The Mercedes SLK is the most diminutive of the Mercedes Benz drop tops and comes across as a nice little commuter convertible with a four or six cylinder motor, but stuffed with a snarling, hand-built, AMG 5.5 liter V-8 it becomes a far more formidable sports car – matching its snub nose revolver look. I so want the SLK55 AMG to have the 500hp supercharged V-8, and yet I guess smarter car guys than I have figured out that there are limits to how much oomph this little frame can hold.
The 2009 SLK55 AMG unicorn at $28,995, with only 49,000 miles, has depreciated just over 50 percent in 10 years. This five owner car doesn’t show as nicely as the two owner, far more modern and tighter 2014 SLK55 AMG with only 30,000 miles. The 2014 has also depreciated just over 50 percent from its $87,000 original price in only five years. Kind of fun to see the evolution from the second generation (R171) 2009 model and the third generation (R172) 2014 model. Both naturally aspirated 5.5 liter V-8’s, and yet horsepower jumps from 355 in the SOHC 2009 to 415 in the DOHC 2014. Both have AMG Speedshift 7G-TRONIC transmissions.
The 0-60 mph times drop from 4.9 seconds to 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 174mph. Interesting to see gas mileage go up from 14/22 in the 2009 to 19/28 in the 2014 despite the boost in horsepower and increase in curb weight by just over 100 pounds. The overall car length increased by two inches to 163 inches from 2009 to 2014, and yet the wheelbase and cockpit dimensions are unchanged.
The 2014 has racy nice carbon fiber interior and the 2009 looks clean but dated. I kind of dig the Air Scarf heated collar. Here’s an Automobile Magazine review of the 2009, and an Autoweek review of the 2014. The 2009 SLK55 can be found here at Dulles, Virginia and the 2014 here in Indianapolis, Indiana. I’d be looking for the MaxCare warranty for either one – not cheap to fix.
Sigh. If you’ve read my search for Guenther II you know I’ve wrung my hands over the wheel of several Jaguar XKR’s.
Looks Aston Martin like, fast as hell, and who cares about reliability for the supercharged V-8 and ZF six speed – MaxCare is a bargain – where else can you get 0-60 in four seconds flat and a once-$100,000 Car for $25k?
Here’s 
CarMax Jaguar XKR’s have always been $29k and up in the 2 1/2 years I’ve been tracking them. This two-owner bargain is 
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 
CarMax normally has a dozen or so X5 M’s around the country, and occasionally one in my sub-$35k unicorn zone – but they are usually higher mileage (50,000+). 
Here’s one that’s reasonably priced at $32k, and has only 41,000 miles. Hard not like a four second 0-60 mph behemoth with a 555hp, twin turbo 4.4 liter V-8. And AWD, so I could tell my wife it’s practical? 
With the cold weather and driver assist packages this was maybe a $100,000 SUV just six years ago. 
Zoom zoom. Found this Mazda 
It’s a second generation Mazda 3 Mazdaspeed, good for a 5.2 second 0-60mph and crazy 155mph top speed! It’s a bit high priced, since it sold for just under $30,000 new (with the optional Bose system and other goodies) but it looks extremely clean and fun – except for the terrible torque steer noted in more than one review.
This 2011 Mercedes E63 
Not a lotta Mercedes CL’s out there so this relatively cheap one caught my attention. The coupe version of the S-class is well appointed with AWD, heated steering wheel, night vision – all the necessary stuff for a luxury cruiser.
It’s a five owner east coast car. It only has the 382hp V-8, though, but it’s $10,000 cheaper than 
CarMax had a Mercedes E63 wagon for sale last month for $70,000 or so that came and went so fast I couldn’t write about it. This 2018 E63 S is a bit more pricey at $91,998 and fortunately (for me) it’s lingered for a week or so. This wagon is spectacular on every level. Twin turbo 4.0 liter V-8 pumps out 603hp, nine speed automatic, good for a 3 second 0-60 mph time and a 180mph top speed. All wheel drive. Distronic auto cruise control. Automated parking. I could go on and on.
I’ve driven a Jeep off road (tons of fun) and on the highway (lotta noise) and not really for me. But for a brand that has survived being owned by American Motors, Chrysler, Daimlier, Fiat, and maybe Renault next, and a World War, it must have something going for it. Was surprised to find this 11 year old, lovely yellow, 2008 Jeep Wrangler X 
God bless America. Thought I’d take a moment to pick out a handful of unicorns that fit this holiday. 
Start with that American icon, the Jeep Wrangler Freedom edition. Six cylinder, six speed manual transmission, 
real four wheel drive, cruise control, found