I've noticed a lot of comments on the forum lately over concern about the Crossfire's falling transaction prices and increasing dealer inventory. I've started to notice myself that there seem to be a lot more Crossfires at the dealer lots than on the streets...

I never expected the Crossfire to be a big seller. With the exception of the Corvette, no American 2-seater has enjoyed long-term sales success. Even the original '53 vette was a sales dud. So was the original T-bird. I'ts ironic, but today's 2-seater T-bird is following in the footsteps of the original T-bird in sales. Then there were some real terds like the Pontiac Fiero, Chrysler/Maserati TC, the Buick Reatta, and Cadillac Allante.

The difference between the T-bird and the Corvette was vision and commitment. Both cars started out on borrowed platforms with borrowed mechanicals. But GM had the vision and commitment to allow the Corvette to evolve over time into an icon of American performance. Through continued development and improvement over 5 decades and a visible presence in motorsports, GM has carefully crafted a true American performance icon, while the T-bird immediately caved into corporate politics and marketing by becoming an overgrown 4-seater. The T-bird never had the corporate backing to become anything more than a bouleverd cruiser.

The true test of the Crossfire will be what DCX decides to do with it over the next few years... Will the convertible boost sales and provide stability? Will the SRT-6 finally give Crossfire some street credibility? Will DCX use the Crossfire to create a presence in motorsports? Will there be a next generation Crossfire, and what kind of a car will it be?

A next generation Crossfire would help solidify its identity and provide a true long-term boost to the Chrysler brand image. Personally, I think of the Crossfire as a sophisticated performance GT. The next generation should continue the tradition of using the best components from Mercedes and Chrysler, but it should have its own unique driving characteristics and not just be a rebodied Mercedes. I don't think it would hurt to make it a 2+2, but it should not a true 4-seater. DCX should be committed to supporting Crossfire in motorsports. All of the Crossfire's main competitors, including the TT, 350Z, the RX8, and the Z4, have the advantage of coming from a long line of performance cars, and all have maintained a solid presence in racing.

Stong brand identity is not created overnight. It is carefully crafted and cultivated over many years sometimes decades. If DCX decides to stay committed, then the 2004 Crossfire will always be remembered as the original. Otherwise, the Crossfire will fade into obscurity like the Allante and Reatta...

That's my rant for today...

 

In a word YES and NO! My dealer has sold about three and has at least 12 on his lot. One reason is that he isn't dealing as low as other dealers. I have only seen one other Crossfire around here. But as far as I'm concerned NO, not with me, I enjoy the car and its exclusivity.

 

DC has 25 new models and redesigns coming out in the next 3 years! The crossfire might be a gonner if it doesn't sell this year.

 

Are you counting Dodge cars as well?

 

There is a lack of attention given to advertising the Crossfire by Chrysler. Few people know what a Crossfire is. I just got back from the Detroit International Auto Show. Two Crossfires were on display as if they were just another car. The convertable was on a display platform without any special attention directed towards it. People were all around and inside the two cars on the floor. Some seemed to know a little about them, where others were not sure what the crossfire was all about. More attention was put on the Chrysler concept cars. Chrysler needs to put on a TV ad campaine to let the buying public see what Chrysler has to offer....The Crossfire in perticular!

I compaired the looks of the Mercedes SLK with the Crossfire. Priced about $15,000 more, the SLK seems plain and dated...cute but without pazza.

The fact that the Crossfire is on display at the outo show will increase exposure and spark sales......Let me know what you think......

 

Chrysler had a TV ad on yesterday's nationally broadcast Packers - Eagles game (for the Xfire).

 

I,m afraid that Mercedes [ lets face it there the real power behind the merger ] are selling the Crossfire short. They seem to be just trying to squeeze a bit more life out of the old SLK platform by building the Crossfire.
I am a bit pissed off about the timing of all the upcoming SLK launches.
We get the Crossfire Roadster a bit before the launch of the new SLK with a brand new 3.5 engine that rocks, along with a new 7 speed trionic gearbox. Guarenteed the 330BHp crossfire will be launched before the new AMG SLK.

I had hoped that the new Roadster would have had some decent options as I was concidering buying one but they appear to be putting no effort in to help it along.
Its a truly great car and looks like nothing else out there but they have to stop selling us short, put the new engines and gearboxes in the Crossfire and sell it side by side instead of seemingly deliberately letting it trail behind the rest of the Mercedes brand. What are they afraid of!, the SLK will sell by the bucket load anyway, no matter whats its like!.

The Crossfire Roadster is everything the old SLK should have been but it worries me that they don't seem to making much effort to move it up a gear.
In the UK I suspect we will be looking at 30K for the roadster, rumour has it that the 350 SLK will be around the 35K mark with a list of options as long as your arm and crammed full of all the latest technology. I am sure my view will anger some of the members but I fear for the long term future of the Crossfire. We drive a great car but I have a horrible feeling the new SLK will kill it unless they put more effort in.

 

Let us not forget that this is a 2004 model released in 2003, and that the initial plan for the car was a limited production run. With that in mind most dealers were charging over sticker, which will slow down sales, but as was mentioned in this thread, it is about being one of the few, at least for now. Keep in mind too that Chrysler is going through a process to change it's image from one that introduces a new model and within 30 days is starting the rebate process - something they want to get away from doing, it is killing the brand image.

