Finally, after a 2 month wait I had my long awaited test drive of the Crossfire yesterday afternoon.
A beautiful car to see in the flesh (I even had the sales rep' drive the car up and down the main road to see it flash by) and also solidly built.
The engine I found was strong and willing and the interior roomy and comfortable, although the silver on silver central console buttons grated my vision in strong sunlight.
The handling was sure footed, and it inspired confidence through fast corners although the rear view, or lack thereof, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when I then began negotiating down-town traffic.
I will be opting for an different sports car, simply because I found that the Crossfire, for all it's above mentioned virtues lacked some of the essentials (for me anyway) of a complete sports car, the most essential of which was sharp incisive steering with good feed-back. Although better than it's erstwhile sibling - the Mercedes SLK - the Crossfire (to me anyway) is still a little soft in it's responses and I prefer something a little more nervous and twitchy to let me know that this is a sports car, not a sedan with a rakish profile.
It's been an absolute pleasure participating on this forum - one of the freindliest and best informed I've had the luck to come across. You also drive an exceptional vehicle and I wish you all safe driving and many grins.
Stormbird.