Missing The Mark: 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Review

The 2005 Chrysler Crossfire was the result of the Daimler-Chrysler 'merger of equals'. Based on the first-gen Mercedes SLK roadster, it was Chrysler's attempt at creating a sleek looking fastback and open top roadster. But did it succeed in doing so? Let's find out in this review about my daily driver and personal car!
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Enjoy!

[@EdsAutoReviews]

I'd like to rectify that I might have been a bit too harsh. The better the weather, the more I started to enjoy and have fun with it! But, as others point out, maybe this isn't the best of choiche for daily driving, and a better choiche for weekend cruising. Simply because the car doesn't fully meet my wishes and demands doesn't automatically mean it's a bad car.

[@sg-yq8pm]

It's a Chrysler, which doesn't automatically mean it's a bad car, but does mean that it probably isn't particularly good.

[@678rwhp]

@@sg-yq8pm it's a mercedes slk320 or slk32 amg if you get the srt-6 version. With a manual transmission that mercedes never dared to do. There is a lot of good about these cars.

[@mojo500100]

Kudos to you--being willing to adjust an opinion is a good quality. Just came upon your vids today and am very impressed-they’re informative and entertaining (it’s not easy to be both.) Looking forward to seeing each of them.

[@john1703]

If it is so bad, why did you buy it? 🤣 Don't forget that Chrysler once brought us the Dodge Charger Daytona. 🚗

[@ejohn8733]

To the person who pointed out that Chrysler made some cherry nice cars and still does from Hellcat to Daytona Etc I will just add Imperial. A car that was the Rival to the Lincoln Continental and the finest Cadillac in other words the royalty of American cars.

[@HappyTribble]

When the Crossfire came out, I went to test drive a manual transmission one. It wouldn't go into 2nd gear. This was a brand new car. Dealer tried, and he couldn't either. That told me everything I needed to know about this quality merger of two automotive giants...

[@MetalTrabant]

PT Cruisers had terrible manual shifters as well... it's just not a US thing.

[@EdsAutoReviews]

Enough said! Hahahaha

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

I'll take things that never happened for $300 Alex

[@julien80200]

The car simply didn't wanted you to drive it.. next driver xD

[@Matt_from_Florida]

Yo Diggity Dog. I owned a 2005 Xfire Roadster from 2019 until this year, so for 4 years. Bought it at 33K miles & sold it at 45K miles and made $4,000 in the process. Gotta love our crazy car prices! Anywho, I did ALL my own maintenance so I'll throw you a couple bones. 1) The interior door pulls are wrapped (not plated) in a shiny metallic "tape", for lack of a better word. The seam runs North to South in the center of the pull facing the door, where you can't see it. Every time "you" grab the door-pull your fingers run across that seam and that gradually starts to pull it up and it begins flaking off with the ragged bits happy to give you a bleeding cut. You can remove the door-pull by prying off the front cover and removing 2 screws leaving the door-panel undisturbed. Take the pull to a plating company. Have them remove the wrap-coating and chrome-plate the entire part like they should have done in the first place. 2) Almost *EVERY mechanical part* is 100% the same as from a 2004 Mercedes-Benz SLK320. I advise right now to forget that the car says 'CHRYSLER' on it as they stopped carrying most of the parts in 2020 and the 1 mechanic who was trained to work on it at each dealership is long gone. Any 'Indy' German car repair shop will work on it. 3) If the ride is truly unacceptable to you there is an easy fix. Buy the 17" wheels that came on the SLK320 and sell your 19" Xfire wheels. The 17" tires have much more sidewall on them giving much more flex going over bumps.

[@Woody_Florida]

I briefly dated a girl that owned a Crossfire. I drove it a few times, and it was fun to drive. And she pointed out to me that it was a Mercedes more than a few times. I enjoyed driving the car, definitely, but I would not say that I was very impressed with it. But, needless to say, I never let her drive my sw20 MR2 in turn.

[@quintessenceSL]

Rather liked it myself. Always wanted "compact" luxury, and hand-me-downs from Benz ain't such a bad place to be. What is bad is Benz's upkeep and reliability. Not that Chrysler was any great shakes in this department, but at least repair costs would have been more reasonable.

[@Alpostpone]

@@quintessenceSL Cheaper to buy a generic accessory piece to cover the problem than genuine Mercedes replacement parts.

[@bakgammon]

​@@quintessenceSLMy benz is over 200,000+ miles.

[@TheAtomicGarage]

Great review, I used to be a technician at a Dodge Chrysler Jeep dealer and we would always call them "Cross-dressers." Your assessment of it is spot on, lukewarm attempt that was really forced on them by Daimler management.

[@andrewweltlich9065]

I was a Mercedes technician and always wondered what Chrysler technicians thought of the Crossfire. The first generation SLK (R170) were terrible vehicles, definitely one of the worst Mercedes ever made.

