Hi All,

The Wife and I spent the weekend motoring around the countryside in beautiful sunny weather and we got to talking about the car. It's no secret here on the forums that the crossfire (roadster in our case) is an unparalleled steal of a deal if you bought it used. But people we meet assume it's far more expensive.

Are there/were there any other cars like ours? A crazy good price for those that new it's secrets?

Like a Porche badged as a VW?

Just curious from a knowledge standpoint.

Thanks,

 

The late 1988-1991 Buick Reatta was another car designed beyond its time, but failed to sell well in the marketplace. It was a beautiful little two-seater - in both the coupe and a rag top - with style, luxury and state-of-the-art touch screen technology.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/27/f...-buick-reatta/

BMW made a beautiful two-seater in 2002 and 2003 called the Z8 Alpina. Looks not at all like a Z3 or a traditional Beemer, but more like an early Jag. It originally went for $100K, but I'd be interested in seeing the market value today.

http://www.usautoparts.net/bmw/pics/z8/9854_1024.jpg

 

I had forgotten about the Buick. You don't see those a whole lot at all anymore.

 

That Z8 looks like it's held it's value pretty well from a quick glance at Ebay. All of the Z8s in fact.

The Buick looks like it carried the same baggage as the Crossfire, trying to drag the model brand upscale, but missing some of it's marks. It sounds like the high-tech computer put off the older folks that were supposed to buy Buicks, and the engine wasn't really much of a powerhouse.

I was interested in the term Halo-car. I used to lust for a Subaru SVX, another Halo car that came before it's time and "flopped" trying to portray Subaru as upscale sport. It was a Martyr though and got them on the path to their current success. It had all the technology/luxury money could buy at the time and fell in price in a hurry on the used market.

Guess I've always liked the one-offs ( cars )

Edit: Just found this quote on Wiki: As an investment, Subaru actually lost $3,000 on every Subaru SVX sold, for a total loss of around $75,000,000 on this project. However, they considered this a small price to pay for the increased awareness of Subaru's presence as a quality, forward-thinking auto manufacturer.

 

Yeah, I used to have one. Beautiful car. Gave it to the boy and he promptly wrecked it. Put him up for adoption, but no luck. Yet.

 

I don't think so. The Crossfire is probably the single best deal in the history of automobiles.

 

The VW Phaeton comes to mind. Bentley Flying Spur chassis and interior components, and not to mention being built in one of the most amazing manufacturing plants in the world (Transparent factory in Dresden, Germany). Only sold around 3000 cars in the US. Amazing car with the wrong badge for most people.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd5WGLWNIIA

 

Just checked craigslist on the z8 - one in Seattle for only $110,000.!! It would be nice if the Crossfire appreciated like that!

2001 BMW Z8 Roadster Rare Topas blue exterior with hardtop, 18K miles, black leather interior, 6-speed manual with 400hp M5 Motor. Offered at $110,000 US funds. Please visit http://www.munichevo.com or contact Matt LaCross 206-898-5418

 

what about the BMW Z1 - it's not cheap but then again it doesn't seem to be outrageously expensive either (ditto the Plymouth Prowler)?

 

You may be right. After looking at the info on the Phaeton I was quite surprised.

W12 for $24,000 anyone? Ebay Phaeton

 

how about the Sterling? was it not a Acura with a name to try to get some of the euro folks to by a japanese car? i may be wrong there.

 

I have always been a sucker for the maserati ghilbli cup and the early (2000) quattroporte 3.2 V8 Bi turbo, Very cheep 2nd hand

 

I've appreciated the replies so far and I've found the cars named to be very interesting and confess that I didn't know most of them existed. I think the VW Phaeton might be our closest relative with an initial sticker price five years ago of $101,000 for the W12 and now selling for ~$26,000 used.

I'm also really disappointed in this find since now I think I know next winter-car we'll own!!

 

seriously if you're talking about the Rover Sterling man oh man - L E M O N ! !

 

The Sterling 827 sold int he US was mechanically identicle to the Acura Legend of the time, however, it was plagued with electrical problems since it contained specific electrical components.

But my oh my it was a beautiful car. I always wanted one back then.

 

I always thought the Pontiac Fiero was a neat car, not in any way as great as ours, just interesting, and never very popular.

 

I always thought the Fiero was a very popular car when it first went on sale. In fact, in its first year alone it sold almost 137000 vehicles.

 

We were making the intake manifold for the V6, and Pontiac was complaining, as we were, that other than the first year it never came close to expectaions.

 

ok, maybe i was wrong - again