2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster

In the car-a-minute culture of the 21st century, it is rare to find one that gives pause. Automakers will race a car into production, through the get-to-know-yous and onto the laps of a public that scarcely understand what it is or why it's something they should buy. Five years later - or maybe three - the car is gone in a maelstrom of marketing, replaced by a vehicle that looks nothing like its predecessor yet has the same name.And so it goes. Nowadays, it is rare to find a vehicle that deserves the honor of even a die-cast salute, which is quite probably why makers of die-cast statuettes continue to make their livings in the 50s and 60s. There just aren't that many current model cars out there worth preserving, even as a 1/16th model scale. Except maybe the 2005 Chrysler Crossfire. With its Mercedes' guts and Bugatti-inspired American design, the Crossfire looks nothing like what it is: a compromise car between two very different automotive companies, a merging of sorts between two cultures.

Page 2: Moving Looks

Some compromise. From the outside skin to interior comfort and life behind the wheel, the Crossfire Roadster is a remarkable vehicle, utterly different than the cars it competes with in good and bad ways. Consider the Nissan 350Z: while the Crossfire is no match for the power and sports performance of the Z car, the superb 215 hp V6 engine, combined with its creative design, gives the Crossfire panache of its own. And while the Infiniti G35 is more powerful, the Crossfire is lighter and, well, a different type of ride than those who want the G35 experience. The BMW Z4, meanwhile, is about $2,000 or so more and virtually the same in most power ratings. The Z4, though a sportier ride, doesn't have near the same style, and frankly suffers in comparison. Looks that Move You Turns out that strakes count for something. So does the funny little spoiler tail that activates at 65 mph - on the Crossfire, it's part of its charm, and there are few roadsters with a more spirited design. Call it sporty sophistication. The Crossfire doesn't look too young, as many grown-up roadsters tend to look. The Crossfire, if anything, looks too expensive. With a price tag around the same as the Z roadster, the Crossfire looks more sophisticated, more expensive, and yes - older. There's a little gray around the temples, a little salt n pepper in the hair.

Page 3: Trims

And while that may not seem to be a good thing in our perpetually dyed culture of youth, it is when you're selling cars to the late-thirty and older market. Who else could afford, and want, a roadster in the upper 30s? For 2005, there is an entry-level coupe selling at below $30,000. The standard Crossfire coupe ($29,045) has a six-speed manual transmission, while the Crossfire Limited is available with a choice of six-speed manual ($33,745) or five-speed automatic with AutoStick ($34,820). (MSRPs do not include $875 destination charge.)

The standard Crossfire Roadster ($34,085) comes with the six-speed manual, while the Roadster Limited comes with manual ($38,045) or automatic ($39,120). The Crossfire SRT-6 coupe ($44,820) and SRT-6 Roadster ($49,120) have the automatic as standard. The look more or less stays the same no matter how much you spend, except for the roadster top and the large wing on the SRT. The Crossfire's rear view has a tapered, boat tail appearance. With the retractable spoiler out, the look is sharp, but the spoiler does carve into visibility a little - a small distraction, especially when it activates itself and you can see it deploy out of the corner of your eye, via the rear view mirror. Small potatoes when you consider the value of the rear design. The spoiler is the perfect compliment to a back that finishes the Crossfire statement, which starts with the long, flat hood with strakes and a grille that frames the Chrysler wingspan nicely. The chrome-tipped dual exhaust pipes add a touch of power to the back.

Page 4: Sprint & Cruise

Combine the two - the long, carved hood and fast back boat tail - and the Chrysler Crossfire has a professionally aggressive exterior design, especially with 19-inch rear wheels in back and front wheels measuring 18 inches. The hood and character line sweep compliment the larger wheels in back, and the long hood up with strakes gives the front a mid-action look.

