Hi all,

Well what can i say, it's mindblowing - in the flesh xfire looks better than any picture i've ever seen. The drive is superb, manual is great fun and the auto is well set up with winter & sport modes.
Amongst the other cars i drove yesterday were a TT(225), Z4 3.0 & SLK320, the TT was the only worthy comparison. Handling is out of this world it made the xfire feel like a 4wd sports car, it's faultless balance & steering make it a very easy to control, but it didn't compromise the ride like the TT did.

Pricing is comfirmed as mentioned before -

6 spd manual - �� 27,260.00
5 spd auto - �� 28,500.00

Special paint - �� 400.00 - Blaze,Sapphire & Graphite.

150 vehicles are due in the next 72 hrs ( launch cars for dealers ) - with customer vehicles due for end of Nov. Delays are being blamed on a production issue where someone forgot to tell the factory should be fitting alarms to all uk xfires !!!!!

Rear luggage blind is not std, nor is the luggage equipment.

I am so pleased that xfire is everything that Chrysler promised, hang on everyone it's worth it just for all the people that looked gob smacked when they saw us driving them yesterday.

 

Great that you are impressed with the car.

D*mn shame, though, that DC is hitting the Brits up for the extra money for the paint.

 

Why do we continue to suffer as rip off britain?
��400 for paint !!!
Charging for a luggage blind!
How much more can we extort! this really is hurting the xfire image amongst those of us who have taken the risk without evening seeing the car.

 

I'm not paid for any marketing expertise, 'cause I have none, so this is just my uninformed two cents.

Seems like DC wants to make up a few bucks at Europeans' expense for the lackluster sales here.

DC saw the Xfire, and Pacifica as the flagships to move the Chrysler brand up the food chain. Seems like buyers are balking...love the car but somehow can't connect it to Chrysler.

You'd THINK DC would use these cars, especially the Xfire, as loss leaders to get people thinking that way, real them in, then continue to provide the upscale products they think folks will pay a premium for, Chrysler logo notwithstanding.

They're trying to sell these cars as if they have a pedigree in the niche. They could've reeled us all in with lower cost cars equipped as is. Establish some affordable interest, then cash in next year with a more upscale supercharged Crossfire, and the convertible.

Again, I'm just a humble banker, so I know nothing of these things. But I AM a customer.

 

Here what your saying guys, it's not due to lack of sales in the US that it is deemed that the european market has to cough up more dosh.

The car is worth every penny & more in my opinion - that's not just sales talk, we were comparing other vehicles that either cost on a very similar par or were more expensive. The Z4 for example might have been a conv. - but it was definetly no better in engineering and worse in drive than xfire.

Special paint is a cost option on most of our competitors cars, I'm not saying what Chrysler is doing is right thing but I will say this - this car will suceed in the UK without any question - even though we've all had a rocky ride to begin with.

 

I know what your saying Gordon about it being a good looker as Ive seen one in the flesh but come on this is taking the p*ss weve waited a year budjeted for a figure only for the goal posts to move AGAIN I cant tell you how mad it makes me, everybody has the attitude that its only the brits on treasure island let just squeeze another 400 quid of them Im sorry but Ive had enough like Ive said before they are not getting a bean over ��28500 and if they dont let me have it for the figure they have been quoting us for 4 months now Im gonna write to anybody that will listen and slag off dcuk till the day I die. I know its only ��400 but its the principle why wait till the car is supposed to be on the road to tell us that the paint will be extra have they got no *****? Ive spoken with dcuk and my dealer loads of times since ordering and never has anybody mentioned paintwork being extra are they gonna wait till delivery day or what

 

I dont know where your getting your info from Gordon cause Ive just called my dealer who called DCUK and nobody has heard about extra charges for paintwork

 

I'm with you on this one Xfirefan. I specifically asked my dealer if there are any additional or 'hidden' costs with this car and he stated that there was only the transmission that dictates any price difference.

I am absolutely furious about this sort of behaviour if it's true but is there anything we can do?

Nobody seems to know of any contact at DCUK that will listen.

I will definitely get on to my dealer tomorrow to make sure I will not be paying extra for Graphite paint.

Chris.

 

Who else had recieved a voucher from Chrysler for a driving course in their new Crossfire?

Got confirmation of the 15th Nov launch.

Has anyone had AutoExpress on the phone?

 

I got one, however I can't justify paying ��150 to have a course in your own car around your own roads.

It is also not the type of monthly publicity/marketing update I was expecting from DCUK plugging further things to sell!

 

Yes Chris there is something you can do refuse to pay the difference thats what Im gonna do if it happens and if enough of us do it then they will be in a bit of trouble. I got one of those vouchers last week and I dont see the point just give me the car so I can play with it myself.

 

Gordon,
Are you purchasing a crossfire?
With regard to the quote the car will succeed in the Uk,lets hope your right.
The allocation was sold without anyone looking at the car and a target figure of ��26000,but with all the add ons we're expected to purchase, this is quickly becoming a ��30000 car.
Chyrsler pulled a fast one because of the exclusivness of the car and they've done it well,but the next 2000 on the waiting list may soon become 500 as the company has no longstanding loyalty or desirability as of the companies it is aiming this car at.
Now it comes with "extras" and not "fully loaded" as promised it seems its Mercedes merger is showing and no doubt there will more options to follow and less standard equipment to bring down the base price as has happened with most manufacturers.

 

Thanks for the info Gordon, that must have been a great day and glad you liked the car so much. I can't wait for mine.

The ��400.00 is about right as you say for the paint, ALL manufacturers charge more for metallic Paint.

As far as refusing to pay it, well I have never actually got a confirmed price so how can I refuse?. If anyone of the UK does have a confirmed price from DCUK in writing, lucky you, I would have thought they have to honour the price they gave you.

Sorry to disagree guys but if your like me and want to drive something different, you took the risk like all of us did back in November last year and have to ride the waves. Hey come lets get this into perspective anyway. The cars a cracker by all accounts. Imagine if had been complete pants after paying a grand up front and waiting a year for it!!!!

 

The first allocation are not sold! i can still get one from a london delaer for Jan registration.......so DCUK if you are reading this get real ��400 for paint.....optional luggage cover? when it was us on the preview day that said "i can see in the boot and so can thieves"

for gods sake listen to your customers or you will not meet your buisness objectives.

 

The extra money for the paint sucks, but at least you'll have a radio display you can see... and we don't even have the option for a luggage cover

 

Forgot to ask Gordon, I presume you drove a RHD, is there any difference with the spec than US car?? Steering wheel stereo controls??

 

adf3786 have you not recieved anything from DCUK the last three letters from them have a price of ��28500 for the auto and no mention of extras or paint costs.

 

I was told that there was only three colours for the uk
s/s/b / black / blaze red.

I got a voucher from dc ,a load of pooooooooooooo if you ask me.

I've been driving powerfull cars for 30 years dont need to be told how to drive


BEEN TOLD BY DC UK 15TH NOV

 

Brian I haven't had a single letter from DCUK, I have been getting the silver tin updates but no letters or e-mails. I did panic a few weeks ago wondering if they actually had my order! Confirmed mine will be in the first batch.
I was wondering about the 15/11/03 date. Gordon mentioned dealers cars were due in 72 hours [ meaning end of October? ] is the 15/11/03 Launch day the actual day the first customers get their vehicles then???.

 

adf

I was told launch 15th Nov 03 - Customers cars end of Nov 03 & to book for a test drive