Chevrolet – The Carmax Unicorn Blog

June 6, 2026June 6, 2026

Ten Quick Hits – Ten More Convertible Unicorns!

Had a bunch of convertible unicorns saved in my CarMax profile in addition to the 2016 Mercedes E550 from earlier this week – under $45,000 and 60,000 miles, and thought I would do a dump here so I can move on to other cars next week. Trying to keep this to more limited models, so while they may be great cars, no Mustangs, Camaros, or Miata convertibles since they are just too plentiful. See what you think of these. Cheapest to most expensive.

Okay, right off the bat, I’m vulnerable to getting my chops busted for a Mini. CarMax has 448 of these little German impressions of a British icon. But only 38 John Cooper Works models. And only three with a manual transmission. The John Cooper Works is a different animal entirely — BMW’s performance division, 228 turbocharged horses, a chassis tuned at the Nürburgring, and a 6-speed manual gearbox in a convertible.

Yeah, a six-second 0-60 mph time, but Car and Driver called the JCW “the most fun Mini ever built.” Black on black with 28,000 miles and a $21,998 price tag on a car that stickered at $35,000 makes this one of the best performance bargain on the list. Amused CarMax has an “imperfection” sticker on the shifter. This 2017 Mini Cooper JCW is a one-owner, LA car currently reserved here in Clermont, Florida. How it went coast to coast to be sold, I don’t know.

Stock No. 28740784 VIN WMWWH9C51H3A78568

2018 Buick Cascada Sport Touring. Four thousand miles. On an eight-year-old car. Someone bought this, drove it to the vineyard twice, and turned it in. The Cascada is a German Opel in a Buick costume — built in Poland, sold in the US only 2016–2019, and now extinct. Heated seats, heated steering wheel, a soft top that folds in seconds, and a red-over-black color combination on an essentially new example. When it launched in 2016, buyers balked at the price for a Buick. At $24,998 – $10,000 less than when new – with virtually no miles, that argument is long gone.

The ~~Opel~~ Buick has a 1.6-liter turbo four good for 200 horsepower and a middling 7-second 0-60 mph “sprint”. Not a performance convertible by any means. Consumer Reports summed it up well: “The car isn’t particularly quick or fuel-efficient… but if you don’t mind those compromises, you’ll have the wind in your hair without breaking the bank.” Reminds me of the VW EOS, without the hardtop. It’s a one-owner, accident-free Illinois car that’s now reserved here in Rivergate, Tennessee.

Stock No. 28625372 VIN W04WJ3N5XJG083436

Still in the category of “Cute Red German Convertibles for $25,000, Alex”, here’s another hardly driven, totally adorable little drop top. Tan over red outside, pretty much the same scheme inside, and among the most cheerful pairings in the CarMax inventory, consisting of mostly black, white, and silver cars. Fifteen thousand miles in twelve years. Roughly 1,400 miles a year — a Sunday driver’s Sunday driver. The A5-generation Beetle convertible was discontinued after 2019 and won’t return, making low-mileage examples increasingly collectible. The 1.8T is no muscle car at almost eight seconds to 60, but the Golf platform underneath it is sound, and the car simply hasn’t been used.

Oddly, this car is selling for only $4,000 less than when new a dozen years ago. Didn’t know Volkswagens that weren’t Golf R’s held their value like this. It’s also on the cusp of CarMax extinction as 2014 models of European cars are phased out – of the 1,500 cars from 2014 in the CarMax inventory, only 37 are European. It’s a one-owner, one-accident VW also reserved here in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Stock No. 28763216 VIN 3VW517AT4EM819566

Sticking with the red unicorn theme for a bit. I actually saved this in my profile as a possible and unlikely replacement for my M3. Here’s why. Manual transmission. Oddly, adaptive cruise control, heated seats and steering wheel, automatic headlights…many of the things I’d like in a modern car, and didn’t know they were available in the Jeep Wrangler. Pleasantly surprised. And legit 4×4 offroading credentials to get me into trouble. Here is a Wrangler that can’t decide what it wants to be — and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. The Wrangler is the only car on this list where you can drop the top, remove the doors, engage 4-Low, and ford an actual creek. Most convertible buyers will never do that. But knowing you could is half the appeal. “The most capable off-road vehicle that also happens to be a legitimate convertible.”— Car and Driver.

The Jeep is powered by a 3.6-liter six cylinder making 285 horsepower. Not bad. It does 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds, quicker than the Beetle, but not why you buy a Wrangler. I abandoned the idea of this as a replacement for the M3, as much as I want a manual transmission convertible, for one reason only – I want a manual drop top to handle well, sprinting around country roads, and a Wrangler ain’t that. Otherwise, it’s a very well-equipped daily driver. It sold new for about $38,000 and is now $27k with 29,000 miles. Accident-free. Two owners. Find it here in Smithtown, New York.

