We're getting way off topic here... but no, I didn't think it was a dig. I think he was making an assumption based on your comments concerning your FA. To me it sounded like you depend too much on the FA. It never hurts to be educated on subjects in order to make wise decisions along with advice from others. I saw nothing wrong with the suggestion to check out the book. I believe he was trying to give some basis for his opinion, weather the book is correct or not and invited you to check it out.

Happy motoring.

 

Precisely.

 

guess i'm keeping mine for sure.

 

You know, this whole leasing vs. buying thing is B.S. anyhow. Consider that buying a new car is just about the worst investment you could make. Leasing might be just a step worse. Either way, you're spending tens of thousands of dollars on something, with little chance of ever getting it back.

Want to have a car, and come out ahead? Then I suggest you spend a measly $700, like I did on my winter beater (93 Escort). Bargain the price way down (like I did when I talked the guy down from $1,100). Keep it in decent shape, change the oil, piece things back together with used parts from the salvage yard when you have to. Choose right, and you may not have to fix anything. Regardless, put some miles on it, use the cheap oil (but change it per the recommended interval), keep the tires aired up, and enjoy killer gas mileage. Keep the cheapest insurance you can on it (covering only liability to others). When you get sick of it, e-Bay off the car for what you bought it for. At the bottom of the market, when all of the depreciation is done, you'll never lose a dime on it if you keep it in good shape. If you know how to unload it, you might even make enough extra afterwards to put the money back in your account, and enjoy a nice steak dinner with your wife.

But, buy or lease a new $30K car? We are all playing a loser's game on that one. It's just that some are bigger losers than others. Sure, I'm a sucker too. But, I love cars, I'm NOT "taking it with me" someday, and I believe that some things are worth spending a little money on. I would only be a fool if I couldn't afford it.

 

Juddz,

I think that sums up the whole debate perfectly!

 

I haven't read through this thread...but I have a friend that just paid $21,900 for a brand new non-limited Crossfire coupe in CA. Sticker is around $28K. Not a bad deal for him at all.

 

That 28k must of been a dealers sticker. Chrysler MSRP stickers are much higher.

 

2005 Base Coupe...MSRP $29,145...how is that much higher.

 

Okay... 1- for you, 0 - to me. As an owner of an '04 coupe, I tend to overlook the stripped base model and skimmed over the "non-limited description in the above post.

 

All I know is, if for some weird reason, like when pigs can fly and this car is actually worth a little something in year or two from now, then I'll consider buying. But with an 18k buyout, even then it wouldn't be worth it. This car is barely worth 18k now. It surely won't be that a year and half from now, when I go to turn it in. Leasing imo is good for people who want new stuff/cars every few years. Buy, but buy used if you want to own it and drive the same thing for the rest of your life. But, for 36 months, 15k miles a year, $412 a month (yeah I know, I bought it when 05's had just hit the lots), I got to drive a new car, one of the sweetest looking cars out, a nice lil sports car to zip around town, and after 3 years. I get to move on to the next hot thing. hmmm... I wonder when the sky redline will hit dealer lots. And you better believe I'm turning this thing in with tires balder than a baby's bottom, even though the traction control is like having a cop driving behind you. Won't let you have any fun.

 

anything less than 2/32" and you will be footing the tire bill for the next owner.

 

well then I guess when there is 3/32" left it's time to say bye bye crossfire, and turn it in.

 

Chrysler is screwing their customer base by dumping the Crossfires on Overstock. Now one can get blemished socks, three-year-old 1.0 MB digital cameras and deeply discounted Crossfires all in one shopping cart. It cheapens the marques and makes Chrysler look like it's run by fools.

I was in for the long haul but after recently getting a new transmission that shifts worse than a riding lawnmower and now this, I'll be moving on.

 

i found this on thecarconnection.com

Overstock.com Stocks Chrysler Crossfire

Chrysler's Crossfire will be marketed through a new deal with Overstock.com, the automaker said last week. In an unusual deal with untold consequences for the two-seat sportscar's resale value, Chrysler will offload remaining 2005 Crossfire coupes and roadsters through the Web site that also sells factory remainders on consumer products from bedding to electronics to furniture. The site, which also features products from brands like Ralph Lauren and Prada, will provide Chrysler buyers with a coupon that they can redeem for up to $8,900 off the MSRP of any 2005 Crossfire. The deal expires on Jan. 3.

