Originally Posted by DEScottzz
So here are the questions:
Is an SRT6 appropriate for a 100 mile daily commute?
Is the suspension unreasonably stiff on the highway?
Do these cars have air/liquid intercoolers? (I've seen mention of IC pump failures.) Where are the intercoolers located? Do most supercharged cars have liquid ICs?
Are they set up so that the superchargers disengage when cruising so that they don't consume shaft HP?
How is the maintenance and repair cost? Parts and service availability?
How big is the trunk?
What kind of fuel mileage do you get, honestly? (So many of the Saab guys claim to get 30 or more MPG, but I get an honest 25 in my combination of driving, which involves a lot of cruising at 80.)
Would you even consider a non-SRT6 Crossfire? I'm used to having a lot of torque under my right foot.
And finally, what is SSB? I'm guessing it's a shade of blue, just like when speaking of Viggens, LB means Lightning Blue.
Dave, here's some quick answers:
100 mile commute? No - suspension too stiff, driver's seat has very little padding, and gas mileage a definite minus too. That said I drive mine to work at least 1 day a week and I have a 50 mile commute.
Unreasonably stiff suspension? That's a matter of taste and comfort. You should really test drive one. I know the roads in Texas are much better than here in Pennsylvania, so you may not have any issues.
Intercooler: it is liquid cooled.The IC pump is located in front of the front passenger wheel well. The IC is located at the front of the motor, below the radiator.
Supercharger engagement: the SC engages prior to 3,000 rpm and stays engaged until it drops to idle again.
Maintenance costs: about double the costs of an average economy car, but probably only slightly above your average Mercedes (only because Chrysler charges more for the Mercedes parts). If you're used to Alfas and BMWs, you won't be surprised by the maintenance costs.
Reliability: it seems good, with the exception of a couple known problems, like the IC pumps. However, take that with a grain of salt, as most of us SRT-6 owners haven't even broken 50,000 miles yet.
Availability: I really don't know, but I heard several others get hung up for a couple weeks while parts ship from Germany.
Size of the trunk: for a COUPE: it is small, but not so small as to be ridiculous. You're not going to fit a new television or a large framed painting in it, that's for sure. But you can easily pack what you and your wife would need for a several day trip along with some detailing supplies. That's pretty standard fare for Crossfire owners at events.
Now, the roadster guys really have limited space.
MPG: I have gotten an average of 19mpg over the life of my SRT-6. Most folks get higher than that, but I race and include all fuel fill-ups in my average. I think 21-23mpg is pretty common. I have had trips where I got 27mpg, but that was all highway with the cruise control set.
Would I consider a non-SRT-6 Crossfire? The only reason I would consider one is for the manual transmission, since the SRT-6 is only available in automatic. Of course, considering the base or limited Crossfire, I would factor in about $2,000 for mods to crank up the horsepower a bit.
SSB: stands for Silver Satin Blue or some such funky name. Anyway, it is a silver with a hint of blue. Many people never notice the blue at all, but it comes out in some lighting. It is primarily silver though.
This car is SSB:
Message - CrossfireForum.org Gallery
This car is Aero Blue:
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