Chrysler Crossfire: The Mercedes in a Leather Jacket

Coupe or Convertible | Typically from around £3k–£7k, and more for the SRT-6

Every so often a car turns up that nobody quite knows what to do with. The Chrysler Crossfire is one of them.

It looks like nothing else on the road. It has a long bonnet, a tapered boat-tail rear and a sharp crease running down each flank. At the time it was either a design triumph or an acquired taste. Now, twenty years on, it’s a bit of a bargain.

Chrysler Style, Mercedes Engineering

The Crossfire came out of the DaimlerChrysler era, when Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz were one company. Chrysler’s designers got the styling, and Mercedes got the job of keeping it all sorted underneath.

The result sits on the Mercedes R170 SLK platform and shares around 80% of its components with the first-generation SLK. That means a Mercedes-sourced 3.2-litre V6, a rear-wheel-drive layout and German build quality. Karmann in Germany built the cars.

So it’s an American-styled coupe with a Stuttgart heart. Total production came to about 76,000 cars.

Coupe or Convertible?

The Coupe

• It’s the purer shape. The fastback roofline and tapering tail are the Crossfire at its most dramatic.
• It’s also the more distinctive of the two.
• The high waistline and small glass area make for a snug, cocoon-like cabin. They also make it harder to see out of.

The Convertible (Roadster)

• It has an electric fabric hood that folds away in around 20 seconds.
• It feels remarkably stable. Autocar noted it is almost free of scuttle shake.
• Most reviewers consider it the prettier car, and it’s the one that suits a UK B-road on the first sunny weekend of the year.

Our verdict? Coupe for the looks, convertible for the fun. The Ramped and Stamped Dream Garage rules say you can’t have both, so make your pick before you read the next section.

What’s It Like to Drive?

Don’t expect a hot hatch. The standard car’s 215bhp 3.2-litre V6 takes it to 62mph in about 6.5 seconds BUT in the real world, more like 7.2 seconds. It’s happiest as a relaxed grand tourer, cruising between roughly 2,600 and 5,300rpm. Grippy staggered wheels (18-inch front, 19-inch rear) keep it planted.

A few things to know:

• The five-speed automatic is widely regarded as the better gearbox, though a six-speed manual was also offered.
• The steering uses a recirculating-ball setup, so it’s not the sharpest. That’s the car’s one real character flaw.
• The active rear spoiler rises automatically at around 60mph. You can also raise it manually, which is a lovely bit of theatre.

The Rare One: Crossfire SRT-6

If the standard car is a stylish cruiser, the SRT-6 is the one to spot. It has an AMG-fettled, supercharged 3.2-litre V6 with 330bhp, and it gets to 62mph in around 5.5 seconds. It also has a bigger fixed rear wing, uprated brakes and suspension, and sportier trim.

Production was limited, so it has a cult following and future classic written all over it. Even then, that recirculating-ball steering keeps it from feeling truly razor-sharp.

Buying One in the UK

• Rust: check the rear wheel arches and underside including the rear subframe which is notorious for corroding from the in side out. Karmann-built cars tend to be in better shape than many rivals, but nothing is rust-proof at this age.
• Electrics: check that the windows, roof and spoiler all work. On the convertible, make sure the hard tonneau opens and closes flush.
• Service history: it’s a Mercedes-derived V6, so full history is worth paying a little more for.
• Options: parking sensors are well worth having, given the rear visibility.
• Colour: Autocar singled out Blaze Red, and I’d agree.

Prices have historically been very modest compared with its Mercedes SLK cousin, and Autocar’s buying guide called a tidy automatic convertible a sweet spot. Check current adverts for today’s prices, as the SRT-6 commands a clear premium.

The Verdict

The Crossfire will never win a drag race or top a handling chart, and it doesn’t need to. It’s a head-turner with proper German bones, available at pocket-money prices, and its time as a future classic may well be arriving.

Would you take the sleek coupe or the sun-seeking convertible? Tell us in the comments.

One for sale

We took a quick look on Autotrader and there is a great choice mainly for sale by Private owners rather than dealers.

An example of what is on offer is below.

2006 Blue Chrysler Crossfire – FULL SERVICE HISTORY – Price: £3275