Originally Posted by ben47
Goldwing... While the Crossfire is a nice ride, it is an expensive car to maintain.
Figure on $100.00 - $120.00 dealer oil changes at 7,000 mile intervals. A set of tires will set you back anywhere from $700.00 or so for Kumho tires on the low end, to over $1,200.00 for the OEM Michelin PS2's. A good choice for replacement tires are the Goodyear F1 Eagles for $950.00. Also, don't forget Mercedes-Benz prices for parts that are not that readily available.
My point... unless your son has a good job and can afford to maintain the car himself, be prepared to foot the bills for him.
True enough. But sometimes people make the mistake of purchasing an older used car because they think it will save money. While the car payment may be small or non-existent, the cost of maintaining an old car can be quite high. They typically require more than just tires and oil changes as major parts fail and require replacements. This can far exceed a monthly car payment on a much nicer new vehicle, eliminating the "savings".
For many years I drove vintage cars as daily transportation. Finally, when my Jaguar had eaten a hole through my wallet and was half-way through my a$$, I broke down and got a new vehicle and my first car payment in many years. The difference in the manageability of the cost was huge, with a better car and no more "surprises" in my monthly budget. I now reserve the domain of vintage cars to non-essential pursuits.
I don't find the Crossfire any more expensive than my other cars but then my other cars may be considered expensive to maintain (Jeep Commander Overland with HEMi; highly modified Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L). But compared to what I was spending on old cars, the Crossfire is a major bargain.