[@Dwendele]

Can those dealers fix a Mercedes slk? Like, computer issues? Or do I REALLY have to take to Mercedes?

[@michaelburggraf2822]

That's what happens when you allow peacounters and marketing freaks to decide on products: fancy junk with lots of show biz. And they're doing it to Mercedes too.

[@TheAtomicGarage]

@@andrewweltlich9065 We had very low opinions on the crossfire. About the only good thing they had (and one of the few good things Mercedes gave Chrysler) was the 722.6 transmission.

[@TheAtomicGarage]

@@Dwendele We had no problems fixing them, there is really nothing complicated about them. The only thing that I could see being an issue now days is there is an adapter with a programming card for the Chrysler DRBIII so it can communicate with the Mercedes modules. A lot of them could be damaged now or missing and dealers wont get new ones.

[@Haulinbassracing]

That legendary chrysler+Mercedes-Benz build quality after the warranty is gone is something to behold

[@MichaelDavis-cy4ok]

I recently had a conversation with my Dad, who's a mechanic. I made him laugh when I sent this to him... Words German engineers have never heard: Durable Serviceable Economical Words German engineers live by: Precision Snobbery

[@TheOtherBill]

Ed, your next car after this has to be a 2005 Thunderbird. A comparison between those two would make for a great video.

[@douglasb.1203]

Thunderbird is so much better

[@EdsAutoReviews]

I have actually been looking at T-birds! Especially because they do come with floaty suspension. However, they are heavy, thirsty, expensive and above all, rare over here so getting replacement part sis a challenge... unfortunately.....

[@ThePuffin77]

@@EdsAutoReviews The late model T-birds ride on the DEW98 platform which is shared with the Jaguar S type if that makes parts availability any better

[@thomosburn8740]

@@douglasb.1203 Not sure I agree. I have a 2002 T-bird -and- a '05 Crossfire. The Crossfire has a MUCH better stereo, more trunk space, much better steering and tire-grip on the road, and a faster 0-60 mph time. It's also 50% more fuel efficient on the highway. The Thunderbird by contrast has softer seats, and two proper cupholders.

[@tomdelisle8955]

I always liked the look of the Crossfire and credit to Chrysler in these years for putting out some interesting cars like this and the Prowler.

[@leonb2637]

Ah yes, the Prowler. Sadly it was another 'looks good on paper' car but failed in the market. It came with the same V-6 as this Crossfire did instead of a proper V-8. It also had awkward front design due to the need for a bumper and fender over the front wheels

[@compassioncampaigner728]

​@@leonb2637 I disagree. Liked the fenders.

[@jacksonlewis3732]

Nearly bought one of these back in 2019. Passed up on it for a Mazda 3 6 speed. 120K miles later I think I made the right choice. Really enjoy your videos!

[@TSL73]

Nice car you found

[@JackBWatkins]

I loved mine, same spec as yours. What I liked most was that they depreciated very fast and I got it at a reasonable price.

[@pinball_newf]

Chrysler got stuck with so many of these they offered them to employees on a very cheap lease to get them on the streets. I was the beneficiary of one of those leases - I was glad to experience it and was glad when it went away...

[@crankychris2]

Sounds like my last boat...

[@danmccarthy4700]

I had a first-generation SLK for 9 years and let's just say its interior quality wasn't much better than the Crossfire. By the time I totaled it last year, all the paint had flaked off the center console, the metal "gate" surrounding the automatic shift lever had popped out and was only being held in by friction, the headliner sagged to the point where I had to just rip it out, both the glove compartment and the center console storage lid wouldn't stay shut, and the roof leaked all over the passenger seat when it rained. If anything, the cupholder situation in the Crossfire, however janky, was vastly preferable to that in the SLK whose placement at the top of the dash would cause condensation to leak all over the stereo on hot days (I got into the habit of keeping paper towels in the car at all times). Oh, and that cupholder broke too. Funny thing is, I still miss that car. I didn't find the suspension harsh at all and had no problems taking it on 8+ hour road trips (when it didn't break down, mind you). I cried like I'd lost a pet after I cleaned it out for the last time and took the plates off it. Still, I never saw the point of the Crossfire in general. Like, why buy an SLK without the SLK's main party trick?

[@sunnohh]

Wow, a friend of mine got one gifted to them new, it made it to 2009 before getting scrapped out

[@JoJoJoker]

That was an awesome gift back in the day.

[@OH-HELL-NO...]

I have a convertible manual Crossfire. I've had it 15 years. It's done about 50,ooo miles. It has never let me down ever. The fuel consumption is very good. On a run taking it easy I've had 49mpg at 50mph. Town driving 28-30. Normal motorway driving about 4ompg. It will go 0-60 in under 6 seconds and goes off the clock flat out. The engine is bullet-proof. And still everywhere it gets parked in the summer when it's polished people take a picture as they don't know what it is. I bought it when it was two almost three years old for £9500. The car has been dynamite. Bought it for my wife. Was going to the showroom to buy a Mercedes SLK at more than twice the price with higher mileage. My wife seen this in the Chrysler showroom opposite and that was it. Changed from continental tyres to Avons on advice of some guy I spoke with in Las Vegas. Transformed the ride and handling on UK roads. All my other cars are Mercedes and which I don't recommend. 15 years trouble free motoring. Just an alternative point of view. 😊

[@DwightMS1]

It's a shame the Crossfire is such a piece of junk. It's a sharp looking car.