Stock No. 27795027 VIN 1C4GJXAGXMW534240

Needed to include a hard top convertible and elected to add this sleek SLK300 rather than an M4, since I already have two BMW’s on this list. A 2016 Mercedes SLK300, that, like some of the others, has hardly been driven – 7,000 miles in a decade. The 2016 SLK300 was a genuine refresh: a new 2.0-liter, 241-hp turbocharged four-cylinder replaced the old, anemic 1.8, and a 9-speed automatic replaced the previous gearbox. It surprises me with a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. The folding hardtop means you get a proper coupe in winter and a roadster in summer, with no wind buffeting, although a slightly compromised trunk. The Mercedes hard top convertibles also have the built-in skylight – a bit unusual. Red over cream is a striking, classic pairing on a car this small and this tidy. The VW Beetle’s prettier twin? AutoGuide noted the SLK “builds speed in an effortless, assuming way” — which is another way of saying it’s faster than it feels.

This is a one-owner, accident-free car from the southeast, and sold originally for nearly $50,000. At the moment it’s here in Palmdale, California, north of Los Angeles.

Stock No. 70003630 VIN WDDPK3JA7GF123017

I promise this is the last red convertible. It’s maybe as unwelcome in the enthusiast car community as Tim McGraw’s hit, “Red Rag Top”, was in country music radio back in the day. IYKYK. Here’s a historical footnote most buyers will miss: 2018 was the final year Nissan offered the 370Z Roadster with a manual transmission. After this, you could only get the automatic in the drop-top Z. That makes this the last of a lineage stretching back to the 1969 Datsun 240Z. Sadly, this example is an automatic, but the context matters — the 370Z Roadster in any guise is an adequate sports car, increasingly hard to find. The naturally aspirated 332 hp, 3.7-liter V6 revs to 7,500 rpm, sounds genuinely good, and pulls a very strong 5.1-second 0-60. Touring trim means Bose audio, leather, and navigation. Red on black. 19k miles. An almost future collectible at a practical-car price.

The 2018 Nissan 370Z sold for over $40,000 new and is now a reasonable $29k. Ultra low miles. It’s a two-owner car from the south that’s now here up in Albany, New York. The 370Z has not gotten much love from car enthusiasts, but it’s for the Z purist who wants an analog sports car at an analog price.

Stock No. 28000973 VIN JN1AZ4FH4JM520035

Here’s a 2017 BMW 650i Convertible. Grand Tourer. The 2017 is the last model year of the F13 6 Series — BMW discontinued the body before the 8 Series replaced it. One of the newest examples you’ll find, 27,000 miles, original sticker close to $96,000. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 makes 445 horsepower and covers 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Massaging heated and cooled seats. Bang & Olufsen audio, Apple CarPlay. A heads-up display. White over black is clean, fast-looking, and anonymous — nobody knows it was a near-six-figure car until you accelerate. Careful when turning – it’s a big one, though.

This is my second-favorite unicorn from a value/depreciation perspective. It’s selling for almost a third of its MSRP. Perhaps some reliability issues can be addressed with Maxcare. The BMW also gets around – five owners up and down the East Coast, but no accidents. It’s here at the moment in Columbus Sawmill, Ohio.

Stock No. 28795814 VIN WBA6F5C58HD996808

Now going with a red, white, and blue theme? No apologies on this one. A legit driver’s car. 2017 BMW M240i. “The M240i is the best-driving BMW you can buy for the money — perhaps the best-driving BMW, full stop.”— Car and Driver. A turbocharged inline-six convertible, 6-speed manual, 10,000 miles, in blue over red — which is to say, the only color combination with any conviction — at $35,998. The M240i was the spiritual successor to the beloved M235i: smaller, lighter, more analog than the M4, with almost as much performance and considerably more soul. BMW discontinued the 2 Series convertible after 2021. This configuration — manual gearbox, soft top, barely driven — is a bit rare.

When new, the 2017 BMW M240i sold for perhaps $51,000. It’s held its value at $36k, and the ultra-low miles mean you can drive it another 115,000 miles under MaxCare. It’s a two-owner California car available here in Pleasant Hill, California, between Oakland and Sacramento.

