Chrysler Crossfire

For a car to go from concept to showroom in just over two years is pretty remarkable. Yet US giant Chrysler managed it with the Crossfire, and has also kept true to the original script of the vehicle displayed at the Detroit Motor Show in 2001.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Piers Ward

January 2004

For a car to go from concept to showroom in just over two years is pretty remarkable. Yet US giant Chrysler managed it with the Crossfire, and has also kept true to the original script of the vehicle displayed at the Detroit Motor Show in 2001.
But this isn't quite as neat a trick as it appears. That's because our latest long-termer is essentially a Mercedes SLK. In fact, it's merely a re-bodied Merc - the platform, engine, transmission, steering and even some of the switchgear are all borrowed from the German coupé.
All this means that the mechanicals are the best part of seven years old. And while the SLK was good at launch, it's now showing its age. That's why the Crossfire hasn't received the best reception. We road tested one in Issue 788 and were pretty scathing. But having driven it for the best part of a month, I've now begun to warm to it.
Not that I disagree with the previous assessment. Compared to the cars it came up against - the Nissan 350Z and Audi TT - it isn't very good. The steering is lifeless and the ride is pretty poor over anything but marble-smooth tarmac.
But there's more to the Crossfire than one disappointing road test. One of the best things about this model is that it's a conversation starter, which isn't something you could still say about the TT. The first night I got the Chrysler, a guy in a Saab 9-5 at my local petrol station became very chatty. "I've read a lot about it," he said. But he hadn't remembered much, as he asked who built the car! It has generated similar curiosity in the office, with colleagues eager to get behind the wheel.
The engine has proved among its best assets. It's had a gentle start to life because the Chrysler arrived with only 130 miles on the clock and felt tight. After kid gloves treatment for the first 1,000 miles, the unit has loosened up and the revs are more forthcoming. The Crossfire isn't super-quick, but certainly fast enough for most overtaking. We'd like it to have a louder exhaust, but you can't buy an official Chrysler part yet. It won't be too long before one is developed, but the car currently sounds too civilised for its hot rod looks.
The styling makes it one of the most instantly recognisable coupés on the road. Some people have been a bit lukewarm about the rear, but most think the Crossfire looks awesome. It's best viewed from the side, where the sloping window line gives a mean stance. While a TT puts you in touch with your feminine side, the Crossfire is all butch and macho. However, the Chrysler hasn't been hassle-free. A squeak behind the driver's right ear has cured itself, but it's been replaced by a rattle in the rear spoiler. This pops up automatically at 65mph, and the struts make the noise.
Also, the alarm sets itself off in the rain, which could prove an issue in the UK. But for now, the car is growing on us. Whether that continues as more Crossfires find owners is another matter. It's the same problem the TT now faces. As a distinctive car becomes more common, interest fades - and you'll be left with a poor version of a Merc. At the moment, though, we're enjoying the attention.