[@williamweddington3140]

The rear of the car doesn’t match the styling of the front. Square versus round.

[@robertmoffett3486]

To you. I think they're ugly

[@DLOGKCALB]

Ok Chrysler misfire 🌧

[@toddfraser3353]

That is a Chrysler trait. The body make them look like a higher class car, but cheap out on the little details. Back in 2002, I wanted a convertible, and was comparing the Sebring with a Toyota Solara. They looked similar, but the Solara was just more refined, it could have been a Lexus model.

[@frogmantoad8110]

Junk? I had one and loved it. It wasn’t junky at all.

[@laserjet2000]

As a 308cc owner for 10 years (and a printer), my impression is: “LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO DO NOT HAVE A CONVERTIBLE IF YOU CAN AFFORD ONE”! XD Nice ride, Ed!! Cheers from Brazil!

[@danmccarthy4700]

I could not imagine life without a convertible!

[@grahamlockley4435]

@@danmccarthy4700 With the UK weather, a convertible is nice for about four weeks a year :)

[@mikeakers3453]

i have not had a convertible since I owned a 2009 BMW 3 with twin turbos and a six-speed manual transmission. Traded it in 2012. I've owned 11 convertibles, my favorite being a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass. In Florida there are two months a year when you rarely have a top-down day - July and August. Modern cars allow you to use the air-conditioner with the top down so I used the BMW even then. I want another convertible but right now I have other things to concentrate on.

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

My sister in California, USA daily drives her Crossfire since she bought it new. This year the computer went out and the car was dead. Chrysler wouldn't fix it and Mercedes wouldn't fix it. She finally found an independent mechanic that specializes in European cars that put a junkyard computer into it to get it running again. She still loves it.

[@nunyabidniz2868]

Doh! Too late... he already put a Xfire junkyard computer into it. The smart money takes the intake manifold off the equivalent SLK and the SLK computer for a quick bump in power! Lovely how Benz didn't want the Crossfire to be just an uglier, crappier version of the SLK, but also chose to hobble its (insufficient) horsepower too...

[@georgemeller4074]

I'd been eyeing the Crossfire for years. Then again, I've got a stupid infatuation with some of the Daimler-Chrysler offerings; the Crossfire and Magnum (and by extension, the 300 by default) are two of my favorite vehicles. After that, everything is all about how quirky / cool something looks. Solid review. Keep it up, Ed; you're quickly becoming one of my favorite creators on YT.

[@MrRicearonie]

I have no idea why I love the Magnum, but man it’s such a cool car imo

[@CatsEatNomNom]

Magnum was a nice riding, useful car!

[@smileymalaise]

They should rerelease the Magnum

[@CatsEatNomNom]

@@smileymalaise cars are mostly dead, unfortunately. But it's not like I don't drive an SUV myself...

[@Trendyflute]

It's a shame the Magnum didn't survive when the Charger/Challenger/300 got updated; the design and material quality took such a big step with the LD 11+ cars versus the 05-10 LX platform cars. An LD-platform Magnum (yes that surely includes all the Hellcat stuff) would've been mega.

[@IWrocker]

I had a 2004 coupe with the Manual Transmission, was really fun to drive and sounded great. But as you said in the outro, I got tired of driving it daily, it rode so stiff and rough… and the Manual was NOT geared for heavy traffic either. So I had it 12 months and got rid of it. I don’t regret owning it though, it was fun, unlike any car I’ve ever owned, and I miss it sometimes. It’s on odd one, but I’m glad they made it.

[@steved3702]

I more I hear about these, the more I'm happy with my NB Miata/MX-5. Hard to drive without smiling and the roof's down whenever the rain's absent.

[@mrshelfsong]

Well Ed, I say that as long as you keep making videos as good as this one, it will not be long before you can upgrade to a car that will impress you more. I am anxious to see what that car will be. Keep up the good work bro !

