Hi guys, my name is Lee. I have just put a deposit down on a used (2003) crossfire and I pick it up next week.

The car is in immaculate condition and I couldn’t really fault anything on it. It has 24k miles on the clock.

The thing that worries me is that it was around 1,000 under priced, and from an independent dealer (not chrysler). I have a 6 month warranty for the car covering problems up to 1,000 GBP, so if something is wrong it shouldn’t be too much a problem.

The question I am asking is, is there anything I should look out for when I go pick it up? Do they have any trademark problems?

Thanks.

EDIT:
Thought I would just add, when I pulled away for the test drive, my girlfriend said she noticed a little white smoke come out the exhaust, I’m not sure how much it was, but she said "it looked normal, wasn’t loads, but I noticed it". I know nothing about cars, so not sure if this a warning sign? (the car was cold when started, not sure if this makes any difference).

 

It's probably not smoke...If it was cold it more than likely was just steam...

 

Ah ok, that's good to know. I will try and get a better look at it when I pick it up. Would you get steam even on a warm evening?

Anything else I should check? Any trademark problems?

 

I'd add make sure its steam and not smoke. On a cool or cold morning most any car will put out some condensation as the muffler/exhaust system heats up. If its white smoke and it continues, that's a problem. Make sure what you are seeing is steam.
As for the other problems with the Crossfire, scroll through some of these pages and the TSB section. Most of the issues are addressed there. The main issues I can recall are the headlight fogging issue, engine cooling fan recall, manual's ('04 which is what you have unless that 10th digit in the vin is a 3) popping out of first gear, seat heaters going dead, rear hatch with some noise issues and I recall seeing some stuff about the stereo. KOW, I've had my '05 since July of '05 and its been a great car so far. I had the fan motor fixed under warranty and the rear hatch lock went out, all your locks are on a pneumatic system, when one of the lines goes the lock goes out.
I'd take that car to a reputable mechanic, not the place you are buying it and have him check it out. It would be worth your time and money to be sure you are not buying someone else's problem.

Good luck - Pat

 

Thanks for the sound advice. Just booked an AA car inspection (very reputable in the UK). £130 for peace of mind is a good deal in my opinion!

 

Do you mind me asking what you paid for it.
I'm just wondering how cheap you can get one for in the U.K.?


Cheers.

Norrie.

 

2003 Auto 24k miles on the clock.
- asking price: £11,495
- paid: £11,250

I would say it was between 500-1,000 under priced from everything else I have seen. This is what worries me! Although it seems immaculate, can't fault it anywhere. Maybe I just found a bargain!? I'll let you know how the inspection went next week.

 

$22,531.40 seems expensive for a basic. £1000 = $2,009.12 at today's conversion. See if you can get the price reduced by 1 or 2 thousand £.

 

Here in the UK we have a pricing guide system "black book" kind of thing. The book says £13.5k for my model, year and mileage.

Go to: www.autotrader.co.uk see what else is around.

Obviously the car will have different value in a different country, supply and demand I guess. Not many people think of buying a chrysler here. I think they are more popular in the US?

 

The car is a lot more expensive here.
I was offered £12,000 trade in against a brand new SRT6.
Mine is a 2004 with 13,000 miles on it.
I reckon If I went to trade it against a cheaper non Chrysler car I would be lucky to get £10,000.
I paid £20,000 for it two years ago when it was 9 months old with 6,000 miles on it and thought that was a good buy.

I still love it and would not consider selling it unless I buy a new SRT6.


Norrie.

 

Can't wait to get mine! Hopefully pick it up on Tuesday.
How is the auto gearbox?

 

Uh before you fully commit, I suggest you only buy from a Chrysler dealer. Don't mess around with used car lot dealers, your looking for trouble.

 

Well, I have a warranty on it, and I'm getting a thorough inspection. I would like to go with a chrysler dealer but its an extra £2000 for same car.

 

Where did this car come from? I bet it was an auction car from some rental company. I'm very leery of them due to high abuse from past drivers.

IS this an auto or stick? If it’s a manual 6 speed from '03 make sure it has the 1st gear synchro TSB completed. And check the headlamps for fogging and cracking. Look for rust under the doors, by pulling out the weather strip on the lower edge of the doors and sometime in the rear hatch. Check the windshield and fog lamps for pitting, this means it was driven fast, and a lot. Also the radio LCD display should be bright in the daytime and not dim and dull.

I wouldn't pay anymore than $18,000US, not sure what that is in pounds? I think the extra 2,000 pounds might be worth it, Chrysler gives you 7yr/70,000 miles from date of purchase on used XF.

 

The guy said none of his cars come from auction and this one has come straight from a dealer, how he would get a car cheap from a dealer I don't know. I will ask for proof as from where the car came from before I exchange money.

Thanks for the tips will check all of those things. Hopefully the inspection will pull up anything suspicious.

 

By the way yes it's an auto, I've test driven the car, can't fault it.

I will check all of those things you mentioned...once question though... What do you mean by "pitting" in the windscreen and fog lamps?

 

just because he got the car from the dealer doesn't mean it's not a rental. try a carfax report or contact the last insurance company.

pitting is easily seen as tiny chips in the glass, it's mostly a problem on the fog lamps since they are so low to the ground, but I would worry most about the rust issues hidden underneath the weather strip in the doors.

 

UPDATE:
Just to let you know, had the car inspected by The AA today, he was extremely impressed with how immaculate the car was, aesthetically and mechanically! The inspection was extremely thorough and the only thing he could comment on is the brake discs having some wear, which he said was normal for the mileage anyway!

Just waiting for my money to clear now and I can pick her up! Can't wait!

 

Two small issues with my car when I drove it off the lot:

1. The windshield wiper blades were completely shot.

2. I'm missing two valve stem caps.

 

Funny, I never knew there were any Crossfire's that were '03... Perhaps it was intro'd in EU before the '04 in the US...