I've test-driven both a manual and automatic limited crossfire, and left uninspired both times, feeling they were fairly gutless. I'm starting to think the SRT-6 might be the ticket (have yet to test-drive one), but every magazine that's gotten a drive in one of these has ripped its jarring "sport-tuned" suspension, with one magazine recently calling it a "$50,000 paint mixer".

Would putting on softer springs and shocks be enough to compensate? Anyone who owns an SRT-6 have any comments on the suspension?

 

I've driven only 1 srt6 cpe. see my gallery are blue. The dealers here still haven't sold one in ventura county! My opinion put stock rears maybe Konis and or Eibachs and that's all you need to do.

Unless you don't need your kidneys keep it stock.

They're talking under invoice now here and I think may drop alot in next 2 months even more!

Be patient they are going way down.

 

i own an SRT6 coupe. the springs and shocks are a little stiff, but not nearly as bad as mags say they are. my friends WRX STi is just as stiffly sprung. besides, what you give up in ride comfort, you make up for in handling (it corners VERY well).

 

What is needed to quiet critics are owners who are quite satisfied with their SRT6.
I am one. I think this car rocks, and I'm out of the closet. Don't you guys be tainted
by some bad press, there is good press on the SRT6 as well. Not to mention, I think
the car probably scared some of those test drivers, and they were afraid to push it.
I've got much better performance than what has been stated in some of the trade rags. Believe me, this car has an acceleration curve that is stable over a very large
rpm range. Cruising at 90, you can accelerate as quickly as you can when doing
20. The car holds the road extremely well in tight curves and handles smoothly
in switch back curves. Yes, the ride is a little stiff, but not so bad that the ride is
uncomfortable. If it were, I would not have bought the car. It is my primary ride,
and I travel 80 miles a day just to get to work and back. I think the SRT6 has the
potential to be a real classic. Either that, or it'll be a collector's item some day. Heh,
maybe I'll keep it another 9 years and give it to my son when he can drive. That may
be irresponsible, but at least I've given 9 years notice.

Coyote

 

Coyote, speaking as the father of a 19 yr. old daughter (very much into cars).
You may just want to rethink that plan to give your son the SRT 6 when he's 16. 1st. it will be here before you know it, and 2nd. did you ever hear the old saying,"You gotta learn how to walk, before you can run?)
Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for keeping the XF for a long time, that's cool. But If my dad had handed me the keys to a '67 Vette, 427, 435 hp (that ran approx. the same 1/4 mile times as your SRT 6) when I was 16, In all honesty, I really don't know if I'd be here today to talk about it.
It is a nice thought though. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

JCRUSE, Coyote gave you great advice, I'm sure how objectionable the ride is in an SRT 6 can be is directly related to where you live, and how smooth the roads are. People in Calif. and Fla. probably think everything's fine. Here in the Great Lakes region where the winter really destroys our roads it might be a different story. If you decide to buy the SRT 6, and it simply rides to rough for ya, then switching to the Limited springs would probably solve all your problems. I bet you could trade them with another XF Forum member in a heart beat. What ever you decide, I'm sure you would really enjoy the performance of the SRT.

 

The suspension on the SRT is fine (coming from a past M.B. owner). Whatever small amount of softness you loose compared to the base/limited models you gain double in performance/agility... Want a truly harsh ride?, take a test drive in a new Evo...

 

I say, I say, it was a joke son. I've got a Jeep Comanche waiting for the boy when he's old enough.

 

Gotcha Foghorn!

 

I have owned my base roadster for a little over a month and am looking at lemon lawing it based on the transmission...I test drove the SRT-6 roadster yesterday, and was VERY disappointed with the ride. I think an Eibach Koni set-up with a progressive load would definitely quiet the critics. Second point of contention is the power difference. I was very disappointed with HOW 100 more hp feels. I didn't get on it hard (it only had 47 miles), but the tranny felt sloppy (long time between shifts), and it didn't feel SIGNIFICANTLY more powerful than my base coupe with 6 speed tranny. I was so disappointed with the SRT-6 that I am staunchly considering keeping the base vert.

~ Jess

PS: Flame suit on...

 

Save the money and buy the Koni's for your base model. I've never drove a convertible model of the SRT-6 so I don't know if the increased weight and less solid structural nature of a convertible car makes a noticeable difference compared to the coupe but I would think it probably does.

The transmission does "learn" to each driver and conditions and I've noticed that if I travel for a long time at highway speeds then drive on street roads that the car needs a couple of stiff gas pedal depressions to wake up.

As for power, it's no Viper but factory h.p numbers, 0-60, quarter mile times don't lie for comparsion purposes.

 

I guess we're all looking for different things from our Crossfires... My OEM suspension was gutted @ 1,000 miles in 2004, because it was too soft and undesirable for what I perceived as a sports car. The SRT6 was the same, too mushy in the corners, too much body roll and way too much understeer... The OEM car can only be categorized as a "FLOATER" in the corners...