[@janwitkowsky8787]

And the 1st gen SLK is still one of my dream cars. Great looks that harkens back to pony cars, but with a modern touch.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

The plastics on the DaimlerChrysler-era cars were... woof. The sun visors could draw blood if you weren't careful when moving them. This entry from Edmunds' Inside Line blog (I miss them!) about their long-term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan says a lot: The interior quality of our long term 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is so disappointing, it's difficult for me to put it into words. But I'm going to give it a shot. This van feels like it was designed and assembled by apes. Apes that were pounded mercilessly by bean counters to get more cost out of the poor resulting van's interior... Apes that have never been in a Honda Odyssey. Apes that have no respect for their customers. Apes that have no problem sleeping at night after selling people a plasticy, poorly put together crapmobile for the ridiculous sum of $40,200. If I spent that much of my hard earned dollars on this van, the first thing I would do is drive it head long into a bridge abutment. Sure, I'd probably be dead. But at least I wouldn't have to drive it anymore. Or pay for it. And remember, I haven't once complained about the Caravan's nonexistent brakes, or its apparently missing rear suspension, or its 4.0-liter V6 which feels and sounds like it's full of rocks. No, I'm only talking about its interior, which is seemingly without a soft surface, a properly aligned panel or a single switchgear that delivers a pleasing tactile sensation. Hey, what do you want for $40K? Quality? Instead the Grand Caravan feels like Dodge just doesn't care. Like the company has given up. Take the Caravan's shifter for instance. You must use it every time you drive the car, so it should feel good right? Common sense. But the Caravan's shifter doesn't feel good. It feels like one of my five year old's art projects. It crashes into Drive with such a junky clatter you'd swear Dodge forgot to install some bushing or some little piece of something that's supposed to make it not feel that lame. But Dodge didn't forget. Instead the company left it out to save money. Even the little + sign on the shifter has already jettisoned itself. It seems our Detroit Editor Dan Pund wiped it off with the tip of his index finger by accident when he was doing a bit of cookie crumb removal. Pathetic. Guess somebody at Dodge realized the permanent ink would have cost extra.

[@iluvcamaros1912]

The worst thing is the interiors were better before Daimler got involved. I was just a kid when they were new, but to this day I have such a soft spot for the Concorde and 300M. Beautiful inside and out. But by the mid 2000s every Chrysler/Dodge suddenly had a hard, cheap, light gray plastic interior. It was sad to watch happen.

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

Lol who fucking cares what elitist mags say and why would you believe them? Car & Driver, Motor Trend, JD Powers and all their ilk have been anti-US cars since the late '60s- it's an unspoken agenda. Only with bribes would an American car get a pass. Don't clutch your pearls this is facts. Cultural Marxism is very real. And the Dodge Caravan's interior was phenomenal, I owned a 2006 so the hysterics about shit level interior is just someone talking out their ass.

[@1_Papa]

Oh, Ed. 😔 You're the only person I know (sorta) who actually traded down. That Hyundai was a much better car. Oh well, at least you have a convertible for the summer, and this was again, another great video! 👍

[@reitsmaassociates]

I like the crazy crossfire, makes me smile whenever I see one. I went the 350z route in 2003, and later the TT route - awesome review as always - cheers from Brisbane

[@DiecastDreamCustoms]

Did anyone else get the distinct feeling we were watching a new version of Top Gear? Seriously... Bang-up job, Ed! Also... Answer your damned emails. Lol.

[@Mike81111]

It was so funny when you spoke about the interior I could easily hear all kind of cracking noises from the interior when you even slightly moved🤣

[@munecaeburro]

The Crossfire is the kind of car everybody tells me not to buy, and I still want to buy

[@markwilliams2620]

"A friggin Crossfire..". Yep. Says it all. As my uncle, who worked for Chrysler's for 40+ years put it..."How do you say Daimler-Chrysler? Daimler.".

[@roberthoffhines5419]

I always thought the strakes in the hood hearken back to the 1930-whatever Chrysler Airflow. There is an air of Art Deco about the aesthetic...particularly the font of the "Crossfire" badge. And after all, they DID build The Chrysler Building.

[@johngraves6878]

I always adored the design of the Crossfire and the Porsche 928, two divine vehicles that seem to have fallen out of favor. I just love the way it looks -- the rear end is very voluptuous. I look forward to your review of this sexy set of wheels.

[@mrshelfsong]

Same two vehicles for me too

[@mrshelfsong]

Oh yeah, Pontiac Solstice too

[@augustneverends]

The 928 is a serious engineering piece de résistance, the Crossfire is a badge engineering/marketing mistake.

[@AtheistOrphan]

I quite like the styling of the hardtop version.

[@virtuosoification]

"finds potholes in the road you couldnt even find with a magnifying glass" sounds like my '10 volvo v50 . thanks for your car content ! always awesome

[@jrf607]

I had a 2004 Crossfire, and that " satin nickel finish " or whatever they called it was HORRIBLE. It was so bad in fact that, it was peeling on my driver door pull, and I had sliced my fingers open a couple times before I finally gave up and used electrical tape around the doorpull. That being said, it was a super fun, unique interesting car, and I really enjoyed it. Mostly because it was rare to see another one.

[@mrjuvy49]

My right handle came off, the ashtray I had to super glue it shut the tires wore out too soon, but I had for 12 years.

