karl k

The 2004 Crossfire, available this summer, is built on a SLK platform with 18" wheels in front and 19" wheels in thre rear.

It is stiffer than the Porsche 911 - only comes in a Coupe. For $35k it has potential.

What do you think?

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=6570

500AMG

Not bad...but I've had bad enough experiences with Chrysler that I would stay away until they proved to me they've improved. Initial quality will be great though I'm sure! The sharing of parts is also a plus that may alleviate my prior concerns.

Supra

I think I still perfer the SLK

oggle

It looks like they took the interior of a previous-model MB and spray painted it silver. Kinda nasty looking.

davis449

Daimler and Chrysler need to get a divorce.

karl k

I hope that this puke pink dash is an interior designer's MISSED conception!

:o

500AMG

What man doesn't love pink? Just kidding.

lars

Also an evaluation in the May issue of the British magazine CAR. They really liked it, saying it is the first American sports coupe to take serious aim at Porsche and Audi. Comparing it to the current SLK, they said it made the SLK feel "lumpy, softish, defensive, and uninvolving". Sounds like a good evolution.

karl k

Some unusual proportions here. hmmm

karl k

Echoes of TT, Murano...? :o

Turbo2

I personally find the car to be very good looking, but I remember hearing that it is just about the same size as a Civic, which doesnt really interest me, I prefer a more substantial car if Im paying $35K+. As I said, I find it very attractive but I just dont approve of MB sharing parts with Chrysler and vice-versa.

Now people can really say that a Mercedes is just an overpriced Chrysler, like people say that Jaguar is just an overpriced Ford. I felt the merger between MB and Chrysler was a good thing, but I didnt expect the sharing of parts, engines, etc. to happen. I still love MB, and Im applying to DaimlerChrysler at this moment...but Im just not happy with this decesion.

My 2 cents.

davis449

Seriously, though, how can NOT expect parts sharing after the merger of two car companies? It was only a matter of time before MB became an overpriced Chrysler and Chrysler became a cheap, lousy Mercedes-Benz. I wouldn't touch a Jaguar with a ten foot pole nor an Aston Martin! You watch, Volvo's next. Ford already owns a substantial share of their stock. It's coming. I'm just glad BMW and VW are still pure. But who knows how long that will last! I'm going to have to buy used pre 2K Benz or Jap from now on.

Turbo2

davis449-
I wouldn't be so "afraid" of cars such as Jaguars and Volvo's. As you can see from my sig I have a 99 XJ8 (this was one of the vehicles that was produced after being taken over from Ford) and I must say, the Jag has been pretty much trouble free. It has 35K on it and it has only been to the shop once (Besides normal maintainence) and that was under warranty. However...I have noticed that the drivers side door controls, where all the window swtiches, etc. are gets extremely warm to the touch after driving it for more then 30 minutes. Im not sure if its just my car, or if these cars are having an eletrical glitch, I know they moved away from the Lucas eletrical systems...but its still bothering me. In my eyes Jaguar has made leaps and bounds from the 80's and I dont think I would be more hesitant to buy one then a new MB for that matter.

On another note, my Volvo that I will be expecting in a few weeks will be the fourth one I have owned and I cant say one bad thing about Volvos. My last one, a 95 850GLT went 145K without a problem. Now, the 850 I had wasnt part of the Ford production so this V70 could be another story.

I wouldnt say just b/c it is owned by an American company not to purchase it, Im weary of all new cars today (foreign or not) just due to the high level of technology and the possibility of what could go wrong. In addition, I plan on getting a new E320 (or 350 as the case may be) in the next year or two, but dont plan on keeping it past the warranty period due to the problems Ive had with my current E that is LESS technoligcally complicated. Keeping the new E right up to the warranty period will take a lot of stress of my back and allow me to get a higher resale as well.

Sorry for the long reply, just my thoughts...

trench

It looks pretty good in person. Size isn't too bad, inside it seems slightly roomier than the current SLK. Think of it as the Coupe version of the SLK (similar to the Coupe version of the BMW Z3).

