Not starting a war at all guys, but I must be missing something. Where's the bad treatment by Daimler Chrysler? Unless I am mistaken the main issue here is the fact that the price dropped after you purchased.

Not sure I have ever expected any manufacturer, store or salesman try and compensate me for that.

Had the car been positively received by the UK/Euro motoring press, this situation would probably not have happened. There would be high demand, no price reduction, more potential purchasers.

I am sure that DC didn't plan for the car to do as poorly as it did. I am almost positive that they banked on the lure of the MB components to attract potential TT, RX8 and 350Z owners. Didn't work, so drop the price.

 

VegasCrossfire - My original topic wasn't meant for fat middle-aged Americans, but was aimed directly at the UK market. And how long does someone need to be a member of this forum before expressing an opinion that you don't like? You see YOU are the Chrysler image problem, just look at your album!

Of course cars depreciate!! My point was not at this rate & when this treats the British public as idiots!

Ironically enough I can afford this, the money isn't the main issue, IT'S BEING TREATED LIKE A MUG THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

GOOD LUCK TO THOSE THAT "DONT FEEL MY PAIN" you must be plain stupid.

DC might be the parent company of Mercedes, but the two entities are completely different when looking at quality, reliability & most of all customer service.

VegasCrossfire - Hope you're not too offended again, but some people want to air their opinions - I would suggest the tone of this forum would change as people see how they've been treated - If you don't like it then leave.

 

Dont know why there is a problem with fallen values with UK cars.

Look at BMW. Buy a 330ci sport coupe with some toys and you will pay around 32K. No discount or very small if you are lucky. This model is due to change in 2006 to a 4 series so what do you think your 330ci will be worth in 2 years time. Not much.

The other big players Merc, audi, bm are changing or facing lifting there models every 2-4 years and most finance contracts are for 3 years. Everytime they change the style of the car there is going to be hefty drop in values on older models.

Ask yourself one question. DO YOU LIKE THE CAR. If yes than forget what you paid for it. It's going to drop unless its Bently coupe.

Otherwise buy a classic, it will drop by very little if not at all or go up in value and still get tons of looks if in good condition. Beware of reliability.

OR

TAKE THE BUS

 

IT smells slightly of the MG Rover issues. They built a V8 MG, then 6 months down the line, knock ��4,000 of the list.

Thats the way it happens I'm afraid. I didn't get ��4000 off, but I got nearly ��3000 and afew extras, so I am happy enough.

I do feel sorry for those that paid for price for their XFires, must be gutting !

 

screwdRUS,

You didn't stress the 'being treated like a mug' in your original post enough. It much clearer now.

Anyway, welcome back, and let us know how you like your XF.

 

We should keep an eye on the prices for the 350z and RX8 etc. to see if there is a knock on effect with their manufacturers reducing prices to combat the DC XF move.

The could be groups of disgruntled owners of the competition soon.

 

Extremely uncalled for and to top it off.... Very wrong!!!

IF DCUK is so bad then just don't buy their products. Sounds pretty simple to me. I have been treated badly by GM dealers, here in the States, so I don't buy their products. Even someone stupid should be able to figure that one out. :roll:

 

I wouldn't hold my breath. The RX8 is a four seater sports car with constant excellent reviews by even the most difficult motoring journos around the world. 350Z is not far behind.

Let's be clear here, in the UK DC are lowering their price to sell cars *at all* in comparison to the competition. Audis, Nissans and Mazdas sell themselves no reaction is required to the DC move.

I'd still rather have my xfire.

Anyone actually looked at the residuals on Parkers to qualify some of this discussion?

Chrysler Crossfire Coupe
3.2 V6 2d 2004/53
Average mileage: 10,000 miles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost New ('04)
�� 27262
Dealer Retail
�� 28045
Private Good
�� 25830
Private Poor
�� 22880
Part Exchange
�� 24845


Mazda RX-8
(192ps) 4d 2004/53
Average mileage: 10,000 miles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost New ('04)
�� 20082
Dealer Retail
�� 18205
Private Good
�� 17045
Private Poor
�� 15555
Part Exchange
�� 16715

 

There is a limited market for 2 seater coupes in the UK. If the XF sales increase as a result of the price drop, then either the market for the 2 seaters is increasing or the sales are being taken away from the opposition.

Granted the RX8 is billed a 4 seater, but there ain't a lot of room in it and is has very poor torque (guy at football has one - he likes it but wants more torque, and he really likes my XF, he just couldn't afford one).

I wonder if DC are cheapening the XF to appease the Merc SLK owners. They need to be careful; the XF market could come from the SLK market. This is what hit Apple when they allowed clones to be made (instead of the overall market for Apples increasing, Apple owners just bought clones instead and Apples market share went down further).

I wonder if DC could enlarge the XF to make it a 4-seater :idea:

In the not so distant future, this would make an interesting Case Study for one of the Business Schools.