Stock No. 28586314 VIN WBA2L1C33HV668771

And now my favorite from a depreciation point of view, a 2017 Jaguar F-Type R AWD – $108,000 new. A supercharged 5.0-liter V8, 550 horsepower, all-wheel drive, a 186 mph top speed — for $40,998. The F-Type R was Jaguar’s attempt to prove it could build a streetable supercar; it succeeded. White over red is a dramatic pairing that suits a dramatic car. The AWD variant is the rare configuration — most F-Types were rear-drive — and provides genuine all-weather usability that the rear-drive R doesn’t. The exhaust note at startup is legitimately startling. A $108,000 car for the price of a loaded Accord. MaxCare is not optional. Budget for tires.

The 2017 Jaguar F-Type R rips to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. “Not a sports car that compromises. Simply the most exciting Jaguar since the E-Type.”— Car and Driver on the F-Type R. Unlike the Jaguar XK, which had a pseudo-rear seat that allowed me to recline the driver’s seatback and generate a little more hip room, the F-Type is a true two-seater – meaning I don’t fit. (And I haven’t seen an XK on the CarMax page in months – wonder if they’re no longer carrying them?) This is a two-owner, accident-free car that spent its time in Virginia and Florida, and is now here in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Stock No. 28753705 VIN SAJWJ6HL0HMK38378

Having just driven the Mother Road, I thought I should end with an American V8. The C7 Stingray is a complete sports car argument in one package: 460 naturally aspirated horses, 3.8-second 0–60, magnetic ride control that reads the road 1,000 times per second, and a Bose audio system audible at speeds no one should admit to. Black on black is the Corvette’s most serious look. At 20,000 miles and $43,998, this hits the unicorn threshold nearly to the dollar and mile. The soft top power-folds behind the seats in seconds. This is the American sports car at a practical price.

This 20,000-mile, 2015 Corvette Stingray got its start in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, no less, and had four owners in the Midwest before returning home for sale here in Louisville, Kentucky, not far from where every Corvette has been built for the last 45 years. It sold new for perhaps $60,000 and has retained its value quite well.

Stock No. 28268814 VIN 1G1YF3D75F5120892

Ten convertibles, ten completely different answers to the same question: what does open-air driving mean to you? The JCW says it means a clutch pedal and a grin. The Cascada says it means a Tuesday afternoon with nowhere to be. The Wrangler says remove the doors entirely. The F-Type R says 550 horsepower and an exhaust note that sets off car alarms. None of them are wrong. The unicorn threshold isn’t just about price and mileage — it’s about finding the car that fits the specific kind of freedom you’re after. Probably one of these ten does exactly that for a car and CarMax enthusiast?

October 6, 2024October 5, 2024

Three Reasons (Excuses) I Haven’t Written Much and Three Corvettes That Haven’t Been Driven Much

Reason #1 – I drove the Mercedes GLE63 from Virginia to Seattle and back, with more than a bit of craziness along the way. Most of of it captured on a dashcam. That’s about a hundred hours of video to sort through so I can write a wildly entertaining blog post on that.

Reason #2—My friend (we’ll call him “Jerry”) rented this 2024 BMW to drive his son from Virginia to California, and I flew out to drive back with Jerry. I have another blog post to do on that road trip, without violating his privacy, of course.

Virginia Beach Marathon – Back When All My Parts Worked

Reason #3 – I have been inspired to resume writing a book on my marathon running experiences, which has consumed much of my free time. I had set it aside for years, and now I have a November deadline to complete it. For what it’s worth, there are more than a few similarities between cross-country driving and marathon running. Someday, maybe I’ll write a piece on that!

All that rationalizing aside, I’m taking an afternoon coffee break from writing about running to blog about these Corvettes. I also got a notification this morning that a gentleman, who I believe goes by Jim, just signed up to follow the blog, and I thought I owed it to you all to stop whining and actually write a blog post.

These Corvettes really don’t fit my standard model for unicorns because they are way over my new threshold budget of $45,000. They’re unique because they’ve hardly been driven—less than 999 miles each. I’m still amazed that CarMax is able to buy up so many ultra-low-mileage cars. At the moment they have about a half dozen cars, three years old or more, with less than 1,000 miles on them. In fact, bump that up to 10,000 miles and you get about three dozen muscle cars, most less than $40,000. Does anyone know why owners don’t drive them more?

The standout here is the 2016 Corvette Z06 above. Over eight years old and less than a thousand miles on it. And a convertible to boot. The C7 Corvette was manufactured from 2014-2019 and was the last of the front-engined cars. The C7 was developed to offset the research suggesting the C6 Corvette had become an “old man’s toy”. The head of Chevy marketing thought too many people saw it as the car of “the successful plumber.” (thanks to Wiki for that – no offense to plumbers?)

