Car Talk: I'm looking for a compact hatch

[Woochifer]

All this car talk Woo, I think you jinx me, my old SVT Contour is limping along now and I too am in the market for a replacement now. Unlike you I'm not concern with green so I have narrow my choices to the players below:



05 Chrysler Crossfire SRT 6, A Mercedes in Chrysler clothing @ 330 HP



05 Mercedes C230 Kompressor, Sport feel with 4 doors like my old SVT.

Yeah, I think we might have the same mechanic doing all this behind the scenes.

I'm kinda surprised that with you being a Ford guy, you're not looking at the Focus ST. When I went to L.A. Auto Show, that car and the Shelby GT500 were the big headliners.

Of course, these seem like a higher trim level as well, so it seems that you want some more luxo goods to go with the ponies. The Crossfire seems like the more unique drive, particularly if you can find one with that street racer engine under the hood. Strange as it seems now, Chrysler had a pretty good product focus at that time. Too bad, that focus was only sustained on a few models. Things fell apart not too long afterwards.

Like I said, if this were a few years ago, I'd be looking at the hot hatches like the GTI and Mazdaspeed3. I'm coming over from an Acura Integra GS-R, so I am used to a certain level of sportiness in my daily drive. But, with a preschooler and changes in our priorities, fuel economy and emissions became more of a consideration. Fortunately, the current compact hatchback options include a few models that balance the fuel economy and performance considerations very well.

[recoveryone]

I stopped by CarMax last night and took a look at the Crossfire they had, If not for the rain and cold air, I would have spent more time poking around, but the wife kept saying how cold she was. It was a good oportunity to take a quick look and not be bog down in saleman BS......."just had another customer ready to buy". I think I threw him by telling him I knew there was another one at the Orange County store with only a few more miles on it. lol

As for ford, I not soley a ford man, but more of being seen driving something most people don't see often. the fummy part is that some of my past vehicles have had Ford infulance, Volvo's 760's Mazda Rx7 and my SVT Contour.

[Woochifer]

I stopped by CarMax last night and took a look at the Crossfire they had, If not for the rain and cold air, I would have spent more time poking around, but the wife kept saying how cold she was. It was a good oportunity to take a quick look and not be bog down in saleman BS......."just had another customer ready to buy". I think I threw him by telling him I knew there was another one at the Orange County store with only a few more miles on it. lol

As for ford, I not soley a ford man, but more of being seen driving something most people don't see often. the fummy part is that some of my past vehicles have had Ford infulance, Volvo's 760's Mazda Rx7 and my SVT Contour.

Yeah, I get the impression that the Crossfire kinda flew under the radar. It uses a Daimler chassis and obviously you're looking at the high performance engine that they bolted onto that car later on. Chrysler at least was trying to make interesting cars at that time.

IIRC, the Crossfire and the even more radically designed Prowler roadster (see below) both came out of Chrysler's California design center in La Jolla.



But, when the private equity leeches took over Chrysler, one of the first things they did was shutter the La Jolla facility. Compare that move to Hyundai basically turning their California design center loose on the new Elantra.

BTW, I read that the 2.3L turbo Mustang might be making a comeback, if the rumors are true (this time as a 320+HP monstrosity that the Mustang will share with the revised Ford Focus RS). Ah, memories of the SVO ...

Pseudo-Rumor Of The Day: 2014 Ford Mustang To Get Focus RS Turbocharged 4-Cylinder | The Truth About Cars

[blackraven]

I took a drive in a Crossfire. It drove nice but it was a little under powered with the 216HP Mercedes V6. The interior was made of cheap, flimsy hard plastic every where. I had a chance to buy the SRT 335HP convertible version which listed for $50K but was selling for $33K when they were shutting down production.

[recoveryone]

Well, if look at my new avatar you know what I got , have to take it in for a new HU, can't be caught using my cell phone lol

[Feanor]

Well, if look at my new avatar you know what I got , have to take it in for a new HU, can't be caught using my cell phone lol

Well congrats! Should be a very stylish ride.



A two-seater car would never be my choice even as a 2nd or 3rd car, but hey, peoples need vary.