So the key for the Crossfire is to tier the line so that they reach a different consumer. One that values performance, style, refinement and not part of the "Me Too" crowd. With this profits should improve and a push to include cutting edge technology to enhance the driving experience will become more visable in new models.

 

Stumbled on the Monthly Numbers:

December Sales: 611
2003 Total Sales: 4021
(From Automotive News)

So, in roughly six months they sold about 1/5 of the run. And, with the they Hi-Pro and Pop-Top comming out this year (plus the 05's), looks like there will be tons of em left come Decembre. Maybe as many as half.

Any clue how many of the new models are going to be produced?

 

m-benz brings up a good point DC is not advertizing the Crossfire to any great extent. They offer a CD instead of a brochure when not everyone is computer oriented. They need some TV time showing the car off. I certainally would like to see the Crossfire succeed, but would not mind a short run either as I'm a collector of the old school. I hope the high power job becomes reality as I would like one for sure.

 

Well, DC might be listening. They just ran an AD for the crossfire during the new NBC show The Apprentice. However, it seems to be the same commercial (or maybe just similar) to the Super Bowl commercial DC ran last January. Here's hoping it made an impression on someone tonight.

 

The other night I saw an ad for Jeep. The Jeep was parking in front an apartment building, and guess what it Parked behind, A CROSSFIRE!!!!!!

 

adf3786
You make some good points but, what is the customer buying? a merc or a chrysler. As you know Chrysler does not have much brand awarness in the UK and I don't think that that merc really wants the new slk model assoiciated with the crossfire. The reality is that they are but, do you really think that a large chunk of people who buy Merc want to be associated with the chrysler name? The people who owns Mercs would not. They think that they are part of elite group and would not even dirty the soles of there shoes walking into a Chrysler dealership. (not everyone who owns a merc, just a lot of my clients)

Think on the bright side. The old SLK platform is tried and tested. All the bugs have been worked out. The new SLK will have months to a year to work out all the small design errors assocaited with a new model.

 

The fact that the Crossfire is built on the old SLK platform is both its greatest advantage and its biggest disadvantage. Without the SLK as a donor platform, the Crossfire would never have been produced. And it's probably the best Chrysler ever made. But I agree with r.robertson that people don't know whether to regard it as a Chrysler or a poor man's Mercedes. I think Chrysler blew it with the advertising. They failed to convey the brand message. I bet they've sold more Celine Dion albums than cars!

 

Creator, you hit the nail on the head as this was my point. They have carried SO MUCH of the SLK platform over to it and SHOUTED ABOUT it that have shot themselves in the foot now with the release of the new SLK so soon after it. That would be fine if the convertable had also started to share some of the new innovations but I,m afraid it will turn into the poor mans Merc, with the release of the new SLk re-inforcing the issue.

I bought a Chrysler because they sold the Crossfire Coupe which is a terrific Car BUT I.m afraid within a very short time it will be gone. Sure why should I care now, I drive a head turner. It does matter though when I was going to seriously consider the Convertable but their putting no effort in.

 

Being in the ad biz, I pulled a quick report of print ads for the Crossfire in 2003. This isn't a complete list, and the numbers aren't verified but here's what came up:

Business Week: 3 pages @ $298,620 (bet you didn't realize how much it costs to advertise in that mag, eh?)
Forbes: 10 pages @ $633,590
Fortune: 7 pages @ 471,500
Wired: 7 pages @ $233,990

In all, their print ad budget for all Chrysler cars, including Chrysler "image" ads, was roughly $8,000,000, so you can see Crossfire got a good share of that. Jeep brand as a whole got a little more of the budget, but that was spread out among 5 different models. Other than that, all other models came in behind Crossfire in spending. Sorry, I don't have TV numbers.

 

BTW, Cadillac Allante may have been a sales flop but is now a highly desirable used car. In fact, mint cond will cost you as much as a new xfire. I see the same fate for xfire I think.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...r=&cardist=299

 

They spent the $8 million in the wrong place. That has been my position all along. D/C was trying to market this car to people that read Fortune, but that is not who is buying this vehicle.

The marketing was just plain awful. Now they are dropping the price to move inventory, when that should not have been necessary.....

 

In the UK, there has been very limited advertising. DC UK are now starting to advertise on the TV and have more posters on the billboards. I think that most people who want a 2 seater haven't even heard or seen one.

If you don't see any you think they are not selling because they are no good, and you don't buy one. I see hundreds (literally) of TTs each day, many Boxsters, the occasional 350Z and RX8, but no XFs.

Would you buy a car you don't see? Mine gets interest wherever I go, but everyone says "What is it?" not "Oh great Crossfire". How can you buy something if you don't know what it is called.

Its a real shame because it is a fantastic motor. I just hope DC keep faith in its exclusivity and you have to wonder where DC would go if they didn't have it. The Voyager (I like mine) and the PT Cruiser (also like mine) are both practical run-of-the-mill vehicles. They are stopping the Neon over here.

To sum up, without the XF, they might as well just ditch the Chrysler name and rebadge everything as a Merc.

 

The Allante was originally guaranteed to keep resale or trade in value equal to Mercedes 450SL.General motors changed that later to be equal to Jag!They were losing too much!! I would pay $10k for any of them!! Crap.