Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, LLC., Daimler, Mercedes-Benz
Surprise! Crossfire survives for another year
When the Crossfire was introduced, it was hailed as the consummation of the German-American marriage between Daimler and Chrysler. It's success, or lack thereof, may have foretold the rocky relationship that would ensue over the following years. But even though sales have continued to decline, Automotive News is reporting that the Crossfire will be back in 2008, equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system and a few other minor changes.
The last few years have been less-than-stellar for the Mercedes-based coupe. With a glut of unsold '06 and '07 models filling storage facilities in Europe, orders were suspended for a while, but production never ceased.
In the meantime, Crossfire sales have declined, from 14,665 in 2005 to 8,216 in 2006, and in an effort to stop the downward spiral, a series of incentives have been thrown on the hood. How long this can continue is an open question -- something that Chrysler's new suitor, Cerberus Capital Management, can't put off for long.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
rem83 9:46AM (7/02/2007)
If I could get a new one for less than $15k, I'd certainly consider it. It'd still be a tough choice though. My friend got one as a rental car (they were out of economy so he got a free upgrade) and it really was terrible. I'm 5'9" and I could barely see out of the windows. It was also pretty slow and had a miserable clashing interior.
Reply
Don 2:52PM (7/02/2007)
Below $15k for a new Crossfire?
Uh...okay.
Petey 9:49AM (7/02/2007)
Another failed attempt at trying to move Chrysler upscale... these types of cars need to be state of the art, not riding on a decade old platform.
Reply
bmoredlj 9:58AM (7/02/2007)
8216 will seem like a lot of sales this time next year.
Reply
Andrew 10:02AM (7/02/2007)
i always liked the crossfire, but i do think it is priced too high for its specs.
Reply
MCS05 10:10AM (7/02/2007)
I was told by a neighbor that DCX has a contract with Karmann to build a certain amount of bodies and it's cheaper to have them built instead of canceling the contract. In fact he leased a convertible through DCX for $169 a month for 6 month term.
Reply
JayP 10:12AM (7/02/2007)
These cars are still being made? At the local autoshow, the Chrysler stand had an '05 model for display... this was the '07 autoshow.
Reply
Mike 10:31AM (7/02/2007)
I was kind of shocked to see five of them waiting for me when I got into work today, I thought they were old stock from 2005. I don't think they even changed anything, they look exactly the same inside and out, only difference I saw were the wheels on two of them.
Reply
Will 10:51AM (7/02/2007)
Are they still making an SRT-6 variant of the Crossfire?
Reply
Don 2:53PM (7/02/2007)
Just the base model 3.2L V6...
felipe 11:29AM (7/02/2007)
hate DCX, but for some reason always liked this car.
wish they made it 'better' and in a better $ range.
DCX could have made this a great competitor in the coupe class... and seeing the lack of input they have put into it, shows how much they care...i think your neighbor is right, it's like they build it cause they have too.
Reply
Joe K. 11:34AM (7/02/2007)
I thought they didn't make 06 models for the US, only Europe. We had too many '05s on the ground so they just deeply discounted those. Hence why you would see an 05 at the 07 Auto Show...
Reply
1337 11:52AM (7/02/2007)
They should have just called it the Prowler Mark II.
Reply
1337 11:52AM (7/02/2007)
They should have just called it the Prowler Mark II.
Reply
John R 12:06PM (7/02/2007)
Not that I'm in the market for one, but Chrysler's discounts for this car is somewhat tempting, emphasis on somewhat. There are low mile SRT-6s in my area that can be had for less than $26k. Like less than 150 miles low.
But, I think I'll keep hunting for my WRX
http://www.cars.com/go/search/search_results.jsp;jsessionid=ZXEZAARWNTTYZLAYIERU2UY?searchType=78&tracktype=usedcc&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=ascending&sortfield=MILES+ascending%2CPRICE+ascending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-SRT-6%7CE-ANY%7CM-_10_%7CH-%7CD-_7169_%7CN-N%7CR-100%7CI-1%7CP-MILES+ascending%2CPRICE+ascending%7CQ-ascending%7CX-popular%7CZ-19711&aff=national&jmpID=233397342#233397342
Reply
felipe 2:01PM (7/02/2007)
that is by far the longest link i ever saw..putting ebay to shame.
and yes I love that Black onyx one too bad its an auto.
still would never want another dcx though.
Woodenduck 1:36PM (7/02/2007)
The Crossfire will be replaced by a Miata-beating Dodge "Demon" in roughly a year. The Demon will be powered by a 2.4 litre aluminum twin-cam 4 with a six-speed manual gearbox available. The Crossfire, which was produced in very small numbers, could be a speculation for a future collectible. Especially the SRT-6.
Reply
Don 2:55PM (7/02/2007)
Excellent copy and paste.
You HOPE the Demon will be produced.
Woodenduck 5:59PM (7/03/2007)
The Demon is a concept car (actually exists). Chrysler has been taking a majority of its concept cars to production in recent years. Based on my following of Chrysler for 4 decades, I THINK they will produce it.
Glenn 2:17PM (7/02/2007)
The crossfire has been a stunning car to look at. I was disappointed with the interior -- not very Chrysler-like. And also it was darn small to try to fit into.
Reply