning, heads up display, massaging air conditioned and heated seats, heated steering wheel, and a Harman Kardon sound system. With 39,000 miles on it the car looks pristine inside, at least from the pix.
The 2014 550 (F10) is right in the middle of the sixth generation 5-series and got the beefed up twin-turbo 4.4 liter V-8, making 445 hp. With an eight-speed automatic it should hit 60 mph in the mid-four second range. The car also has X Drive (AWD) making that sprint and bad weather driving sure footed. It is a one-owner, one accident car with no details on the accident. The price seems reasonable and if you don’t want or need self-driving and CarPlay like I do, this car is a bargain. Even with MaxCare it’s a great example of how to drive a unicorn enthusiast car for the price of a new Camry and not worry about repair costs much. It’ll even fit in garages that won’t hold an Alpina B7! Find it here in Albuquerque.
