Sensible Secondhand Classics: 2004 Chrysler Crossfire 3.2 V6 Automatic - Lloyd Vehicle Consulting
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 июн 2024
- Welcome to Sensible Secondhand Classics, the series where we take a sensible classic car worth between £1000 and £5000 and put it through its paces in a very straightforward manner! This time we test a rather less than sensible 2004 Chrysler Crossfire 3.2 V6 Automatic and try not to drive briskly down the road due to the ride, deal with slightly broken cupholders and boot releases, apologise for the camera mount being in the way (again) and generally talk about little of any consequence at all.
Theme Music "A Song For Humans" by Laurence Callaghan and The Tin Cans
Copyright 2013 Bezalel Records
Download the EP at completing.bandcamp.com
As an independent vehicle consultant, I take potential buyers through the whole car buying process from choosing a make and model to a vehicle handover and road tax. In addition to information on this service, I also have a selection of written and video reviews of cars that I have owned, hired, borrowed or have somehow come into my possession. Please use the Contact Me page on my website to get in touch, visit my Facebook page for latest updates and share this video if you like it! Thank you for watching.
Website: www.lloydvehicleconsulting.co.uk
Facebook: / lloydvehicleconsulting
Instagram: / lloyd_vehicle_consulting 
Авто/Мото
Agreed. I do like the styling of them. It's properly distinctive and nicely different from other things of the era. Just a shame so many interior bits looked a bit cheap although, 17 years on, it is still holding together.
Love the choice of location too. Awlling the dream Mr Mr Lloyd
Yes, sir, most of the interior bits are OK, one or two haven't fared too well, but it is an attractive design even all these years later. The location is the same as where we filmed the CityRover and MG ZT 160 last year, it just looks a lot more glamorous this week!
Loved the styling of this car when it came out, still looks good today.
It does look all right, doesn't it, sir? Thanks again for watching!
What an interesting car, these have always stood out to me, especially the radical styling - pretty quick too - thank you for the tour, interested in driving one of these at sometime.
My pleasure, Mr and Mrs Quirk! I was certainly glad to have been offered this for filming, as it was most intriguing. The styling has actually aged quite well!
I always wanted one, still do. Thanks for the video!
Thank you! This is an old video now, they may have got even cheaper in the last 18 months or so.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting 2 months ago on came up for sale on a used lot near me, advertised as a one owner, lady driven, very low mileage and mint condition for a bit under 15, 000. It sold rather quickly, it seems the ladies love them here!? Thanks again for the video.
@@gimmesomesugar , no problem at all, glad you enjoyed it!
Meu Meu Meu. Hilarious, I had to do a double take because I thought we had switched to the Cityrover video. We must admit that the sight of the tray in a Boaster Biscuit brings a lovely warm feeling. As for the broken cup holder. It wasn't Chrysler's fault that America led the way across the World in the development of industrial sized drinks cups/buckets.
Personally I love it. It's daring and imaginative. As for rust, Mercedes-Benz of the era rusted also. You are probably correct in all of your summations Sir but I am going to side with Elliot's Dad and say that he is a very wise man rather than a brave one. Again Chrysler does not leave the owner wanting in the form of standard equipment. Really striking wheels and centre exit twin pipes. Oooh yes. Not Meu Meu. 😂
Yes sir, I think there is some classic potential there for certain. I just don't personally like the ride, which is probably due mainly to the enormous wheels, but you are right about the rust. Many cars of this era, and not just Mercedes-Benz models, are much, much worse. MX-5s are a perfect example of this. You are right about the standard equipment, masses of it even on this "base" model.
It's not the first time that we have talked about Boaster Biscuits on this channel either, sir!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Boaster Boaster oooh yes yes. Oh Dear me... I do apologise. Completely lost my line of though just there.
@@seancooke4127 , well done, sir!
Great video Joseph. Thank you. Pete 🇬🇧
We aim to please, sir! Glad you enjoyed it!
Really do like the styling of them. I reckon that's gonna be a collectable classic one day 👍
Yes, I really believe that they will be collectible one day, and in fact with the nice ones being up to £7-8,000 now, perhaps that is already happening...
