Ok only having my 2005 limited for two weeks I can say that I really love my crossfire. I fully admit that my "suggestions" below are mostly minor annoyances (for me), mostly "love to have".

1. Rear view visibility.
Whoever designed the rear window/pillars should be taken to the woodshed and beaten then shot. You DO have bigger blind spots (although the side mirrors can be adjusted so that you can see cars one lane around you). Diagonally two or more lanes behind you on either side and cars behind you on inclines. Cops are going to love sneaking up on crossfires.

2. Two Driver Seat Position Memory.

3. Radio and Cruise-Control on the steering wheel.

4. Adjustable steering wheel!
I know it telescopes but that just is NOT enough!

5. Driver Side Leg Room
Was that extra piece of lower dashboard on the driver side really needed? It eats up inches of legroom!

6. Smaller cargo area "firewall".
I think this could have been designed better so that the seats could recline/move back a bit more.

7. DOORS
For a sports coupe these are among the worst doors to open and close if you have cars parked on either side of you. They are long (typical for the class) but too far "behind" you it makes getting out without hitting that car alongside of you more difficult then it should be.

8. FULL dual climate controls.
Passenger should be able to adjust own fan control.

9. Cargo/Storage Space Dividers.
Anything so that whenever you put an item inside these different areas you don't have them sliding around all the time.

10. Sunroof/DVD Nav!
Yeah I combined these two hear since for some weird reason some manf. often require a certain bundle just to get DVD Navy.

11. REAL Cup Holders!
For crying out loud. We can put a man on the moon but we can't design two functional/ergonomic cup holders? The solo pop up cup holder is OK but its too far back and that makes it awkward to use.

12. Same sized tires with REAL spare!

 

response to the eleven
1.don't look back
2.auto back driver easy exit memory don't care about pass.
3.cruise is on steering column,radio no thanks
4.adjust the seat,don't need steering too
5.cargo smaller,maybe 3"
6.doors to long ,don't park next to anyone
7.this is already adjustable
8.cargo,buy accessary from DC
9.sunroofnoroom,buy convertable
10.cup holder buy the right cup or don't drink
11.same size tire,changeum or buy a honda!

 

nnyan was refering to dual "fan" control. The XF only has dual "temp" control.

 

1. you need to learn to adjust your mirrors properly and then #1 is no longer an issue:

*For the driver side mirror, roll up the window and press your head against the glass. Adjust the mirror so that you can just see the edge of the car.

*For the passenger side mirror, place your head in the center of the car (directly behind the inside mirror mount) and adjust the outside mirror so that you can just see the edge of the car. This is necessary even with convex (curved) mirrors where the image is distorted a little.


5. As for number 5 - that is the gas tank in that "firewall"

6. Agreed!!! - we have looked into lamborghini door kits but nothing came of it. At least I am losing weight by walking so far from the door to the end of the parking lot...

11. It gives the car the correct looking stance - look at some old hotrods.. Forget the spare, we need some run flats! :twisted:


-marc

 

I agree with nnyan...let's sum it up.....probably $50k for the 2005 Crossfire Limited

 

I think it is important to remember that they built this unbelieveably cool car based on an Mercedes SLK Powertrain and suspension ($45k+) and are selling it for starting at $30k. Funny part is I think the crossfire looks better than it's heritage, for less.

 

I had to laugh when I read all of this. First of all, even with "tiny" doors, I would never park my car in a parking lot, that next car could even get close to it. So I will walk a very long way, not to have anyone ding my doors.

My hubby loves the fact that I won't go to our local mall very often now, to shop at Nordstroms. He is saving SO MUCH MONEY..so he really loves the fact that I bought this car.....

But I have to admit, I get to the mall right at the time it opens, I can find a parking spot waaayyyy far away. I just don't stay long... :wink:

 

Since you used the number 5 twice on your list of 11 suggestions, I would suggest you learn how to count, then you'll have an even dozen.

