2004 Chrysler Crossfire

2004 Chrysler Crossfire

Nowadays, the words ”Chrysler ” and “car” go together about as well as a dog's fecal matter and the human taste buds. While the Chrysler 300, the company’s resident luxury car, is actually a quite good looking car (seen below), the rest of the modern lineup is incredibly bland and uninspired.

A 2020 all-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 in Bright White CI learcoat

It seems that, try as they might, Chrysler can never shake off the bad image that was left to them by the horrid PT Cruiser.

What makes this particularly sad is that this style drought almost never happened.

What if I told you that Chrystler could have made one car to make everyone forget about the PT Loser? A car with good styling  *just* enough horsepower to be considered fun, without being too over the top or breaking your bank. Sounds too good to be true right? Well it is… almost.

This is the story– of the Chrysler Crossfire.

If you haven’t heard of the Crossfire, I wouldn’t be surprised. It wasn’t around for very long and, compared to some of the other cars the company was making at the time, they didn’t really make that many.

In production for only 5 years, 2004 through 2008, and designed by award winning designer Eric Stoddard, the Crossfire was, to put it simply, stunning to look at.

The design of the car seemed to combine the stylings of the 2003 Mercedes SL range with that of the 7th generation Ford Thunderbird and ended up with something amazing. 

A sweeping, almost fast-back style roof gave the car a sense of sporty flare, while the long-angular body was both beautiful and imposing.

Raked air intakes just behind the front wheels feels of the car showed that the crossfire was a sports car with some fight to it, a look backed up by the sharp cut rims and sneering front grill.

However, the back of the vehicle is where the really shocking piece of design comes in.

To complete the sloping, fast-back-esc, look of the Crossfire, Chrysler needed a back end that curved downwards in a steep slope. But, as the story goes, to save money, they couldn’t design a whole new rear end for the car. So instead, they simply modified one they already had, sloping it and adding a glass window. Which is why the Crossfire, a car that could have been Chrysler’s saving grace in the style department, ended up with a PT Cruiser  for a back.

Surprisingly though, the design actually worked! Showing that, just maybe, the PT Loser actually had some use.

If you bought the Crossfire the day it launched in 2004, then you only had one choice for what was under your hood, a Mercedes-Benz M112 18 valve 3.2 Liter engine with 215 horsepower. A good engine, if not exactly a powerful one. Still, the 3.2 Mercedes engine was enough to take the Crossfire from 0-60 in just over 6.5 seconds, not bad for a. $35,000 car with an underpowered engine, and end up with an electronically limited 155 mph top speed.

Other engines would come along towards the end of the car’s short production life, most notably the 330 horsepower supercharged SRT6 engine which would shave some time off the 0-60 mark but still be limited to the same 155 mph cap.

Inevitably, as with most electronically limited cars, some people figured out a way to remove or bypass the limiter cap. Due to this exploit, people have reported being able to reach up to 177 miles per hour in their SRT6 Crossfires once the limiter was removed.

However, the car wasn’t all show and no practicality as the 2003 3.2 Liter Mercedes powered models averaged around 25 mpg, a respectable amount for a sports car.

So what happened? 

The automotive community liked the car. Drivers liked the car. It drove well and got decent mileage. And on top of all that, Chrysler has made a truly good looking car for the first time in what seemed like a long while. So why did production stop?

Sales.

After plenty of unreliability from the manufacturer in the years leading up to the Crossfire, as well as the fact that the quality of Chrysler cars at the time wasn’t exactly great, the Crossfire just wasn’t selling the way they needed it too. And when sales figures slowed to a sluggish 230 units a day in 2005, things only started to get worse for the car’s chances of survival. After a move to import some Crossfires to the United States and Mexico failed to gain enough interest, the bosses at Chrysler decided to pull the plug in 2007, with the final Crossfire rolling off the assembly line in December of that year.

But all hope is not lost!

In recent years we’ve seen companies revive, or plan to revive, previously retired sports cars. In 2019, the world saw the return of Toyota’s much believed sports icon, the Supra, a car that had been out of action since 2002. Around the same time, rumors of a return for either the Celica or MR2 also gained traction, rumors that Toyota has not, as of the time of writing, dismisses. Even Mazda has announced the return of their rotary-engine  RX sports car line with the 2019 RX-VISION concept car as well as practically confirming a new car– the RX9.

This means that if we, the people, just make enough noise, then there may be another chance for the Crossfire.

Until then, we’ll just have to deal with what we’ve got– the comparatively few production models that already exist out there, and seeing the car appear in tv shows such as The Flash and games such as Forza Motorsport 4.

Body Kits and Car Modification

Body kits and upgrades can be great ways to personalize your ride. Some cars, such as muscle cars, use body kits to make their already fearsome looks even more pronounced. However, for every well-modified Mustang there tend to be several cars out there with owners that have no sense of style whatsoever. Some body and modifications kits work, others don’t. Let’s take a look at some of them.

