As I was watching the Motorweek show for the fourth time last night, I remembered I wanted to ask you Roadster owners another question. (I'm waiting for my dealership to get another one in for the test drive.) The reviewer mentioned that the ragtop was fairly easy to open. Twist, push up the top 8 inches or so and push a button. Yep that sounds easy. BUT....they mentioned that closing it was a struggle.

VegasCrossfire mentioned that she has no problem adjusting the seats to feel comfortable contradicting one of the rumors, but since she has a Coupe, she won't be able to help me with this question.

Will I get CarPull Tugging Syndrome shutting the ragtop?

 

Since roadsters are ment to be down you only have to do it once,because, if it's raining you leave it in the garage!If you want fully auto top get the350slk, only 5or6 grand more.

 

HA! This is true, this is true. It always kills me to see people driving beautiful convertibles with the top up on a beautiful day. What are they thinking?

Not interested in the 350slk. Not at all. Well, unless I got one for free. I could then sell it and enjoy the Crossfire even more.

I was just wondering if it really was a struggle to close the top as Motorweek implied it was.

 

We went to see one the other weekend at the dealership where LVXFIRE is. He put the top up and down and it didn't look hard to do. I didn't try it, but it sure didn't look like he was struggling.

Of course, everyone has different strengths, and each car has it's own variations. You really won't know if it will be a struggle for you or not until you try it - and really not until you try it on the actual car you will own. At least, that's the way I feel. :wink:

 

I won't get to see the roadster for a couple of weeks but the top closing issue seems like one I have seen for the Sebring convertible. I have a Sebring convertible and you do have to pull a little to latch the top (two latches) but it's not excessive. They say that is to keep the sag out of the top by the stretching that you do when you're closing it. It makes sense.

 

I have a Black roadster. The top is no problem. When the top goes up and the chime goes off to let you know that it has reached the end point, I put my right hand on the center latch and my left hand on the exterior of the top and I press down slightly with the left hand to assist an easy latching in the closed position. It is very simple.

 

I've driven both. The roadster is as easy to release the top as it is to lock it. Maybe the one they tested was out of spec? I could totally see some issues coming up if anything was just a hair out of line. It is amazing how it all comes together.

Go to a dealer and try it out for yourself. You will be amazed how nice it truly is.

 

My take on the resistance you feel when latching the top in the up position is resistance needed to ensure a tight seal. It is not a very significant resistance. It is enough though for the top to lift back up once sealed using the single D-clamp. If any doubt, just go check one out.

The spring resistance in the last few inches, IMO, is little compensation to a tight seal for the top!

 

My wife has no problem at all closing the top. As you mentioned there is some resistance but this is needed to create the tight seal and tight fit of fabric over the frame. We just reach up with the right hand, and pull straight down, twist and lock. Believe me, for her it better be easy, or it's back to a coupe.

 

As a follow up to this thread, maybe I jinxed something. My boyfriend went with me to test drive (finally) a Roadster. Of my three concerns, 1st and most important, he had plenty of head room with the top up. He didn't have enough leg room to actually drive the car comfortably for any length of time. Just too tall.....too bad for him!!!!! The 2nd concern from the Motorweek show I watched, I could adjust the steering wheel and seats just fine and reach the pedals. I don't know what they were talking about. BUT 3rdly.....the whole question I had about the ease of shutting the top. I think something must have been wrong with this car's top. No one could shut it on the first or second try. It was amusing.

Did it frighten me off from getting one? I'm selling my stocks as I type! The nav system that comes with it is silly. Won't be getting that one. The only thing I'm hoping for is that when I walk in with a check, they'll take off some of the markup! YIKES!

 

I don't think they're moving fast enough to demand a markup. Go to a dealer that'll deal. Just ask Ron H...first place he went for his roadster wanted like $5k over sticker, so they didn't get his business.

Me, I shopped around, some were asking at sticker, some above sticker. I paid invoice for my Coupe back in January (right before the rebate, didn't know it was coming ).

 

Oh believe me, I won't be paying what they are asking. They wanted over $44K for it! And thanks to this forum, I knew more about the car, the potential problems, even the colors they come in than the salesperson. There was another couple looking at the car as well. I told them that they HAVE to join the forum if they bought it. Nope I didn't pay markup on my Passat, I won't on this car. IT SURE WAS FUN TO DRIVE THOUGH!!!!

 

I've got a picture of the new blue color on my gallery if your interested. I think 1-2 off sticker here in So.Cal would get you one!

 

remember too that there is now a 2000 rebate from chrysler financial so finance it and at the end of the month pay it off and you will save . there is no prepayment penalty. hehehe

 

nope, it's a $1000 rebate from CFC... sorry.

 

guys,
with friends and family you can get a limited roadster that stickers for 40,555(asp tire, 2-tone paint,nav system) for 37666. I told the guy I didnt want the nav system and he dropped it to 37,117 here in ohio. I think he wanted it off the floor before winter sets in. I actually got supplier discount from working for Lockheed martin, but I think they will give you friends and family without too much hassle at same price. for the diff in price u calif guys can fly up here and get one and pocket 6k

 

What color of "2-tone" paint are you talking about? When did they come out with that? Did you mean the seats?

 

It looks like $3,000 not $6,000.And the dealers here will probably match that price because there is alot of cars sitting around.The areo blue in my album was delivered here in june and is still there!

 

I meant the two-tone seats, and the 6k is from my impression that they were getting 3k over sticker in CA