wow thats not cool sry to here you had to go thorugh that. the goog thing is xfires are so low right now that if u keep looking you will find one in ur range. i just got mine for 11,7 its a 05

also were are you from im in the det area..

 

I'm from the Jackson/Hillsdale area. Most frustrating after a 2 hour drive. But, you're right there are a ton of cars for sale. Other than the leather, heated seats, and the chrome windshield header is there any appreciable difference between the LTD and the basic? The wife has said it has to be a roadster, now can I expand the search to include the basic?

 

OK, indulge me and forgive me if this isn't posted properly. I looked at an 05 today and noticed some oil accumulation in the exhaust tips. The dealer has had the car since the beginning of the year and it only gets started once a week unless it's being test driven. I noticed a little smoke at idle but the car wasn't up to operating temp. Normally this sounds like valve seats/seals but I don't know if it is an engine starting to go south or just the result of sitting for long periods. There were no unusual engine noises. I did a search but didn't find anything. Anyone care to make a guess?

 

no problem. the tips get a little film sometimes from not being driven. my last word, don't go for convenience...go for the right car (ie; srt-6 roadster with the lowest mileage and you will have to probably look for awhile). what blast chamber said. additionally, these cars aren't sc430's. you need to know a lot (i read this forum for 3 months before i even test drove one) and do your homework thoroughly. if you are price-point focused and just want a "different" convertible, then get a base or ltd. if you want an amg-engineered rocket ship, then up the ante and get the 6. i think my days of counseling potential buyers are rapidly coming to a close. i make choices based on engineering first, mileage/condition second, and looks/convenience (cute color, close by) last. not many people do that.

 

First, Don't stop counseling newbies like me on the care and feeding of this car. We need your input and experiences. I knew going in a little about the car, the fact that it was the first engineering marriage between Chrysler and Daimler, but having read this forum and having people like you answer my questions has been invaluable. So, please don't stop. And, there was more than a film lying in the exhaust tips of this car. I took a paper towel and wiped it up. Thanked the salesman and then left.

Second, Maybe I need to re-think or maybe better explain my objective. This car is for my wife. It is going to be her retirement toy. She has indicated to me that the roadster is her preference and so I am trying to oblige her. That is why I am ruling out the Coupes at this time (although, I personally like the looks of the Coupe.)

Third, This may be a non-issue, but is the SRT6 the "right" car for my wife? She is not cncerned about performance, she looks more at the color combination. But, knowing her history and her lead foot, she does like to "push" our cars a little bit.

So, there-in lies the dilemma, Do I pick up the newest XF with the least miles and let her go (and then look for the SRT6 as the second car) or do I find the SRT6 as her primary toy? I don't know.

Lastly, while there is some urgency in trying to find her a car, it is more self-imposed so she can enjoy the car over the summer. She is a school administrator and will be done in 60 days. I am retired, have plenty of time on my hands and can devote the time to find the right car for her.

Again, I can't stress enough how valuable this forum's members are to helping people like me come to a decision. You force us to really evaluate what we are looking for in a car. You arm us with the knowledge to make an informed decision and listen to our questions. This is an invaluable resource.

So, taking your advice, I am going to seek out an SRT6 and drive one. Then I can decide which way to go.

 

I paid $19k for my 2008 brand new with 32 miles on it this past January. They definitely should be dealing.

 

Mike,

You should follow your gut on this, so maybe that means a Limited is the best fit for your wife. I'm sure she would be very happy with one, and they are not confined to only four paint color options like the SRT-6 models are.

But I do agree that you should at least test drive an SRT-6 before buying. I did, and once I experienced the supercharged AMG horsepower I was hooked. I bought ours primarily for my wife to drive, and she loves it. She may have been just as happy with a Limited had she never driven an SRT-6, but now that she has one I don't think she'd want to give it up.

Since time is not a huge factor here, I think you should have all of the information possible in order to make an informed decision before buying, and that means driving both engine options.

 

As others have stated, take your time and you will find the right one. It took me a month to find my SRT6 roadster and it was 1500 miles away. When everything was said and done though, what I'd have paid for a limited with 13K up here in MN got me an SRT6 with 7k down there. I'm a firm believer that you just can't find one of these priced right in your own neighborhood. Check out autos.aol.com, autotrader.com or do a search on craigslists in major cities in the southern half of the US. That's where you're gonna find a deal. Also, definitly have your wife drive an SRT6 before you make your decision or you may be making another decision in near future. LOL

Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum. Either car you and your wife get will bring smiles to your face for many years to come.

Take care.

 

Hey Mike,

I know I am asking for it but here goes, I think everyone has given you some great advise BUT there are always things to look at.
As far as price have an idea what you want to pay and find a car you like in your price range and keep in mind a good deal is one you and your wife are happy with and don't let anyone tell you different.
Base or Limited ... well do you want leather or cloth seats and so on, look at the two and pick what feels best, the power train is the same.
SRT.. well they are a blast to play with and run like a bat out of hell but read the SRT pages, they have their own issues and do keep in mind you can add HP to the Base and Limited.
The dirty tail pipe well ya do have to wipe her a** now and again but thats OK.
The Crossfire is a great car no matter which one you pick, it is built on the reliable Mercedes SLK platform and you will have few issues with the car. Well there is one exception, crash parts are not easy to come by.

