The Cookout

[MR-D-ROB]

So I'm looking to get myself a toy. I don't want to spend a ton and get something brand new. I just want to get a nice used roadster/convertible. My wife and I have totally different tastes in cars (as we do in everything else). She just kind of goes along with whatever I say because she wants to be supportive. She did give me her take on what she thinks based on the few things we are considering. I am willing to forgo the convertible for a few of the choices.

So here a few top choices that I am considering:

1. 1st gen Jaguar XK8
2. Chrysler Crossfire
3. Mini Cooper
4. 1st or 2nd gen Mercedes SLK
5. 1st gen Audi TT

Anybody owned or knew people who owned any of these? What were your or their opinions?

 

[Jay]

So I'm looking to get myself a toy. I don't want to spend a ton and get something brand new. I just want to get a nice used roadster/convertible. My wife and I have totally different tastes in cars (as we do in everything else). She just kind of goes along with whatever I say because she wants to be supportive. She did give me her take on what she thinks based on the few things we are considering. I am willing to forgo the convertible for a few of the choices.

So here a few top choices that I am considering:

1. 1st gen Jaguar XK8
2. Chrysler Crossfire
3. Mini Cooper
4. 1st or 2nd gen Mercedes SLK
5. 1st gen Audi TT

Anybody owned or knew people who owned any of these? What were your or their opinions?

Bruh every single one of those joints are a mechanical headache. You can have fun with the but the German cars will bleed your pockets dry. If you want a drop top you should look at a Mazda Miata/MX5 if you're looking for a Roadster. I would really stay away from German...also don't forget you can go American and maybe get a used Mustang Convertible as well.

 

[Boss Hog]

4. 1st or 2nd gen Mercedes SLK

I have a lot of experience with the SLK and it's cramped and the Supercharged I4 has some issues that I wouldn't want to take on without a warranty. I would go with:

Lexus IS Convertible
Mazda MX-5
Chevy Camaro

 

[MR-D-ROB]

Seems like the advice is to go for something American made!
I'll have to do a bit more shopping around and see what's out there on the market!

 

[Boss Hog]

Seems like the advice is to go for something American made!
I'll have to do a bit more shopping around and see what's out there on the market!

You don‘t have to go American but you definitely shouldn’t get a 20 year old German car.

 

[educatedman23]

So I'm looking to get myself a toy. I don't want to spend a ton and get something brand new. I just want to get a nice used roadster/convertible. My wife and I have totally different tastes in cars (as we do in everything else). She just kind of goes along with whatever I say because she wants to be supportive. She did give me her take on what she thinks based on the few things we are considering. I am willing to forgo the convertible for a few of the choices.

So here a few top choices that I am considering:

1. 1st gen Jaguar XK8
2. Chrysler Crossfire
3. Mini Cooper
4. 1st or 2nd gen Mercedes SLK
5. 1st gen Audi TT

Anybody owned or knew people who owned any of these? What were your or their opinions?

I haven't owned any of these, but I like the Jaguar most out of these choices.

 

[Troy]

I haven't owned any of these, but I like the Jaguar most out of these choices.

They have the best design language. The British models are so timeless.

 

[Jay]

They have the best design language. The British models are so timeless.

Yes! I like the resurgence too, the new F-Type is a work of art.

 

[The Haze Of Our Lives]

So I'm looking to get myself a toy. I don't want to spend a ton and get something brand new. I just want to get a nice used roadster/convertible. My wife and I have totally different tastes in cars (as we do in everything else). She just kind of goes along with whatever I say because she wants to be supportive. She did give me her take on what she thinks based on the few things we are considering. I am willing to forgo the convertible for a few of the choices.

So here a few top choices that I am considering:

1. 1st gen Jaguar XK8
2. Chrysler Crossfire
3. Mini Cooper
4. 1st or 2nd gen Mercedes SLK
5. 1st gen Audi TT

Anybody owned or knew people who owned any of these? What were your or their opinions?

Stay away from that Crossfire, just because the Benz ppl designed it doesn't mean its a great car. And watch out for the 1st & 2nd gen TT. They have a habit of breaking away loose on the wet twisties.

 

[Jay]

Stay away from that Crossfire, just because the Benz ppl designed it doesn't mean its a great car. And watch out for the 1st & 2nd gen TT. They have a habit of breaking away loose on the wet twisties.

Yea isn’t it built on the SLK’s platform?

 

[The Haze Of Our Lives]

Yea isn’t it built on the SLK’s platform?

Yes it was built on the same platform but that SLK is a dream on pot hole roads. But my neighbor was one of the first to buy one new and 5 months in he hit a deep pot hole an dhe right axel snapped. He had nothing but wiring problem once fixed. He sold it and now drives a CTS coupe with that 6.2 V8. We both love our coupes but I got the AWD 3.6 V6 coupe.

