I always thought the Crossfire is a good looking car. Kudos to Chrysler for making the most out of what they were given. The manual always makes things better.

Chrysler deserves credit for making this car unrecognizable as a version of another car.

I wouldn't give credit to anything Jeremy Clarkson says about a vehicle when he thinks the Range Rover is one of the best vehicles of all time, while it's truly a turd on wheels.

This is why I bought one. You either love it or hate it. Something different.

I always found it very special. "Handmade" like very exclusive cars at Karmann in Germany. The SRT-6 was a powerful AMG duplicate. Hell of a good looking Coupe with lots of power reasonably priced. Yes, it's a classic.

This car is 20 years old and STILL looks good.

To be fair, the Crossfire has aged pretty well and is certainly an interesting proposition today.

I liked them back then... but I like them more now. You guys hit it on the head... in an era of boring crossovers, this really stands out now.

I loved my 2005 crossfire limited. Black convertible with terracotta interior. When 2008 hit, everything had to go just to stay above water... I miss the crap outta that car!

I had a black 6 speed, it sounded great with a magnaflow. It also moved and handled really well.

I bought a black Crossfire coupe a few months ago. I just love it. Drive so nice and its just so full of character! I literally cannot go anywhere without people asking about it!

I have never put a lot of stock in anything Jeremy Clarkson says.

I owned six of them and I still wish I had them all. I have also driven these on the Tail of the Dragon in TN/NC and they handled extremely well.

A few weeks ago, I saw a Crossfire for the very first time. Since it was never officially sold here im Brazil, it's pretty much non-existent. But out of the blue I saw one, painted in red...very nice. Went after it, talked to the driver, took some pictures of it...the driver said there are only 5 examples here. Two of them belong to the same owner, both cars were black but his garage painted them. This red one I spotted was painted in Porsche's Guards Red, while the other was painted in BMW's Estoril Blue, if I'm not mistaken. Clarkson was very stupid to make that comparison, because the car is amazing, despite what most people say. In terms of coupe based on a roadster, it's certainly more elegant than the "clown's shoe" BMW Z3 Coupe, for example. And sure, it's essentially a Mercedes underneath. But back then Mercedes still had more reliability than today, the M112 engine is known to be very reliable, certainly more than the later M272 that Mercedes replaced the 112 with. It's a great car, fitting for a project or for collecting.

Great car, great design still looks better than new cars, had one 16yrs replaced one rcm , that's it. Just love it, light and handles very well. 😊

The grooves on the hood lend structural rigidity to the large flat area. The rear window/shape similar to the AC Cobra coupe, or the old Corvette.

I lived through those Daimler-Chrysler years and experienced that culture clash firsthand. Daimler basically thought that American engineers knew nothing. They sent a group over to Auburn Hills to find out how Chrysler had engineered their 3.5 V6 that put out 250hp and used about 25% few parts than the Mercedes V6. They just couldn't believe how efficient both Chrysler engineering techniques were but especially the manufacturing ones. They seemed to forget Chrysler's great legacy as being an engineering company.

I was a kid when they first came out and i was fascinated by the look. Still today i think they aged incredibly well. My dream would be a very clean and stock SRT6 with the manual.

Ya know…. Short of the hood it’s a slick looking car. I think it’s style aged well.

I loved this car as soon as it came out. I have two of them. Cons: Interior is poor quality. They should have had more engine options (imagine it with the Hurricane I6). Pros: Exterior quality, and chassis quality are great. It looks great, and my kids think my murdered out black one with straightpipes is a freaking batmobile.

I have one exactly like this. I've owned it for 6 years. They handle very well. The low points are the touch points. The steering wheel is too big, the shift knob is plastic, the gauges are ugly. I've swapped all of this in mine (except the gauges) and it totally feels like a sports car at high speed in the corners. It feels heavier to drive than it actually is but it feels substantial. I don't think anybody cares but I swapped my steering wheel for an aftermarket raid/atiwe steering wheel that has an airbag with the hub made for Mercedes cars of that era. Those were used in Rufs, older Aston Martins and many other exotic cars. It's 1.5 cm smaller and it changes the car. It feels perfect for the size of the car and doesn't hide the gauges. I swapped the shift knob for a leather SLK320 one. I have gauge faces from a 2004 SLK320 but have yet to install them. You have to take out the actual gauges faces to swap them into the Crossfire cluster. They are silver and are more sporty looking. The Crossfire is also one of the easiest to swap in a m113 engine. FYI The manual shifter is way better than what Clarkson says in his review. The manual transmission is actually robust and the clutches are very strong. Mostly trouble free car. The key fob and rear speakers are trash (both need to be rebuilt unless you are lucky). The sound system is different than mercedes (swapping to single din carplay/android auto is a must imo). The steering feel can feel odd when you are not used to it.