[@Axel_Andersen]

I've never driven one, but I like the looks. Especially back. Very, very few cars looks good from the back. I also like the looks of most of the Chrysler lineup, though I've heard they are not great cars as such.

[@Theogenerang]

Looked at this car in Australia back in 2005. The price was so out of touch with the competition the cars rotted away on the forecourt until they were trucked back to Brisbane. Kias interiors looked more upmarket.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you Ed. You were honest and I hope you will get the car you want for your next car. It is interesting how they took out content for Chrysler and left it in for Mercedes Benz. They I guess were not going to be upstaged. It was not a merger of equals. You were to the point and entertaining as usual.

[@jonas1015119]

My dad is retiring this year and accordingly bought a Crossfire a few months ago. I'm not sure why, but at least he got it for half of what they usually sell for. The first time I sat in it I immediately opened the cup holder by accident. Its also quite a snug fit for tall people.

[@digitalrailroader]

0:51 what happened with Mercedes and Chrysler was NOT a “partnership” or “Merger of Equals”, it was a hostile takeover in all but name because DaimlerBenz was floundering in the late 90s and they saw all of the success that Chrysler was having (they launched 6 completely redesigned or all new platforms in the span of 4 years ranging from minivans to halo sports cars) and saw the 1 billion dollars in profits that Chrysler was saving for a rainy day and immediately started talks with Chrysler’s CEO at the time Bob Eaton. Once the deal was done, the German engineers and management started to treat Chrysler engineers as “inferior” and proceeded to decontent Chrysler’s products and funnel large amounts of cash into the German half of the company. Once the damage was complete in 2008, Daimler proceeded to dump Chrysler’s hollowed out husk where it was bought by hedge fund Cerberus Group. Then after the bankruptcy proceedings in 2009, Fiat bought Chrysler from Cerberus Group nursed it back to profitability with the redesigned lineup in 2011.

[@thysonsacclaim]

Right--he's saying that ironically.

[@DBEdwards]

Reminds me of Hermann Goerings 1937 Mercedes 16 roadster, without the elegance and craft

[@130rapid]

In two words - stinky Backfire. They say the deepest emotion is a combination of love & hate. :D

[@davincisghost9228]

Dude I just want you to know that one day we will come for you and it will be a good thing. YOU ROCK.

[@bossfan49]

I was always intrigued by the Crossfire.... an American version of a European roadster. I always wondered - Cool design, but how does it drive? I've seen several reviews on them... all of them were mixed. Ed, nice to see you get some screen time for a change. The camera loves you! 😀

[@davidrobertnewman]

Much happier to watch this honest appraisal than a video about the great cars Chrysler has made this century; that video would be 13:19 shorter.

[@confusedcoco5947]

Holy crap I'm early! Hello ed, I'm glad you also like that car as much as I do!

[@samuelajones]

My favorite car. I love that it is an Slk, and that Dyson designed it

[@johnboulton1109]

Great video Ed! Fascinating to see your honest review of this car. I remember this car being launched and thought it looked great at the time…. 😂 looking forward to seeing your next one!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

As somebody who owns more than one FCA product and has a soft spot for older Mopars, I say eff Daimler. The "merger" was a disaster...by the time the Crossfire came to market Daimler had pretty much bled Chrysler dry of money and resources. It showed in their products and there was basically nothing they could realistically do about it. Sergio Marchionne and FIAT saved the company and I'll always be grateful for it.

[@paul5683]

You have to admit that Chrysler did learn how to make a good multilink rear suspension and they use the mercedes e key in all their modern cars.

[@jamesmancuso3666]

Yes the crossfire is a footnote in Chrysler but now Chrysler is just a footnote in the automobile industry

[@augustneverends]

Too true

[@yukilabrador7219]

I had a Crossfire Roadster for a few years (in our Dutch climate) and I really LOVED it during Summer. Never saw so many thumbs up, although before that I drove a Ford Cougar and after that a Infiniti EX3.7. But during Winter the Crossfire was and absolute disaster. In snowy conditions it wouldn’t even leave the parking spot. 😂

[@christopherkraft1327]

Congratulations Ed on your new daily driver!!! 👍👍🙂

[@rx6180]

A lot of the things you don’t like are pure Mercedes-Benz of the period. I used to own a 1999 C-Class saloon. It had the red-white-blue climate temperature dials with no numbers. It had the same turn signal and cruise control stalks with the wipers switched by twisting the end of the turn signal stalk. I found them easy to use. I much preferred the cruise control stalk to steering wheel buttons on everything I drive now. The transmission W/S setting is pure Mercedes-Benz. According to the driver’s manual I had, S is ‘Standard’ and uses all five gears. W is ‘Winter’ and deletes 1st gear so you start off in 2nd gear, supposedly to reduce wheel spin on ice and soft snow.

[@person.w9780]

This is definitely one of the cars of all time.

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Chrysler products have had cheap, plasticy looking dashboards/instrument panels since 1968. But, I always loved the look of the back of the Crossfire hatchback, it was classic and different.

