Hey guys -

I am having a heck of a time with my new Chevy SSR - while I love the design and the convertible hardtop, I believe its a lemon, unfortunately... That remains to be seen so I'll leave out the details for now. BTW, you think you get stares in the XFire, try driving an SSR sometime.

So, should the time come to get a new car, the XFire is on my short list to check out, along with the C6 Corvette (way more money than I have right now) and a couple other things...

I have a very important question, though... Can I fit my bass amp in the back of the XF... as in bass guitar amplifier, specifically the speaker cabinet - it's an Ampeg 2x12 cabinet, measuring 27.5 x 17 x 15.5 inches. Small by most standards, and lightweight to boot, but handles all the power I need on stage.

I'm a gigging musician so I do need a little more cargo space than usual - Obviously it *all* fits in the SSR bed (2 basses, amp head, speaker cabinet, effects case) - but it also all fit inside the hatch of my previous car, a 2004 Corvette. Don't remember the exact figures for the C5 Vettes, but the new C6 for example only has 0.1 (zero point one) cubic feet less space than the SSR truck bed.

I figure if I can get that speaker box in the XF, the rest would be nearly cake - if I put my bass guitars in the passenger seat.

Anyways, thanks for the little bit of info and I'm lurking around for the time being.

Dave

 

that's a little funny... i would love to get out of my Crossfire and INTO an SSR...

i think a 2-ft cube would fit in the crossfires trunk easily. your limit is not really the trunk space, its the size of the opening that the rear hatch creates... its not that wide!

 

Hey, place the Crossfire on the stage and plug your guitar to its amplifier. What a show!!! I'd fly over!

Take your ampeg to a dealer and try out. Maybe the other way round, the ampeg on the passenger seat and the guitars in the back.

 

Hey, I bought it in a heartbeat upon checking one out in person - the SSR is a great car, a true hotrod (the only car I've ever had that wouldn't look ridiculous with flames painted on it). This one in particular maybe not so much, thanks to the series of problems I've encountered ranging from minor annoyance to major deal breaker, but I still believe in the model itself.

The largest dimension of the cabinet is its height - the two speakers are stacked vertically. So if the hatch glass to the floor is around 2 feet I can just stand it up in one side of the trunk and put everything else to the other side. If not then maybe I'd be able to lay it down... It just doesn't look like you have 2 feet to play with, from the photos I've seen. Anybody wanna stand a yardstick up in the hatch at the front and the back of the opening and snap a picture?

 

At least the SSR has a S/C'd V8 and manual tranny now!

 

no supercharger on the SSR...just good old bump in V8 horsepower for 05'.

 

If you have the dough I would suggest getting the C6. I drove one last week and was very impressed.

 

Well hey, since you guys are not opposed to suggesting that other vehicles might be better (ever try to ask a car-comparison question on a Vette or Mustang forum?) - I'll hit you with my short list, let me know what ya think of each if you would.

- New 2005 Crossfire, as mentioned
- New 2005 C6 Corvette, also as mentioned (love the drive, tough to come up with $49k)
- New 2005 Mustang (Cheapest of the bunch, but I keep getting a slightly juvenile vibe)
- Used 2001-2002 Jaguar XK8 (Most luxurious, only thing I don't like is the stereo, really - can be had under $40k since it's used)

Heh, what I'd be looking for overall is a coupe with some space to haul gear, and drop-dead gorgeous looks don't hurt... being a "sports car" isn't a real requirement, though a couple of my choices are. I probably won't get a convertible version of any of these, just think the hardtops look better.

So there's my whole story.

BTW - the SSR is fixed, with a couple minor things I have to get them to remedy, fingers are crossed but I'm keeping my options open.

Thanks all
Dave

 

If the box won't fit...why don't you install the bass speakers in your trunk and open it up whenever you wanted to use it! Of course, your crossfire will be on stage too!

 

Dave,
We are all enthusiasts here. I don't even own a Crossfire, well not yet at least. It seems you've done your homework and put together a very nice list of cars. I've got few things to say about each...

