not a lot
try getting parts for these models at your dealer and holding your breath when they quote you
try a drop arm for a chryslar peoplecarrier
or a speed senser
try the price of front end bits on a crossfire
or even try the price of a right hand drive headlight for a pt cruiser
the only one i would consider is a jeep
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From a quick skim, I didn't think the prices were that cheap.
You can get similar money - £5/6k - off the list price of a Ford.
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Take a look at some of the options prices
Metallic Paint £400
Sound Pack (2007MY) £735
Satelite Navigation (2007MY) £1500
Satelite Navigation & Sunroof (2007MY) £2090
Audio & Safety (2008MY SXT only) £830
Sat Nav (MyGIG) & U-Connect (2008MY SXT only) £1500
Power Sunroof (2008MY SXT only) £590
Ouch!
Also as Belboy points out getting spares will be tricky.
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Good cars in the US - parts are easily available and cheap. I think it's the RHD specific parts that are difficult and they have a reputation for disappearing once the vehicle is out of production.
Love driving Grand Cherokees in the US but they vary a lot - I've had a couple that have seemed very good quality, but others have felt cheap, with lots of rattles and wind noise.
Have seen these vehicles mentioned in auction reports at astonishingly low prices - £8K ish for 2 year old low mileage cars.
Edited by Bill Payer on 07/04/2009 at 21:41
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Opinions from having rented these in the US:
Chrysler 300C - In my opinion the best US car available. Nice styling (if you avoid excesses like 22" chrome wheels), almost European to drive with a nice smooth ride but spoilt by dreadful build quality and the facelift versions are worse. I once had a brand new one delivered to me to replace a Pacifica that suffered terminal gearbox failure at 3,000 miles. After 2 weeks it was possible to see the wear on the leather seats. Very sad - with a bit more thought it could have been brilliant.
Chrysler Sebring - In my opinion very possibly the worst US car currently available. No redeeming features whatsoever and worse in every way than the previous model. I swapped a rented one for a Hyundai Sonata which was miles better.
Jeep Grand Cherokee - Nicest US SUV I've driven which isn't saying much, but it does have a feelgood factor and rides well for an SUV. Less interior space than a Golf though and the usual dreadful build quality. I got 9mpg out of one once. If I lived in the US I'd probably own one to tow the speedboat that I would also buy.
Jeep Commander - Like a bigger, noisier, worse handling Grand Cherokee. I had a white one covered in chrome. The only thing I've driven which made me feel more embarassed was a Lincoln Town Car.
Jeep Cherokee - Like a smaller, noisier, worse handling Grand Cherokee. Almost laughably cramped and short wheel base gives a very bouncy ride.
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I'm impressed. If you can see wear on leather seats after two weeks you should be grading diamonds ;-)
Rented a Chrysler Sebring convertible in Vegas last year. Smooth, quiet and actually drove better than my brother's CLK. Interior wasn't much to write home about but there you go.
Jeep Cherokee. Owned one for the last three years. Sails through MOTs and does everything I need it to. Much better than a friend's late model Disco which is a proper off-roader. As in it's always in the workshop... :-)
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Opinions from having rented these in the US: Chrysler 300C - In my opinion the best US car available. Nice styling (if you avoid excesses like 22" chrome wheels) almost European to drive with a nice smooth ride but spoilt by dreadful build quality and the facelift versions are worse.
I have a 2007 3.5 V6 300C with leather which cost $17k. It had about 15,000 when I got it and now it has around 25,000.
I also have a 2004 3.5 V6 Pacifica. Sat Nav, Leather, electric tailgate, the works. That has about 44,000 on it about now. Cost $24k I think.
Neither has given me any trouble at all and I think the value for money speaks for itself.
The pacifica isn't my favorite car to drive but I'd recommend the 300C to anyone - in the US.
I'm not sure how it'd perform on narrow British roads, how the RHD conversion would affect things, or whether you'd be able to get spares if Chrysler goes belly-up. In the US there are thousands of them around, so I don't think spares will be a problem for a while whatever happens, as somebody would want that business.
I'd really like a 300 Hemi. They had a new one at $48k when I was buying mine. I wonder what they are going for now?
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They're still all horrendously expensive given their likely depreciation. In a strange way I quite fancy the Dodge Avenger, but not at 13k odd.
When they were offering them at about 7-8k brand new, that was tempting. But I still managed to resist the temptation and plumped for a 3-year old Mazda which was still 2 grand odd cheaper and will probably prove to be a far easier car to live with, and will still be worth something in 5 or so years.
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I saw a nearly new Dodge Caliber on the road in SW France the other day. If I had been nearer to a computer I would have put it in 'unusual sightings'.
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tinyurl.com/cuzv2c
Was where I mentioned the chance of a 'bargain' a few days back!!
VB
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Bloke i know has an older Jeep 4 litre I think and it seems to put up with most things. I'm not convinced on the makes quality of build and some folks think the parts will be hard to source so I won't be buying.
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You can get better deals from the main dealer.
Dodge Nitro 2.8 CRD SXT Auto in Black
Includes Metallic Paint, MyGig, Uconnect & Entertainment, Leather
we bought this car for 2 grand less at Kings in Cheltenham.
Great car. Drive it before you read the reviews though
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