I’ve always loved this car. It’s a road going old school 1950s speed boat.

I got to drive them when they were new… thought the convertible was better than the coupe, the SRT-6 model was a rocket - however, the regular version was available with a manual gearbox, and that was a joy!

Bough one new in 2006 and loved it. Was very sad to sell it. Will try to do find another low mileage one next year.

That era of Chrysler was a very good looking one, all the cars were fire. They were reliable too, but I'd never buy one nowadays. We owned a Pacifica and loved it, but the parts were stupid expensive. When we traded it in, it needed new rear shocks at $3k, new front seats at $1500, and new motor mounts at $2k... resell was only $7k.

I purchased my '06, in '08 with 0 Miles. It's a one owner and I'm the owner. After 257,000 miles, I have had only one major mechanical problem. Needed to rebuild the front end. Change the oil and filter as instructed in the manual and it will last a very long time.

My friend had a convertible version back in high school that had a vinyl decal on the door that said “powered by Mercedes-Benz” on it. Not that reliable but was a very cool first car in the early 2010s

If I had room for another car this would be on my list of must haves, along with the Prowler though this would be a bargain. One thing about Chrysler, you could hand them a box full of parts from various companies and they’ll build you a Crossfire or Prowler.

This car has aged so well! It still looks modern.

I kinda love when a Clarkson take ages really poorly, unlike the Crossfire which has (astoundingly) aged well. SRT-6 would've been an even better move, although they're super hard to find

One of my FAVORITE cars of the 00s.

I really loved the concept. The Crossfire was much better looking than the SLK

The powertrain on this is probably the most reliable thing Dodge/Chrysler put out on the market in the 2000's... it's pre-DI Merc stuff with a manual, it's bulletproof.

I've always liked the Crossfire. I worked at a Jeep/Chrysler dealership when they came out. Always thought they looked like a newer version of the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing.

I just bought my 76th vehicle and it's a Crossfire Limited coupe. I love driving the Crossfire "IT'S SO SOLID" and the Crossfires story. If your looking at buying a Crossfire I highly recommend having it inspected by a shop.

I've always loved the look of these. Too bad they never made the Firepower.

I find this interesting because the new 2024 AMG GT Coup Looks very similar to a Chrysler Crossfire! The Chrysler Crossfire was revolutionary.

I have a 2005 black, coupe with 6MT, 23k miles. I went with my friend to buy it in 2006. It was a leftover 2005 on the dealer lot. Sticker was $30k. He left with that car for $21k without much trouble. I think the dealer would've given it to him if they could've.

Fantastic looking car; drives like a dream; real fun and always gets good comments when out.

The SRT-6 was actually pretty cool. Just wish Mercedes had a manual that fit the supercharged engine. BTW, those styling features on the hood are called "scallops". You probably know that, the word just escaped you at the time. Same thing happens to me.

Im glad you guys pointed it out the same ol fuddy duddy cross overs. One success story is the 300 which also based on the Mercedes E class. Our 2014 300 S AWD is one of best cars we own. Also Im glad you make trips to Albuquerque. Its a great place to test cars especially with our weather. One day its can be a beautiful day and the next day your in a blizzard. Back to the Crossfire its a good looking car Id buy one.

I bought my Crossfire year ago, same as the video but automatic..Great fun to drive.

My Crossfire will be 20 in 2024, it finally had 60k on it. I can think of many other cars, mostly SUVs that look more like a dog taking a dump!

You should give the srt6 a test drive, I own one and it's amazing, it has a different suspension system which is way stiffer and more responsive, and with the supercharger it makes over 100 more horsepower and a more than a second faster 0-60. Its basically a whole different car, and with the fixed wing it makes the side profile look much better.

My mom had one new back In the day it was ok looking car but had lots of issues . Almost 20 years later my step dad just got her the same one as she used to have today . Looks way more cooler than In 2004

Thanks Tommy and Brendan 👏👏..Have a good day everyone ✌️

i saw one for sale recently - manual transmission, destroyed clearcoat and high-ish miles, it was only 4 grand!! what a deal. If i had the cash i would have scooped it up.. im about to move from my small town to the city and this would be a great city car! But i guess ill stick with my volvo wagon for now.. Crossfire is a future classic for sure

I like the crossfire! I might pickup one if I can get it at a decent price. What's up with the Caddy Deville with all those colors on it? Just curious. Thanks!

This was my first car at 18. I loved that thing, but the reliability and maintenance in the years I've had it was horrible. The fact it's consider a classic now is depressing lol. I always loved it even with all its problems and was always a head turner with the ladies as a young man including my fiance.

Love it, since it came out! The SLK was a total disappointment! I'm talking design...

