While I am new to the XF family, I must say I am really disappointed. I know this is not a true sports car, and I am not looking for corvette power, but I was driving home yesterday, and a saturn Sky turbo came by me. While we did not race at all, I did look the car spec's up, only to find had we raced, it would have been over very quickly. The saturn has 260 HP. This is by far the sexist most fun car to drive and look at that I have ever had. But because of its look, it is disappointing to know that a Honda Accord V6 will even make quick work of it. Just wish there was more performance in this unbelievable car.

 

Well there is a thing called power to weight ratio you have to take into account. I personally have gone up against a 350Z AUTOmatic from a roll and found it quite easy to hold him off, that car had 285 ish hp. Then just yesterday I rolled up on a Nissan Altima 350, we went at it for about 3 stop lights And I found that car to be very easy to keep behind me, the only time he caught up with me was when he started to roll earlier than I did from the stop light.

The same goes for the Honda S2000, the crossfire can out perform them from a stop light and hold it's own from a roll but your not gonna blow any doors off the competition, if thats what you wanted shoulda bought the SRT6. the crossfire is not a Sports car it is a GT Machine!

 

I do understand the power to weight ratio, but the Sky I would guess would be in the same ball part Curb weight wise as our cross fire, 350Z I think is a little heavier. I/m not looking to blow doors off or anything like that, but in this car, I would be nice to have a little more. I would have absolutely got the SRT except, I HATE that fixed wing, it destroys the lines of the car from the back, (Which is what I like most about the car) and they can only be had in Auto's and I think it is a sin to have that type of performance in an auto, even though that auto will kick the **** out of my limited.

 

I would think a fairer comparison would be the SRT6 against the turbo, you'd win hands down.

The other thing to note is that there's more to driving a car, or even racing a car than just 0-60 or just the HP numbers.

The Crossfire has phenomenal skidpan numbers and because of its extremely high body rigidity, there's lots you can do in a Crossfire that you can't in many other cars.

And I always chuckle a little when people use the old argument that sports cars should not have automatic transmissions. Not that the Mercedes automatic in the SRT6 is anything to shake a stick at but automatic transmissions have come a long way.

Different technology as they might be, F1 cars are sequential automatics, the McLaren SLR is an automatic and so are plenty of super cars.

 

apples to oranges ...

turbo sky is comparable to a srt6.

regular sky is comparable to crossfire limited and base models.

 

In fact, the automatic in the SLR is the same as the automatic in the SRT6 with only minor strengthening modifications to handle the increased HP and TQ. Also keep in mind that every MB AMG model is an automatic, too, and that the Porsche Carrera Turbo accelerates faster with the automatic than with the manual. Autos in modern German performance models just aren't the same as the slush boxes you find in GM or FoMoCo products.

 

Huh?
SRT6 330 HP/310 tq (conservative figures)
Sky Red Line/Solstice GXP 260 HP/260 tq

Haven't seen a GXP or Red Line that can keep up with me yet.

 

SRT6 will crush a Turbo Sky.
Crossfire Limited will crush an N/A Sky.

The Solstice/Sky weigh several hundred pounds less than the Crossfire, so when you give them an additional 45 HP they're bound to be quicker. But they have no room inside, the Crossfire trunk is cavernous in comparison, you have to get out of a Solstice/Sky to raise or lower the roof, and the build quality is GM suspect. Quality of materials used in the Solstice/Sky is well below that of the Crossfire as well.

 

I think I figured out why you couldn't keep up with that Turbo Sky but first I need to know if the top on the Sky was up or down? If the top was up I think I've got the mystery figured out and its got nothing to do with Turbo's or Non Turbo's. You were so busy throwing up from looking at that abortion they call a convertible top that you became befuddled and let him get away. Happens to me every time!

 

Shoulda bought the SRT-6, nuff said. Trade in your Limited and get the AMG motor. That will give every ounce of performance you're looking for and then some. I can even hold off Automatic C6 vettes from a 25 MPH Role...

 

Well, as other members have said, you're comparing apples to oranges... PW ratio is nowhere near... The 4 banger Ecotech engine has much less mass to turn... Just wait until you try that against a Solstice GXP ZOK with $1,200 in additional engine mods... You'll really be depressed...