Our next two contestants are newer C8s: a red 2020 Corvette Stingray and a black 2023 Corvette Stingray—both in 3LT trim. The 2020 was the first year for the C8, and the mid-engine was GM’s first since the 1984 Pontiac Fiero. These 2020 and 2023 models have targa tops that can be stored in the boot. Not quite a convertible.

The 2016 Z06 (below) surprisingly offered Apple CarPlay with the MyLink 8-inch touch screen, a heads-up display, and air-conditioned and heated seats. The interior looks damned near new, as it should with so few miles. The 2016 Z06 had the Performance Data and Video Recorder with Navigation feature. and front curb-view cameras. Nice to have. The GM of old, though, continued to use the same switches and buttons across more pedestrian models like the Impala and Suburban, detracting a bit from this sports car’s panache.

I don’t know why I said panache. I never use that word, and if I did, I should have saved it for the C8 interior below. It’s very…panachy? As modern and high tech as the whole car. I love that whole bank of buttons on the right side of the console. Pretty sure zipping around turns my passenger wife would be gripping that and accidentally turning stuff on and off. I once sat in a C8 and found it way more roomy and comfortable for my 6’4″ 225-pound frame than the C7. The bulkhead behind the C7 driver’s seat prevented me from reclining the seatback to get more hip room. Not so in the C8, even with the big motor behind me. That said, I found it harder to ease through the C8 doorway and into the cockpit than the C7, and pretty sure I’d be banging my door into every car I parked next to. It was not for me as a daily driver.

The 3LT trim upgrades the 2LT interior to leather-trimmed everything, and Napa leather sport seats with carbon fiber accents. The 3LT upgrade was $4,650 on top of the $7,300 for the 2LT features – an additional front HD camera and HD rearview camera, rear cross-traffic alerts, and blind-spot monitoring. The 2LT also provides heated and cooling seats and a heated steering wheel. Read in Top Flight Automotive: “A feature you might choose for your 2LT trim is the automatic front-lift tool. With just the click of a button in the center console, this tool elevates your front bumper about two inches from the ground to keep your Corvette scrape-free. It’s important to note that this option isn’t standard and is only offered for the 2LT and 3LT trims at an additional price.” I can’t tell if these 3LTs have that – CarMax doesn’t have a tab to search for it.

The 2020 Corvette Stingray has a mere 693 miles!

And the 2023 looks like only 724 miles. (Unfortunately, CarMax’s photo of the 2016 Z06’s dash was taken with the display turned off, so no mileage display. The service history shows an inspection in late August at 940 miles. I’d bet that’s close now.)

The 2016 Corvette Z06 is powered by a monster 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 (above), making a whopping 650 horsepower. With an eight-speed automatic, it will knock out 60 mph in just three seconds. The top speed is 186 mph. Supercar performance on the cheap?

The 2020 Corvette Stingray 3LT engine bay.

The 2020 and 2023 3LTs are powered by far less powerful naturally aspirated V-8s, also 6.2 liters, producing “only” 490 horsepower. But with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, no manual available anymore, the C8 is still faster to 60 mph, hitting it in 2.7 seconds. Top speed is 194 mph. Highway mpg is 27….obviously not at that speed.

CarMax’s photo of the 2023 engine bay shows the plastic protective cover, which looks dented.

The 2016 Corvette Z06 sold new for maybe $90,000. It hasn’t depreciated very much in eight years. It’s a one-owner, accident-free car that’s been in California from the start. Right now it’s here in Palm Springs. Although the car hasn’t been driven enough to deserve an oil change it has been serviced. I’d still spring for MaxCare for another five years and 150,000 miles. And drive the hell out of it. Quickly.

Stock No: 26422360 VIN: 1G1YU3D62G5601343

The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT listed new for perhaps $71,495, although if I recall, nobody was getting the first-year C8 Corvette out the door for under $90,000. I may remember wrong. Of interest is the photo above, which shows a price drop of $2,000. Since I started writing, it has dropped another grand to $69,998. Is CarMax getting itchy to unload this Corvette? It’s a one-owner Florida car currently here in Fort Lauderdale.

Stock No: 26412626 VIN: 1G1Y82D41L5113752

Finally, the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT sold new for about $78,000, or at least that was roughly the MSRP. However, I still don’t think they were really available for that. This one has hardly depreciated in a year, although it was in a “moderate” accident in Greenville, South Carolina, which might give me pause. It’s still under manufacturer warranty, but I’d still do MaxCare. It’s not a coveted 70th-anniversary car, but it’s still a world-class sports car. It’s currently reserved for a drive here in Augusta, Georgia.