Cheers, BT

davis449

Ok, Turbo2, I will give you the Jag thing. Jag was so crappy that Ford taking them over actually helped them. So that one I will give you. I did not say Volvo's were ****ty cars. I simply said that they're next. My family had an '82 Volvo DL that went over 250,000 miles. I'm just saying that if Ford does eventually take them completely over, you can expect their quality and their main treasure, saftey, to go down hill in a hurry. And, yes, just because an American car company does own a foreign one, you can expect them to go down hill. Look at Mazda, they're practically owned by Ford and share numerous parts between the two. Look where their quality has been. Nissan Quest minivans are pieces of carp. Maxima's and new Altimas plus Infinit's are not really crappy cars. The Quest is manufactured by Mercury (Ford). Go figure. Look at the M-Class. It's a ****ing joke and most Mercedes mechanics, outside their respecitve shops will tell you that. And guess what it's manufactured with? That's right, side by side with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's really pathetic that the Jeep is a better car. Need more examples, just ask and I'll keep them coming.

Turbo2

davis449-
I wasnt trying to get on your back about the topic, just stating my opinions. I agree with you that if Ford (or any American company) aquires a foreign car company, the quality will go down. However, Im hoping that the reason Ford bought Volvo was not to redesign it, but just as a money making tool. Volvos have really had a change in the last 5 years, with the introduction of "R" models and cars that appeal to the younger generations. Ford would be stupid to try to mess with Volvo's safety and reliability reputation.

So, just for good measure, I agree. If an US company takes over a foreign car company, and decides to add some of its insight, instead of just doing it as an investment move, they are just going to ruin an already excellent car.

Were on the same page here....we just didnt realize it at first.

karl k

In a just released JD Powers survey,

CHEVY beats MERCEDES in initial quality!!

Summary:
1.Lexus
2.Cadillac
3.Infiniti
4.Acura

7.Porsche
8.BMW
9.Toyota
10.Jaguar

11.Honda
12.Volvo
13.Chevy
14.Audi
15.Mercedes-Benz

Turbo2

WOW!! This has gone way to far, MB needs to start making some serious changes, and making them fast. Can they revoke the merger, please??

karl k

Sure!

Just petition the Justice Department's Anti-Trust Division, which approved the Daimler-Chrysler merger in the first place.

DOJ in DC is just a stone-throw away from your home in McLean!

davis449

Turbo2, I know you weren't trying to get on my back about this. I get sort of opinionated sometimes. I was just contributing tot he arguement. No bad blood here!

Turbo2

karl k-
I guess its time for me to go to the DOJ and talk to them, any ideas of how to reverse the merger? Are you from the DC area previously?

davis449-
Glad to know were on the same level. We all get opinonated at times, just as long as were on the same side, thats all that matters.

karl k

Turbo2 -

http://www.usdoj.gov/dojorg.htm

Click on the Anti-Trust Division Box and say Hello to John Ashcroft, - good luck!

I lived in Vienna and Reston not too long ago while working for USDOC/ITA/USFCS. I regularly drove through your town and down the Washington Parkway along the Potomac for may daily commute. How scenic a ride. I was driving BMWs then.

Sure miss the four seasons here in South Florida!!

Turbo2

Karl-
Done. Said my quick hello and an equally as quick goodbye.

The GW Parkway is one of my favorite roads in the area too, at least for getting into D.C., but the cops are out of control there these days. You should come back up North to Northern VA, seeing the seasons change by enjoying a brisk drive out to the Shenadoah mountains is definetely nice.

karl k

Tnx Turbo2 for the suggestion.

Skyline drive is also one of my favorites. I'll visit later this year. Fall is just spectacular in the Shenadoah mountains!

Well -- here we have our own beauty. This is a shot taken in the Big Cypress Preserve in the Everglades, a couple of days ago. It's 55 miles from home, Miami beach.

This 8' gator admired the ////AMG badge as I was diving by within 4'!

As you can see, he appreciates MBs, particularly ////AMG, which put a SMILE on his face.

karl k

As you can see, he appreciates MBs, particularly ////AMG, which put a SMILE on his face.