Unlike most Crossfire owners, it wasn't love at first sight for me. The first time I paid serious attention to the Crossfire was at the Detroit Auto show, and the "Marlin" style fastback turned me off. Now coming from a an AMC enthusiast, that may sound a little strange, but the Marlin was always my least favorite AMC design.
During the summer of 04, I drove past a car lot everyday on my way to work that had a red Crossfire elevated up on a pedestal. After seeing it there for about a month I realized, that fastback looked pretty darn good on a sports car. (Actually I liked it on the Marlin too, I just thought the Marlin was too big of a car for a fastback).
Now being a 2-seater guy by nature (I've never been with out a sports car since I was 16) I usually check out every sports car that comes out. So after reading everything I could about the Crossfire, I soon realized that it was basically an AMX for the new millenium. Same size, same performance, same basic handling (only better) and that's all it took for me to get serious about buying one.
I knew I couldn't afford a new one so I started looking for a used one in the Fall of 04. It kind of bothered me that there were so many around to choose from after just one year of production, (was there something wrong with them?) But I finally decided how bad could they be, after all it's a Mercedes.
I was looking to find one for around $25k when my friend told me there were about 30 Crossfires on EBAY at the time. Then in the last week of March 05, I won my brand new 04 XF in an EBAY auction for $21700.00 from a dealer in Paducha Kentucky.
My Daughter drove me down to Kentucky on April Fools Day and dropped me off at a hotel, (the dealer was closed for the evening) and the next morning the dealer picked me up to complete the deal. 9 hours later I was home and totally happy with my purchase, and I've never been more satisfied with any other car that I've owned.
Most people out there haven't got a clue what a great little sports car the Crossfire is, but at least "We" all do.