IMO tighten the suspension unless you're using the car to serve martini's and don't want to spill anything... Once this is done, the lack of HP will be overcome by the ability to out-corner the opponent.

As far as the power to weight ratio, it's pretty low for both the N/A & S/C version and the Auto Trans. on the SRT6 makes it even less desirable for a sports car...

For track purposes we've done some research & calcs. on gutting the N/A 6 speed with minor A/M performance products and could get the car to 2,580 lbs with 260 hp... Still no STALLION!!! I think the spec. miata would have a better P/W ratio... Not very promising for the Crossfire...

The SRT6 is definitely out of contention for any SCCA racing, as they do not allow automatic transmissions in most club racing...

So, I guess this is just a mediocre two seat cruiser, both N/A & S/C... I think I'll start looking at the '06 Pontiac Solstice hardtop with 254 HP... I read that they are specifically building the car for spec. SCCA racing...

 

Had a limited. Was a lemon. Now I have an SRT.
OH MY GOD!!!
What a difference!
I think it's a lot more comfortable than my limited. The seats are amazing & so comfy.
The handling is off the charts!
Completely different car. Truly a treat to drive.
I have Eibachs. Kinda bumpy. But the car is a kick in the pants!!! Wouldn't have it any other way!

 

Glad to hear your liking the SRT.

Your right...for most anything (excluding SCCA racing) the stock SRT suspension is well-tuned and works fine. Adding some tuner shocks and springs will helps to refine the handling even further...

 

...regarding SRT ride quality, check out where many of the magazines are headquartered.

Automobile, Autoweek, and Car & Driver are all Michigan-based publications. In Michigan, we have just about the worst roads in the country. Many of them are cratered with pot holes, bumpy with frost heaves, and filled with lumps of asphalt. This is the result of several things, including severe temperatures, not allocating enough tax dollars to build the roads right in the first place (let alone maintain them), and a ton of heavy truck traffic. All this means, that a slightly stiffer SRT model could pummel the spine in this state. I doubt the same would be true on the silky smooth blacktop people drive on in other parts of the country. If the auto magazines tested these cars there (instead of here), the reviews might be quite different.

Remember, too, that SRT vehicles (ALL of them) are intended to be among the most potent performance vehicles on the market. These are no compromise performance cars. Sure, driving an SRT-10 to and from work is kind of like using a sledgehammer to pound in a thumb tack, but that's the appeal. The SRT-6 is no different, really. SRT models, in general, are not designed for people that whine about ride quality, fuel economy, or interior noise levels.

 

...Yeah...

 

The car mags are always bit*hing about something! Our cars (Crossfire Limiteds) are said to be too soft and the SRT-6 is too stiff. You can't have your cake and eat it too guys! I drove my car down on "The Dragon" (aka US129) this past fall and I thought the car kicked as* and sure, it could use a bit more stiffness, but for me anyways I thought it handled just fine. I even had a couple guys behind me in "good handling" cars, BMW 3 series and S2000 ask me if the car was stock because of how it was going around the turns!

 

lol...people (and critics) can find fault in almost anything. I enjoyed the ride quality in the lower limited I had, it was quite forgiving. I think some critics tend to forget the base and limited models are sporty cruisers not, in broad terms, sports cars.

 

OK... I give in. I think the car has 'settled' more since my last post about putting on my Eibach springs.

I feel like I'm on the pro rodeo tour driving to & from work.

20's in the rear with Low Pro tires doesn't help the situation either (looks good though).

I would do anything for a solution right now (it's that bad!).

Can't seem to find something that fits with the Eibachs & that will soften the ride.

ANY shock recommendations would be great!

 

I've had my SRT6 since May and I LOVE IT!

The SRT6 is, as stated, "These are no compromise performance cars..." and is EXACTLY what they are.

That suspension is stiff to hold the road PERIOD. If it was for comfort, it would be a 'luxury sedan' not a 'Sport Coupe'.
(I think it should be 'SRT6 = SHEER RAUNCHY TERROR 6').

That said, I've driven on some really crappy roads here in the Bay Area. My personal worst is one section on 101 South that has evenly spaced seams in a concrete section of roadway and seems to make the car buck front to back like a hobby horse at under 80 mph.

I wouldn't trade it for anything... if I start having problems with pain, I'll change the seats.

 

I bought this car to play in it, not drive in true comfort. If I wanted that, I would have bought an upper end mercedes. I've got about 35k total into the car with mods and everything and had an absolute blast with it. My durango is maxed out for comfort and long trips. If I want to go really fast and make lots of noise, I'll drive my truck. If I want to put the top down, have something nobody else around here has and have decent performance, I'll drive the SRT-6. This car is missing a lot of things I think a car that stickered for 50k should have, but who cares. I got it for damn near 20k under sticker.