The engine on my ‘05 Srt-6 with the supercharger looks amazing, I really want to replaced the air filters for a straight pipe air intake leading into the grill🤙🏻

I bought one last year and though I had a list of repairs, I love driving in it every second and I just love the look. No regrets

I remember the first time I saw this car when it first came out. The deployable wing was the coolest thing to me at the time. Some OG active areo.

I've always liked these, but the concept car was so much better looking. I'd still pick one of these up if the price was right.

I see a Chrysler Pacifica in the background. Also it was a Mercedes parts and plant form also🤣.my wife had a2004 all wheel drive in silver fully loaded with goodies.

I have this car myself mines a 2004. I really wish Chrysler would make another one exactly like it but a little better. I think it’s a revolutionary product. I love mine and never will get rid of it. They get more and more valuable and it’s an awesome car. I believe it’s one of the best cars in the world and I don’t care who says I could be wrong because I know I’m right how did you get this one? It’s beautiful and I love mine And how did you get this? We gotta keep these things alive and take care of them and don’t get rid of it. They’re awesome vehicles.

Had one at one point. I think they sound AMAZING with a exhaust due to the Mercedes motor. It was silky smooth power wise. They just needed to correct the wheel width/offset and that car would have slapped

Jeremy Clarkson sniffs his flatulence and in his opinion believes it smells of roses and then expects everyone else to share his opinion.

This is definitely a modern classic for many reasons. For starters, the Mercedes connection means that lots of parts are interchangeable between both cars. For another, the SRT 6 variant is essentially a detuned SLK32 AMG (the SLK made 349 hp, the SRT made 330). With that said, many of the criticisms against the car were mostly right. For one, I can see what Clarkson meant regarding the silhouette of the rear end. He may be right, but I also think that’s a striking look, one that’s unique and stands out compared to others. Also, the steering and manual transmission were weak points (the steering was incredibly numb & disconnected, the shifter was often balky and recalcitrant). On the other hand, a different set of tires and shift kit can maybe alleviate those complaints. Considering how cheap you can find these cars, they can still make for an amazing long distance cruising machine.

We bought my youngest son one for graduating college. He really liked it and it served him well and was reliable until he finally purchased his first new car a 2017 Dodge Challenger.

You mentioned that the first gen ML (W163) was created with cost cutting, meaning that the quality was lacking. But that is not true, as the first gen ML is the best and the most simple ML to repair. It did not lack quality engineering, but lacked the now famous German unnecessarily complicated engineering. And that's why it is extremely easy to fix and cheap to run, while being very capable for towing and off road..

I loved this car when it came out (still do), remember sitting in a brand new Crossfire at the Chrysler dealer dreaming. It was out of my price range back then, but I still would take the Plymouth Prowler over it.

I owned a 2004 coupe /fastback that I traded in my SLK for in 2008. I had the car for 8 years, hated to sell it by far my favorite car to have owned.

I own one of these with 220k miles, you absolutely should not swap out the stereo head unit - they voiced this car's audio perfectly. This was the last car built in the Kharmann plant before it closed in 2009.

My brother has the 2001 SLK 320 . Runs great but the cup holder is above the radio and HVAC controls ?! The folding steel roof is still and eye catcher . Been a great car to this day.

I liked the Crossfire Coupe, but I loved (and still love) the convertible.

Jeremy Clarkson is wrong about most. If it isn’t hand-built, rides like a rock, and masters the Nurburgring, then it’s “rubbish” to him.

Still want one

The manual specified something about only Chrysler parts, but with a quick glance under the hood you could easily spot 5-6 Benz logos without searching. Also, the roadster was the better looking version by far.

As a person from the UK i all ways liked the look of these almost brought one was sitting in one in the dealers when he said it was a berc i walked away

I’m probably getting my history wrong but I thought the merger was because Chrysler had lots of cash, and Mercedes had the engineering. Sounds like MB just chewed Chrysler up and spit them back out, which is a shame.

the srt-6 was supercharged and over 330hp from the factory.. people were getting them into the low 12s and high 11s just with a tune and tire lol. they are sleepers for sure.

Though not stated in the vid, it should be mentioned that the xfire is a 2-seater, so it would only appeal to someone who wants it as a strictly personal car. I have this car and used it to commute into downtown Washington DC where parking was tight. Perfect for 1 person rides and tight spots. Yet I also commuted to more "rural" areas in the DMV and on Interstates -- it was fabulous on the "big" roads, not just in congested urban traffic. Best was on the backroads of the wine country of VA going to the Shenandoah Valley -- lots of twists and turns. My "fun" car -- great extra car, not a family mobile. Also use it for running errands in the burbs. I love it. Great 2nd or 3rd car. And, I literally get "thumbs up" from younger guys who see it at stop lights - so, not just for old school guys.

