Originally Posted by mdaniels4
good write up allEuro. sums it up nicely. The recirculating ball versus rack and pinion is not that big of a deal, and each has their own benefits. The creature comfort things in a 40K car would have been a no brainer for me, and I think you're assessment of the MB thought process was jiust about right on. Their baby was their own, and this just was really the baby Benz for the sucker american market because they probably had to.
I suppose it all depends on what you're looking for, but I really enjoy a steering system with some good feel to it. I've driven plenty of BMWs and VW that have had excellent steering feel. But on the other side, I have also driven a Mazda 5 and my GF just bought a Hyundai Tucson, both of which have a more precise steering feel than the Crossfire. To give the crossfire a steering setup better suited to an S class than a sports car is just terrible, IMO. Plus, it looks like MB has starting adding rack in pinion steering to many, if not all of their cars. But yeah, if you don't pay attention to steering feel, that I can see it not being an issue.
It's basically my daily driver too because it beats driving a Focus anyday for the price. Enough get up and go because of the torque, and a great value for the money for longevity. It's a beautiful design by itself. But like the Cayman and the Cayman s and now the Cayman R they could have done something like that, although the SRT after only one year out was that attempt for the performance, but then should have boosted the other componentry as well, and made it true race capable.
I agree 100% with this. For price I paid, I don't think I would have bought anything else. The whole package, depsite it's weaknesses when compared with $35k-$40k performance cars, is much better than the sport compact cars I could have bought for the same price. You just couldn't touch a legit rwd sports car with under $25k back in 2008--unless you wanted a miata. I don't care for convertible personally, so that was out.
YOu know at the end of the day it's about compromise. Is the crossfire my dream car? No. But it gives me about 85% of what I'm looking for in a sports car at a price that couldn't be beaten. When the day comes that I feel comfy plunking down say a legitimate $35k for a '11+ Mustang GT with the options I want, a used Cayman S, or Lotus Elise then I will have to seriously re-evaluate the crossfire. Until that time, the crossfire is a very good vehicle if you're looking for a specific type of sports car.
My dream, I think---would be a car with the styling, transmission, and suspension of the crossfire, but with the engine, clutch, and steering from a BMW Z4 coupe.