 

everyone should get a discount coupon...

 

I did some inventory checks on the five different dealer websites here. Three say they are out of stock, one has two on hand and the last dealer has one SRT left. It looks like this overstock.com thing may be working and hey, why not? As another article someone posted here said it is a great way to move excess stock and save money for everyone. I say go for it even tho I paid MSRP two years ago.

Something to remember, when you're the first on the block to buy the first of anything, you’ll always pay more. Wait awhile and the price drops, although I must say, the cost of a Crossfire has more than dropped, it has crashed through the roof. I wonder what used ones will be selling for in another six months to a year? Any guesses? KKB already list trade-in value on a two year old ‘04 coupe with 24k miles, in "excellent" condition, for $18,475 (of which they say only 5% of cars fall into that group). More realistically, a car in "good" condition trades for $17,360.

 

I just bought a 2005 SRT6 Roadster for 40k from a dealer in NH. Is 10k off MSRP reasonable these days, or was I not aggressive enough? Since my sales guy said there would be no 2006's, as DC discontinued the XFs, I wonder how much else he lied about ...

 

I could be off base here but I find it hard to believe that overstock.com eliminated the entire dealers inventory for crossfire’s.
It is not like they are giving them away... the price is reflective of what the dealers were willing to negotiate.

 

I personally think that Chrysler is screwing their current customers by deflating the price of the Crossfire’s. Sure, I knew that by buying a new car in the first week they were on sale was a risk but didn't expect the manufacturer to accelerate its declining resale value. It's well known that companies like Lexus, known for retaining customer loyalty, don't radically redesign their cars in order to maintain the value of cars already on the road let alone dump them in the marketplace.

I wrote to Chrysler complaining about the "dumping". They responded with the following:

"If you look carefully on the overstock.com website, you will not find
any reference to DaimlerChrysler participation in the promotion. Any
number of wholesalers who bought more vehicles than they resold may be
the entity involved in partnership with overstock.com. Look for the
DaimlerChrysler name and logo on any promotional offers to determine
corporate involvement.

Thank you again for your email.

Sincerely,

William
Senior Staff Representative
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center"

My god, every press release and article written about this states that it's clearly an arrangement between Chrysler and Overstock. Without an agreement, the dealers wouldn't honor the Overstock certificates.

First they screw us, then they lie about it. I'm pissed and plan to raise heck about it.

 

I also disagree with the letter, but for different reasons. DC is clearly trying to say, "we're not responsible". It really doesn't matter what DC's official position on the matter is. Whether it is the result of an outside wholesaler trying to unload them or an official marketing program at DC is beside the point. In either scenario, the mess only could have happened if production was far out of step with demand. DC knew a year ago that these cars weren't selling, yet kept the line humming along regardless at Karmann. This led to an oversupply of cars. The inevitable result is the need to unload them at fire sale prices. There is no denying that DC is ultimately responsible for the situation as a result of very poor production planning.

Incentives kill residuals, and they also kill brand identity. Will this car ever again be thought of as a premium sports car, now that everyone and their dog knows that one can be had for around $22K? Will anyone ever again sign the papers for a (non-SRT) coupe over $30K? For a car that erupted to "ooh" and "ahh" at the Detroit auto show years ago, wouldn't it have been better to build just a few a year, so that it could be thought of as "exclusive"? Wouldn't something "exclusive” that everybody wanted (but few could get) be better at building commotion for a brand that harbors upscale ambitions? Call it a missed opportunity for Chrysler. Call it miserable marketing strategy. I still maintain that the Crossfire was an excellent idea, but improperly managed in the market.

That said, when I bought mine, I wheeled and dealed every penny I could out of them. I did well, getting the car down 6K off the sticker. I was very proud of getting a premium car for a good price. Depending on your perspective, I guess only one of those statements is correct now.