So I am from St. Louis, and for the last month I have been negotiating and test driving EVERY Crossfire within a 100 mile radius! my price range is around....well lets say 10K....And I am TOTALLY frustrated with my first car purchase experience!!! Trully Disappointed! Now I know this may be the wrong site (since there will sure to be bias opinions) But I just HAVE to ask...Are Crossfires simply pieces of **** Mercedes Benzs? I just cannot get over how many Crossfires ($10-12K-DEALERSHIPS) I have went to look at and there are Major paint blemishes, to the (ALL TOO FAMILIAR) POLISHED JUNK. I test drove one and IT FREAKING CUT OUT AT 60MPH! ON THE HIGHWAY!!! (price tag 12K Certified Dealer) I fell in love with the Crossfire 2yrs ago and since KNEW it was going to be my first major car purchase, but now I'm to the point that EVERY dealership trying to sell a Crossfire for less than $16k Is a potential Scam!....please help any educated response would be greatly appreciated.

 

Why not just travel over to the UK & pick an immaculate one up for 6k? They are dirt cheap to buy here & NO they are not crap, they are superb cars!

Here are 2 examples. One being from a dealer & the other from a private seller.

Dave Fox Prestige Cars : 2005 CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE V6

Chrysler : 2005 Chrysler Crossfire roadster

 

Try a SRT6 on dry roads and tell me they are bad cars. If that is still the case I guess you have to cough up a bit more cash to get same performance and better interior. 50k and you'll get a Porsche. See you on the road, in the rear view mirror that is.

 

My XF is about as near to perfect that a car could get.

It does have some design flaws, but the good FAR out weighs the bad.

So far, mine runs flawlessly, road drives superb!

Honestly, every time I see it, a smile appears.

$10,000 and change, 29,500 miles!

Used pickup trucks can cost more than that!

Every time I drive it, I get a positive comment, from people I do not know.

XF maintenance is a little high.

But, once again, my runs and sounds like a highly crafted machine!

I've had mine up 140 mph! I tell you, I would, have not done that in ANY other vehicle I've owned.

In my eyes one of the perfect body designs. Can you tell, that I love my XF?

 

If you're not happy with the quality of a 7-8 year old car in the $10k range that most likely has had several owners by now, then you'll have to raise your budget. You will find a one owner gem in the $14-$16k price range. It's just a matter of searching it out.

 

I'm the 3rd owner of mine and just put 1,000 miles on it since I purchased it last month, so just a tad over 97,xxx miles. Clutch/Transmission seem fine, engine runs great, suspension is holding up well, top operates smoothly, and the interior is immaculate. There are some paint blemishes, sure, but it's a 7 year old car.

Got mine for $10,651 with 96,061 miles on it. So far so good *knocks on wood*

 

I've put 10,000 miles on mine ( second owner, just turned 50,000.
There have been NO issues, other than one's I have caused myself by my incessant tinkering.
My paint is near to flawless, minus the few front end chips, the top has never failed me.

I can tell you symptoms you will see if you leave the MAF disconnected, or forget to plug that vacume hose to the thing on the drivers side fender well. Done both several times.
( NOTE: I have to unplug the MAF to remove my C320 engine cover )

I paid 15.5K in Jan 2011 - still worth every penny.

 

I'm the original owner of an 07 Limited 6 Spd. daily driver, at the 80,000 mile mark ....only unscheduled thing I've paid for so far is 2 headlight bulbs ....even still has the original brake pads. Averages >25 mpg. Stability Control has saved my life 2 or 3 times.

 

No paint problems except where stuff hits the front bumper at 100+ mph.

 

My red roadster was PERFECT, had 13,351 miles on it and I paid over $17,000 for it. A wonderful car, 5 years old back then, and in showroom condition.

THen... I wanted a stick, so:

I looked at two XF' roadsters before I bought my Graphite. They both had high (over 100,000) miles on them. Both ran good, but cosmetically were awful, but both were around $10,000.

My Graphite had 45,000 and was, cosmetically, above average - and I bought it for $12,000 from a private seller in Arizona. I flew out, bought it, and drove it home.
As soon as I got home, the ignition key froze (glad it didn't do it on the trip home!) - I had it towed home and drove the Red one for a few days - when I had time, I fixed the Graphite myself. The previous owner had no idea of the stick key nightmare and only got lucky it didn't do it to him!

