Let’s get this out of the way – like the bearded lady in the circus rare doesn’t mean desirable. But with only 97 2010 Pontiac Vibes manufactured you do get some bragging rights, although you’ll always have to explain why. Kind of reminds me of a Matrix?. 
Pontiac shut down in 2009 with very few models sold as 2010 – mostly rentals I think. This 2010 Vibe has really low miles, and a really low price, and very few options (it does have an aux jack!) – but get MaxCare and you can drive it 100,000 more miles, to 2024 and into extinction worry free. Or buy your college-bound kid a “collectible”. Find it here in Fort Myers, Florida. 
Quick Hit – The One You’ve Been Waiting For: Low Miles 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Most CarMax Pontiac G8 GT’s and G8 GXP’s sell in the upper $20k range, and frequently have 2-3 times the mileage of this one. 
For a 2009 unicorn – the last year on the planet for Pontiac – this one seems to be a little underpriced at $29,998. Perhaps the automatic is a drawback (or the red seats?), but most of the comps at CarMax were too. There’s always the to and fro on which is a better car – the Chevrolet SS or the Pontiac G8 GXP (actually both are now extinct in the US), and yet when a 10 year old Pontiac sells for almost the same price as a five year old SS, there must be a reason. 
Both are naturally aspirated V-8’s with over 400hp and 0-60’s in the four second range. Here’s the 2009 Car and Driver review. And to think you can add another five years, 100,000 mile MaxCare warranty that’s good until the car is 15 years old! This two owner Pontiac can be found here in Oklahoma.
One of 334 (in silver) ….or 1,829 – 2009 Pontiac (Holden) G8 GXP
Understand GM only imported 1,829 of these Holden Commodore based Pontiac unicorns for two years (and 334 in silver!), and while the 410hp V8’s are impressive, wondering why they hold their value so damned well. The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP sold for just over $44,000 ten years ago, and this one is selling for $26,998 – they are usually in the $28-29k range on CarMax. Even more puzzling, for just a few thousand more you could buy this 2014 Chevrolet SS, which is to me a nicer, newer, Australian equivalent.
Hoping readers can educate me on what makes the GXP so special – perhaps it’s that Continue reading “One of 334 (in silver) ….or 1,829 – 2009 Pontiac (Holden) G8 GXP”
Quick Hit – The End of the Run 2009 1/2 Pontiac G8 GT – $19,998
Pontiac as a company ran outta gas in 2009, and sadly this Holden Commodore……er, Pontiac G8 GT unicorn went with it. The big Australian sedan has been resurrected as the Chevy SS and will cover one soon. Often when I see a Pontiac G8 GT or GXP in a driveway, the owner also has another enthusiast auto; an original Landcruiser FJ or a Mazda RX-7 or something that says they like what they like.
Been watching this 2009 1/2 Pontiac G8 GT because it seems to be a well-balanced value at only $19,998, with lower miles and price than most (check out the comps at the bottom – two other high mileage cars and a six-cylinder G8), and because it isn’t selling. Then again, back in the day these sold poorly anyway. It has been transferred once so far. Would welcome thoughts from Pontiac experts on why it’s not sold. Admittedly it is only a GT with a 355 hp power plant, not the 400 hp in the more coveted GXP (usually selling for $10,000 more than a GT). It doesn’t have a sunroof, but the 2009 1/2 got Bluetooth! The interior of this one owner car looks nearly new, with seat heaters in the front. It is a 10 year old extinct car, so I’d still roll for the MaxCare warranty. Here’s the Motor Trend and Car and Driver reviews from back in the day. Find it here in Chicago.
The $577 Million Car Loan and Other Fascinating CarMax “Analytics”
The CarMax nationwide inventory jumped from just over 40,000 cars in the summer of 2017 to over 73,000 today. That’s the highest it’s been since I started tracking CarMax unicorns a year ago and it got me pondering on all things cosmic CarMax. For example, that 33,000 plus-up in stock equals a staggering $577 million* investment in cars in just a few months. I’m thinking like you and me, CarMax didn’t pay cash and owed somebody a helluva lot of money. You think they get dealer financing? I’m thinking CarMax needs to move some cars and hoping there are more unicorns and lower prices!
*The average CarMax vehicle sells for $19,677 with a gross profit of $2,178, indicating a rough guess each car costing CarMax $17,489. See “CarMax Reports Second Quarter Results, September 22, 2017″.
So I decided to do my own homemade “analytics” and dive deeper on what makes up an inventory of 73,000 cars. CarMax knows what they’re doing, and I suspect their inventory largely reflects what America wants in a car. So here’s what I learned. Continue reading “The $577 Million Car Loan and Other Fascinating CarMax “Analytics””