ROTARYVIRGIN

I was at a chrysler dealership in Indy and had a chance to ride in the new roadster. It was black w/ black and cedar leather interior. I have to admit is was pretty sweet looking. Now I'm torn between the RX8 and this car. Damn, this is going to be a hard decision to make when the time comes to buy my new toy.

Spin9k

Perhaps this Crossfire video review (hi-bandwidth) will help :o

http://www.sleepy-fish.com/sleepy/To...ossfire_hi.wmv

opps, forgot to add, of course, the alternative review (med-bandwidth)

http://www.nashwan.org/topgear.wmv

or alternative (66MB) version for ultimate quality (recommended)

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forum...0&referrerid=1

These are kinda fun even if Clarkson is... well... a bit too..err.. British....

PaulieWalnuts

I haven't seen any Crossfires on the road yet but I think they look nice. If you do get one, I'd wait for the convertible which doesn't have a hunchback. I think the hardtops will be much less desirable after the converts are out.

Ultimately, make whatever decision is best for you. Drive both and determine/prioritize what you really need and want in a car. Good luck!

ROTARYVIRGIN

Paulie-- The car I saw yesterday was the convertable. I have already seen the Coupe and did not really care for it. However, the convertable especially with the top down looks like a totally different car. The car was hidden in the service building and the sales guy that showed it to us said that it was not supposed to be seen until Monday at some big event this dealership was having. Anyway he said I'll seek you back for a quick look. While he was their he took me and then my wife for a quick spin just outside the building. It was enough to tell me that this car does have a nice ride and some pretty good accelaration. After we went back inside the dealership the guy went up to talk to his manager about this car and the look on his face said that he was just about to Sh** a brick. Turns out the car was actually one of the big wigs from Chrysler that was hear for the event on monday. Hope he doesn't get fired over it as a lot of people there saw him take in in and out of the service building. I will wait until I can take a real test drive before making any decisions on this car. Maybe I can talk the wife into get it as well as the 8.
:D

rxeightr

Like that's gonna happen

I have not seen the drop-top version in person, although it does look sweet in pics.

Decide what matters most to you: # of seats, quality & reliability, initial cost & depreciation, handling & acceleration, fun to drive factor, etc.

KC_Prelude

Im just curious but how old are you rotaryvirgin? I've never driven the crossfire but my impression from sitting inside the coupe was that the interior was of lesser quality than the 8, it was much more cramped, and rearward vision was terrible. My impression of the chrysler brand has gone up significantly since the intro of the crossfire and the 300c. If chrysler is willing to sell me 5 year old mercedes parts in a good package for a good price then more power to them. I do think the front end looks good when I see one going the other direction on the highway but I still am not sold on the rear styling, which is often compared to a dog squatting to take a crap. To me the crossfire is another parts bin car designed to quickly revive the image of the chrysler brand wheras the 8 is a complete package designed as a flagship, which somhow gives it more soul. After reading the yamaguchi (sp?) book on the rx-8 and seeing all of the work that went into that car over the last ten years, it just seems more special to me than a restyled mercedes. You seem to be more interested in the convertible, but it will be one-upped in the near future by the SRT-6 version which will be much faster (and obviously more expensive). If I were you I would buy a mazdaspeed miata (26k) as the convertible and you will still have the money left over to make payments on the RX-8. Both cars are comparably quick but I guarantee that the RX-8 will still draw attention 10 years from now whereas the chrysler will be old news.

jonnyb

rotary virgin, the people on here will tell you that the crossfire is ugly and the 8 is the better car. the people on the crossfire forums will tell you the 8 is ugly and the crossfire is the better car.

ive driven both and like the look of both equally. i feel the 8 is more sportscarlike than the crossfire. i feel ok in the 8 but after an hour or so my back starts to hurt. i could sit in the crossfire all day. the crossfire's suspension is softer but the 8 lets you feel the road better. both interiors are filled with platic and shiny trim.
both cars are good...theyre just different.

if you want more of a fair review of the crossfire, download the 5th gear episode on it. you should be able to get it on kazaa.

ROTARYVIRGIN

KC I respect your opinion, and will not argue with you about it. I have been absolutely in love with the 8 from the day that I saw it. It just that I also like the look of the convertable crossfire as well. I'm not sure if I like the $40,000 price tag though. By the way I'm 34 if that matters at all.

