Our cars are absolutely gorgeous, the body is perfect, and the underpinnings are that of a german perfected mercedes SLK320 (from the chassis, to the engine, to the suspension and transmission!). Yet, the car didn't sell! They had to list them on overstock.com for god sakes! Additionally, they only made 3 model years, when you buy a new one now its still a 2006! Furthermore, THEIR RESALE VALUE MUST SUCK HARDCORE! I just got a mint LIMITED 2005 coupe with 14k miles with the two toned leather for 19k! AND THAT'S AN AVERAGE DEAL ON AUTOTRADER! We're talking a hit of 17k IN TWO YEARS! 50%! Why guys? Why does nobody want this beauty, which is beautiful driving and looking? And don't say it was overpriced and poor marketing, I agree, but the overpriced problem and poor marketing doesn't explain its miserable resale.

 

I think they were overpriced when they first came out.
It's not a practical car.
Most people have families - this car is not family friendly.
I believe it's a second car most of the time for some people.

 

How do you expect a Chrysler dealer to sell something with only ONE cup holder??? <grin>

But seriously, I think the Dodge dealers would have done a better job with a performance two-seater. The couple of local Chrysler dealers I have dealt with barely knew what the car was... Tazz

 

Even if "people have families" other two seaters exist AND SELL guys! Additionally, one can't blame the dealers for all its probs, anyone seeing the beauty on the road and wanting to look at a sports car would make the mental note "I should test drive that." And back to the overpriced thing, its not an excuse for horrid resale value. Lastly, is it so overpriced? I mean guys, its exactly a $50k SLK320, built in germany! I saw the old SLK in a parking lot yesterday and looked inside, aside from materials the interior layout is EXACTLY THE SAME! Additionally, I think we can all agree its at least on par with a Z, and their base is a mere 2.5k less! They ain't head turners like crossfires, and a mercedes engine they lack!

 

Well, sort of. The only Crossfire I would even attempt to challenge a Z with would be the SRT. Period. The Z has a few things going for it...

For one, it's cheaper. We're talking sticker price, but still. Also, there is a religious following of Japanese cars among the tuner crowd. Aftermarket companies know this. Third, the Z (and most other Japanese cars) are relatively easy to mod. The Mercedes engine is both a blessing AND a curse. It is a wonderfully balanced, smooth engine with a long life expectancy. BUT, from what I've gathered on here, it's a PITA to work on. God forbid any hardcore re-wiring or programming. The Z, on the other hand, has one of the largest aftermarkets out there.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE the SRT. So much so, in fact, that I will be buying one as soon as my raise goes through. I work at the Nissan Manufacturing plant, and I see 1,000 350Z's a day. Same for the G35 Coupe. I don't want to blend.

Know how many Crossfires are at Nissan? ONE. And it's a Limited model. We have over 9,000 employees here... so that's an AWESOME ratio for owning an exclusive car. There are tons of Bimmers, tons of Mercs. ONE Crossfire.

The Crossfire is a victim of one thing, and that's poor marketing. If DCX had handled the car as it should have been, they would have TOUTED the MB bloodline... instead, I think Daimler didn't want to rob sales from its grossly overpriced, upcoming SLK350 model. So they treated the Crossfire as the step-child and kept it in the dark. Poor move. NOW, we have thousands waiting on dealerships, trying to survive sales cuts.

I think it's horrible, honestly. BUT, that will not sway my opinion or my decision to buy one. I have already been bitten... I drove an SRT a while back, and fell in love...

 

People actually drive non-Nissan cars to work at a Nissan plant? Shouldn't they have to "eat their own dog food?"

 

It's pretty basic; BAD MARKETING, even I had forgotten about the car when I was in the market for a new car. I was considering the G35 when I stumbled on a picture of the XF, and said WOW, I loved it when it was introduced, and I'm getting one. This was before I know the prices had gone down. I would have paid the MSRP until I found out they were giving them away.

 

Reposting what i wrote back in Feb.

Re: CarBuzzard on Crossfire - 02-28-2007 , 05:08 PM

I believe the author's thinking is as flawed as all those auto reviewers that kept harping on the recirc ball steering on the Crossfire. It seems that one dolt made that comment and many others adopted it as their own.

First there is nothing wrong with the "old" platform. In MB SLK form it was time for a change but not worn out. While much of the Crossfire platform does come from MB much of it was refreshed by Chrysler. The suspension and brakes were upgraded especially on the SRT. It has its own character.

Why don't we hear the same thing about the 300/Magnum/Charger? Didn't the use of previous generation E class parts make them better vehicles? We have had more than one former SLK owners who were pleasantly surprised by the "new more modern" Crossfire.

The problems with marketing the Crossfire are numerous (most have been mentioned on this forum). When launched, the dealers abused the potential customers by jacking up the prices, permanently alienating many and treating those who did purchase one indifferently. Even that did not deter people from buying them. DCX saw this as an endorsement of these actions and then immediately overproduced them.

When BMW brought back the Mini, they purposely kept production low in the beginning then slowly added incremental production numbers. Keeping demand high and ensuring high resale values.

