I am looking at a:
04 Blaze Red Coupe - 77k miles - $8.6k
and an
04 SSB Coupe - 26k - $11.5k

My dad's co-worker has a friend who is a Chrysler mechanic, and he said that the cars start having problems at about 80k miles, Engine problems, timing belt, etc..

Another guy that is a Chrysler mechanic says that these cars are bullets and don't have a ton of problems.
Should I get the SSB or the Red?

 

I didn't know our cars had a timing belt ???

James

 

great. I didn't know if they did or not. I am not familiar with mercedes engines.
I didn't know if my dad's co-worker just told me that to stray me away from the car, or if it was true..

What would you do in this situation?
Both offers have now been accepted.
Both cars need new tires.

 

I thought Crossfire's have chain driven camshafts if that's what you mean by timing belt. Maybe i am wrong.

-Sam

 

I'm no mechanic, but I don't think this engine has a timing belt....it has a timing chain...

I can relate a story that was in the KC STAR last year about a traveling salesman with a Mercedes that had this engine in it.....440,000 miles....nothing major had gone wrong.

 

I thought so. Some people will tell you timing chains are better while others will tell you timing belts are beter. Belts have their usual wear and tear, cracks, etc. Chains I think, according to what I read a while ago in Popular Mechanics, are better but I recall something talking about linkage problems can occur sometimes. The Corvette ZR1 has a timing chain and I think so does the SLR McLaren. But I think a timing chain is something that will provide problem-free years. Other parts will probably need replacing before it, i think. Feel free to clarify and add to my post, haha!

-Sam

 

I would go for the low mileage unless you really want red. These cars have their problems like ALL other cars have. Nothing major really. I wouldn't be affraid to buy either one after I looked it over good.

One thing to keep in mind, maintenance can be a bit more costly than your usual run of the mill car. But this isn't your usual run of the mill car!

James

 

As much as I want the miles on the SSB, I think I am going to go with the red.
I like how the red 'pops' more. Which is a good thing, but also a bad thing if there is a cop nearby. lol

Can you clarify "looked it over good."?

 

Well, reds DO look better than SSB's. But then I might be a bit bias.

 

May I offer a radical suggestion to this question proposed. Go to Benzworld and ask the SLK people about reliability. This is NOT your typical Chrysler or your typical american made car. The mechanical compoents are Mercedes. Go to the Mercedes people they have a history with our car's underpining.

That being said I also believe it depends on how the car was driven, serviced and taken car of. I drive my cars for over 250,000 to 300,000 miles without major problems but then again they get great service and are driven with care. I do not believe mileage by itself is a measure of the car's value.

 

Someone needs to find a new Dodge mechanic that knows what he is talking about, not to mention, work on your car... I see no belts...

 

This is the answer in a nut shell,

 

I called the original owner of the red one earlier this week.
He said that the car was always maintenanced.. oil changed every 9k miles.. isn't it usually every 7k?
He said he put 5k on it a year, until he got a new job, then about 25k a year.
The last odometer reading is 33 miles. not it has 77k.. that worried me a bit being CARFAX

 

.................

 

Well, red rocks, but I would probably go with the lower mileage one IMHO.

 

What is the reason for that?

 

Take it for what is worth but like pretty much any vehicle, lower mileage is less wear and tear. Mine XF has about 30,000 and I have had absolutely no issues with it. Others have a lot more and have had no issues.

 

Look what I found in the basement..

crossfire.jpg

lol

 

It all depends who drove it. Mine will probably fall apart way before it reaches 77k miles

 

I like this guy already !!! Welcome !