hello, i have recently been introduced to the crossfire as i have been looking for a car to get. i found one for a good deal thats in decent condition. the interior has some defects but the engine feels like its in decent operating condition. my only concern is that is has 200k miles on it. i did some research and found that it's only had one owner, so i believe it was someones daily driver for its 17 years of driving. im taking a college course to become a certified automotive technician, so im confident i can fix any problems i encounter. i just want to know if theres anything i should watch for or check with it having so many miles. ive done a lot of research online but no one seems to note any major problems, but i figure someone here might have some experience i can use

 

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slyfox1812, first welcome! Used car prices are at a premium lately, so do your homework before committing and recognize there is always another car coming up soon. That said you'll find learning about the crossfire a huge asset while in your college course, as sometimes the college has a shop to help 'learn' (with hopefully a few Benz capable diagnostic tools). 200K is a little high BUT the 3.2 is a sound and sturdy engine. IF it was taken care of, it should last at least another 200K. Get to know this forum, the membership has amassed a HUGE collection of problems and solutions. Check out the document collection (search top right) and download as much as you want (they are really a good reference point as many have tried and proved them true, to save you time and mostly 'gobs' of money in self help. The crossfire drive train IS almost (if not all) MB SLK320. The car is mostly an SLK320 (electronics/wiring). The service manual can help a lot but remember the service manual has errors. The BEST way to tackle any issues is to just research (search google and/or here top right) and then jump in. The membership has helped a lot when issues happen but only if accurate concise information is provided. Don't get discouraged, just answer and clarify as needed. Wish you the best! Good luck!


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The higher miles daily drivers are more reliable than a 25,000 mile garage queen. I've owned both, and I speak from experience.
You WILL have more chance of maintenance costs being higher as bearings, pumps and various items wear and fail - but the chance of you being suddenly stranded is lower.


Only if you are learning electronic theory and troubleshooting techniques will that happen. If you are learning that, please tell us where - because I know of NO school in the USA teaching that stuff anymore. And I don't say this lightly, I've been in land mobile radio (where our techs must be VERY good at troubleshooting logic, audio and RF circuitry) for 39 years; there is no one to hire these days and my industry is suffering badly, has been for over twenty years.

You did not search this site very effectively.

1) Our cars are known for the ignition switch locking up tight as hell (this costs $450-$2000 at dealers but we fix it ourselves with a few hand tools),
2) The famous "mystery no start" has cost non-forum members between $700-1500 each (we have a guy who fixs it with a soldering iron for $65 or so).
3) A weak battery (that will usually test just fine) has cost many owners hundreds of dollars at dealers - because it causes ODD symptoms that even dealers don't diagnose properly.

There is a lot more to know, try these threads:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...crossfire.html

And this:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...w-members.html

You will need documentation:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ollection.html

 

Waaay too many miles. Besides the engine ALL the other components of the car have wear/tear and natural deterioration. What you might 'save' in original pricing probably would be lost in repairs and replacement of hard-to-find parts. There are good-excellent Crossfires to be found. Drive both models, n/a and the SRT6, then start searching for the one that best suits your lifestyle. At 21 the SRT would certainly fill the bill.

 

??? I am 67, and my N/A has the drivability that when on the Dragon in the twisties stayed up with the SRT-6's (only on the straight runs did it have a distinct 'lag'). On other runs outside the club, it also gave the corvettes a run for their money keeping up easily in the twisties (again, the raw POWER of their powerplant on the straight runs was a easy win for them BUT again, easily caught up on them in the twisties). Give the little guy (N/A) the benefit of the doubt for performance and handling it deserves. Also, at 21, tickets and driving records take a HUGE hit on insurance (onward) not to mention the streets deserve someone behind the wheel that isn't racing others (because they can).


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If you want a zippy car look at a Honda etc, the NA 6 speed cannot keep up with them.
That 200,000 miles on the clock spells $$$$$ in repairs, look for something under 100,000 miles. There are a lot of cars under 50,000,
Get an SRT if you can, you will want one later. Get one that has been cared for no matter what you decide on.
I would take a so called garage queen any day over a 200,000 miler.

 

Referencing onehundred80, If you chose to get a different type vehicle the Honda S2000 would be be an excellent choice, AND they are appreciating in value! (The cockpit in the Honda is digital and quite appealing)

Another consideration is the Toyota MR2 Spyder. Fun fact: MR2 stood for the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, and two-seater.

 

Now, before anyone jumps on Sly Fox... A XF that has 200K on the clock and 1 owner has obviously been maintained or it wouldn't still be running. If it is running with no dash lights on and especially if it has a functioning TPMS on it ya know it has been maintained and lots of things that would have gone wrong already have and either been fixed or replaced! So maybe Sly Fox can score this car for $3,000 - $3,500 and under those circumstances it would be a great buy. I mean, with what new and used cars cost these days if this XF runs for a year with no problems and then has a catastrophic failure (which I doubt will happen) it is still better than buying something that costs way more, is of lesser quality, with lower mileage and multiple owners and could have the same thing happen. If I were 21 right now and saw a 1 owner XF with 200K on the clock in great condition for $3,000 with clean Carfax and (maybe even maintenance records but that's a stretch) and everything was working I'd be all over it. But that is just me. Ya'll must forget what it was like to be 16-21 way back when with no $ but ya wanted something cool that at least ran and were willing to work on ALL the stuff that ya knew wasn't working when ya bought it!

Here's another high mile XF that looks pretty good with 187k on the clock in NY. I do notice there is no pic of the instrument panels with the car running but with research this one could be nice for the price too for HIGH MILEAGE that could go much, much higher if it has been maintained.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

 

Right-On! Agreed.


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To be fair, a high mileage car has seen more stuff, for sure, but it also made it, which means it had to be maintained to some level to get there. We now have four Crossfires in our stable, and three of them arrived to us as complete basket cases. All of our current Crossfires were purchased as non-runners, ALL of them due to RCM issues. All four came to us on the trailer, three of them drove off the trailer under their own power. These cars are not terribly complicated, and are built very well. They can be improved upon, in most cases with tools you can get at any auto parts store.

William's ( @QuadPrism ) daily driver was filthy, terrible looking, with a ton of issues. It has been a real education to him, and he has a ton of pride in how far he has brought the car, to where it is now a completely reliable daily driver, with all systems working properly. It has also provided him with a blank canvas to do mods to it, and to make it his own. That creates a tremendous amount of pride!

We have another coupe in the shop now, with well over 200k miles. We have been spending a lot of time going through every single system on the car, and bringing it up to par. Right now, we are in the midst of replacing all of the front end suspension and steering items, such as steering linkage, ball joints, control arms, tie rod ends, and shocks. It will be perfect up there in the end. Total spent on the front end? Probably less than $400. The rear end has already gotten a similar treatment. Engine? Plugs, filters, fluids, thermostat, belt, valve cover gaskets (every XF needs these), and a few other choice parts, and the thing runs like a top. Throw in a good set of tires, and it will be reliable transportation. Will it win shows? Probably not. Will it be a joy to drive? Absolutely!

My point is, we don't need to spend a mint to get these cars from derelicts to very reliable, and even good looking cars. A 21yo has drive, time, and a small budget (most likely). I wouldn't be afraid to have my kid take a Crossfire on. Oh yeah, I had mine do exactly that for his first car!