I think that you are targeting cars that have had poor maintenance. If you want a car that has been LOVED and CARED for, do your shopping here, on the forum. What do you want? Coupe? Roadster? Auto or Stick? Tell us what you want and look in our ads - prices here may be a BIT higher than a dealer - or maybe not, since there is no dealer middle-man. I found mine on Autotradter and had a forum member in AZ go loook it over and drive it for me. (It was TOTALLY worth the $1,000 to fly out there and drive it home!)

If a dealer is trying to selll you an hi-miles car, their business model STILL says they must make money on it. If someone HERE wants or HAS to sell, deal with them direct - they get a higher dollar for their car, you get their car for less than at a dealer, and you get a car that was loved and cared for. Also, we can help with those little problems that come up (bad CPS, sticky ignition key, starting and engine problems with the RCM, problems with putting the top up or down, etc.) These cars can be expensive to maintain if you take them to dealers! (The sticky key fix is $400 to $1200 at a dealer, I fixed mine in 1 1/2 hours in my garage for no $)

Part of what makes the $40,000 Crossfire a car you can buy for $12,000 is avoidable with this forum. This is not a car to buy if you take all of your problems to the dealer!
(not really what you asked about, I know....)

 

Thanx for everyone's Input, Though I'm a little jealous everyone else has found THEIR perfect Crossfire, I guess I will take a break and begin my search a few months from now...hopefully they will stop posting the same Lemons over and over and over! and I have only checked out Fires with 65K miles or less....all have been crap with overpriced tags. which is why I cant believe how many are garbage with low miles! and from Dealers! but anyway thanx all for quick responses! I will try to stay positive about this car, hopefully their is ONE that will actually make it from the lot to the house

 

No, they are well built cars. I just sold mine after 60k problem free miles only because I wanted something bigger and faster.

 

You might have to road trip to get "the one". I've noticed a few sweet ones listed here in the Tulsa area (craigslist) around 12K.

 

I'm up for that!...Lawrenceburg Indiana, Paducah Kentucky, Ellisville MO, Columbia Mo, Rockford IL! Ive been all over the Midwest region...They tell you, "its a GREAT car" banking on the fact your driving so far YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE IT HOME...all less than 60Kmiles on them all but one of those were actually reliable but the one that WOULD drive had bubbling paint and a major scratched up interior I know I probably sound like a little b**** right now but I am seriously discouraged after these results.

 

Don't worry you'll find the right one, I'd suggest raising your price range though. I got my '05 last year with 40k for $18,000, I'm the 3rd ower & it still is in excellent condition.

 

Don't get discouraged, it's true, many dealers have cars that have been traded in due to problems or they simply picked them up at an auction, and God knows how well or poorly they were taken care of.
The right car for you is out there so just keep looking.
Watch here on the forum, because every once in awhile a true Crossfire enthusiast has to part with their car and you might be fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time.
Don't hesitate to ask someone here to check out a car for you if it's not in your area, and be prepared to fly somewhere to pick up the right car. Many here have done that and had a great time "bonding" with their new car on the trip home. (I know I did.)
I've had 24 sports cars over the years, and over 100 cars total, and I can honestly say that this is one of the nicest cars I've owned. Hands down the most fun.
I purchased mine brand new over 7 years ago, and with the exception of a new battery (replaced under warranty) I haven't had any mechanical problems.
By the way, I drove to Paducah to buy mine.

 

That's why "if your dead serious" about buying it if it is what they claim.. you see if there is a local member that can lay eyes on it for you.. Seems to be a trendy thing to do by the members here !

 

You are looking in the Midwest. Enough said.

Point your browser to craigslist in some sunny locale -- sfbay or sacramento for example. There are 10 recent ads in each of those two, and I'm sure you can get some forum member to help you.

 

I love mine, had it since 08, bought it with 585 miles on it and 2 years old. It sounds like you are looking at cars that the previous owners did not care to do maint. Mine looks like it did when I got it except for mods. I will say mine is a weekend car, and I care what happens to it.
Shift your price up a little, look in lots of places( ebay, Autotraders, this forum, etc.). you can find a great car that you will love everyday you get to see it. Join up with a forum group in your area and go to GTGs, and have fun.

 

bought mine for $11,000 with only 3,250 miles on it one owner hands down best car i ever owned besides the sub-par steering just my .02 cents