This is my first post, but as they say in talk radio, "long time listerner, first time caller." I have been a guest for a long time. But now I need some advice.
I have the chance to get a 2006 Inferno Red roadster with 23000 miles, 6 spd, no mods for approx $12000. I love the looks of the car and after endless sedans, station wagons and currently a "02 300M, I think is may be time for a "fun" car.
My concern is I AM NOT HANDY. I am somewhere between awe and bewilderment when I read what you guys want to do and are able to do to your cars. I can put in gas and washer fluid.
A concern is the cost of upkeep and maintaince. Being a Mercedes things should last longer but it is a machine. An extended warrenty a absoult necessity?
This would be a daily driver. I live in Denver and we do get snow and ice. I have read countless times that the right time and weight in the back should take care of this. But would it make enought of a difference to drive the car 90-95% of the time.
Thanks in advance. I have found the people on this forum to be funny, knowledgable but formost I think there are some really nice people here.
Thanks, I hope to hear something. At 63 I think perm-grin would be ok.

 

Hi Mike, I to am a long time lurker on this board and have found it to have a wealth of information from some pretty smart folks. I have on 06 SSB Roadster that's a garage queen in the winter months(I live in Alaska) and a weekend driver during our gorgeous summer months. My concern with you living in Denver would be the snow fall totals you sometimes get. The XF only has about 5 inches of ground clearance and you might end up pushing the snow on your ride home. Sounds like a great price for the car, not sure if it would work so well as your only vehicle during the winter time.

 

Hi Mike,

Welcome!

First of all, $12k for that roadster is one heck of a deal. You should jump all over that.

Second, I really think you should reconsider making this roadster your daily driver during the winter. I'd highly recommend getting a $2,000 FWD beater for the wintertime and save the wear and tear on the roadster if at all possible.

Finally, don't be intimidated by the maintenance. The oil changes on these cars are extremely easy. I don't use one, but many guys here own an oil extraction vacuum that goes down into the dipstick tube to pump oil out of the pan. The oil filter is changed from above as well, so you don't even have to own a jack to change the oil. Since oil changes are the most common maintenance, you will save yourself a ton of money by doing this yourself.

I'm sure you will get many other quality answers to your questions. This really is a great group of people on the forum! Take care!

 

Hi Mike, and welcome to the forum. $12k for a 23000 mile "Red" roadster sounds like a good deal to me.
Like you, I really don't like working on my car either, (other than changing the oil) but I do love driving it every chance I get. 48000 miles in 5 years, and really not any mechanical problems. Just a vacuum leak in the hatch (repaired under warranty).
I never drive mine in the winter, but there are many here that do.
I can't recommend a Crossfire enough. With 100 cars under my seat belt, about 25 Sports cars, this one has been my favorite.
Go for it, you won't regret it.

 

Hi Mike,
Welcome, I to was a long time lurker till I got mine about 2 years ago. I still don"t post much but I.m on here at least 2 or 3 times a day just reading. I am 65 and so we have that in common, so here goes.
It's by far the best car I have ever owned. $12,000 is a terrific price.
Mine is a "Queen" still under warranty, don"t know if I'll get and extended warranty.(about $1100 7yr 50000miles $100 deductable)
We get little snow in Oklahoma but I don't drive in it.
I do my own oil changes and it's easy.
Itsky lives in Col. I think around Denver and he could tell you about his car in the snow. He's a real good guy, I'm pretty sure you could meet him and he would show you the ropes. His is also a red roadster.
Met and hung out with him and a few others at 100MPH on the Texas Motorspeedway last year in DFW. Evan, jump in here any time. Buy the car Mike you wont be sorry.

Joejet
2007 Black base coupe w/6 forward speeds
OKC,OK

 

$12K....wow....is that a Base or Limited? Does it have a bunch of dents on it?....My 07 Limited 6spd Coupe has > 42,000 miles on it & I would slit my wrists before I'd sell it for $12K !!!

Ya gotta wonder, who's the fool letting it go that cheap?

