Chrysler Crossfire

richard1s

I also had a flat but I received complimentary roadside assistance and I was also offered a loaner while the dealer searched for a replacement tire. I would protest this with Chrysler and get a refund for the cost of towing.

ajvdh

"While not a Lotus Elise, that does make it signifcantly lighter than many high performance cars on the market. They specifically mentioned the Corvette."

Sometimes I really wonder whether those shows employ any fact-checkers. The heaviest version of the 'vette weighs 3214 (according to Edmunds), with the Z06 coming in 100 lbs less. I guess "significanly lighter" means something else in marketing speak than it does in regular English.

3200 lbs isn't bad by modern standards (check out Audi's S4 Cabrio at over 4000 lbs), especially when you consider that the car is feature rich. But it still ain't what I call "light". The Z4 and S2000 weigh under 3000 lbs., and the RX8 is shade over. The 350Z weighs 3250 - right in the same ballpark as the Crossfire.

mikemajesty

the 350z is 3310 isnt it? and the crossfire 3080? im pretty sure they are closer to that. i think 200+lbs. is alot of weight, but maybe thats just me. just put a 200 pound passanger in your car and you can feel a difference in every way the car performs, i think.

mikemajesty

and i love my crossfire. i havent gotten a flat yet, hopefully never will, but i love everything about it.

nissan350z

The Crossfire is smaller than the 350Z almost a bigger version of the MB SLK 320. The 350Z has a Corvette type wheel base so it is a bigger car which explains the why it is 200+ pounds. As much as they are almost the same not really size wise.

hayneldan

Why not check out MB and see if you can buy a space saver spare that will fit the Crossfire and not take up a ton of room?

nissan350z

The tire issue with no spare is one reason I didn't get the Crossfire. I can't get a car with out a spare at least. It was just too risky for me.

jfgobraves

I am interested in getting a crossfire roadster limited, but i have a question about the maintenance for this vehicle. I read on this board where someone said he paid $120 for an oil change. Are these the type of prices I am going to see when I perform normal maintenance on the car? Thanks for your help.

intrepidspirit

I don't really let that bother me. I can't remember the last time I had a spare installed when I was on the road. I figure to let roadside service either figure out the fix a flat system or tow me to a dealer where I would get a loaner (rental) as provided by the warranty. It would be difficult for DC not to pay for the towing service/loaner when they designed the car with no spare. I would definitely fight it!

Of course, I might feel different about it if it really happened to me and I was greatly inconvenienced...

richard1s

Having experienced this problem it really is a hassle if you get a flat that the system provided can't "repair". The problem is that the tires are not commonly found. In my case it took 5 days and the rear tire the dealership finally located didn't even have the same tread pattern as the mate. Fortunately for me I had my flat mid-day, near a plaza and I had my cell phone with me. Different circumstances can strand you or result in an even more negative experience.

nissan350z

The tire size is so big 18 & 19 inches and uncommon that most places won't have them in stock right away. So might have to wait some time for the right tire to come in. Then again I don't think Chrysler thought people would use this car for everyday driving.

intrepidspirit

I forgot to mention that our Crossfire, while it probably gets driven more than our other cars, is a third car-toy for my wife and I to share.

It would be very difficult to be without it for 5 days if we didn't have two other cars...

doolie1

I can't remember when I had a flat last on my Mitsu 3000 GTSL. It also had low profiles. However, I can't speak for my new Xfire, just got it 2 weeks ago One question: The radio doesn't seem to have the reception it should have. My past cars never had such poor reception as this one does. Any answers?

doolie1

Does anybody else who has the Xfire have trouble with the reception on their radio. I live within 20 miles of an AM radio station and the reception is NG, and about 30 miles from NY and have trouble with Howard Stern in certain locations.

hayneldan

The Mercedes Benz SLK comes with a "Spare tire collapsible compact limited use spare tire on a lightweight wheel" as standard equipment. The AMG version has no spare, only the same fix flat can and compressor. So if you want a spare see your local Mercedes Benz dealer and be sure to check to see if this wheel will fit.

intrepidspirit

I assume you are speaking of the AM function of the radio. I seldom listen to AM and I don't recall doing so in the Crossfire. The truth is I am spoiled by the steering wheel radio controls on our 300M's and I don't find the controls on the Crossfire radio easy to work with, so I don't change stations too much.

The one thing I noticed about the radio was that you couldn't see the display in daylight. I took it in to the dealer and they replaced it with the newer version radio that you can see fine in daylight.

