Category: Enthusiast Unicorns – CarMax Bargains (Under $35,000)

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

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

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

2011 Audi S6 V10 $25,998 53k Reno

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Another (nicer) BMW 760 V-12 Unicorn!

Last Saturday a reader pointed out the 12 cylinder BMW 760 I wrote about in July (and is still for sale here in California!) may be a dying breed unicorn for CarMax and I was ready to agree with him, when this second one – a 2013 with low miles – surfaced in Louisville, Kentucky the very same day (details at the bottom of this post).  This white one is way nicer, with lower miles and well-appointed – so much so that the car opened at $40,998 on September 21st, and when I decided to blog today I see it’s gone up $1,000 in price.  That’s rare, but not unheard of.  I watched one unicorn increase in price several times by a thousand or two over the course of a week.  Oddly, the higher mileage 2013 in California only dropped once in price by a thousand since July, and is still out there.  In all cases, you’re either a fool, filthy rich, or a BMW mechanic yourself if you buy these cars without the bulletproof MaxCare bumper-to-bumper warranty!  No offense.

My simple test for options on BMW’s of this era?  Check out the bank of buttons on the left of the steering wheel.  Five slots.  The now $41,998 / 46,000 mile 2013 BMW 760 is on the left above, the $36,998 / 57,000 mile 2013 BMW 760 on the right.  The only thing missing is BMW Night Vision on the right.  I don’t know why I need night vision – carry Navy SEALS on a raid?  Run moonshine and evade the cops (it is a Kentucky car, after all)? But once I saw how it worked on a Mercedes S600 I wanted it.  My next car will have it.  Anyway, the guide to the features is below, in case you were wondering.

BMW Buttons

Take a look at the 2013 BMW 760Li beauty with all the options here, in Louisville, Kentucky.  If the link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.  I’ll bet it sells before the $36,998 one!

2013 BMW 760 $41,998 46k Louisville

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Bevy of Bargain Boxsters – 2008 Unicorns

2008-porsche-boxster-photo-173511-s-986x603The Porsche Boxster, like the Mazda Miata, gets maligned as not a serious sports car…usually by folks who don’t follow sports cars.  And yet the Miata made Car and Driver’s 10 Best Car List 17 times, and the Boxster 14.  I’ve driven a Boxster and I get it.  (I would drive a Miata but at 6’4″ I just don’t fit.)  The mid-engined boxer six cylinder is a pleasure to to push, and the handling, braking, and shifting are, as the Germans would say, präzise.  Here’s the 2008 Car and Driver award for the Boxster.  I’ve picked a pair of 2008 Boxster unicorns for my friend Doug, a gentleman in need of a vintage-feeling sports car.  They’re 10-year-old cars with very, very low miles – driven only a few thousand yearly.  I would still highly recommend the MaxCare bumper-to-bumper warranty for a few grand more – it will pay for itself in the first year no doubt.  Here’s my two picks:

This second generation (987) 2008 Porsche Boxster checks all the boxes with a five-speed manual transmission, 2.7 liter flat six, 245 hp, and at under 2,900 pounds accomplishes 0-60 in under six seconds.  Not a rocket, but the Boxster is as much about handling and braking as it is acceleration.  And it will hit over 160mph – and get 28mpg (just not at the same time).  This three owner car has circulated between Potomac, MD, Washington DC, and McLean, Virginia – affluent areas where my guess is the owners have not skimped on service – all while being driven less than 2,000 miles yearly.  I’d still get the MaxCare warranty.  Find it here in Dulles, Virginia.  If the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 Porsche Boxster $26,998 20k Dulles

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My backup plan would be this 2008 Porsche Boxster in Los Angeles.  It does everything the one in Virginia does, except it’s $3,000 cheaper and has double the miles – a whopping 45,000, which is still stupid low for a 10 year old car.  It’s cheaper because it’s an automatic.  Yeah, I know…..if it was a real sports car it would have a manual.  But the Tiptronic automatic is as good as it gets for the times.  It has a place in these parts as a daily driver, in traffic, juggling coffee and a cell phone and a bagel.  I know – it’s the same transmission I have in Etta, my 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera unicorn.   And it shifts pretty damned quick in manual mode, holding gears when pushing through an apex, or going through the gears on the highway commute.  And I can vouch for the Bose stereo – replace the radio with a modern one, but PLEASE keep the amp and the speakers!   It’s a two-owner southern car, spending its time in Texas and California.  Find it here in Los Angeles.  Same deal on the link.

