seabrjim: “Apparently it is known in Chryco circles as “the worst car we have ever made.””

It is more likely that it is known within Chrysler as the worst recent car approved for production. Like the Edsel, Aztek and, ironically, the Airflow some 70 years prior, the Crossfire isn’t particularly bad in any area except styling. Unfortunately, that’s more than enough to doom it in the marketplace. As others have pointed out, the 1st gen Mercedes SLK, upon which the Crossfire is based, isn’t a bad platform. The difference is the Crossfire looks nothing like an SLK.

It’s not hard to pinpoint the styling faux pas of the car, either. Like the overall miserable rental-special Sebring, the Daimler Germans overused ’strakes’ on the hood and sides, along with the ungainly, circular C-pillar. I guess it was supposed to harken back to some sort of classic ‘art deco’ style but it just doesn’t work. Hence, brand-new, base Crossfire coupes being offered for sale at nearly half of original MSRP.

No, the problem was putting that styling into production in the first place. They will be treasured oddities one day, no doubt, but most people don’t want to be seen driving something that looks like a bad kit car.

There is no way this can top the mess known as the Chrysler TC by Maserati.

I mentioned a few weeks ago our area dealer had over 60 of these in stock, and they all had a $4k MARK UP on the sticker. Oddly, it seems they’re still all there.

I think they’re cool looking, and certainly a screaming bargain at >$20k for a coupe and >$25k for a convertible. Sadly, at 6′3″/200, it’s a very tight fit.

Besides, has anyone here ever drove one with a manual? UGH. The shifter was so sloppy and flimsy, every shift felt like I was stirring peanut butter with a popsicle stick.

Who the hell wants to drive something like that everyday?

I have never seen anybody here have anything that bad to say about the Crossfire. It’s a good car. I just think that this ad is another symbol of Chrysler’s sad demise.

To those above mentioning the stick-shift: the 6-speed has been getting better over the last few years. I test drove a 2006 one and thought is was OK (for a $20k car, not a $35k “drivers” car). Anyway, it was somewhat better than the 1986 stick from my 300E, though the 300E might have felt better with 250,000 fewer miles on the odometer.

Does it come with a stick or a slushbox?

–chuck

I have heard these are not cars for tall people, over 6ft, so I have never driven one. I would like to think though one at $20k would be sweet.

I could see a friend of mine who has a Ford dealership in Florence SC do the exact same thing with Mustangs… or perhaps Rangers.

However what I do know is this…

On MSN there are 268 reviews for the Crossfire from 2003 to 2008. It received an owner rating average at least 9.2 or higher for every single year it was released. From a 1 to 10 scale, anything above a 9 at that site signifies exceptional owner satisfaction.

Carsurvey gives the Crossfire all smiley faces. No frowns. No middles.

Edmunds has 264 reviews from current owners. If you add all those up you also get a rating that is well above 9.0 out of 10.

There are loads of performance coupes from Japan, Korea, Europe and America that don’t match the Crossfire’s record of owner satisfaction. Based on well over 500 reveiws, it appears at least to me that the feedback on the Crossfire from actual owners has been extremely positive.

Those of you who simply bash just because you don’t like the ‘brand’ may want to delve deeper to find the actual truth of a vehicle. I see a lot of variability in the quality within brands at the dealer auctions and the Crossfire happens to be one of many that buck the conventional attitudes.

In fact, plenty of highly regarded brands have models that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. Other less regarded brands contain models that are true bargains in the car business. The Crossfire just happens to be one of those models.

windswords, the point about a contractural obligation to Mercedes is a good one. I still wonder why they are wasting their resources on the coupes, when in general a convertible is much more appealing at this price point…and probably costs little more to produce.

‘Apparently it is known in Chryco circles as “the worst car we have ever made.”’

Why I can’t speak for the reliability or lack therof of the car, you forget that it is not made by Chrysler. ALL of the car is made by Mercedes and Karmann in Germany. Why do they have so many? One they didn’t sell well, but I think more importantly they had a contract with Dumbler to buy so many, whether they could sell them or not. Just another way that Dumbler ass f&*ked Chrysler.

I wonder how long these “special purchases” have been parked on the Michigan State Fairgrounds as part of Chryebrus’ excess inventory, formerly known as the “sales bank?”

But if they were to offer a droptop Crossfire for under $20k, I’d probably be driving the five hours or so to Grapevine…

Wonder what they will actually try to get from consumers taken in by the ad?

I’m getting weary of these cliches, but anyway the Crossfire is loaded with MB engineering, components and is produced by Karmann in Germany.

rochskier: “However, if you’re looking for a Mopar bargain these days I’d recommend looking into a Magnum or Charger in R/T trim.”

The best choice being a leftover Magnum SRT-8. If you can find one at a bargain-basement price (and can afford the gas), it would be the current Mopar hot-shoe choice.

However, if you’re looking for a Mopar bargain these days I’d recommend looking into a Magnum or Charger in R/T trim.

Either car gives a fair amount of practicality combined with a mill that pulls like the right hand of God.

It really is too small, for me atleast (in the 6 foot club).

It drives sort of…wooden.

From the rear it looks like a dog taking a dump. From the front, like a Sebring. A Sebring taking a dump? Not good.

Don’t get me wrong, there is some goodness here. It’s just hard to find. It is cheap for 20k but the question begs to be asked: Is this something you would drive regularly even for free?