But I doubt that would have anything to do with reception...

nissan350z

I picked the Nissan 350Z over the Crossfire. The G35 was too much money for me. Or else might have gotten a G35 instead.

buddhabman

WOW, What tires are you running on these. 18/19" So3's and Toyo proxes RA'1 aren't even that expensive, check Tire Rack. Or was it the tire monitor system that cost you? If this is the dealer price for a wheel and tire you should complain to Chrysler, plus no tow service for a flat is BS.

Regardless I love the looks of this car. I saw a modded (Startech?) one at the LA Auto Show and it was one of the best looking cars there.

Did anyone pick this over the Infinit G35 Coupe?

cjs2002

dealors around me are running lease programs for 259 a month, 39 months, 12K a year.. with 995 down... I have a family discount plan and was thinking that I would probably be able to change it to a 36 month 15K miles a year with out to much increase in payments... what do ya think... I like its looks... comments please

intrepidspirit

It's worth a try. I found that they were pretty inflexible on these special lease offers, though.

I wanted 36 months/10,000 miles per year, but they wouldn't budge. However, they would have gone to 15,000 if I wanted it.

It seems most of the leases now are 39 months, rather than 36. I don't know if it has to do with the annual registration requirements (CA). I do know I am not entirely comfortable going 3 months past the warranty period and the roadside assistance...

ror

Just took a test drive in a Crossfire Roadster Limited several days ago. A left rear tire flat occurred while the salesman was driving. He pulled a bent GM key out of the edge of the tire. We had to walk back to the dealership! He had no cellphone and said that someone would pick up the car later. He said that the key hole was too large for the TireFit inflator to seal. It sure would be nice to have a compact front and rear spare for situations such as this!! (The "Chrysler Experts" say that a "Run Flat" or "Zero Pressure" tire for this car would make the ride too "hard"!)

intrepidspirit

You had to walk back? Why didn't the salesman call for a lift back? One thing you must carry with you in a car like a Crossfire is a cell phone!

BTW, did he get the sale? LOL!!!

ror

I liked the way the car handled before the tire went flat. It seemed a lot peppier than the 215 HP would suggest! This salesman tried to stick me with a $ 5000 markup OVER sticker price. (It seems like many of the dealers are doing this in this area of Southern California!) I moved on and found a dealer out of the area who wants $ 1000 LESS than sticker price for the exact same car. It would save me $ 6000!! I was thinking of getting an SRT-6 but apparently they won't be delivered until closer to December.
The cell phone is a good idea! What does LOL stand for?

intrepidspirit

LOL is "internet-speak for "laugh out loud".

I take it you were looking at the 2005's. It's a good idea to check carsdirect.com to find out what your starting point should be on price. The last time I checked, the 2005's were @ MSRP and the 2004's were at around factory invoice (about $1700 below MSRP as I recall - for my part of SoCal).

Unless you wanted a SRT-6, I think the 2004's are pretty much the same as the 2005's (except the convertible, of course). There is also a base 2005 model which is cheaper (standard transmission only).

A few months ago, there were some real good buys on the 2004's - some as much as $7,500 off MRSP. In February, I got a $299/month lease (39 months) on a 2004 automatic dealer demonstrator. The capital cost reduction was about $1,500. I put $2,200 down and about $700 went for sales tax on the capital cost reduction, registration fees, the first month's payment, etc.

I wouldn't buy a 2005 until the prices come down. A friend of my wife's paid $40,000 early on for her 2004 which is identical to ours. I think the price used for our lease was about $28,800...

pompilius

"What does LOL stand for?"

what does "ror" stand for?

drunkiq

The 2005 limited is the same as a 2004, only the letters that say crossfire on the back moved up one inch - the stripped 2005 only come in black, has none of the satin accent marks on the outside, has cloth interior and has no traction control (which really helps in the rain).

I picked up a new 2004 for under $28,900 back in may - they need to blow them out...

The Car is a SLK 320 with a new top body and bigger wheels (basically it is a kit car) - heck even the interior is the same (painted different) and all the aftermaket parts for the SLK 320 is what everyone is buying to mod theirs. The SRT-6 is just a SLK32 but only has the crappy automatic that the limited does (the autostick does not work like a manual) and that ugly wing on the back.