Xfire - Awesome car, Awesome Price! It's a rebadged Benz for half the money, I don't think you can lose. The handling is off the charts but is still lacking on power. If you are looking for a head turning luxury sports tourer this is it.

C6 - Pure American Muscle! You can't beat the Performance for Price. You pretty much get a vehicle that will run with just about anything for a fraction of the price. It also has a lot of technology and was very well engineered. My only complaint would be production #s. I have seen at least 1 or 2 C6s every day for the past few months. That's more 300s than I see in a week, let alone Xfires or Jags. I can't drive a car that everyone else has, I don't know why but I can't. Plus, I know the price is getting up there on the new vettes. If you can afford it and don't mind having the same car as 2 or 3 other people in your neighborhood alone then this is it!

'05 Stang GT - I absolutely love the styling. But, same story as the vette. Every kid at my old high school will probably have a V6 pony in a few months. I feel you hit the nail on the head with the word "juvenile." All in all, its a great car that is begging to be modded. It is already fast and with a few bucks can be even faster (almost vette fast from what I have read). Another issue I have is the interior styling, its not to my liking but maybe that's just me. To sum it up, Awesome looks, Neck Breaking performance, Mod Ready and you get the envy of every teenager across the country.

Used Jag - I don't feel comfortable comparing this to these other cars. It is in a class of its own. Also, it is used and used cars *could* have problems. Fixing a Jag is not the cheapest thing either. Trust me, my dad has an '85 XJ6 and a '67 (I think) E-Type Coupe. I know these are older jags, but a jag is a jag. I have ridden around in one of these when they came out in 97 or so and they are also sweet rides. Very luxurious and powerful. You have to remember that this car had a $80K sticker new, you will be buying an $80K car. It has twice as much money used to produce as the other cars so you will in turn you get twice the car (just an opinion). I am sure Dan Root can give you a great write up on one of these, I think he is a Jag Lover...

I hope this helps, sorry for the long write up but you asked for it. If it I was in your shoes and had around $40K, I would be an Elise. But if you want a car off your list I would try my hardest to get the Vette. Stay away from the used jag, it WILL break at some point and won't be cheap. It would make a great second car, just not a daily driver. I love the Xfire, but for the price range you are looking at it really doesn't compare. The stang is, well, a stang and everybody has a V6 one. Take it for what it is...

 

i fit a large hockey bag in mine w/no problem.

 

Thanks for the homework comment - trust me, it's been hard and lengthy research - I had to get rid of my original Corvette due to some physical limitations of my significant other, she couldn't ride in it without severe discomfort and I didn't want to keep it if I couldn't share the enjoyment. The SSR is about all we found that would have the same seating and storage capacity as the Vette but with a better seating position, and I looked at EVERYTHING.

That said, this is my short list - my "long list" includes everything from pickup trucks to sport-tuned sedans. =0)




Definitely turns heads, including mine every time I see one. That's why it made my list. =0) I worry about comfort, my best friend and I talk cars all the time, he's a fellow Vette owner and said before he bought his 04 Vette he tried out the XF and didn't like the seats - but I'll have to see for myself there.




Yeah - coming up with the cash will be tough - my limit has been in the $35k range for the past couple car purchases, cause the other bills ain't getting any cheaper these days. A C6 the way I want it stickers at $49,195 and that's what they're selling for, not a penny less than sticker. If I can wait until after the 2006 models start up, maybe the 05s will be discounted.

I don't see very many C6s around here though, I've only seen maybe 1 or 2 on the road (here around Northern VA anyways) where C5s and C4s abound.




You and I are about the same on this one - I love the styling, completely and utterly - and I wouldn't buy a V6 model if given a choice. It's got the power and the speed, if a little too far on the heavy/chunky side to be graceful. I actually like the interior design as much as the exterior, a true throwback from the driver's seat. I do know a mature, responsible guy that has a GT Stang, but most of the presence in the mustang forums and when I've seen one on the road, are a little bit young, arrogant and blindly loyal. Now, I'm not one to let a car's following dictate whether I like it or no, but it just rubs me the wrong way.