2008 Porsche Boxster $23,599 45k LA

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2008 BMW M5 is Back – Now in North Carolina but Same Price?

I think this 2008 BMW M5 (V-10) unicorn has been moving around sine June or July.  I first spotted it in Frederick, Maryland but lost track of it when I wrote about it here in August.  Today it surfaced in Greensboro, North Carolina, after moving to Pennsylvania.  Disappointed it remains at the original price of $30,998 – but not a lot of 500hp V-10 M5’s out there you can get a five year, 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty like MaxCare.  It’s an accident-free, three owner Florida/New Jersey car with a nice blue exterior and an interior called “gray”, but a nice off-white?   Maybe that’s why the wife won’t let me decorate.  I’d like to see this car drop to $28,998 or below.  Find it here in Greensboro – if the link is dead it’s sold (I doubt it), on hold (possible), or being transferred (again!).

2008 M5 $30,998 52k - Greensboro

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Winter’s Coming -AWD V8 Volvo S80? – By Chuck Banks and Ahmed Gardezi

Yes, it’s a 10 year old Volvo and only the second one I’ve listed loosely as a unicorn.  I get the impression it does nothing great, but most things well.  It’s the only Volvo with a V8 engine that CarMax sells right now, and it’s also all wheel drive.  Not terribly quick with a 0-60 mph just over six seconds, yet it would make a great winter cruiser.  What it’s doing in Las Vegas I have no idea.  Spent it’s early life in the Pacific Northwest where it’s first owner suffered an accident (shame!).   Comes with BLIS (Volvo’s blind spot monitoring), air conditioned and heated seats, and a decent audio system – playing Yo Gotti, BET Hip Hop award nominee and performer of “King Shit” for the CarMax cameraman.  And while we’re on the infotainment pod, what’s with that freakish alien Volvo uses for the climate controls?  Anyway, suspect MaxCare isn’t terribly expensive for an old Volvo and would make this a trouble free driver.  Find it here in Las Vegas – if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

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Time Capsule Unicorn – 2007 Infiniti G35 Hardly Driven – $17,599 – By Chuck Banks and Ahmed Gardezi

Have always been intrigued with stupid low mileage unicorns that wind up on CarMax lots, so thought I would start tracking a few of these almost vintage vehicles for fun.  Guess I get a kick out of the notion that because CarMax will offer their five year, up to 150,000 mile bumper to bumper MaxCare warranty on everything on their lot, you could own a 15 year old car with zero worries about unexpected repairs.

I’ll try to stick with cars I might own, or recommend for friends and family, and opening with this 11 year old 2007 Infiniti G35 driven LESS THAN 900 MILE PER YEAR!.  It got great long term reviews in Motor Trend as a BMW 3-series competitor, especially for its 293hp 6 cylinder, balanced handling, and big trunk.  It was also most reliable and needed no unscheduled maintenance – an argument against buying the MaxCare warranty but you roll the dice as you see fit.  This one really looks like it has an unblemished interior.  Was looking at its history and found its a two owner car – and until this year, what the hell – spent its time in Leesburg, Virginia where I now live!  Maybe I should bring it home?  The only disappointment….the car is selling for just under half its list price back in 2007! While I like low miles, I really like depreciation better.  Regardless, my hunch is you could drive this another 11 years and do quite well.  Find it here in Cleveland, Ohio – if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred (maybe back to Leesburg!). 2007 Infiniti G35 $17,998 9k Cleveland

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Stop the Press – A Better XJ8 on the Market…and a Vanden Plas No Less!

