Not a lot to cheer (or write) about with CarMax unicorns lately. Inventory has dropped to the low 30,000 car level from a high of over 70,000 cars just as the coronavirus hit, dealerships went on lock down, and employees were laid off. But out of the blue comes this beautiful 2019 BMW M850l X Drive, the first of its kind with CarMax. Technically not in my unicorn range at $81,998, and yet it’s pretty special so here it is. And it’s hot off the press – it’s listed a “Coming Soon” – a new feature on the CarMax website. Oddly I can see this car on my laptop but not the iPhone app.
Anyway, this BMW M850 is all wheel drive and cranks 523hp out of its 4.4 liter twin turbo V-8. Good for 0-60 mph in 3.3 seconds. Here’s the full Car and Driver review. The highs – “Brilliant driving dynamics in the right context, sweet mother lode of torque, gloriously impractical.” The lows – “Lacks visual drama, can be claustrophobic, gloriously impractical.” One reviewer thought it looked like a Honda Accord coupe from the side. I think the rear looks like a Lexus LC500.
The verdict – “A half-price grand tourer with full-price performance.” The car sold new for maybe $120,000 and is now a third less. Love depreciation. For what it’s worth, the BMW M8 won its division at the 24 hours of Daytona the last two years, over my beloved Continue reading “First One – 2019 BMW M850l X Drive!”