Had the mispleasure of test driving a CHRYSLER CROSS FIRE .
There are so many faults with the cross fire that i would be typing for ever but i will try to list some:
7-10 years outdated 3.2 lt Mercedes engine
chassis and drive train also 7-10 years old technology
160 kilowatts with torque 316 nm
cartoony non-functional vents behind the front wheels are a joke
cheap looking toy like bright plastic interior and centre console
glove box is small and very cheap looking
sun-visor is thin, small and flimsy with no lighting and tiny mirrors
rear visibility and lane changing very poor
car seats have no lumbar/side support and trim interior lacks quality feel
the ceo of Chrysler, Dieter Zetsche said that the crossfire is the sports coupe of the future and the image builder for chrysler motor cars - what was he thinking? (and what has he driven?)
Not only has this car been prostituted (all the parts have been salvaged from the spares bin) the only thing that's original is the body shape which at some angles has got some appealing aspects - one can only wonder how good this car could have been if they had used the new 3.5 Mercedes engine with the latest chassis and quality interior/fittings.

For a car that costs A$75,000 on road it is totally overpriced for what you get.
The good thing about the drive was it made me realise even more so how lucky those of us that own an RX8 are. There are no comparisons in any way. If this car is worth $75,000 the RX8 should be selling for double this. It's a pity that a large corporation like Chrysler/Mercedes Benz would allow such an inferior car that may have cut it 5 years ago to be released today - especially when there are cars such as RX8, 350Z etc on the market. When it comes to repair and service/running costs you will pay through the eye teeth for the privilege of having outdated Mercedes bits. The manual transmission is notchy and loud, the exhaust has a reasonable note and it has got reasonable power but the overall package is a let down.

Take this car for a test drive when you are feeling a bit negative towards your RX8 for whatever little issues that may be niggling you and you will quickly put them out of your mind. There is NO comparison. RX8 wins hands down in all aspects.

Shame, Chrysler, shame.

Michael

 

It's $75000??? I could have sworn it was in the 30's...o well

 

Australian price is $ 75000 on road US PRICE IS $ 30,000 ??

 

$34,000 USD

 

I read one review where they said the RX-8 is "the kind of car the Crossfire was suppose to be".

 

This is too funny.

Where I work there are two competing contracts that work in the same hanger maintaining AH-64 helicoptes. Boeing on AH-64D's and Pulau Electronics (my comp) that maintains the AH-64A models. I am known for always getting a new car every year and it is usuallly the best in parking lot. Well the site manager for Boeing got himself one of dem Crossfires and was the talk of the hanger.....that is untill I got my 8! Now I get all the stares and walkarounds.

He's always talking about how the car is really made by Mercedes Benz , Yada yada yada! Now everyone is telling him...."but it's still only a Chrysler!"

Rats foiled again!

 

Its funny that you fault the engine as being weak. When that is the main complaint most people have against the RX8.

In fact the crossfires i've seen were faster than the RX8 at the track.

I saw a crossfire run a 14.3 @97. And they definitely pull better up top too.

And where I live the crossfire and 8 are the same price (optioned out).
Having said that I would take the RX8...but honestly neither of the two cars would be on my buying list of 30K and upwards cars.

 

Not to mention it is still a Chrysler in many ways......beautiful cars that run nice for 2 years than are rattle traps and have transmission issues. A dealer out here had the crossfires next to RX 8...guess which had the bigger crowd around it!!! Neat but has nothing on the RX 8!!

 

Just wanted to add my 2 cents....I drove a Crossfire and it was lame. The ride was rougher than the RX-8 and you really felt claustrophobic. Almost no rear window, forget about storage space, it's all about the image in that car. I'd much rather have the style AND function in my ride :-)

 

The Crossfire looked pretty nice from the top of the grandstands at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, where it was the official pace car for the Monterey Historic races - how's that for irony? It was on my short list only as long as it took me to visit the dealership and drive it.

Performed better on the road than I expected, but interior/exterior styling, ridiculous lack of outward vision, impossible seating for anyone over 5'9", lack of any real options (no nav at all) and very poor value compared with the 8 meant it was never really a contender for me.

 

You beat me to it, cruzdreamer! :D

 

For the most part I like it because DiamlerChrysler has ***** of steal when it comes to putting out cars that aren't what you would call mainstream vehicles. So kudos to The DC Corp. for being innovative and daring with their recent designs.

Now that I've said that let me also say this. "Is it me or does the Crossfire look as though someone took a huge paddle and smacked it square in the ****?" IMO - it looks stubby; as a little kid does who shopping with their parents in the husky section at Sears.

I haven't driven one and I probably won't drive one, so the performance issue doesn't mean anything to me. The Crossfire is eye catching no doubt. It may have some lower grunt than the RX-8 but there is no way in hell I would trade my 8 in for it. Not a chance. Driver satisfaction w/ the RX-8 is 100% with me.

 

I briefly looked at one, didn't even test drive it when offered. It kinda reminds me of a Delorean, resized a bit. Looks good from a distance but up close I lose interest in it.

 

I really like the Crossfire a lot. The styling is really bold and different. Mly concerns are how it will hold up over time. To me, it doesn't really matter who builds the car. I think the Tiburon is a great looking car and thats built by Hyundai.

As for poor rear visibility, your probably going to see that problem in many sports cars. I don't have a Crossfire, but my rear visiblity is so bad, its like looking through a periscope. Merging onto a road from a left lane for me a terrifying since by B-pillar is very wide. I'm guessing thats the same with the Crossfire.

I have no problems with an older design engine. Its proven. Small glove boxes and sun visors are not a big factor when your buying a sports car.

In the end, I would probably still choose the RX8 just because we've had Mazdas in the past and they've held up very well.

Now if I had tons of money to blow, then I would definitely get the Crossfire in addition to the RX8.

 

Your last reason " we've had Mazdas inthe past and they've held up very well" is the best reason why NOT to buy a Crossfire. Buying anything Chrysler means....

Really cheap and cheezy plastic interior
Really cheap and crappy looking stereo with toddler-sized *****.
Really bad reliablility.
Really bad fit and finish.
Benz "sports cars" suck anyway.... I'd buy a BMW instead. So why would this be anything good? And Benz is primarily crappy-*** slush boxes, so how can you expect them to build a decent sporty manual?

 

while getting parents jeep grand cheeroke service... all the people who work there are asses first of all... (jeep~chysler~dodge)... well im fixin to get my own far in 5-6 months down the road... and asked him about the crossfire... first of all that car looks like crap... ont the front looks a little decent... interior... exterior.. power... the whole damn car was a joke... the rims were nice though... i drove the rx-8... sitting the rx-8 felt better... interior felt more up-class....

IT SHOULD be 350Z VS CrossFire... RX-8 is the overall better of them... they did a comparo... and RX-8 came out on top... like usual.

 

the volvo C70 coupe im driving ryte now... is better then crossfire and its 4 years old... Crossfire didn't even turn my head... he was lookin at my volvo... thet same day i saw a silver rx-8... on 20... damn it looked sweet as alot...

 

I would actually be embarrassed to drive the Crossfire. It seems more of a women's car. When I looked into the interior at the LA Auto Show, the first thing that came to mind was nail polish. Weird.

 

The crossfire was the first "sports" car I looked at. I say look b/c thats all I could do. I'm 6'6" and I couldnt even SIT in the car.

I've had my RX8 for two weeks now. Man I'm I ever happy.

 

I think its that dumb commercial with that singer in it that hurt the Crossfire image. Whats her name, Celery Deon or something like that...