Stock No: 26128144 VIN: 1G1YC3D44P5105218

Now back to marathons!

April 18, 2024April 18, 2024

A Springtime Solar Eclipse Means Time For 10 Convertible Unicorns!

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?

StockNo: 25294928 VIN: JN1CV6FE3FM810232 LINK

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.

StockNo: 25271376 VIN: JC1NFAEKXK0141887 LINK

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.

StockNo: 25491124 VIN: 1C3BCBFG0DN724042

April 7, 2023April 6, 2023

So The Last Shall Be First, And The First Last: A Pair of First and Last Year Chevrolet SS Sedans From Down Under

Not above plagiarizing Matthew for a headline. My other choice was a miserable one from Victor Hugo; “Nothing can be sadder or more profound than to see a thousand things for the first and last time.“* The “thousand things” could mean the 12,953 Holden unicorns made in Australia and imported by General Motors as Chevrolet SS sleepers from 2014 to 2017.

This one is a 2017 Chevrolet SS, the final year, with only 29,000 miles on it. The 2017 SS listed at about $48,000, but Chevrolet never moved these off the lots as quickly as they moved from stoplights, and offered deep discounts – up to 20% in many cases – to reduce inventory. Snatching one of these in 2017 for $38,000 would have been a helluva deal, especially since as a modern, collector car it’s now selling at MSRP! Unfortunately, it’s not the more coveted manual transmission like this rare pair offered by CarMax two years ago.

The 2017 Chevrolet SS is listed as a “10” for features by CarMax, and yet for a six year old car it’s lacking more than a few. Heated and air conditioned seats, automated parking, heads up display, cross traffic alert, and a decent Bose sound system yes. But no adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay, or heated steering wheel. What it has is a massive 6.2 liter LS3 naturally aspirated V-8 motor that makes 415 horsepower driving the rear wheels. That’s not a ton, but it moves this car to 60 mph in the mid-four second range. And it sounds awesome doing so. I drove one a few years ago and it had the same visceral oomph and roar of old time muscle cars. The SS also has (from 2015 on) GM’s Magnetic Ride Control suspension and handles quite well – .94 lateral g on the skid pad.

This 2017 Chevrolet SS has spent its whole life in Florida with one owner and is available here in Tampa. It’s actually gray over black, making all the pix look like they’re in black and white. It’s an accident free car and eligible for MaxCare up to 150,000 miles and five years. I don’t think I’d bother at all.

Stock No. 24071876 VIN 6G3F15RW9HL303934

What follows also looks like the same car in black and white pictures but it is not. This is a green over black Chevrolet SS – a first year model from 2014. It’s outfitted almost identically to the 2017 above, although as noted does not have the magnetic suspension. It’s also $4,000 less than the 2017 and has only 18,000 miles.

IMHO the 2014 green exterior, although subtle, has a nicer tone than the drab gray of the 2017.

What kept me from buying one way back when? If you’re a regular reader you would know it’s my vanity. I was okay having a Mercedes S-class that concealed its V-12 motor and yet having to explain over and over my Chevrolet came from Australia and really wasn’t a Malibu is beyond me. It looks pretty plain. The 2014 had a big pair of exhaust outlets and by 2017 the car got four, smaller pipes. Beyond that I’d be hard pressed to tell the difference.

All of the SS’s had plenty of room in the back seat and in the trunk to be a legitimate family hauler or road tripper. And on road trips the car gets up to 22 mpg highway. I’ve had worse.

This 2014 Chevrolet SS was a two-owner from Kansas and Lubbock, and is currently being transferred to San Antonio, Texas but you can track it here. Same MaxCare warranty options as the 2017, although always remarkable that it would still be covered when it’s 14 years old!

Stock No. 23712976 VIN 6G3F15RW1EL938447

*The full quote makes me want to end it all.

“Nothing can be sadder or more profound than to see a thousand things for the first and last time. To journey is to be born and die each minute…All the elements of life are in constant flight from us, with darkness and clarity intermingled, the vision and the eclipse; we look and hasten, reaching out our hands to clutch; every happening is a bend in the road…and suddenly we have grown old. We have a sense of shock and gathering darkness; ahead is a black doorway; the life that bore us is a flagging horse, and a veiled stranger is waiting in the shadows to unharness us. ”

― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

November 22, 2022November 22, 2022

781 Mile 2013 Corvette 427 Convertible Z06 (Not)

Yes I miss my bright yellow 1971 Fiat 124 Spider convertible and every night I surf CarMax for yellow cars that might soothe my soul. Of the 55,000 cars in the inventory today, 100 are yellow making it the least popular color – even fewer than purple – and of those 100, six are Corvettes. And the most fascinating of the Corvettes is this 2013 427 with only 781 miles. It’s pretty much a brand new 10 year old Corvette! A unicorn perhaps.