 

My younger brother just bought a Solstice GXP, it's a pretty quick car, the ride is really nice, but it won't even come close to keeping up with my SRT6 with a Renntech kit. He wanted the Sky Red Line but couldn't find one, I think they are much better looking than the Solstice.

 

Time marches on...

Sports car engine development is moving really quickly these days.
The non-SRT6 Crossfire was designed about 6-7 years ago. It was very competitive when it was first released. But since then the bar has been raised. Newer cars are making more power every year. Engines are getting more sophisticated w/ variable valve timing and displacement etc. DCX didn't invest any additional R&D into the Crossfire once the design was first "frozen". This is too bad since other new Sports cars have been introduced and continuously developed with every year that passes. This lack of support and development is what really hurt the Crossfire.

The flip side is...these cars are terrific bargains now. Less than 20K for a brand new Mercedes sports car ? Heck ya, where's my checkbook ? I bought one in March and have NO regrets. I recall one reviewer said the car has "pedestrian underpinnings". Oh really ? Since when has any Mercedes product been "pedestrian". They could have made it a FWD poseur car using Neon/PT Cruiser parts. Now THAT would have been "pedestrian underpinnings".

The new car "horsepower war" is bound to continue. That does not make the Crossfire any less sophisticated or well engineered. Good design does not have an expiration date. The Crossfire is great balanced package that is now proving (now that decent 19" rubber is available) to be quite competitive in SCCA D/Stock auto-X events.

Slim

 

You underestimate the car, I have personally gone against cars I know that have more horsepower and have either kept even, or won. I went up against a new mustang GT and while he did pull a car length ahead of me once we got to 120 he kept losing ground until he was about 4 car lengths behind me once we hit route 8 and it got curvy. He let off the power.

Drag strip racing is not this cars forte but its not slow like some people would have you think. Sorry those are the facts. Maybe you got one built on a Friday.

 

You don't have to convince me SLIM... I'm already sold... If they can turn 280 hp on a naturally aspirated 4 banger, then by golly I can do the same with a 6 banger, even if it has two plugs and three valves per cylinder... Plus our car is

 

yup! try an find a 350Z auto or the 350 Nissan Altima, they both have 285 hp and the 6 speed Crossfire with it's measly 215 hp stays right there along side them, and sometimes it's will even pull ahead by a fender. now that's insult to injury, hahaha.

 

A Honda Accord V6 will not make quick work with it. An Acura TL Type-S will but not an Accord. I've raced both of them. From the line I beat the Acura TL Type-S, but it was able to pull 2 cars length at the top end once the VTEC kicked in.

 

maybe true for an old Altima sedan, but the '07 Altima coupe (270 hp) will remain at the Limited Crossfire's side.

0-60: 6.4s
1/4 mile: 14.8s
Top speed: est. @ 140 mph

and as for the new Z (306 hp):
0-60: 5.2s
1/4 mile: 13.6s
Top speed: 155-159 mph (limited)

Crossfire Limited (215 hp):
0-60: 6.5
1/4 mile: 14.8s
Top speed: 150-155 mph

 

Haven't raced against anyone yet. However, I've been having no trouble passing anyone I wanted to. Sometimes I just don't (pesky cops).

What I have noticed more is that there are a lot of cars and trucks that seem the need to express their "performance" by racing past me as I'm cruising along at 5-10 over the limit. I just smile, knowing that my car is barely breaking a sweat with lots more to give. If traffics clear (not rush hour) I might let the cars muscles flex a little and do a fly by on them. Cars still not working very hard, which I love.

For a stock car at this value, its great. One can always add mods if the "need" is there. However, I don't think I'll need to.

If you're disappointed, should have bought a Viper instead. But it takes a big pocket to afford it. Just my opinion.

 

To mod a regular Crossfire to 350+hp, it costs about as much as buying a Viper would. All you can do is change the exhaust, intakes, and add a chip. and that alone costs about $1,000+. $500 magnaflow + $400 merc intake + $200 chip. when you get into renntech mods, the cheapest upgrade is about $10k and you still don't break the 300 hp mark.