Originally Posted by
allemoney
Hello everyone!
Name's Al and I am looking to make my 2nd ever car purchase (wanting to go selfish on this one) and am pretty settled on getting a Crossfire. They appear to be so much car for the money and they look unlike anything else on the road (everyone in Huntsville, AL has a Mustang or 350Z).
My 1st car was a 2000 Ford Focus wagon purchased in 2003 with 30,000 miles on it. With it being my 1st car ever, I didn't take great care of it for most of the time that I've had it. Even still, it has lasted me 10yrs and 80,000 additional miles (and counting) without having to make any major repairs that weren't due to my negligence. I plan on keeping this car.
This is the Crossfire I plan on test driving either tomorrow or next week (its a little over an hour drive from where I live):
Cars for Sale: 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 Coupe in Birmingham, AL 35215: Coupe Details - 344353145 - AutoTrader.com
If purchased, I will be putting about $1500 down leaving me with about $3000 in savings reserved for anything the car might need soon after purchase.
A few questions:
1. How good is this deal really?
2. When viewing/driving the car, what are somethings I should be looking/listening for?
3. What should I be asking the dealer about the car?
4. Who should I trust to check it out (I don't have a go-to mechanic)?
Thanks in advance and I hope to be a fellow owner and a good member of the Xfire Forums community.
1. about average for a SRT6 Coupe with that mileage.
2. a. rust on bottom of doors.
b. water in bottom of trunk ( not easy to see without removing the trim panels so you can then remove the foam bottom panels )
c. oil leaks around valve covers ( no big deal and easily remedied, but a good bargaining point with dealers )
d. expect to be replacing the inter-cooler pump ( @ $150 )
e. tire wear patterns ( possible alignment issues )
f. don't expect the heated seats to work, bonus if they do.
g. use the manual shift mode and ensure not too much delay between you telling it to shift, and it actually shifting.
h. make sure you get the CD's for the Nav radio, but don't expect much out of it.
3. CARFAX !!! ( the dealer will most likely have NO other knowledge of the car )
4. Can't help you much there, qualified XFire mechanics are rarer than hen's teeth.
GOOD LUCK !!!!
( Sure you don't want a Roadster ????? )