SecondHandSense: Chrysler CrossfireThe Chrysler Crossfire may look as quintessentially American as William Van Alen's Chrysler building in New York, but it is actually based on a Mercedes SLK, and built by an independent production company in Germany.
It is a car with limited appeal because of its price, and the fact that it is a rather cramped two-seater with a big engine, and a decidedly sporty profile. It does not have the finesse of a Porsche or a Nissan sports coupé, and will seem to most eyes to be a rather macho creation built almost exclusively for performance.
The Crossfire, however, is a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing. Its 3.2-litre petrol engine is not as powerful as many of its competitors, but it does offer more than enough power and a top speed of some 240km/h, which is exactly twice the legal limit anyway.
Its Mercedes underpinnings are also not exactly state-of-the-art, the suspension is rigid, and drive is to the rear wheels so you need to be a bit of an enthusiast to enjoy driving the car.
The interior is cramped and the tall driver or passenger will not be made feel comfortable, but at least Chrysler did not try to fool people by installing mini seats in the rear, and giving the impression that the Crossfire could accommodate four.
Instead, that bit of extra space is given over to the boot which, though slightly awkward to access, takes a reasonable load. The Crossfire has been caught in some rather critical crossfire over the quality and finish of its interior, and the car is definitely shown up by most competitors in this respect. Standard equipment includes leather upholstery with heated seats, stability control, automatic gearbox, air conditioning and climate control and electrics.
The 3.2-litre engine is a thirsty one and expensive to run and tax. It will return about 23 miles to the gallon, and up to about 27 when cruising carefully, which is actually when the Crossfire is at its most comfortable.
It is a flexible engine and does not create too much noise at lower speeds. The car's gripping ability is excellent and is helped by the large tyres, but the ride is truly bone-rattling on poorer surfaces. The feeling is all the more pronounced given the cramped nature of the interior.
The Crossfire has not had a EuroNCAP crash test and there is no recall record for the car. In terms of safety, however, there are four airbags and the car should at least be as safe as the Mercedes C-Class. A 2005 Crossfire with 25,750 kilometres on the clock is on offer at €34,950, while a 2006 model with just over 7,000 kilometres is on offer at €49,950.
FOR:A good example of an American roadster
AGAINST:Cramped, costly