 

it always amazes me when someone happily exposes serious personal psychological problems on a forum like this.

you bought a car. instead of just enjoying your car, you go about convincing yourself that you were stupid (again??) and you were taken advantage of (again??) and you made a horrible mistake(again??).

your anger. your misery. your choice.

dan

 

Ditto houstondan!

Right now 04 Corvettes are almost 10000! off sticker the American sports car!
I'm sure you can buy any 2 seater right now at way under msrp.

Adivce to Srewed,buy another at the big discount and you'll feel better!

 

When I first priced the car last August it was MSRP + 10. In October it was MSRP + 5. By December it was MSRP. By June we were hearing about MSRP - 6. Plot that and you get about the same kind of curve that is being experienced in the UK. DC did a similar pricing scheme when they introduced the Viper and the Cruiser. Not a big surprise.

The time to evaluate the cost of ownership is before the purchase. If you didn't, shame on you. If you did and your number turned out wrong then it looks like you need to rework your algorithm.

Go buy a SLK. Drive it off the lot. Be surprised when it depreciates 15%. Get cranky. Hop on the SLK website and spread some sunshine there.

 

Looks like I'm not the only one that "Doesn't Feel his Pain" ...LOL :lol: :lol: :lol:

Be careful folks you're going to get lumped with me and the rest of the "stupid" people of the world. :roll:

 

chrysler made twice as many 04 crossfires as they should have. for example, chevy made less than 10,000 corvettes (all fixed-roof) in the first year of c5 production. mercedes only sells around 7,000 slks in the u.s. each year. honda doesn't have to discount the s2000 by very much because they keep production low as well. by the time all 25,000 04 crossfire coupes are sold (in 05 or even 06), legions of them will be coming off leases. there may be more downward pressure on prices. i remember reading in money magazine last winter and seeing that crossfire had a predicted depreciation rate of 35% after 36 months. in the u.s., a one year-old crossfire has already depreciated more than 30%! this is of course based on msrp.

i can understand why some might be upset. especially those in the uk. there have been lots of complaints from those in the uk regarding the fact that the crossfire seemed to be overpriced there. but some still paid the steep price. like others said, if you like the car, keep driving and enjoying it. ironically, despite the big price cuts in the uk, you guys are stilling paying considerably more than a lhd version. $16K gbp can buy a new 04 in the u.s.

 

I think the basic fact is that we've all done this at least once....we see something we really like and throw all our normally cautious approaches out the window....we need to have it ...no matter what.
Well then there is the morning after...;-) And we realize had we waited a little we would have gotten the same thing cheaper and maybe bug-free.
It doesn't really matter if it's a car, a new PC or whatever else the early adopter is always paying extra...in a couple ways..:-)

I don't care what DC offers now as incentives on the Xfires.....I have mine and I love it. I can afford it as is and that's all that matters to me. Sure the extra money in my pocket would have been nice....but then I would not have had it as long either...

Short of a F40, Enzo, 959 or EB1 almost all cars depreciate hugely as soon as you drive them off the lot....keep it around 30 years or so and it may pick back up. But then again it may not either.....
The poor folks that paid huge $$s on the XJ 220 Jaguar "Supercar" .....they have lost a lot more than any Xfire owner ever can ;-)

Just enjoy what you bought for the reasons you bought it for. If you are experiencing technical issues that is a different story but I don't understand the griping about the depreciation.

 

I don't think the price will to go down much in the next year,DC will have what they wanted more cars on the street for people to see!!They know they can spend money on TV adds or have incentives one way or another they're commited to building the CROSSFIRE and either they spend on ADDS or get more cars out on the street!The price will go as the demand goes up or down.If they have to build them for three years at least then may stop production all together !i think the car would go up in value!I would buy another over the choices out there now vs. price and value!All new cars depreciate even BENZ, Porsche,Jag,corvette.Hondas. Buy used if you want to save $$$

 

What about just keeping the car for longer than 3 years.

If you love the car, as most on this forum do, keep it 5 years and it will balance it self out.

 

I was looking to sell it after the summer but now I almost certain to keep hold of it until I can break even.

Time to get it chipped, new brake pads, tinted windows and maybe the boot cover.

 

I agree with Mark. I normally only keep a car for 1 or 2 years. At this rate my outstanding finance after that time will be more than the car is worth. My car is only one month old. I've not even made my first finance payment yet, and it is already worth ��4,000 less due to the cash-back Chrysler started offering in the UK. If I sold it tomorrow I would have lost a fortune.

 

I spoke to my dealer about this last week (I bought at a ��4k discount) and he reckons that Chrysler will be "almost certainly" removing/reducing the discount this/next month because:

1) The full model range is now out
2) They are doing more advertising
3) There are now cars on the street to build familiarity