2006 Chrysler Crossfire Manual Review - An Over-looked Luxury Cruiser!

[@cmykiller]

Thanks for coming out and reviewing my car Zack! It's so much fun owning one of these cars, and while I know I am biased, I do think this is a future classic for how unique it is and that is was the halo car for a historical automotive manufacturer partnership.

[@GT.Bugger]

I agree. I think it's crazy how under appreciated and acknowledged they are.

[@bidensucks6792]

I love my 04 Chrysler Crossfire. You are correct about how hard it is to find a place to work on them. I was close to getting rid of it only months after buying it because neither Chrysler or Mercedes would touch it. I actually found possibly the only honest mechanic in the world. I trust him enough to take my XLR V to his shop.

[@eddiefalcon8316]

I wouldn’t want to own one of these but appreciate the people that do. Every time I see one I know the driver wants to be driving it and it’s not your typical used car.

[@insertnamehere5146]

low milage one is going to be a future classic in 10 years. SRT6 is a surefire collectable..

[@markvasiloff2217]

I’m one of the one or two who is a fan of the Crossfire. I loved mine albeit for two weeks. It was totaled when another driver who was talking on her cellphone decided to make a u-turn from the lane next to me. Both airbags went off (even though there was not another passenger). I did suffer an injury to my shin. The car was definitely too small for someone as tall as I am. It’s better suited for someone about 5’ tall. 😉 But I loved the way it looked and it was fun to drive. Great video, Zack. Thank you.

[@R.J.1]

All examples are neat. SRT are really cool. Misunderstood and so cool

[@markhealey9409]

I always liked them! They were fairly common here in England & you see a few around still now & then. They were built in Gras,Austria,not Germany. European market Chrysler Voyagers, PT Cruisers& 300s were also built in that factory. European market Chrysler Neons were built in The USA,as were our Sebrings.

[@bwofficial1776]

These things are kind of cool, especially with a manual. Chrysler tried to do something different and the Mercedes-Benz hand-me-downs made it happen. These sold decently well but you rarely see these any more. Chrysler's art deco era in the 00s was interesting and the gold looks good. Because of the SLK connection, these are one of the few American brand cars where you can turn on one side of the parking lights for parking at night. The Chrysler minivan, badged as a Voyager, was very successful in Europe over several generations and the 300 did decently well. The 300 was even available as a wagon using the Magnum's shell. Germans don't do cupholders. If you're driving, you should give all your attention to driving. If you want a beverage, you should stop and give all of your attention to the beverage.

[@ahahuehafook4207]

A bottle of water bruh

[@ahahuehafook4207]

I cant have a bottle of water on the highway bruh

[@anaestereo810]

04' limited, alabaster white with red leather interior, stick shift. Love it. I thought top gear was waaay off on their review.

[@devoncalixte8194]

I absolutely love the Chrysler Crossfire it's so unique smooth slick different I love the shape I would definitely buy one this car should have definitely got more credit that's my opinion

[@markjarvis3243]

I have a Crossfire Roadster (convertible) and previously owned a coupe. I love them and anyone I see and talk to who either has or had one, loves them too. It's great to drop the hood (roof) on a warm summer's evening and head to a country pub. They are as happy on British country roads as they are on motorways (Freeways) and as you say are cruisers rather than nippy, agile sportscars. Traction and roadholding are amazing, there is ample power and the Merc engine etc is what you'd expect. My only slight misgivings about the Crossfire are the automatic box is a bit clunky and the steering a little agricultural, other than that I highly recommend them.

[@esserdennis03]

Love when i see chryslers on this channel Huge chrysler fan here

[@DKLGalactus5]

the only problem is you need a special scanner. the dash and covers are cheap plastic, easy to break. the key cylinder gets stuck, big money if you have to have it drilled out. parts are hard to come by. you may want to think twice if you are considering to buy one.

[@djbilltakabillterwilleger5840]

I really enjoyed this review of the Chrysler crossfire my wife and I have his and hers and we feel you really used great words that we also use to explain this car. I originally purchased mine a 2005 Limited convertible with extremely low miles for a very reduced price. She also got hers a 2005 SRT six convertible at a reduced price. Both cars have held up great and giving us an amazing amount of pleasure and enjoyment in the summer months here in upstate New York. Thanks again for the great review

[@donchez7512]

whereabouts upstate are you from?