Buy a Raodster, go topless and smile

 

Everyone here has raised some valid points and I appreciate all the input. But Paul is right, I have only one person to please and that is my "boss." So I will let her drive all the roadsters she wants, let her pick out the color and trim level and go from there...now the real work/fun begins.

 

Hil I will try to add a different prospective rather then rehash other things.

First, I am in your age/status (retired) group. I own a 2007 Limited Coupe (7,000 miles) and a 2005 Limited Roadster (21000 miles). I only drive the Xfire in good weather and they are both NOT daily drivers. I have always owned a 2 seat roadster. Enough background so you see my situation is very similiar to yours. Mileage is what the car had on them when I bought it.

Second, Since I only drive in good weather, I hardly ever drive the coupe anymore except for a long trip followed by more then a weekend stay. I take the coupe on these trips because of the trunk storage. I bought the coupe first. Nothing is better then driving with the top down. I drive the coupe once a month. It is an automatic and the roadster is a 6 speed. If I were you and this is your wife's retirement toy, I would get a automatic. My wife hates the stick and always takes the automatic. I find both enjoyable. Someday when I can't shift anymore I will have the automatic.

Third, I restored cars as a hobby. Notice the past tense. I bought the roadster for $8,000. It was mechanically perfect and in fact the carfax said no accidents. Well they were not telling the truth. It had quit a few bangs and the paint was in terrible shape. I really don't think the average person would have seen all the imperfections but like they say it had good bones. Here is a secret I'd like to share. I took it into 2 body shops for estimates to fix the repair work that had been done previously. Both estimates were a low price off $2000. I took it to a dentless repair guy and had him work on it. I cost me $140. Dentless repair has its limits but I knew this. Well I still had the body work that needed to be redone to my satisfaction and the price had dropped to $982. That is about a $1000 savings.

Fourth, if it is your wife's car let her pick the color, style and interior. I have been married for 43 years to the same lady and I have learned a lot and try not to make stupid mistakes twice.

Fifth, get to know your local car clubs. They are a great source and many of the guys are in the trade and will do work at a discount if you are a person interested in cars.

Based on all I read get a low mileage, late model automatic roadster in the color she loves. Have patience and when the car is right pull the trigger.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU GET.

 

are you set on 2007? there are some great 05 limited roadsters out there at about 16,000 with low miles(under 30,000) (i only know this as i was recently searching for one to replace my last roadster which was taken out by a train)

 

What town in Michigan? I may be able to help. I have a friend that works at the dealership in Jackson and a couple weeks ago they had 12 in stock. Mostly company cars had both roadsters and coupes. Also had base and limited. I can get you one from him for about 500.00 over invoice. send me a pm with your number if your interested and I'll give ya a call.

 

We want to thank everyone on this thread for their help in educating my wife and I on the care and feeding of the Crossfire marque.

In the short time I've been a member of this forum, I've learned a great deal about the history of the car and also the loyalty of its owners. I've been fortunate to share phone calls with Harbor, received sage advice from Doc and was offered assistance by CrossfireFrank in order to find a car in our area. So thanks to everyone who has contributed,

Now I must share the news of a new arrival in our family. My wife and I are Florida bound to pick up her new 2007 Limited Roadster. Red in color (what other color is there for a blonde) and 16K on the clock. We are REALLY excited to join the group and are looking forward to many years of driving this fabulous automobile. I can't thank everyone enough. This was an awesome experience for us.

 

Congrats on the new ride. We'll want to see pics as soon as you get back. Have a safe and fun drive.

 

Mike - Well done and your timing is perfect as the Spring / Summer X-Fire events are just starting: Spring Dragon, Crossfires Across America, Carlisle and Woodward. You will have a blast.

Some of the local MI & Canadian owners are also planning a get together at the Chrysler museum June 12: https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...sler-meet.html

Enjoy your new ride, but beware - you are now entering the world of fleece filters, Rotex golds, steering strut stabilizers, oil catch cans and 303 top protectant.

Have a safe trip to FL and we look forward to meeting you and your wife.

 

Mike- Congrats on your new baby and give me a call when you get back to town.

 

Congrats on the red roadster, that is the way to go!



As Gary will tell you, though the dragon may be difficult for you at this time.

 

Thanks everyone for the help and the "welcome" to the forum. I think one of the biggest reasons we bought the car, other than the looks, is the warm welcome and response we received from this forum. We look forward to becoming involved in the events this year. I've posted a couple of pics in the gallery if you want to see the new one. I'll post more when we return.

 

Congrats and have a fun trip home!!!