I used to own the convertible model years ago and i loved it.Years later im now looking to buy the coupe as a second car.The coupe has aged very well but thats because it was designed to look retro in the first place.The interior was cheap years ago when i bought it but you can change or modify things and owners of these cars love to tinker.
Thank you ever so much indeed for watching and commenting! Yes, I do like the styling of these coupés, it has aged well. You are right about the interior, it does need a bit of modification to get rid of some of those squeaks and rattles!
I remember when this vehicle was new, in the dealership, and entered into the Drivers seat, it was like how you stated; claustrophobic. And I'm only 5'8"! The Cabriolet which came out was better as you can lower the hood. And everything a carry over from Mercedes-Benz. Great review Joseph!
Yes, most certainly a claustrophic environment, like driving around in a post box... Some people like that sort of thing, though. Glad you enjoyed the video, sir!
This was the time where Mercedes quality took a real hit because they put all their effort to improve Chrysler, which, when they sold them to Cerberus, they did, but Cerberus, being a private equity company, killed quality again, and why they went bankrupt AGAIN and was scooped up by FIAT. The convertible is a better buy than the coupe, but one needs a thorough inspection before buying one now. And goodness, I haven't seen one in a very long time! The PT Cruiser is much more popular; saw a convertible PT Cruiser yesterday with a 2.4 litre HO turbo 4. And I see this vehicle around every so often!
@@frothe42 , yes we didn't get the turbo PT Cruiser over here, but the standard one was sold until around 2009-10, I think. I saw two Crossfires in two days, so they clearly are still around. You are right, these need a thorough going over before a buyer would consider one, although there are some nice ones out there.
The history of Chrysler/Daimler Chrysler/FCA/Stellantis is a very complicated one, and it isn't exactly a stellar one, is it?
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I most certainly did! Reading the comments, it brings back when I first got behind the wheel of this when new (it seems like decades ago!) and simply hated it! And it certainly hasn't grown on me either! Your review confirmed what I thought of the Crossfire at the time, so I applaud the owner on taking this on. He must like this, otherwise he would not have purchased it, like many others!
And when Mercedes took over Chrysler, it was the beginning of when Mercedes quality started taking a hit. They were still charging Mercedes-Benz prices but you could see where they cut costs, all the way up to the S-class. You could see the synergy Mercedes-Benz was hoping for would never come about!
However, on someone else's channel I subscribe to, during a recent road trip, I did see a classic Chrysler Voyager from this time period of this Crossfire in very good condition, especially the exterior. Unlike a similar vehicle where I live in upstate New York, where most are unloved rust buckets falling apart!
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I agree! Even if you look at the history of General Motors and Ford, they seem to be like Chrysler, although Chrysler has gone through four different ownerships in the past three decades. Chalk it up to everything being "global".
Thanks for this video! Good to see you do a controversial car. Yes, even we New Zealanders had this and the Dog and Lemon Guide flambéed it - making a particular note that this car has NO spare tyre! AA membership is a real must. Every cloud has a silver lining though. Some car modifiers have noticed the RWD, relatively short wheelbase and decent engine and cited it as a perfect project car for drifting etc!
Yes, a highly controversial car, sir! The ride was the worst thing about it, the styling isn't actually that bad, and it was really quite nippy. Not necessarily for me, though.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting As I recall the original showroom prototype was awesome, a potential Corvette beater. But because of the merger with Mercedes and costs, going from my memory, they 'dumbed down' the production version! Not the only famous car to suffer from such a disastrous drawing board to production line transition...look at Tucker 48, the AMC Pacer and the Jaguar X220J...
@@alaricbragg7843 , yes sir! Gosh, the AMC Pacer. I think they actually sold those over here for a limited time in the 1970s. Haven't seen one in person for a long time.
Outside styling is ok to be fair but I cannot abide the interior. I absolutely hated it when, motor manufacturers, were going crazy for painted silver plastics and switchgear. Much like how TVs and DVD players etc, went silver over night. The quailty and up market imagine, is really at odds with the cheap, materials both to look at and feel.