[@djbilltakabillterwilleger5840]

@@donchez7512 315

[@stoneylonesome4062]

All 3 of Chrysler’s Car companies made roadsters. The Plymouth Prowler, the Dodge Viper, and the Chrysler Crossfire

[@hakeemsd70m]

All three are some of my favorite sports cars. I'm a GM guy but I really like Chrysler too. Chrysler's contributions to automotive art and imagination are highly underrated.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

@@hakeemsd70m I just wish they had done it better. The Chrysler Crossfire was basically just a Mercedes-Benz SLK, and was actually based of the previous generation, at the time. It was a neat car, but the performance package removed the availability for a manual, which all roadsters should have. The Dodge Viper was highly exciting and impressive, but priced into Supercar territory and an extremely rare sight on American roads. The Plymouth Prowler was cool looking, but ultimately should’ve been more of a competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette, as an entry-level roadster with a manual transmission and a serious V8 engine.

[@petergiourelas3753]

I've had mine 16yrs, its been great

[@thomaswillson467]

Missed the ashtray opens to hold change. Not put in ashtray

[@Metal-Merica-Gaming]

It’s not a ghost it’s wind 💨

[@johnbayne2677]

Very reliable more than a comparable Japanese models

[@Niro.C]

After the Crossfire review, a Pontiac Solstice / Saturn Sky review is needed 🤠😎

[@anthonykiedis1765]

When I lived in the city I rented a garage for my S2000 and shared it with a guy that had a Crossfire. Always thought it was a really cool and quirky car.

[@IslandCars]

I do not understand why people can’t see this car’s uniqueness. Amazing design for its age, especially the rear with that pop-up spoiler and the centre exhaust pipes. In Cyprus(RHD) there are 2 Cabrio automatics for sale €20k/each. I think i am the only one manual Coupe owner in the island. People always looking and asking “what is it”.

[@GT.Bugger]

That comparison to a Chord is wild lol. I think the 'Ghost' was supposed to represent wind and how the Crossfire is aerodynamic. I've owned my Crossfire for about 2 months, and I love it. It's a RHD manual with 46k on the clock..and I'm in the UK.

[@johnm4461]

Very good review. I have a 2008 Limited Roadster in the US. Had it since 2013 and find it to be a great little car, especially for cruising the countryside with the top down when the weather is nice. Always get lots of positive comments. Maybe the naysayers are just too polite to say anything. The sticker on mine says "Made In Germany". MFG by DaimlerChrysler Corp, Assembled by Wilhelm Karmann GmbH. Yes, finding a mechanic can be a challenge, but mine has not needed much work and since I am a tinkerer, I can do most of the work myself. All of the parts are readily available (except exterior body parts) anywhere Mercedes parts are sold. The OEM parts are quite reasonably priced. If buying online, one can just look for the same part for 2004 Mercedes SLK 320 (R170 Platform). In a pinch, one can spend a little more and get the part from a Mercedes dealer. Just don't tell them it's for a Chrysler. They might take the free coffee back! And don't bother with Chrysler dealers. They'll sell you the Mercedes part (with a Chrysler part number) at triple the price Mercedes charges!

[@paulmercury5182]

I had one some years ago now. I thought the headlamp had burnt out. Actually, water had gotten into the left headlamp assembly and caused corrosion. It needed replacing. I had to locate a used headlamp assembly from a junkyard on the other side of the country. Over $600. For a used headlight. That wasn’t the only surprise. I liked the car but owning them can come with big, unexpected hassles.

[@sentiencepsn2714]

8:30 Not a ghost. It’s suppose to represent air drag. 1920-1930’s we’re the tradition from boxy carriages to more aerodynamic shapes.

[@CarsofGlasgow]

My first exposure to the Crossfire was in CSI Miami

[@Niro.C]

Three things about this review: 1. The Crossfire was built in Austria by Magna and not in Germany (by Daimler). 2. Most European countries use left hand drive vehicles. Only Cyprus, Britain and Ireland use right hand drive cars in Europe ... 3. The Crossfire was and still is an awsome car.

[@tbfoto]

WRONG! The Crossfire was built in Osnabrück Germany in the Karmann plant.

[@bazilwreckerloughead]

I kinda like those cars, I'd own one!