Here’s your proof. It’s a two-owner Oklahoma car that’s never been wrecked, and has pretty much no history in the “detailed vehicle history” section on the web….because there is no history. The car sold new for maybe $77,000 back in 2013 and is selling for almost $70,000 now. Same old conundrum – high price for low miles that will lose value once you drive it, but let’s not forget it’s a pretty good car. CarMax lists it as having the 60th anniversary package, but I’m not seeing that.

Not a Corvette expert by any means, so I got my intel from this Car and Driver review from 2013. Was surprised to find the gouge on this edition is that it’s pretty much a Z06 except for the steel frame – the Z06 coupe has an aluminum frame. Otherwise, Car and Driver notes, “beneath its carbon-fiber Z06 hood and between what look like the Z06’s carbon-fiber fenders sits the Z06’s dry-sump 7.0-liter V-8 spinning the Z06’s six-speed manual—the only transmission available, just as in the Z06—and directing power to the Z06’s rear axle, which is equipped with the Z06’s available magnetorheological shock absorbers. Chevy refuses to call the 427 droptop a Z06 for a much simpler reason: Supporting its carbon-fiber and balsa-wood sandwich floor panels—same as the Z06’s—is the hydroformed steel frame from the base Corvette rather than the aluminum structural core of the Z06“. To a knucklehead like me, it’s a Z06. (But if you really, really want a true yellow Corvette convertible Z06 here’s a link to a 2017 model with only 27,000 miles – for only $68,000!)

The 505 horsepower 7-liter V-8 and manual transmission pushes this car to 60 mph in less than four seconds, and tops out at 182 mph. It’s got leather heated seats, heads up display, a Bose audio with CD (and an aux jack!) and not a lot else in the way of modern doodads. Chevrolet, though, called it “the fastest and most-capable convertible in Corvette’s history” when it was released.

It’s a very nice, pristine damned near new Corvette, and I’m sure someone who loves Corvettes will buy this eventually. MaxCare is available for another 150,000 miles and five years, although I suspect the next owner will have no intention of driving this Corvette that much. Take me back to Tulsa, where you can find this Corvette here!

Stock 23016911 · VIN 1G1YY3DE2D5700297

August 29, 2022August 28, 2022

Five for Five – Five 2017 Cars for Five Year Blog Anniversary!

Just hit the five year anniversary of the CarMax Unicorn Blog and thought I’d take a minute to say thanks to the folks who are still reading this from time to time as I still enjoy writing this from time to time. The numbers say I’ve only blogged 31 times so far this year and I normally do 60-80 posts annually so I have some catching up to do. Admittedly, when I’m obsessively searching for my own unicorns I don’t get around to blogging about yours as much as I’d like. And this year not only did I buy two of them (the M3 and the CT6), I sold my 1971 Fiat with a little coverage here and I’m still working on selling my 2010 Mercedes S600 (having conversations with several of you on that car now!). Still getting 2-3,000 visitors a month so will keep this going another year! And oddly, the 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis LS posting here retook the lead from a Cayenne as the blog with the most views ever. Sigh.

When I married my wife in 1996 I started commemorating anniversaries by doing a one of something gift for year one, a pair for year two, three of something for the third anniversary and on. Was easy to be imaginative up to year 12 (particularly enjoyed linking gifts to the nine planets for our ninth, before Pluto dropped out) but I was totally out of ideas as we celebrated our 26th this summer. Maybe I didn’t think we’d make it this long when I started the tradition?

Anyway, for the fifth year of the blog thought I’d go with five unicorns that were actually brand new cars back when I started the blog and are now interesting used cars. Thanks for hanging in there with me and hope you like them.

I like this 2017 Audi S8 a lot, given that it checks (almost) all my boxes for an S600 successor. Fully loaded with Apple CarPlay, adaptive cruise control, seat massagers, and over 600 hp from a twin turbo 4.0 liter V-8 powerplant. And since I started this blog post a few days ago, it dropped $1,000 in price! But I’m hanging in there for the most autonomous driving capability I can get (the Cadillac CT6 spoiled me) and my amateur take is for the German car makers 2019 was a generational improvement. I cannot tell how much auto-driving is available on this Audi.