 

Sure I would add some stuff like HIDS, but the only flaws in design are:

1. The window controls are too far apart to operate one handed simultaneously. AND there is no auto-up function. Before y'all jump down my throat remember I have a manual transmission. It's annoying to stop at a toll...throw in the change...start rolling up window but have to shift to second before it's all the way up.

2. the cup holder is a joke and I'd rather there be NO cupholder than one that is so poorly designed and improperly placed (again, manual transmission). That space could have been a nice little cell phone nook.

3. The delayed function of the radio is frustrating. My Element's radio can be off and set to resume playing a CD..... if I push the AM or FM button, that comes on automatically. Simple and easy....with no waiting.

4. The seats need an adjustable lumbar support.




Dallas

 

Can you say SLK350,2005,or SL500,That is the next step!

 

Good Topic :!:

1. I haven't found rear visability a problem. Adjusting the mirrors to see down the side of the car works fine for me. There are other cars which have worse visability.

2. I don't let anyone else drive my XF. I therefore would not need No 2. It only takes a second to adjust the seat anyway.

3. I am able to reach the radio, and I don't use cruise control (or haven't yet in 3000 miles), so I would not thank anyone for putting more controls on the steering wheel.

4. Yeah, it would be nice to be able to adjust the steering wheel, but having said that, mine has not been moved since the day I picked it up.

5. I don't have a problem with legroom. I like the bit where I can rest/support my left foot when not changing gear.

5. This is the fuel tank and is positioned to give the car a better weight distribution (I would like to think), and to provide more space in the boot.

6. I consciously park in spaces so that I don't get people opening their doors onto my paintwork, so I don't have a problem opening my door. I have also carpeting my garage floor and wall so that I don't scrape the door in the garage. I think I would do this with any nice car. However, cars do get bashed and scraped, so its all part of the owner experience.

7. A passenger fan would be a nice to have, but passengers should just be grateful for being able to sit there. The passenger can open or close their vents to vary the airflow.

8. There are companies which manufacture cargo trays, luggage sets etc. to allowa you to divide up the space. I would expect that any system that DC introduced would not please all. I am hoping to order and receive the DC luggage set.

9. I think the car would lose its styling with a sunroof and some of its body rigidity. If I had wanted to open the roof, I would have gone for the Roadster. SatNav would be nice to have, but it would increase the price of the XF, and many of us would prefer a different system than the DC installed version, or would already have something for their PDAs.

10. Two proper cup holders would be a definitive improvement, but I would still buy the XF if it didn't have any.

11. I think that the little design features such as the different sized rims contribute to the XF's appeal. You could run your XF with 18" rims if you want to, but I think it would look flat. The only issue I have with the tyres is their availability in the UK. They are not a stock item and several of the QuickFits, National Tyres etc. have a 3 day delivery. I am considering buying an 18" wheel and rubber and leaving it at home. If I do get a puncture, then I call home and have the boss deliver it to me, if I can't get the repair kit to work.
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:idea: The one improvement I would like to see is to be able to set the direction of the air onto the screen only. If I start misting up, I have to close the vents into the car in order to get the necessary airflow onto the screen. The passenger vent is difficult to reach.

:twisted: Oh, and I would like the XF not to have a radar signature, or appear in any police photos.

 

Okay, everyone else jumped up and down on the poor soul for speaking their mind, let me just add a kick or two... :twisted:

3. I don't know why people think radio controlls on the steering wheel are a good thing?!?! This is the worst thing they can do to the wheel! It forces proprietary equipment. You cannot just go out and swap out the radio, or if you do you get all these cool steering wheel controlls that do nothing.

And Cruise? I guess I don't really care there. I would rather nothing in the steering wheel except the ignition and the steering, and I guess a horn, but that could go too in my book.

