I am seriously shopping for a Crossfire roadster, and think that I want a 6-speed transmission. They're definitely not as easy to find as automatics around here, but I'm seeing plenty of them on the internet in various places around the country. It seems that dealers have a difficult time getting rid of them, so I expect to be able to get a good deal.

I live in hot, sunny Florida, and the idea of having a cloth interior instead of hot sticky leather seats is appealing. I'm thinking that I could easily get by with a base model or a Special Edition and be quite happy. What would I be missing? Is the sound system in the base model seriously inferior to the Limited? I guess that the base model and maybe the Special Edition don't have power seats, but what else am I missing? Is there any compelling reason to buy a Limited instead of the base model or SE?

My next question is whether it's a bad idea to get the manual transmission for any reason? Can I have any fun shifting the AutoStick in normal city driving? I'm never going to have an opportunity to drive this car in "sports car country," I'll be mostly running up and down Highway 41 in city traffic.

Your opinions are appreciated.

 

My opinion is always go for the Limited. While I was shopping around for mine I was amazed that both dealers and internet sellers ask just as much for the base model or SE as they do for the Limited. You get much more IMHO with the Limited.

Fog Lamps. Good ones too, 55W not the usual wimpy ones found on a lot of cars. Besides, it just looks right with them. A car at this level just does not look right without them. That, of course, is just my opinion.
Electrically operated seats. 6 way driver and 4 way passenger. A biggie for me as I am 6'2" and need to lower the seat all the way down.
Electrically heated leather seats. This one I thought I would never use as I will not be driving my roadster in the winter. However, the test drive with the top down and 47 degrees changed my opinion on that.

I am sure there are more, but I am new to the Xfire and not as well versed on these great cars as others here.

Tired

 

Thanks for your comments. I can tell you that I definitely can live without fog lamps. I have had them on several cars, and have never used them. Not much fog here. In addition, I've had to spend money to replace broken fog lamps that I never even turned on.

I would like electrically-operated seats, if they move back automatically when the door is opened to make entry/exit easier, and have a "memory" feature. Is this what is on the Limited? If not, the manual seats should be fine for me. I'm 5'8"" and don't have much difficulty getting into or out of my car.

I also have absolutely no need for heated seats. My wife uses the one on the passenger side of my Lincoln, often at the same time that I am cooling mine.

In my experience, the prices I am seeing on the base model and Special Editions with manual transmission are quite a bit lower than Limiteds with automatic. They're also a bit lower than Limited with stick.

 

I have a 2007 Black base coupe with a 6-speed and I love it. If you want a 6sp get it, they are a blast, its a sportscar. Base crossfires have cloth seats and are not powered. They are very comfortable. Radio is fine but I'm no audiophile. All base Crossfires are black and have no chrome (to me a big plus). They have no cup holder( cup holders are breakable and many have been removed from LTDs. I don't have fog lights so I don't miss them. Base models are black and they need to stay clean (might be an issue with Fla. rain).
Everyone on this forum really likes there car and probably wouldn't trade it for a different one. If you like Black go with a base stick, it seems to have everything you want.
Lets us know how you makeout

 

I'm sure you will enjoy whatever you decide to get. These are great cars.

 

I was in your same position a few months ago and just bought a limited.
I have driven several base and limited models.
I have had a manual for 10 years and was ready for an automatic so that was a requirement. The cloth seats are more comfortable IMO. I wanted heated seats but the one I bought has an issue with the seat bottoms not working. Radio... I dont care, NAV, I dont care. The only base models I found local were Black and I wanted Red. I looked at several SE models online and had they been closer, I would have probably bought one.
I would have been very happy with an SE so I say go for it.

 

I bought an SE new. I INSTALLED LEATHER POWER SEATS FROM LQK. I installed wind restrictor and a dash kit to get rid of that massive silver obscenity. I have a high regard for the car.I find the radio adequate and have no use for fog lights. No Fog.The six speed works but the auto is my preference.I love the wheels. Gary

 

Just go for the base. It is the only way you will get cloth seats (unless you put them in yourself).

Heated seats break and who cares in the south (I live in south Texas so I understand what you say)!

Fog lights are a joke and do nothing but look cool (IMHO).

Power seats break down then you are forced to repair. And the power seats in the crossfire don't have memory settings as far as I know.

One other selling feature for me was the tire pressure sensor. The base does not have this. One less thing to break and annoy you on cold days. I have one in my new car and it is constantly going off. Drives me nuts!

When I bought my base I knew I wanted a stick and all black. I knew I wanted cloth seats. The base was the perfect fit for me. I had all the other options on my previous car and knew I didn't care for them. No offense to the limited... but to me personally I don't care enough for the extra features. The base coupe is not as stripped down as you think.

The radio is practically the same. The good thing about the base is you can buy a Blaupunkt radio. Plug and play installation you can do yourself. A monkey could do it. For a hundred dollars you can do a serious upgrade. I know the base coupe is a perfect match on the existing wire harness. Just slide out the stock radio and slide the new one in. That easy!

 

While you should probably drive a few, I suspect the manual IS for you.

Don't expect too much, the reason they have them on their lots is because they are NOT offering such good deals. Dealers will want as much for a Base or SE Roadster as a Limited Roadster.