PaulieWalnuts

Oh sure. And that will open the flood gates. That means in the game of marriage if ROTARYVIRGIN's toys = $70,000 and WIFE's = 0, wife will want her share. This will be her justification to buy that [massively expensive] thing she has always wanted.

KC_Prelude

The convert crossfire really costs 40k? That makes the decision a little easier I would think. You can go pretty far with 40k in the car world. There are a lot of other convertibles in that 40k range (audi, 3-series, Z4, s2000) but you seem to be attracted most by the looks so maybe competitors don't matter. I will agree that the Crossfire looks like a different car with no top on it. I think you should ask yourself if you will really get that much use out of a convertible living in Indy (nice town, I got to visit for rotary revolution but the weather sucks as bad as here in Kansas City I've heard). Keep in mind that the convert will never be as rigid as the hardtop, it will be noisier, and will weigh more. A convertible top is just another expensive thing to go wrong. Can you tell that I am not a fan of convertibles ? If you are looking for more of a laid back cruiser than a sports car then I would say go for the Crossfire. I do like those 19's it sits on in the back .

ROTARYVIRGIN

Actually the wife was the one who wants the roadster. I actually would prefer the RX8, but I would not settle for the underpowered AT version (the wife can't drive a MT). Stalemate!! When we saw the roadster on saturday I decided that I liked it almost as well as the 8 and the wife was absolutely crazy about it. Anyway, the discussion is all over, as I ordered a roadster today. It's suppost to be shipped from Germany in 6 to 8 weeks. This will make for a much happier house around here with the old lady onboard with the decision. We have a lease vehicle that's due in 2 years, I might think about the 8 again for myself at that time. I hope by then that they will have come out with some more options.

PaulieWalnuts

2 more years of being a rotaryvirgin...

ROTARYVIRGIN

Ouch. When you put it that way it really hits where it counts. I think I may have to stay off this site for a while as I still want to drool everytime I see a custom 8. I only wish there was a place that was a awesome as this site for crossfire owners. Hope you get your 8 soon paulie and have fun with it.

PaulieWalnuts

WTH, life is short and you only get one shot at it... buy both. Congrats on the Crossfire.

jonnyb

there are crossfire forums...

ROTARYVIRGIN

I looked for one last night but did not come up with any. Do you have the info on any in sites? I would doubt that they have the amount of info that can be found on this site.

Yanje

the crossfire does look sweet from the front.... once u look at the back, its the biggest turn off.... it looks like some kind sort of an ***.

there are too many better cars around its price range....
e.g. the 8 :p

jonnyb

www.crossfireforum.org

ROTARYVIRGIN

Thanks johny. I found that fourm and another one for the crossfire right after I sent you that last message.

Yanje, I would agree with you on the looks of the crossfire coupe. The rear end does look funny. The roadster i think looks much better than the coupe in this area. Anyway, I still love the 8, but have already ordered an xfire roadster. Should be here from Germany in 4-8 weeks. I think it comes down to the fact that I have always wanted a convertable, therefore, I'm happy with my choice and so is the old lady for a change. Enjoy your car downunder and I'll enjoy mine hear in the States.

rxeightr

Looks like you get to keep your user name intact.

Report back on your new ride w/ pics. What color?

flatso

funny on the video he says the back looks like a dog squatting down pooping:D

KC_Prelude

The crossfire is a great car... FOR ME TO POOP ON!!!! HAHAHAHA

Just kidding, Have an excellent time with your new purchase.
The waiting is the hardest part.

ROTARYVIRGIN

I'll get some pic's as soon as I get the car. In the meantime I'll keep up with things on this site to learn the latest news and gossip on the RX8. This forum is by far much more informative and entertaining than the Crossfire forum. They could learn a few things on how a car club should be from this site. Later.

rx-cars_rock

I fell in love with the 8 once I drove it. The only chrysler I like is the Viper(dodge, but whatever same difference.) Long story short I don't like daimler chrysler.

ROTARYVIRGIN

That's fine with me that you don't like any chrysler products. Were all entitled to our opinions. I love the 8 as well as the crossfire, but I am 13 years older than you and have different priorities than someone in their early twenties. The 8 has more of a pure sports car look and feel, while the crossfire is more comfortable for us old geezers. I still would like to get a rx8 or posssilbly a rx7 if it returns, I just hope I'm not to old to really appreciate it.