Just bought the Top Gear Test Drive Directory Magazine (was bored and waiting for a ferry) and as you would expect I went straight to the Crossfire Review.

Not best pleased - felt the need to share this. This magazine is sold as "The ultimate guide to buying NEW AND USED CARS" - so I guess no one will be buying a crossfire based on this inaccurate review - I did not realize that the crossfire had a retractable hard top - there was no mention of roadster or coupe - me thinks this is a review for the old SLK ???

Tempted to write snotty letter to the BBC ? - can I be bothered ?

Oh well enjoy ...

 

Yes I think you should.
Only worthwhile buying for the roof ?
I know Clarkson slagged off the Crossfire but then he likes Fords.
I think you should say you bought the magazine purely for the review on the Crossfire and clearly the review is not for the Crossfire.
It makes you wonder if the person that wrote the review has even seen one.
I really don't understand why the Crossfire doesn't get good reviews.
I mean what else can you buy for this sort of money that looks so good.
I'd sooner have my Crossfire than a Porsche Boxster and there a lot more expensive.
As for the Z car yes it's probably sportier but it doesn't look as good and as fir the TT everybody has got one.
I really wouldn't of considered another car for this sort of money.


Norrie.

 

I completely agree Norrie!

I still can't see why the Crossfire gets slated for poor handling and performance - in the real world its more than match for anything it gets compared to in its price range. I would agree that the interior is a bit on the cheap side, but its not alot worse than the silver plastic you now get in Porsches and BMW's. I think people are just paranoid about buying against the 'experts' advice for fear of loosing credibility.

Simon.

 

I think you should definitely write a letter, not to the person who wrote the story, but to the editor. Tell him/her that their magazine would have a great deal more credibility if the writers who write about the cars have actually seen the car. Nobody with an ounce of common sense would ever think a Crossfire coupe was capable of retracting its roof, if they actually saw the car in the flesh. Even if they never saw one, the simple fact that the car is a hatchback makes it impossible to be a retractable. The guy who wrote the article probably worked for Consumer Reports at some time.

 

So called experts.
I think a lot of the time they must be getting freebies from the manufacturer.
I mean Top Gear always rates Fords and Jaguars.
They must have some deal with Ford.


Norrie.

 

That's why I put experts in quotes. To my mind most auto journalists are more concerned with producing flowery prose rather than an actual objective reviews. Although to be fair most cars these days are so boring and capable that there is very little to differentiate them anyway. I just regard it all as entertainment.

Simon.

 

I think you should reply with a letter to the editor.
Always remember "Expert" =Ex-spurt. "Ex" being past tense and "spurt" a drip under pressure.
Regards,
Ausfire.

 

I think they got it spot on.

I think we should go a protest outside the Top Gear offices for falsely depicting the Crossfire. How dear they mock our holy one.

Am I the only one who likes the lacquered silver on the console. If the gaps between the different parts were tighter then it would look great.

 

Don't pay your license fee until they apologize and correct it.

 

I wouldn't p*ss on Clarkson if he was on fire.

I personally wouldn't write a letter as you will just inflate his ego knowing that he has another reader for his very biased "I love Fords" magazine.

J

 

Mark, I'm perfectly happy with the way it looks in our white '04 coupe. I especially like it with the cedar interior that we have. No complaints here.

Mike

 

Me too, Mike. What bothers me is that if any part of the console needs replacing, the finish is matte rather than polished? I have read on this forum of that very happening. Ugh

 

yeah.. it happened to me... i am currently 2 tone.

the new replacement matte parts are at the dealer awaiting my appointment for install.

 

You do all know why Clarkson slates the Xfire don't you? On the official UK press release for the Xfire, Chrysler took a load of journo's to Las Vegas to do film shoots, photo shoots, etc. but Clarkson wanted to take his whole family and Chrysler wouldn't pay up - therefore the slating the Crossfire (and now the 300C) have got. Chrysler are doomed with that moron I'm afraid. (he said it looked like a dog having a poo! loon.)

 

What's your source for this info? IF its true then I'm deeply upset by that.