There is more than just look to the action, too - though the Crossfire (SRT excluded) is more built for the sprint-and-cruise than serious ride and handling. The engine is the sublime 3.2 liter 18-valve V-6 of the previous SLK - a nice engine with more than enough power for a light car that's a bit over 3000 lbs. There are other Mercedes parts under the skin, too, such as the multi-link suspension and steering - and they really define the character of the Crossfire. The ride is fun and firm, though the steering could do with a little more feel of the road - but like the SLK, it provides the driver with a precise ride that manages the road perhaps a tad too much - no crazy fish tailin' in this little roadster. of course, the SRT version is another story, and one better told on its own. Click here for more about the Crossfire SRT. Just know that horsepower ratings change from 215 to 330 for the SRT version - more than enough horses to fill your barn.

Page 5: Shake Loose

For those of us with smaller egos, the 215 horsepower version is more than enough - especially given the lightweight of the car. According to Chrysler, the Crossfire offers better stiffness-a key roadster metric - than the Boxster, Audi TT Quattro and BMW Z4. And while we can't verify the accuracy of their claim, the Crossfire does provide a stiff, well-connected ride. It may well be too controlled for its own good, as the Crossfire Roadster comes standard with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and brake assist. Electronic Stability Program integrates a single brake application and throttle intervention for yaw control, and an ignition and throttle intervention for wheel spin control. In essence, it keeps the Crossfire on the road - even when you'd like it to shake loose a little more often.

But then the roadster is too nice to shake loose. It's for fast cruising, sunny days and prom queen waves. The biggest troubles with the Chrysler Crossfire Roadster actually revolve around the interior and the top. The sequence of putting the top up or down is a bit confusing and you do need a little elbow grease. To operate, release and pull down the center-mounted handle located on the windshield header, turn the handle, which releases the convertible fabric top and lowers the side glass, and lift the front of the top approximately eight inches.Press the button on the center console and the hard tonneau opens up, the soft fabric top folds in, and the hard tonneau closes again.

Page 6: Slot & Snick

We preferred the top mechanism of the 350Z roadster, for its silent operation and simple lock/unlock mechanism, though that left very little room to maneuver on the inside. The top itself is a charmer - thick and tight, little road or wind noise comes into the cockpit. The cockpit itself is tough to get in and out of - this really is not designed to be a daily driver, as the accommodations are snug and there is virtually no storage. But it's not a car really built for a commute - the Crossfire is here for the road, and the roadster is here for the road when the sun is high and the sky blue. The interior design is based on a "twin cockpit" design, and there's a nice touch to many of the instruments, with a white on black display surrounded by silver trim rings. The shifter feels great in the palm of your hand - it has some heft to it, and slots and snicks away the time with great precision.

Conclusion

The seats are strong, built out of quality material, and comfortable. The sitting relationship between wheel, knees, elbows is good - as is the center console. It's nothing to change the radio or environmental setting with a quick flip. All in all, a well designed interior, though with not enough room and a few knobs and buttons that felt decidedly less-than for a car with such a quality posture.Which is, after all, what the Crossfire is all about - putting a quality posture forth for the world to see while finding a nice way to enjoy a sunset, get down the road and drive something with a little more cache than the neighborhood special.

FAQS

What kind of fuel economy does the Crossfire achieve? It's rated at 17/25 - but given the type of car it is - a fun roadster or coupe that you will love to drive - you can probably expect mpg at around 15/25.

What did you like most about the Crossfire? As shallow as it sounds, I liked the way it made me feel when I drove down the road. It's is a real head turner - mark up another win for Chrysler design - and its performance is solid. The engine is especially nice.

What did you like least about the Crossfire? The noise made by the power top, cabin entry, and the utter lack of utility space.

Which version would you buy? I would purchase a manual roadster limited - loved the shifter, and the roofline seems higher on the roadster than the coupe.

Writer's Notes

The base coupe comes standard with power windows, speed control, dual-zone temperature control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes with brake assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and all-speed traction control. Limited models heated leather power seats, tire-pressure monitoring system, touring gear, heated mirrors, fog lamps, and a universal garage door opener. Options are limited to a navigation system ($1,200) and all-season tires ($185) in place of the standard high-performance tires. Crossfire comes in Classic Yellow, Aero Blue, Alabaster, Black, Blaze Red, Graphite Metallic and Sapphire Silver Blue.Safety and Security Features