Originally Posted by Thirteendog
Seriously what's crawled up your *** dude? The limited crossfire gets great gas mileage. Best gas mileage I have ever gotten out of all the cars I've ever owned. This has also been a farely simple car to work on. It's just an engine and so long as you do a little research you won't spend all that much money on it. Yeah you may pay out the rear for an oil change, but that's because it uses 0W40 Oil. I can't quite figure why you don't want this kid to get this car. It's not like it's a difficult car to drive, infact I can't think of a time when I had the car out of shape. Compared to other cars he can get, it's probably one of the safer cars. You keep suggesting he get a car with a back seat, but then that means he'll have more passengers to keep him distracted.
Hey, hey, hey. Don't turn this into a flame thread.
No, the XF does not get good gas mileage. You may get good gas mileage the way you drive, but do you think a teenager with a leadfoot is going to? The XF is rated at 17 city/ 25-ish highway. Highway is pretty decent (I can get around 28), but I get a lot worse in the city- about 13 mpg and I don't mash the pedal when I drive. If I drive mostly highway with the cruise set on 70, I can squeeze out just over 300-320 miles out of one tank. That's good FOR A SPORTS CAR, not an everyday driver. My boat of a Buick got better mileage than that.
And yes, this is a fairly simple car to work on. I was thinking that the other day when I had the center console out to replace the mirror switch, when I was lubing the spoiler, or when I had the door panel off to clean out the broken glass from when my car got broken into. I've found it very easy compared to other cars to work on it. This doesn't mean it's not expensive to fix. It's a Mercedes, and so are most of the parts (which usually means expensive). If you can find a mechanical or electrical component that doesn't have a MB emblem stamped on it, please show it to me. I haven't seen one yet. Even a lot of plastic panels have the MB symbol.
Yes it's a safe car, yes it's a good car, yes less people in the car means less distractions, but it's still not practical. The XF isn't a gecko either. I've gotten the rear end out making a right turn plenty of times on dry pavement. No, I don't push it, but in first gear, it can get squirrelly on you quick. ESPECIALLY in the snow. We get plenty of snow and ice here, and if he gets it where he is, on A/S tires it's going to for him too. Some people can't afford an extra set of wheels for the winter. I can't, and I'm sure he can't too.
Why I'm trying to convince him not to buy and XF is because he asked if we thought he should buy one. I think he shouldn't, so I'm telling him why not.
Basically, what I'm saying is this car is impractical and most likely way too expensive for someone his age. You can agree with me or not, but don't start flaming. No one was calling you names or insulting your opinions. Calm yourself.