[@MrBrewskiDrewski]

Living in Michigan, I’ve seen a few of these around. But almost none in recent years. Glad to see a review to see what I was missing as a kid. Thanks, Ed!

[@98erics]

Every time I see a Chrysler Crossfire I am forced to sing that song from the commercial for the game Crossfire in the 90's. It was a dumb game but a had catchy commercial where the only lyric was "Crossfire" then a slightly higher pitch "CrossFiiiieeerrrrrrr!!!!"

[@CommanderTycho]

I have the SRT-6 one and it's honestly been really good to me. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it.

[@truthsayers8725]

you said EVERYTHING that needed to be said at 1:24 of the video. i had just started my 3rd year in Chrysler Corporation when out of the blue, everyone in the plant (i worked in a tool and die build plant) was herded to the cafeteria and were subjected to a dog and pony show that at first glance looked as if things might be good! part of the daimler benz organization. it didnt take long to realize that our $9 Billion dollar cash reserves were converted into Deutsche Marks and we were left holding the bag of left over parts and designs. the next 9 years were tough. then being dumped off to the venture capitalists at Cerberus. then spun off to 'New Chrysler' or whatever they called it and then bankruptcy where Obama forced us to partner with Fiat. then FCA merged with PSA in France and be part of Stellantis... i wish Bob Eaton had never met Schremp....

[@DementedDistraction]

Classic Chrysler/Dodge interior of the era; swaths of chintzy grey plastics, electroplated faux metal finishes, creaky squeaky moving components, and panel gaps that make Ford cringe. Though whenever I see the fastback I'm always reminded of Clarkson saying that in profile it looks like a dog parking his breakfast.

[@NateMylott]

To be fair, in 2005 it wasn’t common for a car in that price range to have a digital temperature setting.

[@2_Cents.]

Yup, sums it up. Dad has had an 06' automatic since new. 100+k mi odo. Roof actuators need replaced; doesn't retract. Spoiler actuators recently also stopped functioning; won't retract. Head gasket needed replaced around 80k. Blower motor doesn't work properly since 70k. TPMS sensors stopped communicating with computer almost a decade ago. They have been replaced but still light remains on; none of the local tire shops can get it corrected. So, yeah, expect expensive shop bills if you want one

[@YosiFrancos]

Thanks for the video. Really entertained me. Hope you didn't hurt yourself in that crash.

[@jameshicks914]

I have a 2008 Saturn Sky---so I understand your feelings on the "cruiser". Novelty car--yes!!

[@-POISON-]

Congratulations for getting the Crossfire. I always thought the convertible looked cool and especially in that color. Enjoy the summer drives!

[@SKC_car]

Finally a review about one of my favourite cars, the SLK roadster !

[@floatpvnk]

I love your reviews. Glad you are starting to go into some live action reviews 👍🏼

[@Big_Jig]

This is a really weird coincidence, I just finished replacing all the brake pipes on a cross fire today. I hated every second of it.

[@taridean]

The clay and cad modellers in the design studio must have had a lot of fun sculpting the sufaces on that car. Fillets and washouts galore.

[@RichieRouge206]

I have always liked the styling on these and the colour is lovely. It looks in good condition. I just hope it doesn’t rot away like the Mk1 SLK, I have never seen so many really rotten ones. And the interior is really bad for quality. It’s such a shame. I totally get why you got it for the design. Great review

[@awesomeferret]

The irony about "low effort interiors is that is vastly preferable in the modern age. It's so funny how single and double DIN stereos used to be a staple of cheaper cars, and now is something people prefer to see in an older car that they actually want to drive. Yes, this means that plenty of cheap 90s cars to be upgraded to have much more advanced interiors than most cars made before 2010 with just a 200 dollar aftermarket stereo.

[@georgeh6856]

I bought a new Dodge car in the 1990s. It was so cheaply made. A ton of things broke on it, including the transmission. The 6 cylinder engine only had 3 cylinders working, so the engine had to be lifted to change the spark plugs! The driver side door handle broke. The passenger side lock broke. The sunroof cover broke repeatedly. I had to put about 12 different batteries in it because they would die quickly. Such a money pit. I hope your Chrysler car does better than my Dodge did. I will never buy another vehicle made by the Chrysler corporation again.

[@scottastell9415]

The Chrysler old style bonnet badge is cool. A positive!

[@Romiman1]

The car design was so much better back then. At least at the front end. Starting just with the simple but functional elegant lower air intake, in comparism to today's cars...

[@wall-e3313]

A favorite review I read regarding the hardtop styling was that "it looks like a dog about to take a mind-altering dump." I think that was an accurate sum-up.

[@Vanagons4Eva]

In America we don’t need to close our cupholders. We just need them to get bigger. I remember being surprised by the overall “Chryslerness“ of the switchgear on A 2012 SLK. Mercedes did get some thing out of the merger!