This car sold new in 2017 for almost $120,000. It sprints to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Yup – 3.3 – supercar speed in a 4,700 lb sedan. Oh so tempting. Find this 2017 Audi S8 here in Irvine, California.

Stock # 23108469 VIN # WUAJ5AFD4HN901220

I also like this 2017 Corvette Stingray with less than 2,000 miles. It packs a big 6.2 liter, 455 hp naturally aspirated V-8. Why don’t people drive their cars?! This one looks as clean as when it was new. A bit old school with the motor in the front!

Someone paid about $60,000 for this Stingray in 2017. It hasn’t depreciated at all. This stupid low mileage Corvette moving here to Hillside, Illinois but you can still track it.

Stock # 23187843 VIN # 1G1YB2D7XH5100050

February 1, 2022

Quick Hits – Back to the Basics V-8 Enthusiast Unicorns

After writing my Fiat story and the low mileage SUV piece I though I should get back to covering some fundamental cars that (mostly) met my original parameters for unicorns – less than $35,000, not more than 60,000 miles, and if possible be an enthusiast car. Unfortunately, the crazy used car market has boosted prices significantly, and I may have to up the cap to perhaps $45,000? Well, I picked the following naturally aspirated V-8’s for no other reason than I found them interesting, and I’m writing from Daytona after watching the Rolex 24 Hour race, where I had hoped the V-8 Corvettes would be more competitive. Let’s jump in.

First, how about a bright orange 2014 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Core? A stripped down version of the SRT-8 392, it pumps 470 hp from a 6.4 liter motor linked to a six-speed manual transmission. (For all the muscle cars in this post I picked manual transmissions only – seems right and salutary.) The car is good for mid-four second 0-60 mph sprints and burnout after burnout fun. Brakes strong, surprisingly comfortable on the highway, but not terribly well equipped. But because it’s an American car, MaxCare is available for another full five years and up to 150,000 miles.

You can find this 2014 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 here in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Stock # 20804911 VIN # 2C3CDYDJ7EH284379

September 21, 2021September 20, 2021

1 of 101 – 2017 Camaro SS Indy “Official Vehicle” (NOT a Pace Car)

Don’t get too excited. Unless you’re a die hard Indy 500 fan, or you know the car was used to shuttle Takuma Sato around town, you’re probably not going to be too excited about this 2017 Chevrolet Camaro SS Official Vehicle. There were 101 of these special edition Camaros produced for the 101’st running of the Indy 500 and used as “festival” cars – ferrying officals and VIP’s around Indianapolis. Actually, 51 were used as festival cars and 50 were never driven, and all 101 moved to dealerships after the race for sale. In years past “festival” cars, having been driven around Indy, were subsequently sold as used cars. Chevrolet’s strategy now is to sell 50 as new cars and the 51 as used. Who knows which this was? I’m thinking since it was titled with 2,800 miles it was one of the 51. Regardless, it’s not a 50th anniversary 2017 Camaro SS Indy Pace car. A unicorn-lite?

So what do you get when you buy a 2017 Camaro Indy Official car? Well, according to the Indianapolis Speedway web page:

The 2017 Festival Camaros feature a Summit White exterior, blue center stripe, black convertible top and Adrenaline Red leather interior. The Festival Camaros carry the unique production option code designation (Z4Z) that signifies Indianapolis 500 Festival-only option content. Included in the (Z4Z) package is a body-length blue stripe with a watermark Indianapolis Motor Speedway Wing and Wheel logo, red fender hash marks, gloss black lower front splitter, special SS grille with red accents and black Chevrolet bowtie emblems. The 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 event logo adorns the doors, and a special rocker stripe completes the package.

That’s it?! Reminds me of when my best friend bought a brand new Chevrolet screamer back in 1981 (I think) called a Citation X-11. Had a high output 135 hp six cylinder and tweaked suspension. I wanted one too and went in to a Chevy dealer to ask about buying one but they were all out. The salesman tried to put me in a regular Citation scoffing, “the X-11 is just an appearance package!”. Ha! He had no idea what a hot rod a real X-11 was. (Turns out my buddy’s X-11 was a total piece of crap and melted down early.) Well, this Indy Official Car thing really, truly is an appearance package – but one only 101 other Camaro driver’s have. I guess that’s a unicorn.

In fairness, the Camaro SS is still a pretty decent sports car with an LT1 6.2L V-8, which offers 455 naturally aspirated horsepower. This particular convertible also has air conditioned and heated seats, a heated steering wheel, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, and a Bose audio system. What’s interesting is CarMax has six other 2017 Camaro SS’s identically equipped around the same price and mileage point without the Indy livery – being 1 of 101 means it ain’t selling at a premium at all! So if you want to think positively about this car, think you get to have a rare car that costs you nothing extra? And that’s where I started this piece – if you dig Indy a lot or were there in 2017 and want a great souvenir, well you can find this single owner one coming soon here in Columbia, South Carolina. And skip MaxCare – this one is probably not coming into the pits any time soon.

