Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire is one of those ‘Marmite’ cars- you don’t know whether to love it or hate it. On the one hand it has tried to blend retro and modern styles in a fashion that only a mother could love, but on the other you get a fine 2 seat roadster that’s quite exclusive and has a certain American charm. If you’re looking for something a bit different to cruise around in, the Crossfire could be a great solution.
The Crossfire was produced from 2003 to 2007 and was available as a coupe and cabriolet. Based on a Mercedes SLK, it certainly has good DNA to play with, and actually it’s used to good effect as the Chrysler certainly isn’t a pure Yankee muscle car that’s allergic to corners.
With undoubtedly unique exterior styling, the interior is actually quite plain but does the job without much fuss. There’s a lot of silver plastic, but everything is organised in a logical order and is easy to use. As you’d expect from an American car, there’s lot of kit to play with, so you can enjoy all the trimmings. Despite this, interior space is quite limited, but then again you don’t buy a 2 seat roadster and expect masses of room.
Armed with a big V6 engine, the Chrysler isn’t a slouch, and can hold its own against some European marques. The ride is quite firm but not bone crunching, and there’s also a lot of grip in the corners. The SLK chassis clearly helps out as it’s quite easy to drive, but the steering is adequate at best. Overall it’s a nice car to be out on the road in, especially if you’re driving the cabriolet.
To buy brand new the Chrysler isn’t cheap, but if you go the second hand route there’s a whole heap of bargains to be had. Motors.co.uk has thousands of different listings, but the common theme is that they are all heavily discounted in terms of price. What this means is that paying less and getting more is the norm, so with a used Chrysler Crossfire you’re sure to get a great deal.
Clearly, the Crossfire is a great option if you’re looking for a small roadster that looks ‘interesting’, is quite rare and delivers huge amount of American charm. In both coupe and cabriolet forms it’ll certainly turn some heads, and the big V6 engines deliver plenty of power and noise. It’s a solid American take on quintessential European motoring.