[@hollybirge4087]

Edward from Ed’s Auto Reviews in the Netherlands owns one of these. He has a video about it on his channel

[@danmoreton1788]

I had a 2007 black coupe with a 6 speed transmission. It was fun to drive, and had more than enough power. It fit me like a glove. I liked the looks,(minus the grill which I changed). It was always a head turner for sure. She's gone now. But it is one of my favorite I purchased.

[@paullopez7561]

Love the interior looks

[@mattorama]

Drop the suspension one inch and that thing looks incredible.

[@OPPU73NT]

@TheRealCatofDont like it? Cry about it

[@hakeemsd70m]

Could the wheel wells honestly take it? Looks pretty tight.

[@FTRVDenny]

That is one of the very few cars that I cannot program a key to. People come in to the shop because Chrysler and Mercedes said they cannot program a key for that.

[@mbd501]

That wasn't an "American" manual transmission. It was a Mercedes-Benz manual, just like the rest of the car under the skin.

[@Low760]

Eds auto reviews loves his Chrysler CrossFire. It gets his foot in the door of American car show's.

[@shandermunizalvarado]

I was a flag Marshall for a while and an older gentleman used to rip around the the track with one of these

[@diannejackson2400]

We have 3 of these 💖 Real fun cars and and an incredible Crossfire community

[@AR_4Foglio]

Owning three Crossfires is very impressive! Do you have the SRT6 model?

[@peanutbutterpadre1519]

My friend pulled one of these 6speeds from a junkyard an manual swapped his w210 e55 amg I tease him calling his car a Chrysler all the time

[@Low760]

Europe is lhd dude, the u.k is rhd like Australia and we both got the refreshed Chrysler in the late 90s after it was killed in 1981 under Iacoca.

[@jameshorigan3322]

Thanks for another great video Zach! Here's one for the algorythm! :^D

[@Crispychicken4u]

Your goin into a Chrysler/Dodge showroom in 2005 . You can get a crossfire for $33k or..a Neon SRT4 for only $20k . 🤔

[@dan-othemando7958]

CROSSFIRE!! Now I Got that Board Game Song Stuck In my Head...

[@colinschmitz8297]

My feelings are nuanced. I'm glad they made something with more performance credentials than the Sebring convertible and it reportedly was a reliable car, but I struggle with the fact that the car could have been so much more. 1. Using the old SLK platform destroyed any potential for economies of scale and let the car seem out of date for the market of its time. 2. The powertrain choices were also out of date and nothing for Chrysler enthusiasts to get excited about. If they would have used Chrysler's more powerful 3.5, then use the 5.7 hemi and possibly 6.1 Hemi, The car not only would have been more competitive, it would have excited Chrysler enthusiasts. 3. The choice to make this in Germany (by a third party vendor) and ship it to the US cut into the potential profits and undercut the whole point of buying an American car. Being that nothing definable was truly of Chrysler origin other than styling it undercut the whole the best of German and American engineering ads. It was just German engineering. It wasn't a bad car by any means, it just could have been more.

[@esserdennis03]

You should review a 1st gen chrysler 300

[@gwyer23]

I own a crossfire too! I love it. If possible, could you share the info/location of the mechanic Rudy in IL you mentioned?

[@MyMustang72]

i had one in the uk, a auto version, a good car,but i did not like the uneven wheel size,and the harsh ride over uneven road surfaces.

[@losingmyfavoritegame8752]

I have always wondered what these inside of the crossfire looks. PS: Did you know the body line on the side door sill is called a crossfire which may be a hint to its namesake?

[@losingmyfavoritegame8752]

I did not expect you to like the gearbox.

[@badmelon18]

11:19 the vast majority of Europe has left hand driven cars. Only Ireland, UK, Cyprus and Malta drive on the left.

[@jorge5397]

I love my cross fire still runs like new

[@r4pt0rgame65]

Just to say, the same guy who designed this designed also the 2024 mustang, and also the mach E, which is beautiful except for the engine

[@davinp]

The Chrysler Crossfire is actually a Mercedes. At that time, Mercedes owned Chrysler and so they gave Chrysler their old platforms to build cars

[@derkommissar4986]

He mentioned this in 1:31 Did you even see the video in full?

[@damilolaakanni]

I'm sure this is already common knowledge that the Crossfire was based on the Mercedes-Benz SLK and shares pretty much everything mechanical with that model.