Yes, absolutely! You are right about the televisions and DVD players from this time all being painted silver, which is a fashion that has largely disappeared. The air conditioning knobs do look like something off a Hi-Fi of the period... The outside styling is probably one of the best things about it.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I remember that everything in the Crossfire being lifted from the Mercedes parts pin; if you were familiar with Mercedes-Benz you would be at home behind the wheel of this, but being inside this would make one want to exit after 15 minutes because it was so claustrophobic. The shape, small windows, etc., it was simply awful, and at the time, this wasn't cheap.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting
I'm glad that craze is largely over now thankfully. My friend even changed the silver dash and door cards on his 2012 Skoda Superb Elegance twindoor, as the silver trim was to your face. He installed the walnut veneer effect trim, which looks lots better and really makes the interior look even more classy. It's a big thing in Skoda Superb circles lots love the silver trim and hate the wood.
@@frothe42 , yes, lots and lots of shared parts (39 per cent, I believe with the R170 SLK).
@@paulie-Gualtieri. , we are on the right channel to appreciate a leather interior and some wood trim, aren't we? I did really, really like the second generation Superb!
I think the design has aged quite well. Compared to some cars of the early and mid 2000's Citroen C3 Pluriel springs to mind. I'd still prefer the convertible roadster over the hard top coupe.
Clearly the bean counters at Chrysler were at work on the interior plastics. Obviously what they couldn't lift from Merc's SLK they went to their parts bin for and it's that weird combination of Merc switchgear wrapped around some cheap and nasty plastics, which does ruin it.
The oddball choice now over this versus an SLK and probably used prices are similar, you'd have to go Crossfire, but the sensible choice would be the SLK.
Another great review Mr Lloyd.
Yes, the SLK is probably a bit more sensible than this. Other Chryslers of this era did have similar interior plastics, apparently. The convertible probably does look a bit less controversial. The C3 Pluriel was probably worse than this, to be honest! Thanks again for watching, sir.
I used to hate the crossfire when it first came out but I think they have grown on me with age in fact I wouldn't mind one now as a toy. I don't think I could have one as a daily driver
I think the convertible would be a lovely second car for someone who didn't mind the ride, especially as prices are relatively low at the moment. Bizarrely, I think these look better now than they did when new!
Good looking car built on a great chassis.I don’t think clarkson did them much good lol.
You are completely right, sir! Absolutely no favours whatsoever. The grip was certainly plentiful, but the steering doesn't really encourage very enthusiastic driving. The CLK I drove recently was much better.
Another lovely review Joseph. Thank you. I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's style isn't to my taste.
I think that sports cars in particular are quite often styled quite boldly and so are very much more likely to incite disgust or delight in equal measure. Glad you enjoyed watching the review, sir!
The styling of this car is very marmite. I quite like it though. The rear of the car looks big but the boot size is tiny which isn't great. Overall, good looking car that has aged rather well.
It's funny, sir, but I think this car looks better now than when it came out in 2003. The boot size, ride and interior quality are perhaps not the best, but it certainly has its fans.
What phone do you use? :)
It's a very old Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact. The free upgrade I got to replace it actually has worse video quality, so I keep using it. It is also nice and small, but that does mean the camera mount is permanently in the way when using it for filming forward.
PS - Even allowing for the salted roads in the UK, that has the worst rust I have seen for a while on a post 2000 car. That rear hatch seems to be a water trap. Reminds me how the vinyl roofs of 1970s Australian Chryslers attracted rust...
Well sir, it is not the worst rust I have seen on a post 2000 car, sir! I can think of much, much worse...
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Sorry I forgot about the Citroen!
@@alaricbragg7843 , that C3 was absolutely appalling.
Jezza really did not like that car at all, did he. I think they look nice.
He really didn't like it, sir! The styling is quite pleasant, there are one or two issues with it, though.
Nice to look at crap to drive and unreliable good review
I think the engines are fairly good, it's all these little things like the boot latch and the cupholder which would annoy someone. The ride wasn't great, that's probably the main disadvantage of the car.
Yes my patience would run thin on this car😂
@@TheGreatestPlayerInTheWorld , the ride was not my favourite thing about it, I must say...
had mine 16yrs now love it merc motor and trans very good, merc electrical not so good
Oh yes, that is my understanding! Even this standard version was pretty fast. Thank you very much indeed for watching.