[@paul5683]

And Chrysler learned how to make a multilink rear suspension and how to make the new E-key that every modern Chrysler uses today.

[@RageousMode]

RIP Ed's old car.

[@jasons7070]

Expectations are too high. Its a nice car its fine.

[@PaulHo]

How they manage to keep the Charger/Challenger/300 for 100 years on prehistoric German bones and not offer another convertible after this still baffles me.

[@MarkHenderson-u2f]

This guy has very little knowledge and didn't research this car and what it was meant to be a bit. I have owned both a 2004 NA Coupe and recently found a Crossfire SRT6. That car has 354 HP and a supercharged V6 engine hand built by AMG. With another $1,000 of tuning my car puts out over 430 HP, which is known as the Corvette Killer. It beats most cars on the drag strips still today 18 years later. Driving a Crossfire is unique and I constantly get people who come up, walk around the car and compliment me. It draws more attention than my 911. The mechanics are literally bullet proof. The M112 and supercharged M113k engines are bullet proof. Some of the best Merc has ever built. The styling is so much more sophisticated than any car on the road today. What vehicle has so much detail, curves and shapes? That said the suspension on the SRT6 is a little stiffer than the NA Coupe/Roadster as they have always been meant to be a grand tourer with quick get up and go. Hence the motto "Autobahn meets Route66". The best part about these is the incredible value. I bought a real AMG with 25K miles for $14,000. You can't find anything similar for that price. And when you actually join the Crossfireforum.org, which btw is the best car club I have ever been a part of with a library of information there might be 4 issues that can come up with Crossfire's. All of them can be fixed by yourself without putting the car on a lift for less than $100. And two of them for free by removing a piece. This is hands down the most fun car I have ever owned and it's a total sleeper. Don't look any further and don't listen to people like this guy who seems to have not done any due diligence or research on what this car is. PS the fact that suspension is a little bit stiffer, simply means you can feel connected to the road more. Only downside was the steering as it's the old recirculating ball steering but you get used to it. Besides that I have been a fan and will continue to enjoy the car that everyone just checks out and find "sexy" when I pull up anywhere. It's a beautiful car with the highest quality standard and built in Germany by Karmann. It shows in all the components after 18 years. The paint was a specialized multi layer paint and is so sturdy there is no fading or cracking even after all these years of my Coupe sitting in the Florida sun. Don't believe what you hear, check into them and hopefully purchase one. It will provide you with a perma grin. And for the OP to even compare this beautiful, unique hybrid between American styling and German engineering to his boring and totally run off the mill vehicle that looks like any other cheap Japanese/Korean car is a disgrace. But I'm sure this comment will be deleted cause the truth hurts.

[@Arsenic71]

When the Crossfire came out I liked it, but then I remembered I had a brain, briefly used it and bought a 350Z (though not the ragtop) 😉 Having said that, I wouldn't categorize either the SLK or the Crossfire as upper middle-class.

[@muznick]

I bought a black '05 6MT convertible brand new. It looked cool. With the top up, it looked like the Batmobile. But it was impractical and like you said, uncomfortable. The seats had little cushioning. I found the power very underwhelming and the power band felt truck-like. The exhaust was too quiet. It didn't feel sporty at all. I did really like the way the shifter clunked through the gears. It sounded and felt quality in that respect. I'm surprised you didn't mention that big, balky handle needed to lock and unlock the top.

[@terrygorman5810]

Ed, I've never seen you exasperated like this before. But this is a personal review and not a general overview on a type or era.I would say serves you right for buying a Crossfire. But I too have owned some 'gems' in my time, and feel your pain. Big fan and subscriber of yours from California.🚗🛻

[@josephbingham1255]

When this car came out in 2005 it was hoped it would be for executives. A billboard in Pasadena, California showed this model with the caption "Have your people call our people."

[@daveb1081]

Only if “our people” were the service department 😂😂😂

[@larryfine6865]

Get a Tesla! I have 2. I owned lots of cool cars as a young man for instance 1st car at 16 was 79’ Celica, 2nd car at 18 was 72’ 240Z 3rd Datsun 69’ 2000 Roadster. A bunch of my former and current cars are in the Pedersen Auto Museum in So Cal. If you haven’t been there please do yourself a favor. I love your Channel. Keep up the great work. Thank you Ed✌🏻

[@expo4266]

I learned to drive on a dodge magnum, (a chrysler 300 wagon) and every other car I have driven either had the cruise on the wheel, or no cruse at all. I never knew the setup was strange until now. That being said, I think you would like the chrysler 300 as a car. It has slightly less interior shortcomings, rides like a cloud, and has all the power in the world (with the V8) And it was cheap! Great review, look forward to more in the future.

[@compassioncampaigner728]

Wait. U learned on a Magnum? For me....there is no car that rings my bell like a Magnum for cool good looks. I had 2 black ones. What color was yours?