When the '05s came out the single model blossomed to SIX. Base coupe and roadster, Limited coupe and roadster, and of course the SRT6 coupe and roadster. This increase in production of a specialty 2 seater came about at the same time the economy was starting to change. Peoples buying patterns changed. Where people could afford a "toy" AND a SUV and a family sedan, gas prices and other economic challenges had the majority looking for fuel efficient four door sedans.

There is still a group that cherish their little two seaters (like those on this forum) but look at all the choices now. Miata, Z4, TT, Boxster, SLK Corvette, Solstice, Sky etc. A limited shrinking market with more entries than ever.

While the price of the Crossfire has always been a bargain (compared to its MB stepbrothers and other Germanic cousins) it was THE MOST EXPENSIVE CHRYSLER. The SRT6 models actually were more expensive than the 300 SRT8.

Chrysler is NASCAR. Big iron with a Hemi beats the finesse of the Crossfire. Green eyed MB bigwigs wanted to make sure it stayed that way. They could not have been happy to read some of the more honest reviews that had the Crossfire beating Porsche, BMW and yes MBZ while costing as much as $10=15K less for a sophisticated work of art that actually came much better equipped with a build quality equal if not better.

It wasn't the DCX "biplanes" that killed the little beast, 'twas the incompetent, jealous morons at DCX that killed the beauty!

In my humble opinion...

 

I'll have to agree with Spensley, but also add bad marketing and who wants to drive a two seater Chrysler Sports Car, although they are one of the most beautiful cars ever built. I got my '04 coupe when they first hit the lots, and the buy price on it was about $3,000 more than I gave for my SRT6 in Oct. of '06. But just my personal opinion I had read somewhere that when MB & Chrysler joined together there was an agreement that there would be no "CROSS - BREED" cars built. So I think that one of the Big Guy's pissed off one of the other Big Guy's by doing so and that's the reason for the bad marketing, again this is just my opinion.

 

One reason.

Golf Bag test...the car cannot fit 2 sets of golf clubs in the trunk easily nor can it hold a pro-style bag since the opening is too small. People with money tend to get cars that look nice and have functionality.

My uncle gave up his Audi TT because of this (plus mechanical problems) and got a Vette.

 

this car really did not sell because of it's price. when people see this car with a sticker in the mid 30 grand range they would rather get a bmw z4, nissan 350z, mazda rx8, cars like that for around the same price. plus this car is a 2 seater so that's another reason, and if you are taller than 6 feet it is very difficult to have a good drive, and although the car is 80% made in germany people see this car as a chrysler and would rather spend the same amount of money on a bmw z4, this is the same for the srt6 crossfire, for 50 grand buyers would go for a corvette or mercedes slk350.

 

Why? Are you saying that the XF, or SLK320 is less a car than a 350Z, Mazda RX8, or a Z4? It's all MB. I don't think it was price. They just did not market the fact that it was a joint venture, or that it was built by Karmann in Germany next to it's cuz, the SLK.

 

FP You hit the head on this one!

The XFire was the Red Headed step child that neither company really was willing to commit to sales. The Chrysler people knew this was going to be a logistics nightmare; Just training the technical people able to service this vehicle, was going to be next to impossible! Whereas many dealerships actually recruited ex MB mechanics to do the service!

But no one at Chrysler really could not stop the train once it was rolling!

AND REALLY... HOW MANY CROSSFIRE ADDS HAVE YOU SEEN!

XFH

 

When people are in the market for Chrysler, do they really expect to pay 30k+ for a car? I'm afraid not...

 

$30K+ for a car these days is not that much. Can you even buy a well equipped Camry for that?

 

Originally posted by Steve Hellums:
I'll have to agree with Spensley, but also add bad marketing and who wants to drive a two seater Chrysler Sports Car, although they are one of the most beautiful cars ever built. I got my '04 coupe when they first hit the lots, and the buy price on it was about $3,000 more than I gave for my SRT6 in Oct. of '06. But just my personal opinion I had read somewhere that when MB & Chrysler joined together there was an agreement that there would be no "CROSS - BREED" cars built. So I think that one of the Big Guy's pissed off one of the other Big Guy's by doing so and that's the reason for the bad marketing, again this is just my opinion.

Steve is correct! The Chrysler ME Four-Twelve also got killed off by the MB Top Brass because it looked better and cost much less than the MB McLaren Supercar at $ 250,000!

 

Paid $34,000 for a 2005 300c fully loaded in August 2004, An awful lot of 300c Chryslers on the road.

 

I also have an '05 300 paid $31,000 it was a 300 or a Pacifica which was also over $30,000, the problem with this car was the marketing and the fact that MB didn't want to upset its customers with a car that is 80% MB could be sold as a Chrysler for so much less.
And the need to get rid of some old slk parts.

 

Cute.

Nissan cars are nice... just overpriced for what they are IMO.

But FWIW, I drive a heavily modded, lowered Ranger that is very track-capable, yet very streetable at the same time. It has served me very well, I have nothing but good things to say about it...

But the SRT has bitten me...

 

Chrysler's aren't hip. Snobbery and vanity are two large components of 2-seater and convertible purchases. Look how many people on this forum buy stickers to put over the Chrysler badge.

Chrysler is not a brand associated with top quality or exciting performance in the mind of the general public. I'm sure the goal was to change that perception with the Xfire. Too tall an order for one car.