Sides, who actually uses the cruise? If you are soo tired or distracted that you cannot hold a speed, get off the road! Cruise just creates traffic problems (don't you love that SOB trying to pass with Cruise on 0.00005 MPH faster that the guy on the right? Oh, wait a hill, make that 2 MPH slower, wait ... 1 MPH faster... Sometime this year ... Oh, nother hill... )

Set the radio or shut it off. Dive, don't cruise!

 

I use cruise quite a lot. It is funny how people who don't use cruise change speed to often. I can go along at the same speed and over take someone, then they will over take me a bit later, and then they slow down and I overtake them again. It is odd how they speed up, slow down etc.. but don't get anywhere quicker than I do. Cruise makes life easier for me.

 

I use my cruise quite a bit too, especially out of the city on the freeways. I have a real tendency to exceed the speed limit without so cruise saves me a lot of explaining. ops: What makes me crazy are the dirvers putting along under the speed limit until you pull out to pass. Then, they suddenly regain consciousness and latch on to your rear quarter panel. No matter what speed you go, there they are right in your blind spot. I love to coax them up to about 90 and then step on the brakes. The paniced look on thier faces as they go shooting by is absolutely priceless. :lol:

 

After driving the Xfire for a while now, the only missing option I would really like to see is an easy exit option to slide the seat back automatically when turning the car off. For anyone over 5'8" it is impossible to get out of this car without moving the seat all the way back.

 

Agreed... someone just posted an article a few days ago from an SLK "how to" site where the guy installed manual pump air bladder into his seat.

 

First of all a general response. I guess I found this board to discuss issues and see others opnions. Thats all that I was doing, trying to get an interesting topic started. Thank you to those that had constructive comments!

As I mentioned in the begining of my post my improvements were/are for the most part VERY minor issue but things that I found less then perfect IMHO. I wanted to see if anyone thought the same or found other things annoying. I did mention that I love my crossfire.

I should have mentioned that I purchased my Crossfire from Ramsey Autogroup in NJ and proceeded to drive it to Austin TX (visit my best friend) and then to Sacramento CA (just under 60 hours of actual on the road time and 3600 miles).

I normally do NOT use cruise control in my typical commute (too much traffic) but on road trips its handy. I personally perfer the controls on the steering wheel, same for the radio. Anything that stops me from moving my hands off the steering wheel and my eyes from the road. Point is I did say it was just how I preffer things not that it was the best way for anyone else.

Gee...I guess I could have bought a convertible and that was the plan but I could not wait around for them to get one in stock. I decided to pick up the Crossfire on the spur of the moment while I was in NJ since I thought it would be a fun car to drive back instead of flying back.

I would definately be willing to pay more money for this car (as I did for my other cars) especially if some of my "minor annoyances" were taken care of.

I like the "agreessive" look of the car but I also know that that other car manf. can make a car look aggressive and have a good profile/stance while having the same sized wheels. Again NOT a big deal just something I personally prefer one way or another.

While I don't try to park in tight spots and generally try to look for open areas to parkk all my cars my reality is that I can't always avoid parking next to other cars. Again just more of an observation then a real complaint.

I have run into the (what I've heard called) nascar method of adjusting your mirrors years ago and that is my preferred method.

Overall I really love the crossfire. Its a very inexpensive car that a TON of fun to drive and handles like its on rails. The only other car that I think is a bit more fun to drive (AGAIN just based on my personal experience and ownership) is my 1994 911 Carrera RS.

AmCross,
I'm very sorry that I made a mistake in my post and used the #5 twice. That said I do know how to count do you know how not to be an ***?

wonderdallas,
I totally forgot the delay in the radio, VERY annoying. Lumbar...gods I want LUMBAR! = )

 

Like every other sports car I have owned I open the door and spin myself sideways in the seat then put both feet on the ground and stand straight up to get out of the car.

hope that helps,

-marc

 

oh yeah - After four back operations I want lumbar support too!!!

-marc

 

Ditto TNT