Overall, I have to disagree with you. While firm, the ride is not what I would call harsh. There are sections of freeway in SoCal that can be a little rough but that has more to do with the short wheelbase. I drove an old Z3 over those same roads and thought the car would wind up off the side of the road. My Z4 did much better (a 2.5 with standard suspension) but my SRT6 is better by far (and I have had it since it had 700 miles on it).
The Crossfire (and SRT6) were doomed by the testers from the beginning. I think it has something to do with the "hand-me-down" beginnings from the SLK.
I have driven Willow Springs, the Streets of Willow Springs and the interior road course at the California Speedway. With the traction control engaged, you can't get very aggressive at all. With it off you can get sideways quickly (personal experience). I was personally able to humble my share of M3s, Miatas, 350Zs, Corvettes, even a RUFF Porsche (the driver was new to the car). I am not the best driver, but not too shabby either.
When people start about the handling/performance, I just referr them to the following Road and Track story, where they compared a Nismo 350Z S tune and a Porsche Boxter S to a stock SRT6. Reading through the article you would swear the SRT6 was going to come in last, but in the end to their surprise there was only one "bad-boy" standing when the tests and dust cleared, the SRT6.
Read for yourself and enjoy...
Hot Sixes - Article - Road and Track
Originally Posted by DesertFox
Despite many of us saying that the car has excellent handling, I personally think we have to concede that point. The SRT-6 springs are too harsh, and the shocks aren't well-matched, so we end up with a harsh ride that doesn't necessarily translate into better handling. Whenever I take a hard turn, the car feels skittish and hesitant, and the open diff in the back along with the invasive traction control means it's tough to manhandle and rotate the car the way you want it to. A lot of people define handling as how comfortable and willing the car is when you push it hard (i.e., how
easy it is to drive a car hard), and on that definition, I believe the xFire is adequate, at best. That said, I'm a believer in the muscle-car old-school definition of handling, which is ultimate grip. IMO, if your car doesn't require the Stig's brass cajones to truly maximize its potential, and if it isn't trying to kill you at least once every other day, then it's a pretty wimpy car (sadly, Toyota's recent inclusion in that group has me rethinking that definition).
Also, one thing that's heavily overlooked is the MASSIVE low-end torque that you get once you open up the intake manifold on the SRT-6. You don't see that reflected on any simple peak hp/torque spec numbers that get called out in armchair racing. V8-embarassing torque is why I love my SRT-6.
