i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Alright, so first let me say... more than anyone else, I LOVE my Crossfire and am obsessive with it... I've modded it quite a bit and still will but...

At some point towards the end of this summer/fall... I really think I'm going to get rid of it... Here's why...

1. This beautiful, amazing car was doomed from the beginning... Chrysler screwed up. Let's all face it. There are certain aspects of this cars appearance that are just too much for people... And of course, as everyone knows it's outdated, underpowered... and just not all there... The marketing sucked, it was over hyped initially and overpriced along with underpowered to combine with the '04 transmissions being crap... Then it was over-rebated, cheapening it and not advertised at all... The 350Z, G35 and others have killed this car before it even touched the market... As for quality, that's an entirely other issue... Maybe I'm alone in this, but my Crossfire has been a bigger piece of sh*t than my '89 Volvo is or ever has been... EVERYTHING on this car has fallen apart (that's an entirely different subject, different thread).

2. I've been doing more and more research into the Chrysler Firepower... The Crossfire made its big debut on a super bowl commercial along with the Pacifica, and this years super bowl was a nervous one for me... I have no doubt looking at the media and rumors I've read up on that the Firepower will break next spring, replacing the Crossfire (even if the Crossfire is continued in production, which is very doubtful beyond '06). The Crossfire is just about to hit its two year mark on the market and already due to be killed... Which upsets me because it essentially rips me off as the customer. But a fast growing company such as Chrysler or Infiniti (there isn't a thing in their lineup more than 3 years old) has to do whatever it takes I guess... But in the mean time as soon as the Firepower breaks, the Crossfires plummet in value and will no longer sale as they'll be the "old" thing on the road (an unfortunate risk you take when purchasing sports cars such as this, they date fast). I do not want a Firepower as all statements from Chrysler show that it will only be available in an automatic AND performance claims will more than likely have to some degree of the same effect of the Crossfires performance did on its sales... It's powerful, but for its price range still won't compete...

3. NO ONE has a darn clue as to what they're doing with this car, how to work on it... and there is NO aftermarket for it within anyone's actual price range...

In short, the car really is a mechanical and cosmetic piece of sh*t, outdated, outclassed, and doomed from the beginning... Not to mention up for the chopping block and ready to be replaced by the next best thing... I bought this car for the sake of having the newest, freshest thing on the road and now that's about to end...

So really, I'm sick of the pain in the as* this car has become... I'll enjoy it for the rest of this summer and then she's gone... I really do love her, this car makes me feel different than any other car I've ever laid eyes on... BUT... you get my point...

By the way did I mention that in a year and a half of ownership this car has been on the road MAYBE six months out of it? Like I said, one problem after another...

I believe her replacement will more than likely be the redesigned '07 Infiniti G35...

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

This whole thing just frustrates me... I really feel like Chrysler is ripping us off by replacing this car so soon... Granted they haven't officially said yet that they will, but it's as sure as can be that they will at this point...

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

the body kit and turbo are still in the works... hopefully if completed this summer it will all be sold with the car at the end of the season to someone that can use the car appropriately.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

if you despised the XF thoroughly, you would be in another vehicle already...

despite your gripings it's till a tough decision for you...!? :D

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

yes it is a tough decision...


let me correct myself here - i do not despise the crossfire...

i LOVE IT - i wish i could garage it till i'm sixty and show it to my grandkids...

no other car has ever made me feel like this one, nor been as incredible to drive as this one...

and it is for this precise reason i despise what chrysler has done and is about to do to it... does that make sense?

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

And of course, as everyone knows it's outdated, underpowered... and just not all there.


The only one that know this are the ones that own it. Everyone I ever encounter think the car is a freakin screamer. I don't burst their bubble.
It's like when you see a hot girl. You think to yourself, wow she must be amazing in bed. Fact is she is probably the same as all the others, but looks are what you see and perceive first.
The CF looks like a 10 and people think that it is. Only it's owners know it's shortcomings. And they are really not all that bad. I'll stay with the hot girl.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

true, i'd agree on most of that, except...

that hot girl isn't going to be so hot when angelina jolie walks into the rooms in a string bikini in about ten minutes is she? pretty sure you won't notice the girl after that... or you'll pass her off to your bud...

