Chevrolet – Page 2 – The Carmax Unicorn Blog

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.

March 27, 2021March 28, 2021

Quick Hit – Manual Transmission 2010 Chevrolet HHR SS – Low Miles, Reasonable Price

Two years ago I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the 260 hp Chevrolet HHR SS unicorn and wrote about it here. Was even more surprised when a blog reader bought it! Well, here’s another one with lower miles and a higher price, but it comes with a five speed manual transmission. And 2010 was the last year for the HHR. The HHR forums suggest there were 916 HHR SS’s sold in 2010, and not a lot of them with manual transmissions.

The SS also included launch control and no-lift shifting for the manual transmission model, should you be so inclined, and while fun not necessarily fast at 6.5 seconds to 60 mph. I would have expected better for a 3,100 lb vehicle. Gone is the boost gauge in the A pillar that was in the 2008 model. Here’s the review from Car and Driver’s 2009 piece.

This car is damned clean with only 28,000 miles in 10+ years on New Hampshire roads. It’s a one owner, accident free car. It sold new for north of $26,000 and may not be a huge bargain at $16,998. But throw MaxCare in and you’ll be out the door for $20,000 with bumper to bumper coverage for another 125,000 miles until it’s 16 years old! Could be fun and not a lot of HHR SS models out there, and few in this condition. Find it here in Westborough, Massachusetts.

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020

Quick Hit – The Great Pumpkin! One of 2,441. Killer Corvette ZR1 in Kenosha. Yours for $119,998!

The 755 hp 2019 ZR1 unicorn is the fastest Corvette to date (the C8 variants out in the spring will likely equal or exceed the 2019 ZR1) with a top speed of 212 mph and a 0-60 run in 2.8 seconds. Supercar fast. The Corvette team chief called this Corvette “the most we know how to do” according to this Car and Driver review. Corvette folks know tons more than me about ZR1’s. I love watching Corvette’s whoop far more exotic and expensive cars at Le Mans and Daytona but have given up on owning one – at 6’4″ I just don’t fit behind the wheel.

I’m thinking the gas mileage is N/A because it doesn’t get any?

The 2019 Corvette XR1 sold new for over $120,000. Not much depreciation here? This is the most expensive car I’ve seen at CarMax in the three plus years of tracking unicorns.

As an aside, the most expensive CarMax car I’ve seen before this ZR1 was an almost new 2017 Mercedes AMG GT with only 2,000 miles on it. Listed for $114,998 and over a couple of weeks dropped regularly in price and may have finally sold for $104,998. Here’s the link to that saga. We shall see how long this Corvette stays on the market.

The most likely view I’ll ever have of this car – as a passenger.

This single-owner, low mileage (5,000) hot rod is still under Chevrolet’s warranty for another 31,000 miles and 24 months or so. I would still spring for MaxCare – a car like this needs to be driven hard and fast. That’s what it was engineered for. No need to tell CarMax about your track days when you blow it up. On the other hand if you can afford a $120,000 car maybe you can afford the repairs. Find this ZR1 here in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

August 31, 2020

Quick Hit – Another Chevrolet HHR SS for Cheap. (And One More Coming Soon)

HHHR side In November 2018 I wrote about a 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS and was pleasantly surprised to find that one of the readers here bought it. At the time I wrote that I didn’t know these HHR SS’ were a thing, and was impressed by the pretty good 2008 car magazine reviews of this sporty little wagon. Check these out; Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Road and Track, and even Popular Mechanics.

The HHR SS was only made for two years, and with a 2.0l 260 hp turbocharged four and “race-tuned” suspension, it was more than just an appearance package. Not a rocket, but more oomph than a regular HHR and a bit of a unicorn. The last one I wrote about sold for just under $14,000 with lower miles, and at $9,899 and 66,000 miles this one looks like a bargain. The Chevrolet HHR SS sold new for about $24,000. Of course, buy some MaxCare that will protect you until this car is an incredible 17 years old! HHR Int This 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS is here, near me in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tempting. Also, at the bottom of this page is a link to another HHR SS in the CarMax “Coming Soon” section of their website. Not as good of a deal though. Also in the for what it’s worth category, there are only 18 of these on Autotrader nationwide, all very high mileage except for one in Hampton, Virginia with similar miles for $2,000 less – but not MaxCare eligible. There is one for twice the price with an astonishing 6,500 miles. Oddly, it’s in Eldersburg, Maryland – putting all three cars within my reach. An omen? 2008 HHR SS $9899 66k Charlottesville 8-30

Continue reading “Quick Hit – Another Chevrolet HHR SS for Cheap. (And One More Coming Soon)”

August 3, 2020

First 2020 C8 Corvette (Off and) On at a CarMax Lot – $94,998

COrvette side Surprised to see this 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 unicorn pop up this afternoon on the CarMax website. I titled this “off and on” because the car does not show up on the CarMax app on my phone, and only shows up on my laptop depending on how I search for cars. Bizarre. Regardless, it’s a stunning red over black mid-engined race car that could easily be confused for a Ferrari for non-car people.