 

Like others have said, that is a steal of a deal for a roadster if it is in good shape. Shoot for that price, I would echo others, and get a beater for the winter months. I lived in Colorado Springs for 10 years, so I know that there are lots of great days to drive in the winter, and even when it does snow, cities like Denver and CS are pretty good about getting sand on the roads. I spent lots of time during winter months running the mountain roads on my Harley, so I know you would love it in a roadster.

For the most part, maintenance is pretty easy on these cars. If something does go awry, someone on here can generally diagnose if for you. Even if you do not like turning a wrench, you can take the information found on here to about any decent mechanic and get them to do the work for you.

Get it and let us know what a Rocky Mountain Perm-a-Grin is like.

 

Go for IT! At that price and milage you can't go wrong. As for snow days, these cars aren't as bad as some might say. Mine is a DD, even in the snow and rain. The only thing is NEVER try to slow down by down shifting with a stick on snow/ice, the wheels just break loose. After so many years of driving FWD cars, that was the biggest thing for me to un-learn.

 

What a great price, we have someone in the auto biz looking for a Roadster with auto trans and he has had no luck, it's like they are all sticks and coupes. We will find one someday, no rush as I am trying to sell my other collector car. Once we find one it will never see IL winters and the tons of salt they put on the roads, we have two 4x4's for that job. This is a great forum.

Joe

 

My recommendation os go for it. You will enjoy it everyime you get behind the whel. I enjoy just looking at any Crossfire I see .

 

Man, I wouldn't buy that car at that price.....where did you say that car was again.........lol..........jk...you better ****** that baby up quickly...roadsters don't go that cheap...I am with the others...buy a beater to drive in the winter, 'cause you just saved at a minimum...$2k or better on this deal....good luck hope to see you here soon.....

 

Hi Mike. I would go for it. $12k for a roadster and only 23K miles? I live in Colorado as well. I don't take mine out in the snow at all (I have an older Jeep Cherokee for the snow). As far as maintenance goes, I have not had any major issues after driving it 20,000 miles. I change the oil and replace the tires every now and then. Plus, it would be great to have another Colorado Crossfire owner!

 

Hi Mike. Welcome to the group. We are twelve posts in and no one has told you that to be a member in good standing you have to buy a raffle ticket for our 2005 SRT coupte being given away June 24th of this year in the CAA Crossfires Across America event in St Louis.

Tickets are $100.00 and we are only selling 350 of them.

Now, that is a lot less than $12,000. The roof is solid. The wing doesn't wiggle up and down everytime you get on the highway and it shifts all by itself. Then there is that SC 330 HP engine that'll beat damm near anything around. For an added bonus, it doesn't come with that annoying third pedal.

Plus there is room in the boot for more than a six pack.

Hmmm! Jus'sayin'


That said, the roadster you are describing is a good deal at $12,900 for the miles unless there is an issue with the condition.

Ragtops rule


roadster with a stick

"as it should be"

 

now that's salesmanship Franc...I know how much you hate auto's, but to sell a ticket (which I think is a great deal btw) you make it sound as if there isn't anything else out there.....good for you....but, then again, you do market blinker fluid...right hand, left hand...and blink....which should have been labeled flasher fluid....lol....keep sellin' those tickets...great odds and for a great cause.....

 

Mike,
I bought my 2007 Roadster Lmtd about one month ago. I'm lovin every minute of it. I paid about 5 grand more for mine than the one you mention. Except for a few tiny paint nicks on the front, mine looks like it is brand new. I think the lady, who owned it before me, probably didn't have the top down more than three or four times.
This forum is excellent and I have already gleaned much useful information from being able to change a brake light, change my air filters and the micro filter under the dash...easy stuff. The oil change will be a piece of cake.
Here in my part of Kansas, we see very few XF's so when I go down the street, heads turn all over the place. I did see a coupe, in Manhattan, last Saturday and, to my surprise, I was pulling out onto the highway, here in town last evening, and some guy came rolling by in a red roadster with his top down....first time I've seen it. Man it looked nice!