i.e. the firepower is about to walk into the room, and chrysler is gonna shoot the crossfire in the head... i'd rather stay with the hot girl for the summer, and then ditch the sinking ship before she goes under completely.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Bob don't get me wrong you've bought a great, beautiful car... but power and technology-wise it is outdated and outdone... Appearance-wise it is not... Mercedes and Jaguar are the two poorest rated car manufacturers in the industry to begin with (correct me if I'm wrong, if they are not then they are ONE of the lowest) so you knew what you were getting into there... And aside from that the biggest problem is Chrysler wanting to replace it... Enjoy your beautiful Crossfire! It is a great car! It has good power, just not for the price bracket it was put into, does that make sense? Anyway... My whole suggestion here is just to keep if for the next year until spring rolls around again and then jump off the bandwagon before the new Firepower breaks that's all... Cause in the end Chrysler is gonna thank you for supporting their struggling halo / icon car by screwing you over...

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

By the way just talked to some management from one of the local dealerships - the Southtown Chrysler Automall (the largest in the state) and they told me they're being pushed to get the Crossfires out the door in preparation for the "replacements" as soon as possible and that the Crossfire is on the way out the door... They themselves were pissed as their entire management had also bought them...

My whole point here is that most car manufacturers give their cars at least a 5 if not 6 year run but Chrysler shot themselves in the foot to begin with this car and is now being forced to replace it about in what will probably be WELL under three years into the Crossfires short-lived life... Too bad. If their marketing department wasn't too busy getting off over the 300C maybe they might have time for what was SUPPOSED to have been their halo car...

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

In 1955 long before anyone 19 can remember, Ford brought out a 2 seat T-bird and they made very few Not because they couldn't make alot but because it was a new market segment! They eventually in only 3 years made the T-bird larger 4 seater and sales GREW! Yet the most sought after car is the 55-57 birds even though they're the worst seller! And not a great driver!!
Ford later came out with a 64 1/2 mustang they built over a million because of the popular demand!!! YET THEY changed the body anyway in just 2 years!!! The 67' didn't sell as good or any of the future Mustangs never as good as the 64-66 ones!!! Today people are still driving those 64-66 ponies yet they stop like crap and get 15 miles per gallon and don't really have a good air conditioner or power steering!!! You kids should not get hung up on just HP this car is UNIQUE and always will be!!! Long after production stops it (CROSSFIRE) will live on I believe!!!

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

So then the G35 coupe is supposed to be a better car? Explain to me how so? It's your opinion in the matter let me remind you of that. Yes I agree that Chrysler messed up this car bad inclusive that i lemon'd one but i think it was more the dealers fault for that one than the car itself. Both of mine have been pretty good never a reliability issue, just dealer issues with service and repair, but boy does my car stand out in a parking lot parked next to a G35 coupe, 350Z or RX8. It's a rare car still and it'll be even rarer as time comes and that's what's awesome about it.

Also outdated???, what's outdated??? there are features in your XFire that the G35 or 350Z doesn't even have. First off to get ESP or stability in the 350Z you have to buy touring model and on RX8 i don't even think its available, 2nd you have TPM, heated seats, power seats, leather, 240 watt sound system, self oil check system without having to use the dipstick, neat real deployable spoiler, if automatic (Winter and Standard driving modes), you can illuminate only the left or right side of car at night while parked to make you car visible, magnesium in your engine for lightweight that BMW is making such a big deal about it now in their new 3 series car you already have that from when the engine was introduced in the cam covers and i believe manifold, you have touchstart in the auto. cars, electronic throttle which most car don't even have yet, 51 Hz body that no other car other than a coupe tt can match or a tank if you will, 5 star safety rating on front and side, built by Karmann not buy a Jap line up at Nissan or Mazda. I can go on. But some people don't look at these things and just base their entire assumption on No Aftermarket, or No 300 hp engine, etc... and thats just plain ignorant.


