History: Leased '05 coupe in May 2006, 39 mo lease. Got rear-ended April 08. Dealer had in body shop for 5 months (yes the 5 is not a typo) , until Sept 07. Around 3 mo later vehicle had "strange" electrical problems: headlighs would not turn off, interior lights staying on, door locks would not work, trunk latch would not unlock. using the Forum and the download of the service manual it appeared that all the problems tied into the elecrtronic module-air pump located below the trunk cover on the passenger side of the vehicle where I was rear-ended. I removed the trunk cover, plastic panels and styrofoam filler panels and the electronic module was soaked in water. It also explained why I would get a musty smell every so often. The seams of the replaced body panels were "sealed" with spray foam, not caulk. What a great body shop the 5 Star dealer has. The thought of returning it to the dealers body shop was certainly not an option. The vehicle was out of waranty now and I had 5 months to go on the lease. l knew the dealer would be of no help and if anything would probably make things worse. My lease was for $298 per month. Figuring that my mileage was approaching the 39,000 lease cap and paying .20 per mile for the next 5 months I was better off paying off the lease, getting rid of the car and finding something new. I left all the panels off of the trunk interior, wrote a check for $1,800 and brought it in to the dealer. The Lease Expert at the dealer did not even open the trunk to see the panels were removed (it was raining). I left on the seat of the car 8" x 11" glossy photos of the trunk, spray foam sealant and wet electronic module. While waiting for my wife to pick me up I talked with the dealer lease expert and filled out the paperwork. When he asked if it had been in an accident, I told him it had been and was repaired at his shop. He asked how much was the damage, it was $21,000: $16,000 in repair and $5,000 for car rental. He was astonished that it took 5 months. He asked if I was interested in any other car his dealer offered, I told him I would have to be dead to get another Chrylser or buy one from his dealership. He understood. Perhaps that why I have not heard anything from them on why the trunk was disassembled or the locks & lights don't work properly.

I heard from Chrysler Financial that they want the state tax for 2007 ($138.00). I told them that the dealer had it for 5 months of that year and I was not paying it. Pound salt.

I got a 2008 Audi TT, Brilliant Red, 2.0 with the premium package. It's what the Xfire should be updated to, if it was to be continued. It has all the features that I wish the Xfire had: Automatic climate control, power-up on the windows, bluetooth, turbo, more interior room, run flat tires, variable speed wipers, automatic rain sensing wipers, automatic exterior lights, turn signals in the side view mirrors, the seats recline more because there is no "bar" behind the seats, power lumbar support, etc. Now don't get the idea that I didn't like my Xfire, I loved it and miss it, but I owned an "orphan" car once before (Merkur Scorpio) and know what happens after a model is discontinued. Parts, accessories, mechanics that are familiar with the vehicles and such all become headaches. The value also drops like a rock.

My tag was "FFFFIRE" on the Xfire. As the TT is Brilliant Red I kept the tag.

So, I have enjoyed the Xfire Forum, and may check in every so often, but I am now on the Audi TT Forum. Thanks & Good Luck.

 

Sorry to see you go.

But, I do not think anyone of sound mind could argue that you didn't make the correct decision. All of your reasoning was very sound.

At least you chose another fun car that will rarely leave you yearning for the good ole Crossfire days.

I really like how you were able to give the dealer a few final shots.

Pity the next owner of that car. We need a stickty thread listing Vin#'s of cars to avoid.

Good Luck

 

love the new audis, I too looked at a red 2008, you are doing the right thing, I traded the XF and bought a SLK and there is no comparing the two, like apple to oranges,my son is now going to get a C63 or a SLK and sell his XF, you made the right choice.....have fun

 

Ps love your tag......

 

Sorry to see you have to go. It's really a shame what grief soneone else put you through.

I really liked the TT's when they first came out. But their styling quickly grew old on me. I have never gotten tired of the Xfire's styling.

 

those new TTs look like a R8 jr. very cool.

 

funny i went to buy a TT, did not pay that sticker for one...
so went serching and found a SRT-6 new in box for the price of a used Audi with 40k miles ...
good choich though, i saw a white one yesterday on the pike.

 

Sorry to see you had to downgrade .

Good luck with your TT.

 

