I recently found this place after stumbling onto the current deals on crossfires. I hope to take advantage of the great deal on the cars right now and if so I'll hopefully have a thing or two to add around here in time.

My question for the group is this... which one do I get?

I'll give you my situations and perhaps the collective understanding of the differences of these vehicles can steer me in the right direction. This is probably more information than you'll ever need, just covering my bases really.

First, I have just taken up a job in DC and live in an apt during the week and return home to North Carolina every weekend. I currently drive a Dodge Quad cab 1500 with a Hemi. The trip is about 300 miles and it's costing me $550 +/- every month in gas for this trip along (apt to job is a quick 15 min drive so it's not an issue) so, I started doing some figuring. I saw that a simple increase to 30 mpg would reduce my gas use to about $230 even with a higher octane fuel. If I had my druthers I'd keep the truck as I just like the functionality of it and quite frankly, the ballsiness of it, but that just doesn't make sense at this time.

So, I started looking at the usual suspects, Mazda 3/6, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic/Accord VW GTI and each time I did the base models were boring, and by the time I was finished I was anywhere from $22k - $28k for a vehicle that wasn't completely snore inducing. I ignored the American car makers out of hand because of the type of vehicle I was looking for. Not sure what got me even looking at a crossfire but I did an ebay search and pulled up all these cars going for very approachable prices. Thinking "That's cheaper than a civic!" had me checking out all the specs on the car and trying to justify buying a 2 seater sports coupe as a commuter car. (I’ve always loved the crossfire but never considered it as I have a wife and 3 kids at home and it was pricey).

Now I know the crossfire isn't an economy car, but my goal was really getting to about 30 mpg and I've seen several folks that manage that and the long trip back and forth to DC is really the only thing I'm concerned about, I don't drive enough in town (aside from the Friday traffic jam out of the metro (I'm on the south side)) to be concerned with it. But, that is a factor, one that rules out the SRT-6 (no matter how fun of a choice that would be). I don't care much for convertibles and the roof line of the crossfire, how it drops into the hips of the car, is one of its best features, so that puts me into the coupe, base or limited. This is the crux of the question (sorry it took so long to get here).

Plus’s for the base is obviously the price. Nothing touches it right now and it's hardly a stripped down car. It's nicely appointed and is the definition of bang for the buck. Downside is it's black and only black. It doesn't have leather and it doesn’t have an auto option (sometimes being in the traffic jam leaving DC it can be rather punishing to be in a stick). Those three items are really the only ones that are big motivators for me to pursue the limited. Now, some of the extra bits are nice, but they seem addressable issues. I am having a hard time seeing the limited as worth $7000 more than the base for these items, even though at $26k (the typical limited price I've been seeing) it is certainly a "deal", just not as good of one it seems.

So, final bits of info here. I'm tall. 6'5" I know there are a few tall guys here that have them as I have been reading. Is there a difference in the thickness or layout of the seating that make one better than the other? (can't seem to find a local place that has both base and limited to try out).

Back to the MPG I see it listed all over the place but no consistency to speak of, is one better than the other? I would imagine on a long trip they would be very close on MPG.
Are there other issues to consider about choosing one over the other than what I am considering here? I have read the threads about the differences in models and all that. I’m just if I get the base am I going to make a very restrictive choice? If I get the limited am I throwing away money for a few extras? I feel compelled to go base so I have at least one foot planted in practicality when I choose a 2 seater as a replacement for a quad cab truck.
Funny thing was, when I tried to explain to my wife how this might work if her truck had to go into the shop, I suggested that if needed she could drive the Barracuda, it fit everyone. I’m considering buying a car that makes my Barracuda look like a sensible family car. Maybe that civic is a better idea.

Thanks in advance, sorry for the ramble.
J

 

Buy my fully loaded 06' limited with only 2,200 miles for $5K less then any other crossfire with less then 10,000 miles.

She's a beauty. And a Rare 2006 model.

 

Thatch, the base cars are a super bargain, but since they don't come in an automatic, that may be a problem for D.C. traffic.
But at 6'5", to be completely honest with ya, I don't think you're ever going to get comfy in a coupe.
The roadsters have a little more head room (with the top up) than the coupes have, but I think it would still be close.
I know there are a few people on this site that are as tall as you, and they say that they fit. But I'm 6' 2", and I think 6' 3" is about the limit for a coupe.
I really don't know if the cloth seats in the base car offer anymore head room than the leather seats, (they are different). But when I sat in one I thought it felt like it did.
Just keep looking, I'm sure you will be able to find one somewhere to try on for size.
If all else fails, the Honda Civic coupe should accommodate you. While not being anywhere near as much fun to drive as the Crossfire, I got over 40 mpg with mine last week on a trip to Lake Norman N.C. So that may be a trade off you can live with.
Good Luck.

 

Well I found a place not too far away that had a base, limited and roadster. The base seemed to in fact have less rooom in it than the limited did. That could of been that it took me a while to find the right seating position for the car and I looked at the base second and did not test drive it.

Regardless of the height it seems that a standard is out for me in this car. I can not manage the pedals with the angle they are presented to my legs. I rub the dash with my shins on most shifts. The coupe was shy a bit of room but the roadster was really not bad at all. The ride was incredible, very quiet and smooth. The ride was both sporty and refined. Certainly nothing at all like a $25k cars ride. When I told my wife I fit best in the roadster she of course thought it was just a cover to get the drop top... personally I feel a bit like Magilla Gorilla in the thing, no idea if I look that way or not.

Speaking of price, I had a giggle when they did their typical salesman kidnapping and got my info and walked it back to the manager as if it was an offer... they came back with $31k for a roadster. I laughed a bit and told them my email address. I told them to write me when they get down below $25k and we might could talk. We shall see if they get back to me.

Sad really, I do like the lines of the coupe better. It's not undoable, after I drove the roadster I came back and drove a manual coupe and I fit better the second time around. (other than the clutch issue).

Thanks for the input guys.
J

 

personally i wouldn't consider a base at all...no heated seats, black on black, only cloth, and the biggest problem i think is no homelink...also i agree i'm not a fan of the roadster look at all, and i'm right around 6'3" and seem to fit fine in the coupe...just my .02

 

Well Mr. Gorrilla forget the base models, new they are worth $15,000, get the limited edition model convertible and expect to pay $21,000 for that model.
As for your shins hitting the dash, don't worry about it, I've ripped that knee bolster thing out long ago, and I don't feel guilty about it. Feels much better with out. I do recommend ordering an aftermarket street bucket with all manual controls and lumbar support, going aftermarket on the seat will get you and extra 2-3 inches in headroom... If you drive for more than an hour your back gets sore easily without any support, not to mention the passenger seat is even worse than the drivers side...

 

I tend to agree on the base. Lack of features however don't sway me as I'm sort of a bare bones kind of guy. However issues like the tranny, color choice are fairly big motivators for me.

What do you guys see as the going walk away price for the limited coupe? Are you seeing better than ebay "buy it now"?

What seats would you recommend Maxwell? I've considered finding something that might give me a bit more room in the car. I am assuming that the divider wall behind the seats is actually a structural member that can not be moved... are there shallow seats that might be put in to help in headroom and not end up looking like a bad ricer?

Thanks again guys.
J

 

Three weeks ago I bought my Sapphire Limited 6-Speed Manual Coupe. Listed at $16,500 with 48,000 miles I talked the guy down to 15K. I believe that I got a great deal on the car... meaning you might not be able to find a deal like this often. However it just goes to show you if you are patient and look around these bargain XFires are out there, you just have to find the deal!