Ignore the 2008 Jaguar XJ8 I wrote about two weeks ago.  There’s a prettier cat….er unicorn out there for your consideration.  It’s a sweet 2008 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas with only 37,000 miles – a one owner car from Hephzibah, Georgia.  Hephzibah is a little town of 4,000 just south of Augusta.  The median income in Hephzibah is $37,000, and 10 years ago one of its residents dropped over twice that for this beauty and has driven it less than 4,000 miles a year.  Named after the Belgian coach builder, it’s all aluminum (or al-you-minium for my British friends), and has an underwhelming 300hp 4.2l V-8.  But it’s an elegant car for highway cruising, with modern features like navigation, bluetooth, a heated steering wheel, air-conditioned and heated seats.  Here’s a review from Automobile Magazine back in the day.  I don’t care for warm British beer, but I dig this black and tan Jaguar.  And of course, the MaxCare bumper to bumper warranty would be a fine investment, too.  Find it here in Charlotte, NC – if the link is broken it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas $21,998 37k Charlotte

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First BMW X6M Unicorn – 2011 for $34k. Only a few thousand in the USA!

2011 BMW M6 $33998 58k LAOnce is awhile a BMW X5M comes close to unicorn status, but not seen an X6M until this week.  Something about a 555hp, 5,100 pound SUV that does 0-60 in 4 seconds flat and brakes like hell that makes me want to run errands in this.  There would be groceries all over the cargo floor, but oh what fun it would be.  The car sold for over $100k new and is now at $33,998 – easily affordable and manageable with the MaxCare warranty.  Here’s the Car and Driver review.  Find this California car here; if the link is dead it’s sold, on hold, or being transferred.

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Update -Nearly New 2008 Miata Migrated to Michigan! (And Drops $1,000)

Mazda MX5Totally baffled nobody wants this 2008 Miata unicorn – a 10 year old car with a ridiculous 9,000 odometer miles.  I wrote about this car in April when it first surfaced at the Dulles, VA CarMax, and four months later its been transferred a couple of times and is now in Michigan!  Yes, it’s an automatic, but this little puppy does NOT belong up north come winter.  Somebody take it in?  It’s also dropped $1,000 since I posted.  Here’s the link – if dead it’s (finally!) sold, on hold, or being transferred (again!).

 

 

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Get Your BMW V-10 While You Can – 3 Left – by Chuck Banks and Ahmed Gardezi

M6 Engine V10My CarMax service tech seemed surprised when I told him about the BMW M5 and M6 unicorns with V-10’s still on the lots.  He was sure there was a policy decision to not carry them anymore.  I sure hope he’s wrong.  Every time I think CarMax is done with 10 and 12 cylinder engines one pops up.  Audi S6’s and S8’s with the 10 cylinder Lambo engine are rare – one this year.  Two Mercedes S600 V-12’s and one BMW 760Li V-12 in the last year.  At some point there will be no more V-10’s and V-12’s from CarMax that we can protect with the MaxCare bumper to bumper warranty, and that will be sad.  I remember when CarMax carried Volkswagen Phaeton’s with MaxCare warranties.  Wish I had one.  So here are three BMW V-10’s for $30,000 or less.   Enjoy.

Have to start with this 2008 BMW M5 last seen in Philadelphia.  Last night it was available – tonight it is not.  First saw it in Frederick, MD maybe a month ago and before I could share, it went missing.  Showed up in Lancaster, PA (I think) and again, disappeared before I could post.  Last night it was in Philadelphia and I’ll be damned if it isn’t off the net again.  I’m posting hoping it resurfaces – it’s a pretty color combination and reasonably priced for a 10 year old M5.  Will update with a link if it pops back up!

 

2008 M6Next on my list is this 2008 BMW M6 in Boston.  It’s not a great deal, with higher mileage, an accident in its history (it was a NY car!), but the same price as the one available in Hartford, CT in June.  But it is a 500hp V-10 M6.  Just like the one that got away – the 2007 M6 with 44,000 miles that was selling for a ridiculous $24,000 that I passed on in NJ last summer.  Sigh.  Not sure how often I get these cars right, but I know I got the 2007 wrong – that was a deal.  Find the 2008 M6 here; if link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.

2008 M6 28998 63k Boston

2008 M6 Convertible Side ShotLast, here’s a 2008 BMW M6 convertible.  Not a big fan of the convertibles – the M6 of this era already suffers from a big butt, and the ugly soft top doesn’t help much.  But top down, this V-10 roars and is probably right for someone.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!  It’s also low mileage for a 2008.  This M6 is in Chattanooga; if link is dead the car is sold, on hold, or being transferred.2008 M6 Convertible 26998 41k Chattanooga

 

 

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