Original, and still thrilled, owner of a 2006 manual convertible, an amazing car. Video was a great overview and first time I saw the TV add.

Awesome video, I did havea fond for that car. I currently drive a second gen CLK (not slk) 320 which t has the same engine. Very reliable, and easy to work on. The greatest part is that mercedes spares are quite expensive, yet chrysler are not, and are direct replacements. Th engine is 215 to 220 hp, but they are decent enough to get to 60 in the high 6's. Still can make 140 mph which is great for a burst unless you want to get to jail, so I think this stuff makes a great daily driver !!!!

Looking at a clean 2006 that after trade in would cost me nothing, trying to figure out if parts are hard to find for repairs?

These were an interesting car! I actually think these have aged well. Yes the plastic interior wasn’t the best but… still a cool car.

I love this car. Even today, outstanding beauty.

Had one from 2006 until 2018, burned up tires was my only big complaint, the driver grab bar was a pain.

I always liked this car, a hood a grill and some new shoes go a long way! It never deserved the hate.

The Crossfire reminds me a lot of my 2014 Audi TT. If I found a Crossfire in great shape, I’d totally own one.

I had a Crossfire, I got it in 1995. I loved that car. The only problem l had was the head gasket leaked when it got cold outside.

I'd like to see it next to a SLK of the same model year.

funny thing is when i rarely see one on the road these days, i always give it a second look.

I owned the 1st 2004 limited model in America. I loved it. But got rid of it at 28k miles. I just traveled to much and I couldn't move the back of the seat that far.

I was looking at these until I learned that diagnosing it requires a special Crossfire computer and software. It doesn't use MB or Chrysler software for programming or troubleshooting, and few dealers still have that 20 year old laptop around for fixing these things.

I bought one of these as my first Manual. 2004 with 100k miles. I daily drove it in NYC, Autocross, Snow activities, etc. It was shockingly reliable for my 15k miles of ABUSE. I like to say it's the worst of both worlds! Expensive German parts & cheap American interior plastics! Mine rattled from seemingly everywhere. For my $3,500, It was an incredible car!

Crossfires look and sound so sharp. Especially with an SRT-6 front bumper, rear diffuser, lowing springs (you definitely should use rear camber arms) and a magnaflow catback exhaust.

I love the car! A neighbor has a 2006 SRT Convertible and it is gorgeous. Chrysler was fortunate to have Tom Gale as chief stylist who did a great job on all of their cars.

Aged better than any slk generation and looks better than all of them. The Srt6 rear wing really helps the aesthetic of the coupé

My wife and I just replaced the convertible top on our Black 6 speed Crossfire, It looks, drives and feels Super!

They were kinda cool back in their day. Now it’s a cheap car to buy which will drain your wallet later. Imagine the fun getting expensive or non-existent Daimler/Chrysler era parts. No sale.

I’ve always liked the design of this vehicle.. but I had heard it had a stiff ride … complete turn off to me , and the price was more than I was willing to pay back then I was still enjoying my limited pt cruiser and then my v-8 Dodge Dakota which I’m still driving And once I started driving higher of the ground it would be difficult to even consider this … also I’ve never driven a stick ~ does this COME in a automatic ?

Wife has owned 2 coupes. went from the first to a BWM Z4, then back because the crossfire was a better car. 220hp was fast enough, would have liked the SRT, but she wanted black with cedar interior both times. Very reliable and handles pretty well. Jut a fun car. She moved on to a modified 700hp Jaguar Ftype. More fun on the straight away for sure, but the crossfire could handle the twisties pretty well with out enough power to get you in trouble.

I like the Crossfire. Best part about it: it was available as a coupe, not only as convertible as in case of SLK. Was thinking about buying one but end up with the mk. I TT. It was trully amazing era of cars, with a lot more diversity in terms of sporty coupes. Another interesting fact: Clarkson said he would preffer the RX-8. Sure, the RX is also an interesting car but so unbelievbale unrealible. You don't see any on the roads anymore.

one thing...on the "Ahead of their times" on the bold print of the name across the rear of the car....actually, that's totally 1950's retro styling. My 58 Chrysler New Yorker had the Chrysler name Boldly across the back.....what goes around comes around, I've seen it before and will see it again.

At a Tampa Bay dealer auction recently a crossfire coupe was a no sale at $1,800, and then the next week at $1,000.

I love the Crossfire!

We had both old SLK and new plus SLK. Crossfire was fun (mostly drove the cab) and different. Not on par with the new SLK though.

Still have my 6 speed 2004 in silver. 96k miles. Tires, oil and breaks. Never went back to the dealer.Paid 25k new. The car even came with its own matching luggage. Wing opens at 62 mph.