Well, certainly wouldn't think of buying a used Jag without service records and a warranty, and a Jag certification. Heh, an XK8 coupe I can buy from the local "real" dealer priced at $37k, I can buy the same thing down the street at a "warehouse" dealer for $29k with no Jag certification or extended warranty, but I'm not a fool.

I personally thought the XK8 was all luxury, the only hint of sport coming from the exhaust note when punched. The light, airy feel of tossing that car around, belies what's really happening as the tires grip tenaciously and the horses come out of the stable.



Lotus Elise, you say? Incredible car, but performance-only, my friend. Won't be hauling anything but A$$ in that. The spartan interior in the Elise makes my SSR and these XFires look like super-deluxe minivans in amenities. But you have good taste =0)

As I said, if the Jag wins out once I compare them all, I would only get one serviced and with a maintenance plan so that's good. Especially 2000 and after, when the Nikasil-lined engines were dropped, I think the XK Coupe is relatively problem-free.

As for the Corvette.... well, got $15k I can borrow, interest-free?

And whenever my girl's new PT Cruiser comes in, I'll be sure to hit up a XFire for a test-run!

Thx!
Dave

 

Dave,
Being a single young person (I'm only 19) in college the Elise's size really wouldn't be an issue for me. But, I understand that for most people it could only be a weekend toy. I have a '93 Sub Imprezza wagon that I use for winter and if I need to haul anything. The great thing about a beater is, well, you can beat on them all you want without feeling horrible if something happens to it. I paid $500 for it 2 years ago and haven't put a penny back in it! Best automotive investment EVER!

Being $15K short is an issue for the Vette. If you are really wanting to save some dough go out and find a left-over '04 Xfire. I am picking mine up tomorrow for $20,450 out the door! That is the only way I could afford a car like that. That's almost exactly what I paid for my '03 SRT-4 2 years ago when I bought it new and its twice the car my SRT is.

Good luck on your search for a new vehicle and once again welcome to the forums. You don't have to own a Xfire to hang around, don't be a stranger no matter what you decide on.


Oh, a side note on the PT. I had a '02 PT for my first car. I loved it! They are great little cars and are a great value for what you get. I wish I could have had a turbo one but the NA isn't that much of a dog. If your girl is worried about comfort she is going to love her PT. The seats are way nicer than the ones in my SRT. My dad even liked them better than his Pacifica that he owned when I had the PT.

 

Yes, my eyes were filled with tears when I left my PT with the dealer. I traded it and bought the xf. I had both the NA and Turbo. The Turbo is really hot. And the other thing is for PT there's a huge variety on accessory - compared to XF..

 

I put a lot of time and effort into personalizing my PT. I was only 16 when I got it and spent just about every penny I made on it (which wasn't much). If you want, you guys can check out a website I made for it a few years ago. The funny thing is when I built the site I was trying to sell the PT so I could buy a Crossfire or SRT-4. As you can see, I ended up with the SRT-4 and now am getting ready to get rid of it for a Crossfire. It's funny how some things work out. It looks like I will get to own both the cars I wanted when I was 16, just a few years later.

Here is a link to the web site:
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/315947/1

 

Italianmafia03,
I had the Xenon ground effect package (front, rear and sides) on my PT. It was a head turner but I always had to be careful not to bottom the front end. I ended up repairing it three times. I finally traded it in for the Crossfire. A few months later I get a call from the dealer asking me what was under the front ground effect. It seems the person who purchased the car wanted it off. They had the same problem.

 

dadof4,
I planned on getting the entire xenon kit piece by piece. After I bought the front I started saving for my SRT-4. The rest is history. I also bottomed out just about everywhere. I thought about having a metal shop fabricate a lip guard for me but never got to it. The funny thing is I lowered my SRT and had the same problem. This is the exact reason I will not be lowering my Xfire. It just doesn't make since to have a daily driver that you have to constantly worry about scrapping everywhere...