[@tleoipl37]

Srt6 is goat for that

[@questionabletaste2700]

Just a small thing. Not all of Europe is Right hand drive. Only the UK and Ireland. The rest is left hand drive 👍

[@rickc303]

Ah the Mercedes NSG370, same 6spd as in my '05 TJ and gf's '08 KK

[@therealboofighter]

8:28 that’s supposed to be the wind.

[@6262nate]

Hey Zack that wasn’t representing a ghost 👻 lol it was showing aerodynamics of the vehicle

[@cfc1001001cfc]

If you could combine the design language of Chrysler and the durability and reliability of a Honda or Toyota, you'd have one heck of a car company!

[@fortheloveofnoise]

That used to exist, it was called 60s and early 70s...the Mopar cars were reliable back then (for the era).

[@johnbayne2677]

I love mine 2007 convertible red

[@bryanspringsteen761]

What has "RightHandDrive" RHD to do with Europe?🤷🏼‍♂️ It's just the UK having RHD.😉

[@terrwes2807]

I got away in 3 or 4 police 🚨 👮 chases in this car. I had a white one a automatic.

[@thomaswillson467]

Not a ghost. It's wind

[@dave11686]

Nice!

[@josh1alderete]

Iv always wanted one

[@eugene44569]

Ah yes, it is the schyster fusilade

[@vvvxt]

Go back to los santos

[@fortheloveofnoise]

I remember when this was the most popular car because it was the fastest free car...but then people signed up to get the free Social Club car.

[@davidp2888]

I wanted one of these and I'm kind of glad I didn't get one.

[@tbfoto]

You missed out!

[@RobPearson286]

@@tbfoto missed out on disappointment and horrific depreciation yeah lol these seem like ok cars in isolation but as soon as you compare it to its competitors it falls short in pretty much every category

[@tbfoto]

@@RobPearson286 It's ok that you don't have one. Not everyone can.

[@RobPearson286]

@@tbfoto looool they're less than £2k in the UK. Literally anyone could have one but nobody wants one hence they're £2k 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 literally no different in price than a 1.2L Ford Fiesta of the same age

[@tbfoto]

@@RobPearson286 Don't buy one if you can"t afford it. Find your self a nice fancy scooter and motor along. LOL

[@youngstadan4999]

Based on an slk Mercedes, could of been a lot better. Terrible handling not very quick for the motor it has which is a lazy engine but bullet proof. I've always liked the look of them. In UK they go for peanuts 1000 to 2ish. Don't really work here where everyone wants a car that handles good.

[@richards8872]

They are nicer lol. They are based on the first gen SLK and the interior holds up better. I am on my second 1998 SLK230 and the interior plastic just falls apart

[@MrOktsx]

The guy I'm picturing driving this car circa 2012... 5'6", wearing Affliction T shirts and Axe body spray.

[@gyneve]

No, they'd never touch this. It could damage their fragile masculinity.

[@Ronald-q6l]

wow

[@Jayy31922]

A ghost 😂

[@joey86bu1]

Wow you merge 2 companies known for shat reliability and....I wonder what will happen?

[@damilolaakanni]

Mercedes-Benz in this era had electrical issues because of the biodegradable wiring harnesses they used, and they rusted out a lot, but their engines were very reliable. Not as reliable as a typical Lexus or Acura of the time, but still...

[@richards8872]

They are really reliable. And the thing about the wiring is false other than the headlight wiring is biodegradable

[@richards8872]

@@damilolaakannionly the headlights have the biodegradable wiring

[@NoName-ik2du]

I always thought these were cool, especially from the front. I don't quite like the roofline, but I'm also not quite sure what's wrong with it. The muted reflective finish on everything looks super tacky, though. Makes everything look like incredibly cheap plastic (which in fairness, it probably is). The engine choice also feels wrong. With such a disproportionately long hood, it seems like it should definitely have a big V8 under there.

[@thomaswillson467]

Dodge Aspen

[@urbnctrl]

Nice looks, terrible drive

[@ericbritton9346]

From the back, it looks like it's squatting like a dog to take a dump on the blacktop,

[@ahahuehafook4207]

Toyota better

[@OldFordTaurus]

No

[@richards8872]

Toyota boring. These are just as reliable as shitty Toyota Camry’s from the same era. The transmissions were garbage in all thr V6 Toyotas from the same time also

[@EDWINRC72]

That's not a ghost, it represents wind.

[@XennialGuy]

Ah, you missed the secret flip down coin holder in the ash tray. 🪙