Test drive Chrysler Crossfire 2003 - 2006 compartment
Summer for two
Chrysler Crossfire Roadster as an indicator of a new quality of lifeYes, it is here - on the embankments of St. Trope, at yacht clubs, or in the picturesque mountain towns of the south of France - this car is the place. It looks great against the backdrop of snow -white sails, near the well -groomed villas with pools, or at the old castle, which the enterprising descendants of the aristocratic surname turned into a wine factory. Only nearby, in the passenger seat, there should be a lady of the heart, and not a bald colleague, grimacing on speed, complexity of the mountain road and the need to raise an awning: I will bake the crown, it is about to rain
During the test, I strained the imagination, trying to imagine the Crossfire Roadster in Moscow. Well, in principle, this is possible. Of course, not in the snowy capital - the soft top is unlikely to protect against frosts, but in the summer. When you can wave to the sea, in the suburbs, with chic, ride in Tverskaya. True, in the metropolis you must be prepared for the fact that the sounds and smells here are not at all the same as in the south of France
And I also came to the conclusion that Crossfire Roadster is a car for young people. Perhaps even for golden youth. It is wealthy young people who are not burdened with a family or ready to maintain a second weekend car, who are able to sacrifice the functionality and a certain degree of comfort for the sake of an impeccable and ultra -modern style. It is for them that this double sports car can become an indicator of a new quality of life. A mature man most likely prefers a more serious car, a convertible with a stiff folding roof, from the same Mercedes - a partner of Chrysler for a concern.
Crossfire without a roof
Car news (No. 14 (38) 2003) talked about this model in the compartment version. Therefore, I will not repeat myself and describe in detail the appearance and decoration of the interior, I will only say that without the roof of Crossfire it looks equally dynamic and very attractive. And the lackers from polished aluminum characteristic of open machines not only ensure safety, but also give an additional charm to the exterior. Just like on a compartment, a spoiler is advanced from the lid of the trunk at a speed of more than 100 km/h. Of course, the volume of the luggage compartment is slightly smaller - 190 liters with a raised tent, and 104 liters - with a folded one. To throw back the soft top, the driver just needs to pull and turn the handle located in the center of the windshield, press the button on the central console, and wait 22 seconds - the automation will open the lid of the trunk, put an awning into it (with a heated, by the way, rear glass), And the lid will click.
The decoration of the interior is exactly the same as in the compartment: expensive skin, silver metal, large chrysler emblems. The salon is generally distinguished by thoughtful ergonomics, it is convenient and in sporting in it. But the same audio system Infinity Modulus with a six-channel amplifier with a capacity of 240 watts, four columns in the doors and two speakers behind the chairs, sounds without a roof in a special way. An open top makes the sound are thinner, and if desired, you can attract the attention of others not only with a configured exhaust that breaks out of the dual pipes in the center of the stern, but also in an incendiary rhythm. Again - youth option.
At speed
We began the test with the very grumbling colleague from the version, from my point of view, the most interesting - equipped with a 6 -speed mechanical checkpoint proposed as an option. Lightly tilted towards the driver by the lever (convenient!) It was necessary, however, to manipulate often, but the car showed its best qualities. The main thing is that you solve its character very quickly, after passing several ligaments of the turns, and the mountainous part of the route was provided for that, you understand the limit of the possibilities of the relatives. And these possibilities are such that, let's say - they are able to scare the driver before than to force ESP (besides, it can be turned off). With its wide wheels -lobuhas (225 mm - in front, 255 mm - behind), the car seems to stick to the roadway, allowing centrifugal accelerations in turns to 1G. This figure was voiced at a short briefing before the engineers, and on the serpentine, I willingly believed their words. A hard body allows you to pass in decent speed, which was reinforced compared to the compartment, as a result of which the Rogster was more hung by 36 kilograms.
Of course, the wide low-profile rubber, and the body design in themselves would not have provided true driver pleasure, if not for the 218-horsepower engine that gives out a torque of 310 nm, not in sporting tight clutch pedal and not good settings of the steering and brakes systems. That's all this taken together and provides full control over the machine. However, I would not say that the steering wheel is very sharp - 3.1 turns from one extreme position to another. And such settings, in my opinion, are enough for active driving. Yes, and I will remind you: Crossfire Roadster, as a true sports car, has a rear -wheel drive and good weighting on the axes - 53% of the mass falls on the front axle, and, accordingly, 47% - on the rear. As for the pendants, they, like on the compartment, are quite tough, which should be by definition.
The next number in our program was a class with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. And I seem to very soon understand why such a car spends even less fuel for 100 km of run than its fellow mechanics. Ensure explosive accelerations as with a mechanical gearbox (and, therefore, spend more fuel) is to provide an extremely difficult matter, despite the presence of AutoStick system, which allows you to manually switch transmissions. Now, it seems that you properly untwisted the motor - the power plant roars, and the car does not go. Well, he goes, of course, but not at all the way you expect, not according to the sound.
And not that the automatic transmission suffered from special thoughtfulness. And it allows you to brake the engine. But in general, the transmission settings are such that they significantly limit, according to subjective sensations, the potential of Crossfire. I, a sinful thing, thought that in vain Chrysler did not borrow from Mercedes and an automatic box from the same SLK.
Before leaving for the motorway, a colleague forced me to raise a soft awning. However, this time he was right: he soon began to rain. Having occupied the extreme left row and dispersed, we very soon came to a consensus - Rogster is not intended for operation in our latitudes in the cold season. The fact is that, despite the upright and lifted windows, a breeze walked significantly along the cabin. And this is at a speed of only 160 km/h. In general, it became clear why the press release says: the maximum speed of Crossfire Roadster for aerodynamic reasons is limited at 241 km/h. It blows thoroughly into it, and if the minus temperature was overboard, we would hardly have been saved by the most perfect climatic installation.
The struggle for a place in the sun
The manufacturer himself calls the segment of expensive convertibles overheated, but demonstrates absolute confidence that Crossfire Roadster is able to repulse competitors. Which Chrysler includes Audi TT, Honda S2000, Porsche Boxter, BMW Z4, Alfa Romeo GTV Spider and Nissan 350z Convertible. I would probably be able to name a couple more - the three rivals, but that is not the point. In fact, there are many convertibles in the market, and in Russian - including.
Crossfire undoubtedly attracts modern design and some other obvious qualities. However, the price plays an important role. And she in Russia does not look bribeingly low - 53,000 euros. One thing is good: the young stylish person has expanded the choice.
Oleg Osipov
Brief technical characteristics of Chrysler Crossfire Roadster
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 3199
Number of valves per cylinder: 3
Power, l. With. at about./min.: 218/5700
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 310/3000
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 6.5 (7.3)
Maximum speed, km/h: 241
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 10.4 (10.1)
Fuel tank volume, l.: 60
Dimensions, mm.: 4058x1766x1315
In brackets are given data for the version with automatic gearbox
Source: "Automobile Izvestia"