 

[Jay]

Yes it was built on the same platform but that SLK is a dream on pot hole roads. But my neighbor was one of the first to buy one new and 5 months in he hit a deep pot hole an dhe right axel snapped. He had nothing but wiring problem once fixed. He sold it and now drives a CTS coupe with that 6.2 V8. We both love our coupes but I got the AWD 3.6 V6 coupe.

Daimler was artificially limiting what Chrysler could put out because they didn’t Chrysler competing with Mercedes. That’s why their cars were straight ass for years under Daimler. I think it was the ME-12 halo car Chrysler wanted to build but Daimler canceled it was better than the SLR. Daimler then started cutting Chrysler’s budget and that’s when we saw a slew of cheap ass parts bin cars coming from them. We had the Aspen, 200. Town and Country, etc. just junk.

Side note: The SLK is dope but they started putting that fake engine noise in the cabin which sounds so dumb. I was driving one and it sounded waaaaaay too beefythere was no way the car was making all that noise. I parked the car, stood outside, and had my friend press the gas. Inside it was:

Outside it was

I couldn’t believe MB would stoop so low.

 

[MR-D-ROB]

They have the best design language. The British models are so timeless.

That's exactly why I am looking at those particular models. I just love the look and design from that era.

Plus it's a nostalgia thing for me. First car I ever purchased was a Jaguar X-J6. I saved up from my first deployment.

The two things I did were get 2 extra rooms added to my parents house and bought that car.

It would be awesome to have another Jag. One of my sergeants had a xk8 and I always wanted one.

This isn't going to be a primary vehicle anyway though. It's just something to have fun with.

I figure if it does give me trouble, I can just park it and pick up some extra moonlighting shifts to get it fixed and drive one of my other cars until I fix it! Good part about being a nurse. If you need money quick you can always pick up shifts to get it!

 

[MR-D-ROB]

Daimler was artificially limiting what Chrysler could put out because they didn’t Chrysler competing with Mercedes. That’s why their cars were straight ass for years under Daimler. I think it was the ME-12 halo car Chrysler wanted to build but Daimler canceled it was better than the SLR. Daimler then started cutting Chrysler’s budget and that’s when we saw a slew of cheap ass parts bin cars coming from them. We had the Aspen, 200. Town and Country, etc. just junk.

Side note: The SLK is dope but they started putting that fake engine noise in the cabin which sounds so dumb. I was driving one and it sounded waaaaaay too beefythere was no way the car was making all that noise. I parked the car, stood outside, and had my friend press the gas. Inside it was:

Outside it was

I couldn’t believe MB would stoop so low.

My nurse manager has a SLK and it's pretty good looking.
I think hers is around a 2015.

Really that's all the crossfire is. It's the first gen SLK with a Chrysler body!

The issue with that is neither company wants to accept the vehicle and work on it.

Chrysler will say they can't do it because it has Mercedes parts.

Mercedes will say they can't do it because it's a Chrysler!

 

[Troy]

That's exactly why I am looking at those particular models. I just love the look and design from that era.

Plus it's a nostalgia thing for me. First car I ever purchased was a Jaguar X-J6. I saved up from my first deployment.

The two things I did were get 2 extra rooms added to my parents house and bought that car.

It would be awesome to have another Jag. One of my sergeants had a xk8 and I always wanted one.

This isn't going to be a primary vehicle anyway though. It's just something to have fun with.

I figure if it does give me trouble, I can just park it and pick up some extra moonlighting shifts to get it fixed and drive one of my other cars until I fix it! Good part about being a nurse. If you need money quick you can always pick up shifts to get it!

That could work hopefully you can find one in good condition so you don't have to worry about reliability.

 

[Jay]

My nurse manager has a SLK and it's pretty good looking.
I think hers is around a 2015.

Really that's all the crossfire is. It's the first gen SLK with a Chrysler body!

The issue with that is neither company wants to accept the vehicle and work on it.

Chrysler will say they can't do it because it has Mercedes parts.

Mercedes will say they can't do it because it's a Chrysler!

Yeah it's a nice ride I really like the convertible. That year I believe has the Turbo so it has a little bit of power but it has nasty rubber banding when you put it in the Sport mode. Nice car overall but I believe it's over valued because it's a Mercedes.

 

[MR-D-ROB]

Yeah it's a nice ride I really like the convertible. That year I believe has the Turbo so it has a little bit of power but it has nasty rubber banding when you put it in the Sport mode. Nice car overall but I believe it's over valued because it's a Mercedes.

They don't hold value very well if you get them brand new.

If you can find a low mileage used one they do a lot better holding value.

 

[Jay]

They don't hold value very well if you get them brand new.

If you can find a low mileage used one they do a lot better holding value.

Because it’s priced too high off the brand name. You not really getting that much car at least 2nd gen.

 

[Jay]

They don't hold value very well if you get them brand new.

If you can find a low mileage used one they do a lot better holding value.

Because it’s priced too high off the brand name. You not really getting that much car at least 2nd gen.