Hi,

I'm trying to decide between the Crossfire, the Z4 3.0 and the Nissan 350z.
The Z4 has the top down option - looking good in either guise, - the 350z the looks and absolute brute force of an all out sports coup and the Crossfire, IMHO the svelt goodlooks of a more mature refined sports car.
Many articles praise the Crossfire but niggle about 3 main things - the overly large steering wheel, and the lack of all round visibility, along with poor absorption of small bumps and holes in the road at low speeds.
As owners of the Crossfire, perhaps you could let me know what points you like and do not like so that I can decide if I cross out the Crossfire on my shopping list. Thanks. :roll:

 

I've driven a 350 z track (which still doesn't handle nearly as well as a Crossfire) and the ride is much more refined in a Crossfire. If you wait til May there will be a Crossfire convertible. If you go to the appropriate forum and view the pix, I think you will be impressed. Basically, if you're under 30, you'll probablly want the Z. 30-40 you'ly want the Beamer. Over 40 the Crossfire will be the ticket. I'd compare the Crossfire to Fine Wine and Old Money. The Crossfire (although it has a few miscues) is a piece of rolling sculpture. The other two come across as folkart lawn ornaments. Do us a favor, If you're going to drive and park in a Metro area on a daily basis, or use your car in salt and snow, get a Z. I saw a Crossfire with numerous door dings and scratches and blemished wheels. It was covered in road salt. I realize it's a car, but I was truly disturbed. Might as well have taken a hammer to Micelangelo's David. In all the wrong places. Yes. I'm well over 40, yes I'm an opionionated, cranky old bastard. But I've also owned over 40 cars in my lifetime, and this is the first to elicit this kind of emotion. It's a keeper.

 

Crossfire = Style
350z = Power
Z4 = Fun
RX = Practical

Living in the UK the ride is bumpy on most roads. The steering wheel size does not worry me. Visibility is not brillant but you soon get used to it.

 

Z4 is a BMW so you have to stop indicating direction turns and drive like an **** using the hard shoulder of the motorway etc....

350z nice car but having driven one i couldn't drive it everyday its just hard work (would make a great weekend car)

RX8 sounds like its got manic hampsters in where the engine should be, you have to rev the nuts off it to have any fun....give me a 3.2 anyday

 

CROSSFIRE - The best combination of style, build quality (put it up on a lift and look), performance, and exclusivity. Mine has been perfect but there has been a few, very few considering, first year blues reported.

 

"Basically, if you're under 30, you'll probablly want the Z. 30-40 you'ly want the Beamer. Over 40 the Crossfire will be the ticket. I'd compare the Crossfire to Fine Wine and Old Money. "

I disagree, I'm 23 and loving my Crossfire. Just the right doses of style, power and economy!

 

I'm 25 and lovin it :-)

 

Tdancer2 and MARK_UK,

You are the exceptions... proud of you!!! From what I have read, the 350Z appeals more to the younger crowd. Us old buzzards tend to go with the Crossfire.

 

I think it appeals to the young who wan t something different to stand out from all the Audi TT's and the older chaps who don't want a hard edged roadster

says he a young 29!

 

i agree harry 7, it's a keeper! but not limited to those in 40+ (i'm in my late 30s, single female, and have waited for this car to become real for 5+ years...since it was a concept in someone's mind). no mistake, it was certainly money well spent!!!

only purchased out of loyalty to chrysler (i've driven 'em for 20 yrs, and have waited 'patiently' until they built a real sports car....viper wasn practical for the amount of driving i do...) and the crossfire will be around for some time to come! enjoy! bonster

 

I have a Z3 and a Crossfire for pure driving fun I take the bimmer its my daily driver but for the weekends night on the town exc. its the Crossfire never in my life have I owned a car that gets this kind of response from people it really is a rolling work of art and that is a lot of fun too both bring something to the table If I hade to choose one or the other I would keep the Z3 I just love that car. But the Crossfire is my mistress

 

Take one for a test drive, you'll know

 

Im 35 and im lovestruck with my blaze red Crossfire. It's a work of art to keep for my son to have when he's 16.

 

The 350Z looks cheap when compared to the Xfire. But, in all fairness, I did go to the Nissan dealership to check it out. Drove it, the whole nine yards. The salesman was the ultimate scammer - just because I'm a young, single female doesn't mean I'm totally stupid. I barely made it out of there with my life! The Chrysler buying experience was wonderful - very relaxed, they worked with me to get my payments into my range. They even held a check for 4 weeks. All in all, I was very pleased.

 

Depends on what you want. You want a car you can fix up and make fast? Go with the 350z. You can track that car all day long, and it will be cheap to fix.

I wouldn't even consider the Z4, horrid looks too many things going on with it. The front is rounded off, while the rest of the body is straight lines and sharp edges. Too me that doesn't compliment.

The Crossfire, is definitely a exclusive car. At least for now. More than likel you won't see more than one on the road at the same time, thats if you even see one everyday. I live in Houston where we have over 2 million people, only 3 times I've seen more than one at the same time. Build quality is superior to the 350z, not sure about the Z4. The downside of the Crossfire is its size, I would love the car to be a foot longer or so. I personally like coupes more for this car, it looks more aggressive and reminds me of classic Bugattis.

As for service work on your car, BMW is superior to all three of these cars. You will always get a loaner and they'll go the extra mile for you for service work. If the Chrysler had the service MB offers, no doubt go for the Chrysler. Warranty is longer for the BMW as well. So if you plan to buy and keep the car for over 3 years, thats something to consider too.

 

They do--free loaner car with Crossfire purchase. Anytime the car is in the shop, you get a FREE loaner.

 

Problem is you can only do it at the dealer you purchased it at. I recently moved and the dealer thats by me refuses to give me a loaner because it wasn't purchased there. With a BMW or MB you can get a loaner anywhere.

 

I had my car serviced at a diffferent dealer and I got a loaner no questions asked check again with your dealer

 

Problem is you can only do it at the dealer you purchased it at. I recently moved and the dealer thats by me refuses to give me a loaner because it wasn't purchased there.

EVS - Here is a quote from the Chrysler.com website about the Crossfire. Better go back to that dealer and get a loaner!! :shock:

:!: Plan service will be provided by your DaimlerChrysler dealer. In the event that you cannot return to the selling dealer for the service, you may request Plan service from any Chrysler dealer within the 50 States, District of Columbia, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico or Mexico. If you are unable to obtain Plan service from an authorized dealer, call our toll-free number to receive service instructions.
1-800-521-9922 in the United States
1-800-465-2001 in Canada
Toll-free telephone assistance is available 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. :!:

Good Luck!! :lol: :lol:

 

Probably depends on dealers than. Its more of a goodwill with Chrysler I think. I was turned down for a loaner at the Chrysler dealer that I live near now. I have to drive to the old dealer to get a loaner.