just some thought on this car. you may or may not agree. that's ok.

first and foremost, its dad is a mercedes 2 seater. most of the "real" sports cars have trouble with the mercedes because it's never completely committed to performance. i.e., a little too heavy and softer on the bumps.

it's funny but even tho the crossfire does not feel heavy, it does feel extremely solid. i'm afraid some of that will be lost on the convertable but the hardtop just feels unusually stable. and, depending on which tests you believe, the thing corners extremely well and compares very well with the competition.

i appreciate all the discussion about raw horsepower, 0-60 and such but generally, if you need to get agressive, it's there for you. it's got a whole lot of rubber down there but not more than it needs for the power.

i like the auto-trans. well, that's what i've got. it's smooth and crisp and if the situation presents itself, i know that i can just hold the shifter to the left and it'll find the right gear for the strongest launch.

it's worth the money. no doubt about it. some neighborhoods, it seems like half the houses have an old mercedes/2 tucked away in a corner of the garage someplace. might have some dust on it but it'll run and, if necessary, run hard. and the competition? where does it spend it's retirement??

my bet is that the first-year crossfire will also be known for longevity.

dan