The ribbon of controls for the electronics are unlike anything I’ve seen. Unsure on the PRNDL levers below but what the hell. I like the dashboard center angled towards the driver, and love the engine bay. The car is listed at $94,998. I do not know Corvette lingo so had no idea where an “LT” model fits in against Z51, Stingrays, and Z06’s and was baffled since the 2020 Corvettes start at $60,000. The CarMax “features and specifications” page for the car is fairly boilerplate and documents normal accessories, but not Chevrolet-specific trim.

Well, between this flattering review in Automobile Magazine and doing a VIN search, I was able to see this car has the 3LT Z51 package and likely sold for it’s asking price here, plus or minus a few grand based on options I cannot see. Corvette experts probably can. I’m not an expert, but I am a fan. I’ve watched Corvettes dominate endurance racing at Le Mans and Daytona over the past decade-plus, and got to see the C8’s debut at the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona. Didn’t go great, but they are doing far better now.

This C8 is a sub-three second 0-60 mph supercar, and a bargain compared to its competition. Hard to call a $95,000 car a bargain, but you’d have to pay two or three times that for a comparable 911, Ferrari, or Lambo. And this is under manufacturer warranty, so no need for MaxCare! See, I just saved you thousands. My guess was the car is a repossession but the history report says no. And no accidents. The 2020 C8’s sold out before production began, and rumors are Chevrolet didn’t allocate the whole 40,000 production run of 2020’s that was expected. Find this sexy red car here in Hartford, Connecticut. The link may or may not work, depending on the app, the car’s availability, and Hurricane Isaias’ track? Enjoy. 2020 Chev Corvette LT $94,998 4k Hartford 8-3-2020

February 2, 2020

Super Bowl Unicorns: CarMax Kansas City vs CarMax San Francisco?

What else to do before the big game but to match up unicorns at the Kansas City and San Francisco dealerships? KC has a deeper bench with 352 cars that meet my unicorn threshold (Less than $35,000 and 60,000 miles) against San Fran’s 249. Some interesting choices (alas none worth a hoot in each teams’ colors) and I went with my final criteria – what would I drive away if I needed a car today from either dealership and had a bag with $35,000 in cash? My picks are below. s90 side In San Francisco we have this gorgeous 2017 Volvo S90 T6 Inscription. Thought this was a striking design inside and out from the start. Willing to tolerate the 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder since it puts out 316hp since the car is so good looking – and AWD!

Fortunately this Volvo is made in Sweden – I’d rule it out if it was a Chinese-made Volvo (nothing to do with coronavirus!). Find this single-owner Volvo here in Serramonte, California. 2917 S90 T6 $30,998 40k Serrramonte Continue reading “Super Bowl Unicorns: CarMax Kansas City vs CarMax San Francisco?”

October 9, 2019

332 Miles – 2015 Camaro

Planning to do a piece soon on CarMax unicorns with ridiculously low miles and thinking this one may not be around that long. A 2015 Camaro with only 332 miles on the odometer. Called the Tupelo dealer to verify. Unfortunately they couldn’t produce the MaxCare numbers. It’s only a 323 HP six cylinder, but it’s got a manual transmission, it’s a sunshiny Yellow, and damned near new for a four year old car. Find it here in Tupelo.

April 25, 2019April 25, 2019

Quick Hit – 2010 Camaro With 2k Miles! Need You More Than Want You……

2010 Camaro ….and I want you for all time. This adorable 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS unicorn has been on a CarMax lot in Wichita lot for over a week and got an alert today it dropped $1,000 (again). C’mon….it has been driven just over 200 miles PER YEAR by a single owner! I would even skip the MaxCare warranty – no need. It’s a new car.

With a 400hp 6.2 liter V-8, pristine interior, and a six-speed automatic, it’s perfect for enjoying driving the main road, searching in the sun for another overload. Or maybe you just need a small vacation. Car and Driver described this car as “Quiet + Calm Ride = Surprising Comfort” in the 2010 review. Find this nearly new Camaro in Wichita here. 2010 Camaro $23,998 2k Wichita

April 24, 2019

The CarMax 600hp Club – 19 Hot Rod Unicorns

Corvette front

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

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

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

February 5, 2019February 2, 2019

Reader Buys the 2008 Chevy HHR SS!

HHR SS Side No, I don’t get a commission. Just wanted to share that a kind reader told me he bought this 2008 Chevy HHR SS I wrote about in November. When folks tell me they buy unicorns I post I always want to know how it went – make sure that my experiences aren’t off the mark from theirs. I’ve bought four CarMax cars and transferred many more, helped a half-dozen friends make a purchase, and now I think I have four readers who bought cars I’ve written about. Anyway, the HHR buyer’s transfer was about as miserable as mine, taking a long time to execute and not much tracking along the way – plus a damaged bumper that was immediately fixed. Fortunately, he told me the delay spared his car from being on the lot when kids broke in overnight and tore up about 20 cars. But the sale went flawlessly and he has a really low mileage, well-preserved HHR. The buyer passed on MaxCare since he’s an accomplished mechanic. Thanks for letting me know!

2008 Chevrolet HHR SS $13,998 41k Puyallup