I would wheel and deal on an 04 and see if the depreciation is worth it over the 05 model.

ror

I ended up getting a 2005 Crossfire Roadster just under sticker price. (They threw in the GPS and AST options free since I didn't ask for them.) I like the two-tone dark/medium gray interior best of the cedar/gray and all dark gray choices. (I haven't seen the vanilla interior yet except in pictures.) The neatest optional extra is the Mopar Illuminated Crossfire sills. Every time that you open the doors the sills light up the word "Crossfire" with blue backlighting. After you see them you won't want the stock sills!
The top buttons on the radio are different on the GPS combo radio. I have't been able to get the separate manual or CD-ROM for the GPS yet to try it out. The viewing area seems kind of small for GPS. Has anyone out there tried it out yet?

crosfireburned

I purchased a 2004 Chrysler
Crossfire in May of this year. Within 24 hours I had to return the car to the dealer for a check
engine light, turns out that it was a faulty fuel sensor. The company fixed it and was fine.
About a week later I had custom rims put on the car and two weeks after that, the car started
squealing like the brakes needed changed, with less than 1000 miles, that shouldn't have happened. The dealer I purchased from said it was the rims and that I needed new rotors, then
mysteriously called back 20 min. later saying
the car was fine, and they needed new lug bolts since the ones they had on the car had been
stripped. The next day the car is making noise again. I took it (on the advice of Chrysler Corp) to another dealer that has had my
car for over a month, put over 500 miles on the car, and finally replaced the rotor on the car,
after I paid to have the factory wheels put back on the car to prove that it was the car, and
not the rims causing the issue. Now I have the factory rims on the car and it's making the noise again, with the new rotor. Now, this isn't just a metal on metal squeal, this is extremely audible, and involving more than the rotor or pads. Chrysler said on my second
conversation with them that they wouldn't be interested in compensating me for the down time
or mileage on my car, and has no interest in trading me for a car without issues. The purchasing dealer treated me with complete
disrespect as a customer, and the second dealer has treated me with utmost respect but still can't get my car fixed. I paid cash for this car with an expensive trade in. This car was purchased at a Dodge/Chrysler five star dealer!
I don't think that an extremely audible brake issue is hardly cause for screaming lemon law, but how can a company not back up their product after four visits for the same problem and at least try to make right a bad situation for a first time New Car Buyer? After dealing with the lack of professionalism from the Chrysler Service Center and lack of knowledge about this car from both dealerships, I will never make the mistake of purchasing a car from Chrysler again. There is no use of having a beautiful car if it's going to get looks for the noise it makes instead of the way it looks.

mikemajesty

there are always cars in every make that have problems, don't blame the car blame the crappy service departments. and the five star thing, i think that all chrysler departments have that and i dont know what merit its based on. their service is horrible almost all the time, the web is full of horror stories. you might just be best off swallowing the bullet and getting it checked by an outside specialist and save yourself the aggrevation of dealing with chrysler. it may cost more money, but in the long run the time, frustration and any other burden caused by dc service will definately cause you more aggrevation than spending some cash to get it checked out. good luck to you, and i hope once this problem is resolved you'll come to enjoy your car as much as alot of us do.
mike
black xfire
6 speed

fuzzywuzzy

If your not happy, You should try to lemon law the thing. Have you tried different rotors & pads? NOT from a DC dealer. Something aftermarket. Does it happen when driving normal or just when using the brakes?

leeb

Some Xfire owners have been using EBC "Greenstuff" pads from Tirerack.com satisfactorily.

mikemajesty

the best one's going are some sort of gold brake pad they are talking about at crossfireforum.org

leeb

Yes, that is the Rotex Gold pad. The reason most people go after these pads is for brake dust, especially on front brakes. A search for this product should find you a dealer close to you.

leeb

Go to that website and look at the Porterfield Brake Pad Update in the Crossfire coupe section.

cjs2002

Question.... whats the difference between the limited and the base crossfires... I was trying to find out what the difference is but to no avail... so could someone help me out here... the only odvious differnce i could find is that the limiteds could come with automatics... is there anything else thats different with em?

nissan350z

The base Crossfire doesn't have leather, fog lights, heated seats, and maybe some other things. Pretty much everything else is the same.

intrepidspirit

Also,the base is only available with standard transmission...

l943973

If you can't get a spare tire, why not just bring a tire repair kit and a bicycle pump? I use to carry a tire kit and pump on my bicycle. The only difference would be to also bring a pair of pliers/vice grips to put out any nails and something to jam the tire insert into place.

The only thing you can't do is probably holes on the side of the tire. I've never seen the Crossfire's trunk, but wouldn't a tire fit in there in the corner somewhere?

intrepidspirit

The Crossfire has a compressor and a [non-permissible content removed] solution to repair minor holes in the tire (by inserting the [non-permissible content removed] inside the tire). I have looked briefly at the instructions and there are several steps involved. Also, I recall that, if the air pressure has decreased too rapidly, as determined by the tire pressure monitoring system, the compressor and [non-permissible content removed] system will not work.