[Woochifer]

Well, if look at my new avatar you know what I got , have to take it in for a new HU, can't be caught using my cell phone lol

Congrats on the "new" ride! One of the silver linings in Chrysler's subpar resale value is finding a nice little hidden gem like this on the used car market. I would guess that the Mercedes SLKs (which share the same platform) sell for a lot more, but can't hold a candle to the Crossfire's performance.

[YStoneC]

Don't care much for the badges; it's more involvement. Just hate to be able to thumb, though; gives a control and power; right after I've thumbed; I beat my chest and let out a Tarzan call like Carol Burnett used to do
------------------------------------

[Woochifer]

Quick update ...

My Mazda3 has now clocked 3,800 miles. It's mostly highway driving, but I have a nearby canyon road that I like to occasionally take on my way home just so I can work the gears and the curves.

Based on my readings from the pump, I am averaging about 34.5 MPG, which exceeds the EPA combined rating. So far, I have a high tank fill of 39.5 MPG (which was probably a short fill) and a low of 30.4 MPG during the initial break-in period when I purposely did a lot of local driving. This is pretty good considering that my commute has a couple of big grades. Unfortunately, the car's mileage computer typically overshoots the fuel economy by 2-3 MPG, and it seems that the accuracy is especially bad if I'm driving on a hilly road.

As I mentioned before, the Mazda3's not a barnburner off the line, but man does it feel good throwing that car into a turn. Aside from a little bit of hesitation on the downshifting in auto mode, I have no complaints about the vehicle.

One other observation ... man, these direct injection engines are LOUD! At startup, my car sounds like a diesel (and most diesels are also direct injected) -- much louder than the VTEC engine on my Integra, and the convention fuel injected engine on our Mazda5. I started noticing this with other cars as well, especially with luxury and performance cars, which are likelier to use direct injected engines. In the parking lot today, I heard a BMW X5 start up and dang if that thing didn't sound like diesel truck! Rumor has it that the Ford Mustang, which has one of the nicer engine and exhaust notes out there, is going to go direct injection soon. I can't imagine someone firing up a Mustang, and the engine clattering like a diesel!

[RGA]

Just great - more fraking noise pollution.

[Woochifer]

Just great - more fraking noise pollution.

Right, so to protect fragile golden eardrums, cars should stick with less advanced port injection engines that pollute more, gobble more fuel, and have less power?

[bobsticks]

Why a hatchback? How about an SUV?

Video - Bentley $180,000 Superluxury SUV for Rich Soccer Moms - WSJ.com

[Feanor]

Why a hatchback? How about an SUV?

Video - Bentley $180,000 Superluxury SUV for Rich Soccer Moms - WSJ.com

Ah! Conspicuous consumption!



But surely the convertible CGTC12 would be more your speed, 'Sticks??

[Woochifer]

Why a hatchback? How about an SUV?

Because I actually want to enjoy my drive!

Video - Bentley $180,000 Superluxury SUV for Rich Soccer Moms - WSJ.com

Yeah, I've seen that abomination. Just another grotesque overpriced poseurmobile for people who hate driving. If there's any bright side to this, these land yachts are pure profit for the automakers -- people who overpay for these Bentley SUVs are subsidizing the R&D for VW's other models.

[Woochifer]

Ah! Conspicuous consumption!

But surely the convertible CGTC12 would be more your speed, 'Sticks??

Yep, a lot of what you're buying is that conspicuous Bentley badge. Underneath all that British coachwork, the Bentley Continental's mechanicals come straight from the VW Phaeton, which was discontinued in the U.S. due to low sales.

What's funny is that hardly anyone wanted to pay $80,000 for a decked out Volkswagen. But, slap on a new body, add the Bentley badge, and raise the price to ~$200,000, and all of a sudden they can't build enough of them. Strange thing this car biz is ...

[RebLinn]

I see that many perceive the car only for the price. This is not quite the right position. If you look only from this side, then the racing car will be the most expensive car)) But who can drive it except for professional racers? I like to watch racing shows from those new tracks they made in Africa. It's really beautiful and dangerous. I usually look for broadcast messages from a local site - 1xbet.com.zm. It is a pity that I will not see it with my own eyes, but I will never miss an important race.