Originally Posted by Vegaslegal
1. Has anyone ever used the strap on the back of the passenger seat for anything?
Nope, but I recall that is there to serve as a garment hook.
2. If you are in a community that has grown at all since 2004, a lot of time is spent driving "off road" according to the navigation system.
It seems like the nav works a bit better in the NE. I've had good luck with the nav.
3. The umbrella hooks would be useless in the desert, but on a long trip they are perfect for hanging a grocery bag for trash.
Great idea! I have an umbrella in the hatch actually and two smaller ones in the compartment between the seats.
5. Unless I'm very careful, the driver's seat outside bolster will wear out in less than 10k.
I have over 15k on my car and it seems to be doing ok, but I'm careful with how I enter the car.
6. It is very easy to take the engine to the rpm cut off (manual trans), and this makes one look silly against the 350z also departing when the light turns green.
The Z should be faster than a regular crossfire regardless of how it's driven. 287 hp (or higher depending on the year) trumps 215 every time.
7. Everybody is right about the cupholder.
I seem to be the only person who likes the cupholder!
8. Many are wrong about the suspension/steering--this thing is truly on rails and has the best damper/spring/travel mix I have ever driven. As a former/current owner of other sports cars (Sunbeam Tiger, Jensen Healey, Fiat X 1/9, '92 Vette) and driver of friend's cars ('07 Carrera, '08 Vette, 350z, XLR), there are no flies on the Crossfire at any handling level.
I'm going to have to disagree with you here. Your own personal experience is with much older cars and I really doubt you pushed your friends cars. The crossfire is a decent compromise in ride and handling, but it's not perfect. It's pretty harsh over bumps, both due to the profile of the tire and suspension setting. And going through turns fairly quickly there's just too much movement in the suspension or tires, so I find stability to be an issue. I really hope it's a tire issue though, as that's an easy fix. I just haven't experienced a car that has as much movement through a turn as the crossfire. Having spent a little time behind the wheel of a lowly 06 boxster, I can tell you it's far more communicative than the crossfire and more fun to drive. I find it hard to believe that a 911 handles worse than a boxster, and by default, a crossfire.
9. Most comfortable 2 seater I've ever driven.
On the right roads, I would agree with you. It's a pretty good daily driver.
10. There is no "blind spot" for those who know how to use mirrors (coupe).
Except when you are trying to back out of tight parking spaces. It's very easy for a person or car to hide in the C pillar.
11. How hard would it have been to install a few tie-downs in the back of the trunk, and is there any use for the pins available at the front of the trunk under the bulkhead lip? For that matter, how hard would it have been to go up one level on the Becker head unit?
I thought we had a becker HU? I agree with the tie down comments though.