I intend to drive my Crossfire to Tahoe in October. This will be my first major trip in the Crossfire (about 500 miles, 8 hours each way). If I have a tire problem, I will have the roadside service deal with the repair system. If I need a new tire, I will rent a car (which, by warranty, Chrysler has contracted to pay for in the event of a breakdown) and fight it out with Chrysler later, if necessary, if they say the tires are not included in the breakdown coverage. BTW, these tires are not likely to be found in tire dealers' stock, so an immediate replacement is unlikely. That could mean several days of car rental.

That could be an interesting confrontation with Chrysler, since the car is designed without a normal system (some kind of spare) to keep the car operating under these circumstances. My position is they are responsible for the breakdown by not including adequate and usual equipment with the car to keep the car operating.

Of course, I hope it doesn't get to this...

mikemajesty

if they told you about it why should they be liable?

intrepidspirit

Because their configuration of the car's equipment created the need for a car rental. Chrysler has not indicated that a car rental is not covered in this situation, but they haven't said it is either. I was just preparing an action plan in the event of a denial for the car rental.

BTW, completed the trip to Tahoe (and back) and no flats! The eight hour (507 mile) trip to Tahoe took about 6 hours and 30 minutes (average of 78 mph. -- got slowed down on the one lane twisty mountain road part of the trip)

Took about 7 hours 30 minutes on the return trip...

jglackin

Actually, when the Crossfire was introduced Chrysler also introduced their "Premium Care Plan", to which you are referring. It was not done so that the folks at Chrysler could cover themselves because the "configuration of the car's equipment created the need for a car rental".

My advise to you is stop worrying...enjoy your Crossfire...and relax, the world (and Chrysler) is not against you.

intrepidspirit

"My advise to you is stop worrying...enjoy your Crossfire...and relax, the world (and Chrysler) is not against you."

I can handle the world -- it's Chrysler I'm concerned about!

Actually, Chrysler has been very fair to me over the past six years -- my wife and I have owned/leased 7 Chrysler products over that time span. In some cases they have gone beyond expectations in dealing with any problems.

My concern with the Crossfire being disabled was that Chrysler may not pay for the loaner under the "Premium Care Plan" because a flat tire is normally a maintenance item.

Several months ago, someone posted here that Chrysler would not cover his car rental when he needed a new tire and he was several hundred miles from home. I just wanted to make sure that I didn't let Chrysler do that to me...

And by the way, both my wife and I are enjoying our Crossfire very much!

scotian

http://www.worth1000.com/view.asp?entry=143775&display=photos- hop

xfireroadster

I have had my 2005 Xfire Roadster Ltd. now for over 2 months, and have no regrets. We all purchase cars for different reasons. The performance isuue will always be a hot bed of discussion. With that said there are pros and cons involved when purchasing any car. We as potential buyers have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages and decide what is best for you. Before purchasing my car I test drove the 350z, very nice product the performance was there, but the ride/comfort was not appealing. The G35, again very nice product but I was looking for something a little more stylish. Mercedes Benz were just too expensive. Also test drove the 2005 Corvette, very nice product but they are a dime a dozen, there are a lot of them on the road.

I have purchased seven DChrysler products over the last 8 years, without any problems to date. My dealer has always treated me well and with respect. All of my purchases were through the same salesman. When all other dealers were not budging off of sticker price, mine did. The car was purchased for $2630.00 under sticker. The lack of a spare tire is an issue, but as always its a give and take situation.

At this point I am extremely pleased with my Xfire Roadster Ltd., and the service that I get from dealer. If it ever comes to a light to light race....then I will just LOOK GOOD losing. My Roadster is a head turner, it is stylish and has enough HP for me. Ride , handling and brake response are great.

brightness04

"I have purchased seven DChrysler products over the last 8 years, without any problems to date."

Nor should there be, since they are kept only 1-2 year apiece; no?

turboshadow

Has anybody got production numbers in yearly breakdowns for the Crossfire, or know where I can find it?

Turboshadow

turboshadow

Thanks.

Turboshadow

fuzzywuzzy

The mags say the ride is very harsh. Does anyone have a SRT-6 that can comment on the ride & road manners. Is it a firm corvette like ride, or a Viper back breaking kind of ride?

xfireroadster

I was considering trading in my 05' Xfire Roadster for an SRT6 Roadster. After the test drive, I declined, the ride is comparable to both the Corvette and Viper but closer to the Viper in my humble opinion. Extremely stiff ride, would not want to take a long trip in it.