[@expo4266]

It was a silver 2005 R/T, my dad bought new and has dailyd it for the past 17 years. I've bought my own car now, not nearly as fast as the magnum.

[@tamer1773]

Since the 1970's the one thing that could be counted on with Chrysler wasthat they would always go the cheapest route possible. On those rare occasions when they splurged they still managed to produce lackluster cars like the "TC by Maserati" that managed to look like its much cheaper stablemate, the LeBaron while delivering mundane performance for a rather steep price.

[@jm2437]

Hell yeah! Ed's gonna tell us about ALL the quirks and features up in here!

[@keiththompson9575]

Ed, making fun of American cars? It's well deserved and more than a charitable and honest criticism along with valid observations. Is it any wonder there was a slump in the American auto industry. As a friend of mine 40 years ago (who owned a Mercedes and Peugeot), said, "Europeans look at American cars and just shake their heads and laugh." The European designers allowed form to follow function--like the innovative taillights on the Mercedes that had recessed "hills and valleys". It was explained to me that this was a nod to safety during inclement weather where the recessed part of the light itself was protected by the "hills" thereby insuring that the lamp would still carry a brightness that a standard flat lamp couldn't offer. The "Detroit irons" were descriptive of an era that became obsessed with overdesign, excess chrome, new design every two years, and more time spent worrying about where to place the opera windows than safety and efficiency. My family always drove Buicks as far back as 1949. I have owned Buick, Oldsmobile, VW Rabbit, and several Cadillacs. I'm glad that I replaced my DTS with a Toyota Avalon XLS. Great car, less expensive to operate, and will far outlast the most recent Cadillac that I owned (I loved the car but when something went wrong the costs to repair were nothing short of confiscatory).

[@charlescrossman2225]

CONGRATS ED!!!

[@noahlizard7]

50k for 215 hp in 2005 is the worst deal I've ever seen

[@SuperMikeC65]

It wasn't $50k when new, it was about $35k.

[@scatan6922]

This, the first gen Mercedes CLS and the 90s Jag XK8s were my favorite cars growing up. I definitely have a thing for smooth lines

[@Midtable1881]

It’s the all American roadster! Except for the parts that aren’t which is most of it. Love the Crossfire, and it’s a good choice Ed! Bold given others would choose stuff like the Z4, TT roadster, Boxster and countless MX-5s.

[@eddiehimself]

I just got back from a local car show where they had a Crossfire, as well as a 1950s Packard and a 1929 Studebaker. I think you would have liked it :)

[@56studebaker54]

My 08 Chrysler 300C has a nanny traction control and I learned that to turn it off completely, the car has to be moving at least 15 miles per hour and you turn the key to the start position, while moving, for something like 10 seconds. You'll know it's deactivated because the stability control and traction control lights will come on.

[@JohnnyGuiltyMan]

The moment you said it's your new car I went "Oh no..." I'm sure you knew what you were getting yourself into so zero judging from my behalf, it's still a pretty cool looking car

[@heikkiremes5661]

The unmistakable noise of Chrysler plastic. Shivers!

[@Sandy-oy2lr]

Reminds me a lot of half baked and half hearted attempts by GM. Corvair, Fiero, Citation X-11 HO...Potentially great cars that were highly compromised by the bean counters. I had a modified X-11. I was easily able to out drive a BMW 320i. But, the build quality was abhorred. It's really a shame, tho...The X-fire could've been a potential world beater at the time....

[@albertapeet]

I understand the German influence on the indicator switch. Mercedes drivers never use them so they could put it under the seat ,it wouldn’t matter.

[@marial8235]

Former Crossfire owner. The Good. I like the styling: it doesn’t look like anything else on the road. The paint on the Crossfire was done to a high standard. The torquey v6 wasn’t fast, but it was quick. The SC version shocks muscle cars on the drag strip. I never felt that power was lacking. The suspension is a little crashy, mainly due to the very big wheels. The ride really isn’t bad by sports car standards. The Bad. Yes, the interior is cheap. The plastics are cut rate and flimsy: that satin trim is exactly like Ed shows. They offered a two tone kind of orange and dark brown interior that looked odd in general. But to me, the worst feature was the steering, a recirculating ball system inherited from the platform’s days as a C class ancestor: yeah it’s really old. A sports car should have great steering and this car had the steering of a truck. In sum, it’s pretty cheap to buy nowadays, fairly reliable and pretty distinctive looking. If you want a sporty looking car that isn’t really very sporty, Chrysler may have the ride for you.😂❤

[@danie535]

🎉congratulations Ed that’s a nice car !

[@calbob750]

One thing I remember sitting in a Crossfire at a local car show. Cramped seating and the windshield header in line of sight. Not a comfortable drive.

[@charlie_nolan]

The (super popular in the US) Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 are also based on a 90s Mercedes platform

[@paul5683]

That multilink rear suspension is straight out of the mercedes design books. Plus the e key that all the modern chryslers use .