The Base model differences versus the limited that I can think of:
... exterior only available in Black.
... no satin/chrome trim around windshield, on door handles or side stakes.
... no Chrome 'CROSSFIRE' plates in the doorways.
... no subwoofers behind the seats (and I THINK the amp is a bit less powerful)
... no fog/driving lights.
... monotone interiour (probably my biggest gripe - the two-tone Limited interior is nice! )
... no tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) or Homelink transmitter (garage door opener).
... cloth manual seats instead of heated/power/leather seats.
... basic black air cleaner housing on top of engine instead of satin/chrome looking one on limited.

The Special edition Roadster is a base roadster with:
... Red Exterior paint.
... Satin/chrome door handles and side stakes.
... cool SRT-looking rims.

(I really like the SE's because of the Red paint - I must say that, in a way, the cloth seats in the Base/SEs are more comfortable, or so it seems, at times).

If you like the manual, you will be happy. But if you drive in city traffic a lot, only you know if you will tire of the stick - has nothing to do with the car itself, IMO.

 

Here you go...only 19K miles and calling your name :
Chrysler : Crossfire on eBay.ca (item 380294302220 end time 06-Dec-10 19:49:48 EST)

 

I agree, my Sebring Limited has it and it goes off on cold days. However, don't you guys feel that the TPMS system is a little more relevant on the Xfire because we don't have a spare? I know for me, if I were to be on a trip and get a slow leak, the TPMS system will alert me before the tire goes completely flat. Personally, I see it as an extra level of protection.

CharlieO:

Ultimately, it is your decision and only yours to make. You know your preferences and driving habits better than anyone. For me, I need to own a car with all the toys, bells & whistles. Others, not so much. Good luck and post us pics when you aquire the permagrin.

Tired

 

Black engine cover on a limited? and what is with those rims?

 

As a habit I would visually check the tires before I go anywhere. Crossfire tires are already low and it is difficult to detect.... but I visually detected a couple flat tires pretty easily without a sensor. I was able to put a little air in the tire and get to the tire place. Never needed a jack, spare tire or anything else in 5+ years (and 4 total years of daily driving).

Just my personal opinion... the more gadgets= more problems. In the old days we had to rely on personal inspection and common sense to detect problems. We didn't have alarms going off and we didn't rely on a computer to let us know there is a problem. If more drivers on the road pay attention to their vehicles and visually inspect for safety issues the roads would be a safer place. I am not an old fart either. I am mid 30's and a techy. I just think there are some things that should never change. Love modern technology and you can't convince me otherwise. I just think there are simple things in life that should be done. Being able to monitor your own tires is a great practice. It keeps our brain flowing and keeps us aware of our surroundings!

THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK on you. Just had to throw my thoughts out there. Don't take it personal. I understand your point. I just have a different take on it No offense to anyone... this is just my opinion and my preference.

 

No, not a limited, a SPECIAL EDITION. (A Special Edition is a Base Roadster with Red paint - it's an odd animal in the Crossfire world...)

The only problem (that I can see from here) with that car is that with 18,000 miles, they are gonna want too much for it.

But I DID bookmark it.

 

Actually... I do remember reading about the special edition once. I forgot about those cars!

 

Heck, this is the internet! I never take it personal. LOL. Many hours spent on gun forums will toughen up even the thin skinned ones.

 

My daily driver is a inferno red Sebring convertible with a black top and leather seats. The seats get too hot in the summer. I went with the Special Edition because I wanted the cloth seats which to me are more comfortable. I also needed more head room the non electric seats provide. I don't drive the Crossfire in the winter, so heated seats were of no benefit. From what I've read here on the forum it's a common failure area anyway.

I couldn't pass on the Inferno/Blaze red color and 15 spoke wheels. I definately wanted the 6 speed manual although the Crossfire 1st gear starts takes some practice to get smooth.

I did want a few items the limited had which I was able to get off of ebay. That included the stainless door sills and silver engine cover. Both were inexpensive and easy to replace. Add in the wind restrictor and Magnaflow exhaust and it's a permagrin ride.

 

I have found three very low-mileage Special Editions with 6-speed transmissions on the internet, and two of them have the Chrysler 6 year/80,000 mile certified warranty. The only problem is that all of them are at least 1000 miles from here. Obviously, that adds to the expense. I'd hate to commit to buy one, and then have one for sale a mile away from me next week.

There is a low mileage base model at a dealer 60 miles from here, and another dealer in the same town has a Special Edition with an automatic. I'm planning to take a road trip to compare them. Also, a dealer that is just 3 miles away from me has a red 2007 Limited with manual transmission coming in on trade tomorrow. This should give me enough information to make a decision on what I really want.

 

I"ve seen those myself. The 6/80 warranty caught my eye, not that I am concerned with it, just that it was unusual to see.
Oh, and they are both 100's of miles from me, too.

Not likely.

I'd be interested in what you find out about that 07!

 

I just drove it, and it's actually an '06 with about 12,500 miles. It's red with the vanilla and black interior. They're asking $18,900. I personally would pass on this car, even though it drives well. I hate dealing with dealers who tell you about the "unbelieveably fantastic" car that they have coming in, and when you get there, it's a letdown.

The car is 98%, but one rocker panel is seriously scraped (the seller supposedly did it on his way to the dealership), and the gas cap door is black and unpainted because it was replaced. Obviously, the repaint will be an issue.

Even with 12,000 miles, I bet they didn't give the guy more than $14,000 for it and they told me I could have it for $17,500. No thanks.