Checked out an Alabaster '04 Coupe last Saturday afternoon. It was a local trade in at a Chrysler dealership with only 74,000 miles, they'd just got it in(I scour Autotrader & CL daily) and hadn't had time(or chose not to waste the time) to clean it up.
Loved the color and the fact that it was a manual tranny, but what a disappointment:

Found out it had prior rear unibody damage - not a salvage title but the driver side taillight had bigger gap than passenger side plus 1/2 inch bondo crack in the top corner.
Lots of rust behind both lower door seals.
Both seats would not move.(fuse?)
Seat heaters not working - Only the passenger seat had the back heater working.
A/C would not blow cold.
Cup holder jammed 1" below the console/console well scratched.
Hood moved up & down about 1/2 an inch while closed.
Clutch pedal very grabby and super stiff toward the top -something not right there.
Drivers side window motor made noise towards top before closing.

I decided to test drive it anyway. And other than the obvious problems the engine sounded great and got up and hauled a$$.
After I picked the car apart the salesmen said they were probably going to un-list it and wholesale it. But before I left he showed me the price $6,995 and said "make me an offer". When I said it was basically a basket case he said, "Well how about $5,000"...tempting as that sounded, especially since I would've tried for $4,500 otd, I decided to use my better judgment and just leave.
So, I'm still looking.

 

Sounds like you made the right choice. Call him back and lowball him. $3k,....All he can do is say no.

 

Shame all the problems are in the body otherwise that'd be a great price to start with for a V8 conversion!

 

Yea, too bad that, from what it sounds, the engine is all that is good with that car.

 

I bought an 07 stick limited (new) in Dec. 07 for $23,000......sticker was $36,000. Drove it 5 & 1/2 years.....89,000 + miles. Got $9,000 real as a trade-in. Dealership sold it within a few months for $10 to $11k I think......last spring. Have every reason to believe that car will last 400,000 miles if the next owner takes as good of care of it as I did. It had never been wrecked & only minor (rock chip) issues. I suspect that the 07s & 08s have fewer of the issues of the earlier cars. If you can find one like the one I traded in......I'd say anything less than $8k is a good buy. Still have an 08 automatic I bought new in January of 09 for $17,000 with 23,000 miles on it now......hope I'm never stupid enough to let it go!!!!!!!

 

forget the cars I want the house said the wife & I have to agree !!! NICE

 

Here is one priced cheaper, but I would give it a paint job first:


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrysler-Crossfire-LIMITED-2004-chrysler-crossfire-/281352892320?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4181f06fa0&item=281352892320&pt=US_Cars_Trucks