I'm looking at a few 04 and 05 coupe limiteds. Other than color are there any important distinctions between the two years? I'm considering buying one. Do they all have pearlcoat?

 

Some cars built before Jan.2004 were known to have syncronizer problems with the 6 speed that would cause them to pop out of gear. I believe there was a TSB on the problem, but I would think by now most cars would have been repaired. Build date is on the drivers door.
If you're considering a 6 speed, I would take the car for a long test drive (in heavy traffic) and see if it pops out of gear. If it doesn't happen in 20 or 30 miles, then you should be OK.
Check for door rust under the rubber seal that runs along the bottom of the door on any year Crossfire. Other than that, I'd just look for the lowest mileage car, in the nicest condition for the best price. Carfax is a good idea, but not always 100% accurate.
Good Luck

 

04 came loaded have to get an05 limited to be the same

 

04 also came with auto dim rear view mirror.. dropped after that.

 

I love my 6 spd but with the 6 spd you will need to be alittle more aggressive when shifting. And I have noticed on my 04 sometimes it feels like it double clicks going into 1st gear, if it is not all they way in it will pop out, and will scare the sh it out of you when it happens the first time.
Did it to me a couple years ago and I know exactly where I was at and everything that happened.
But shifting alittle more aggressive and have not had another problem

 

I am sure they all have what would be considered a very hard clearcoat, and will easily show swirls unless care is taken when washing. I do not think the 2004s had the option of two-tone seats, but I have been wrong before. The auto-dimming mirror was very nice and I slammed Chrysler in their survey for doing away with it to shave a few dollars in cost (but not in price).


A lot of 6-speeds are "notchy" going from 1st to 2nd. Mine was for years until the linkage partially popped off. The shop that fixed it took time to adjust it and it now shifts better than it ever had. I also test drove a few 6-speeds that clunked going into gear or reverse, which made me nervous and I stayed away.

 

"Aggressive" is one way of saying there is a ginormous gap between first and second in a sixspeed. I consinder mine to be a 5 speed with a granny low for mall crawling or going up the side of a wall (same trans was used in a Jeep Wrangler).

Second gear is lower than most first gears so I usually start in second unless in dense stop & go traffic.

Just as a hint, 4th is fine for cruising at 25 mph and 6th is the only overdrive and not enough of an OD. IMNSHO the trans is best suited to about a 2.67:1 axle.

That said, I prefer the manual to the automagic even if it is the same one as in my Grand Cherokee.

 

Manual all the way, especially if there is a chance it will see snow.
With the power band of the mb 3.2 I would like a 2.88:1.
At 75 mph a srt 3.07 will lower rpm around 200 rpm.

 

I


Yup, you are wrong in this case. I have an 04 and I have 2 tone seats. Frankly, I wouldn't want one without the 2 tone. They definitely add to the look of the interior.


As far as other differences, most have been mentioned but there may have been a couple others as well. I think in some year (not sure if it was 05 or later) they changed the knee bolster design.

 

Yes my seats are also two tone ! Love all the extra s the 2004 came with no options just loaded up ! 😃

 

a) part of the reason I bought my coupe was the cedar interior
b) the knee bolster changed for the '07 model year when they added the knee air bag
c) my preference was for the later model even though it had high milage.