Hi everyone: I've been lurking for a few weeks, and as a new Crossfire owner I thought it's time to register. During the past few weeks this forum has been very informative and helpful. Hey! It helped my wife and I decide on the purchase of our Crossfire. (One of those marked down '06 Base Coupes).

We are probably unique as Crossfire owners go, being that we are closer to 70 than 60. Still being the owners of a black '55 T-Bird, and myself having owned four shiny new red Corvettes back in the 60's, we decided it was time for yet another sports car. What the heck, we can't ride the Harley all the time, and we may sell the Bird. Our 6 spd manual F250 diesel SC fills the bill as a sedan, and pulls the trailers, hauls the feed, etc down here on the farm.

We sure like the Crossfire so far, and can't wait till our lane dries up after winter, so we can get out to the hard road.

Well now that you all know what I'm about, I've got a question. Here goes. Why is the first number of the Vin a #1 denoting US manufacture, rather than W denoting German manufacture?

 

Welcome to the forum. If I'm understanding your question right, the Crossfire was built in Germany. None of them were ever built here. It's a Mercedes SLK320 platform and drive train as well as almost all the interior layout. Hope that helped. If not maybe someone else can answer for you.

 

This is a question asked by many of us. The only answer I can give is that rather than the country manufactured, they use the country of the manufacturer (Chrysler). Now before anyone points out that the cars are built in Osnabruek, Germany by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, this is by contract from Chrysler. Karmann actually builds many different low volume vehicles for many manufacturers.

As for me, I am right at that 60 point and had a '56 T-bird back in the '60s. Great "sports cars" as long as they were driven in a straight line. I lived near Larry Reed Sports Cars in SoCal and would lay in wait for people test driving Sunbeam Tigers with a 260 Ford V8. I would usually blow them away from the stoplight with my 312 "Police Interceptor" Bird...Sooo looong ago.

Congrats on your new ride and welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome to the forum DAMNFINO, what part of the Buckeye are you from. If you can be a little more specific than East Central Ohio, it would help.
I always liked the old 2-seater Birds myself, and they were directly, (or indirectly) responsible for me becoming the 2-seater kind of guy that I am today.

 

Congrats and welcome. Enjoy your new wheels.

 

Thanks for the answer. I was aware of the Osnabruek manufacture, and the SLK platform that someone else mentioned. What peeked my curiosity was the fact that a PT Cruiser we have has a VIN number beginning with 3 denoting Mexican manufacture.

 

In the country, northwest of Caldwell, on the Noble-Guernsey county line. Or as we sometimes jokingly refer to as "Nobletucky".

 

Welcome to the forum, lots of interesting reading here. I got my '05 base last May and have enjoyed it from day one. Just can't wait for some good weather. I am located about 5 miles from PA and approx 25 miles south of Lake Erie. I'll bet there are some good traveling roads around you.

 

The Buckeye state is well represented here with Crossfire’s. We bought our base roadster 2 years ago before you could get some real deals. This will be our 3rd summer with the car. We have enjoyed it ever since and also look forward to some good top down weather soon. I’ve got the amusement park part of the lake covered.

Go Bucks!

 

Welcome to the Forum from another Ohio neighbor. I live close to "Sand Town" and work in Huron.

 

Cumberland/Ava area, just a little West of Rt. 77?
Wouldn't that be more like "Nobelginia"?

 

By gosh, that would apply. Just a little bit more difficult to pronounce.

 

My guess would be near Andover/Pymatuning area.

As to the roads. Yes, the ones that are paved that is.

 

That would be an excellent guess do you know the area? I am also out in the country, I don't have a lane that I need to drive the Crossfire down, it is out back, one that the cows used to get to the back pasture. we have plenty of dirt roads around here too, but the Crossfire doesn't get to go down those.

 

Quite familiar with the eastern half of the state, from the lake down to the river, and a goodly part of western PA., and northern WV. Prior employment, a wife from east of Erie PA., plus varied interests have acquainted me with these areas. I grew up and lived between Cleveland and Akron, until the onslaught of development became to much.