SWELLCLUB, I can't imagine going without your car for 5 months, that was insane. Your car should have been totaled out.
Even though your new Audi has alot of features you like (that the Crossfire didn't have) it seems as though you were still satisified with your XF until the "shoddy" repair work of the dealers body shop came shining thru. In their defence, sometimes a water leak can start in the most impossible of places, and may never be found. My first Datsun, (a brand new 1979 280ZX ) had a leak that would fill the spare tire "well" full of water. They never found the leak, the well was coated with a PVC paint, and it had a drain plug that I opened on a regular basis. Fortunately there was no electrical equiptment that got damaged.
I probably know more about owning an "orphan" car than most people here on the forum (I've had 38 years of experience) and it really hasn't been that bad. But then it wasn't a "German" built orphan, so I'm sure there are different problems to be encoutered. But since you "leased" your car that shouldn't have been any of your worries.
My personal take on the Audi is that it gets alot of good write ups from the press, and is a very capable, and user friendly vehicle. But after owning a 1998 Beetle, (a platform the original TT's were built on) even though I had no real major complaints with the car, it just seemed as though little things kept breaking on it all the time. Nothing serious, but things that never seemed to go wrong with the fleet of Hondas that I've owned. And like any other German vehicle, as the higher miles started to pile up, it seemed to require increasingly more expensive services to be performed.
I'm sure you're going to enjoy your new car, but I predict you're going to feel a little pang in your heart everytime you see another Crossfire on the road. But that too shall eventually pass.
Good luck with the TT, and be sure to check back with the forum to let us know how you and the Audi are working out.

 

I can't say I blame you for being extremely disappointed with both Chrysler in general and your dealer in particular. I wish you the very best of luck with your new TT - I freakin' love those things. My brother-in-law, not so much. His experience with the one he had, and with his Audi dealer, were about on par with yours at Chrysler. So bad in fact that he's vowed to never own another Audi. Go figure.

I've known people who've sworn off Mercedes Benz, BMW and even Lexus because of extreme problems with both the vehicle and dealer service. I guess when things go so horribly wrong, it's understandable that someone will condemn a company! Can't say I blame them.

Again, best of luck with your new TT. Odds are you'll have a great relationship with it and your dealer.

 

R8 are amazing got to see one the other day

 

I can see your issue with the dealer but I dont think your issues stem from the fact that the car was a Chrysler.
All I know is the people at work fequent their dealers far more often then I (Ford, Lincoln, GMC, Chevy, Nisson, Audi, Toyota....)
However, I do visit numberous other sales lots....when my co-workers ask me to give them a ride to/from dealer from work.

 

Openion.... listen to the Senior's

Mike + fireXF ,- FP -SF -Rob -Call911 -Gary - Danimal -IMaFink-
J Cobb- Irwin - ECT.
....Dale Jr..
sorry if i missed someone ..

Best Forum in the World.. Thanks

 

I wish I had a camera when 8 blacked out R8's with police escort drove down Robertson Blvd this wednesday. Must have been on their way to the Iron Man premiere.

 

i test drove the Z4 and TT before the crossfire.
problem was when taking out the TT (3.2 QUATTRO) I saw another half dozen during my hour test.
i like the fact that you dont see that many Crossfires, makes me feel a little different.
Good luck with your new car.

 

Wow! You'll love that 2.0t with the dual clutch DSG transmission. It is one fast tranny! Good luck!

 

Hi SWELLCLUB, ...I've never met you and I wouldn't be able to pick you out of a crowd, but I totally understand your reasoning for kissing the Crossfire good-bye. It sounds like you were a victim of extreme circumstances and that could have happend with any model of car, not just the Crossfire.

The Crossfire is indeed somewhat of a rare car in my neck of the woods. Due to the fact they no longer build them, it will become more rare as time goes on. This leads all of us to the problem of how long will we remain a Crossfire owner. Some owners tuck them away for half a year and only drive them in nice weather. Others drive them year-round and will eventually wear them out, so to speak, putting them in a position to trade them in for something newer. Sooner or later our numbers will dwindle, our beloved Crossfires will become a thing of the past, and probably all but disappear.

Cars are expensive and when you are coughing up your hard earned cash you need to drive what you like, and like what you drive. I know you were caught in a lease but I would have dumped that car right after the crash. I know it would have cost you but what was it worth to be stuck driving a rental for 5 months and then getting your car returned in less than desireable shape. Shame on your dealer for doing that to you. Apparently they didn't value your business and could care less if their reputation could be questioned over your incident. I would have followed that up all the way to the CEO of Chysler, if I had to.

It's over and done. Hopefully, you will enjoy your new ride, and maybe have some pleasant memories of your Crossfire before disaster struck. I enjoy mine. I will continue to keep it as the third car in my fleet but recognize the fact that it won't last forever, but while I own it I plan on having as much fun as I can with it.

Good luck with the new ride! Audi is a great automobile.

Bob

 

You will enjoy the Audi - My wife still drives her A-6 wagon (her 3rd) I had a 97 Cab for 7 years - it was a wonderful car, I even like my wifes A-6 - but the closest Audi dealer to me is over an hour away, and they are aweful, HOW bad? - I called my friends at Continental Audi in Naperville, Ill and they reported that my local Audi dealer has some of the lowest CSI (cust. service) scores on the east coast. There is great euro car shop here but doesn't help for warrenty work.

I would still be in an Audi today - if the dealer was decent.

Enjoy - they are VERY GOOD CARS

 

the thing about the crossfires that is different then the audi tt's is that no matter what when you go out and drive the crossfire, you will turnmore heads then if you were to drive the TT

 

Also dont forget that the basic new 2.0 TT is front wheel drive.