May 27, 2021May 27, 2021

Four Chevrolet Unicorns That Are NOT A Bargain (But They Are Collectables!)

I’ve covered these unicorns a few times over the last few years. Once I found CarMax to be loading up their inventories and wrote here about the hoarding. They went from a handful to 24 units almost overnight. Sometimes they have none. Occasionally they score a rare manual transmission version and those sell faster than the cars drive. Only a couple of hundred were imported yearly by Chevrolet. Yes, imported and so I just gave it away. The Australian Holden sports sedan imported and rebadged as Chevrolet SS models from 2014-2017. The list price (MSRP) was between $40,000 and $48,000 when new, although they didn’t sell well and were deeply discounted. I’ve read by as much as 20% to clear them from the lots. Chevrolet projected sales of 12-15,000 cars a year and sold maybe 3,000 annually. There were lots of articles on why the SS did not sell well. Poor market positioning. Looked like a Malibu. Overpriced. Now there are lots of articles on what a great enthusiast car this was, with a 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V-8 rated at 415hp, and good for mid-four second 0-60mph runs. Brembo brakes. Adaptable magnetic suspension. Great reviews. And now these once shunned cars are selling at a premium. More than they sold for new, and sometimes more than the MSRP Chevrolet never got. When I started this blog in 2017 Chevrolet was still trying to unload new SS models for under $40,000 and CarMax had low mileage used ones for around $30,000. Now CarMax has a low mileage, but still used 2017 SS offered at $54,000! And it’s not even a manual. Well, enjoy these four collectable Chevrolets. I had hoped there would be one from each model year offered but it was not to be, and if I wait even these may be gone.

The pretty blue 2017 Chevrolet SS with 15,000 miles selling for $53,998.

The 2015 model with 28,000 miles for $45,998. This was the first year for adaptive suspension, btw.

The first year in the US – 2014 – and selling for a whopping $42,998 with 34,000 miles.

Another 2017 for “only” $45,998 with 40,000 miles! And yes, it looks like a Malibu.

Pretty sure the interiors looked the same for all four years?

The motor. Not high horsepower but plenty, and a raucous rumble.

Here’s the link to the expensive 2017 in Knoxville.

Here’s the link to the 2017 in Pineville, North Carolina.

The link to de one in Des Moines. (Seeing if anyone is paying attention.)

And finally, the link to the first year car in Kansas City.

April 25, 2021April 25, 2021

Quick Hit – 1 of 711 (or 1 of 40?) 2016 Chevrolet SS Manual Transmission Collector (And Bonus 2017 SS)

Manual transmission Chevrolet SS models are the most sought after of the Australian Holdens rebadged and imported to the US from 2014-2017. And two of the five Chevrolet SS cars on CarMax lots are 6-speed manuals. Fortunately, GM releases production numbers for these cars by year, color, and options. Chevrolet sold 2,202 SS models in 2016, 711 with manual shifters. Only 168 in Red Hot Red. It gets harder after that – 13 with sunroof, inflator, and manual transmission, and 27 with sunroof, a spare tire, and manual. So… this 2016 Chevrolet SS is at a minimum 1 of 2,202. Or 1 of 711. Or 1 of 40 (I can’t tell if this has a spare or inflator!), or at best, 1 of 13. All of them say unicorn to me.

Just over three years ago, while Chevrolet was still importing and selling SS models, I wrote here about the inexplicable boost in SS inventory at Carmax – they normally carry a handful and in December 2017 had a remarkable 24 units on lots. Maybe they knew something. TheSS listed new in 2016-2017 for $42-48,000. They also came with significant rebates making them ridiculous values. What’s surprising to me is they are selling now, four years after extinction, for almost what they sold for new. Very few used cars are retaining value like that. This low mileage model is surely selling for at or above its new car price.

The Chevrolet SS was powered by a 6.2 liter naturally aspirated LS3 V-8 pumping a decent but not spectacular 415 hp. Car and Driver still made a 4.6 second 0-60 mph run – no slouch – and just short of 1g lateral handling on the skid pad. Respectable numbers. The car has adaptive suspension and is adequately appointed but by no means loaded. I doubt SS owners care. Find this low mileage, one owner accident free 2016 Chevrolet SS here in Hartford, Connecticut.