Lets dissect it and you'll see that you're not driving such a POS like you think. First off the XFire has WAY better styling that the G35 coupe which is nothing more than a huge two door jap car. Next you have an engine in the G35 that yeah puts out big numbers but the performance times are not what they should be with those numbers (Weight problem) crossfire only weighs about 3,060 lbs. Then you have the old VQ OUTDATED engine in the Nissan/Infiniti. This engine dates back to the 90's the only thing they did was revise the cam and intake to obtain the new numbers but the 3.5 engine is as old as the 3.2 in the XFire. The interior quality lets not go there, yeah the Crossfire has that wonderful painted plastic trim all over the console and dash which just sucks and gets chipped with very little effort, but the G35 is just as bad with crappy fit and finish and a ill fitting glovebox door, chintzy rear interior side plastic panels that feel grainy to the touch and the door handles on the inside and door panels are chintzy as well. The door slam on a G35 coupe sounds tinny whereas in the Crossfire you get the Benz thunk. The paint quality is far better in the XFire than in the G35. Our exhausts are way better designed and prettier than the ugly TRUCK AFTER MARKET huge round exhaust tips of the 350Z or Infiniti because if you look at them they are just huge tips attached to thin tailpipes and you can clearly see where they did this whereas in the XFire its transition from thin to square tip is more fluid. The stereo's are not what they are deemed to be in either the G or the 350Z. Also the fact that you share your steering wheel with the entire Nissan lineup says alot too.

My feeling on the matter is that yes i'm too upset about this car because no one can fix it properly (ie, DEALER) and they just treat it like some POS. Just learn how to work on it yourself (maintenance, etc) and you'll be better than going to the dealer. 2nd the repair costs and maintenance costs are way ridiculous for this car (but that's Mercedes for you). I'm used to these repair costs because of my Mercedes' that I've had and still own.

If you remember correctly this car was launched as a limited production car, not a full production car like the 300 where next year it'll get a redesign and so forth. And furthermore, if you want more power just pick up an SRT for about 32K and have the nicest looking car on the road that is way better looking than a G35 which are overrated and a dime a dozen, and smoke them with your hand built AMG engine all day long and still save yourself a few grand over the over priced G35 coupe.

One thing though, the regular XFire can stand with only its 215 horsepower engine due to the torque, gearing and light weight abilities. I've smoked 325's and even 330's and also G35's can't break away as much as people may think. I've been neck to neck with a G35 coupe over 100 mph easily and on some i've pulled away at these speeds. Also they can't corner as well as the XFire.

The problem is that Chrysler used an engine that has already been updated, therefore, you cant increase power just like that, you'd have to just install the upgraded engine which in this case is the 3.5 268 hp engine. Again not the route that DC went because for more power they gave us the AMG 3.2. Yeah that car was way overpriced but now its where it should have been all along making it a great car for the money.

You don't know how many people have 350Z's and G35 coupes and RX8's and they want out of their cars in the first two years calling them POS's. Its all how you perceive it. When you don't have something, you want it that's how it always is. But if you think you'll be better and problem free and with great quality and fun to drive factor in the G35 coupe, then go for it. However, I can guarantee you that you'll find something wrong with that one too very fast like all my friends did inclusive the 350Z. No car is perfect and after 28 car ownership in 28 years of age, i can tell you i've just about experienced almost every car maker and service advisor and what one lacks the other has, but then the other lacks something you had before.

P.S. I've had 3 XFire's and currently own two, and mine are NOT FALLING APART, so I don't know what you mean. If it's interior flaking and chipping that's something you have to take care of by being more careful with the interior of your car. Mine look like the day that I bought them and i use one as a daily driver. However you should have seen my S4 and GTI's interiors. The interior door handles and trim on the inside and the console surround would flake and peel like your skin after a bad sun tan. No car's perfect.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Everyone talks about the new Firepower... a reskinned Viper. How many people that bought a Crossfire are going to be able to afford it and insure it??? IMHO the Firepower will sell no better than the Crossfire, IF it is ever put into production.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

I agree and that's if it ever goes into production. People felt the exact same way when the XFire was a concept. "Oh build it build it what an awesome car". Then DC built it made a few changes and voila, now no one wants it. Who's to say it can't happen again.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

afws04 - Why are you still driving a car that fails in so many areas you think are important - why waste a summer in a car that only looks good?

Unless you are racing I can't see the need for much more performance, opps HDDP races one...perhaps its more what you can do with the car than what the car can do.

Re: i'm just about DONE with this car
 

Wow what a thread we have here! I agree with those that don't care what other people say. This car is a sweet ride sure it might not be as fast as a 350Z but I don't give a Flying #@$%. And the whole issue about it being outdated so what so is a Classic Mustang the technology in that is out dated but I would sport it why because it's a sweet car just like the XFire. I hope I don't make anyone mad this is just my thoughts on this thread.