2002 C5 Corvette (fifth generation)

To be completely honest, the fifth generation of Chevrolet Corvette was never that good looking to begin with. In production from 1997 to 2005, the Corvette C5 reeked of lazy 90s car design. That being said, this body kit doesn’t really help matters. Not only is it badly put on, but the multiple spoilers on the back of the car will give you enough room to mount a surfboard, ironing board, and several planks of wood, all without damaging the already terrible aerodynamics.

The only positive thing I can say about this one is that it at least provides good comedic value and gets a genuine laugh out of me.

Rating: 2/10

2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser

The Chrysler PT Cruiser was well known for being one of the ugliest cars in existence during its lifespan. Running from the turn of the century to 2010, the Cruiser was marketed as a sporty family car, but was actually anything but. It wasn’t very quick and the hideous looks meant that it wasn’t exactly very sporty. On top of that, the limited room and uncomfortable ride meant that it failed on the “family” aspect as well. The body kit here seeks to add a bit of flair to the Cruiser’s generally bland looks and, overall, it succeeds. It isn’t beautiful or anything, and I still would never consider buying one, but at least it has some personality now. 

Rating: 7/10

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertable

If the PT Cruiser was the spawn of hell, the convertible was the devil himself. Slow and awkward looking, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible remained one of the worst cars in its class throughout its ten year lifespan. In its final year, the optional V8 engine you could have fitted in the Cruiser was actually worth more than the car itself. So when it came to body modifications, there was nowhere to go but up. 

While not quite as good looking as the hard top Cruiser in the previous entry, this one at least tries to draw attention from the terrible roof line with a paint job that certainly catches the eye. The front, while rather odd looking with a body kit fender that doesn’t seem to fit properly, is still better than the original. As I said, nowhere to go but up. Still wouldn’t be caught dead in one though.

Rating: 5/10

2016 Ford Mustang RTR S5

Now this is a body kit done right. While it might have the look of a 2016 Ford Mustang GT at first glance, there are some subtle differences. Made by car modification company RTR, which literally stands for Ready To Rock, this body kit is made for their Mustang S5. Keeping the shape of the normal Mustang, the S5 ads small details such as interestingly shaped grill lights, a new front end, a reworked hood and front splitter. All of these features, together with the amazing styling and paint work, make for one beautiful and powerful muscle car.

Rating: 9/10

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Returning to the land of interesting mistakes hideous and eyesores for a brief moment, we find this absolute mess of a muscle car. Once a reasonably good looking 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, the owner has seen fit to transform it into any car owners worst nightmare. Sporting solid donk rims, an oversized hood and a disgusting gold-green paint job, even the comedic value of this car isn’t enough to save this one. It also loses several points because, unlike previous entries on the list such as the Corvette C5 and the PT Cruiser, the normal 2012 Camaro ZL1 isn’t actually a bad looking car.

Rating: 1/10

2002 Aston Martin Vanquish

Here we see the classic example of a beautiful cat being messed with in a way that was definitely never intended. In the late 90s and early 2000s, car design was seemingly stuck in a rut, with even the most stylish of car companies turning out complete duds. However, in 2002, the same year as Ferrari’s truly disastrous Maranello, Aston Martin released the Vanquish. The car was a thing of beauty, sleek and stunning with a brilliant V12 engine underneath. However, German car modification company Mansory decided it needed a different look. While not downright horrible, the car’s more squidgy body shape, along with  the black hood and roof, remind me of the awkward looking early 2000s Dodge Viper. While not bad, it just can’t hold a candle to the original.

1964/1965 Ford Mustang GT

Here we have an example of taking everything to the max. Wide-body wheel arches, check. New rims, check. Loads of new vents and a huge hood-scoop, check. However, even though it’s totally over the top in almost every way possible, it doesn’t look bad or awkward. Everything is done to show the power of the modified 5.0 liter Mustang V8 under the hood. A powerful look for a powerful car, enough said.

Rating: 10/10

2020 Porsche 718 Boxter

2020 Porsche Boxster 718

For years now, whenever someone hears the word Porsche, their mind most likely goes straight to the 911. Since its inception in 1963, this light yet powerful sports car has been the car that Porsche puts on all of its posters– the company’s flagship vehicle. And it’s amazing sales and long life prove that.

However, what if the $100,000 + price tag and nearly 200 mph top speed are a little too much for you? What if you want a Porsche that is a little bit softer? Well, if that’s the case then you may be in luck.

Porsche has been making its Boxster since 1996 and, for almost as long, it’s been known to be a little bit on the girly side. It has always felt like a watered down 911 convertible that, while it could always do more than 145 mph, you would never see it going anywhere quickly.

In 2016 however, Porsche gave the Boxster a design overhaul, completely redoing its styling in an attempt to differentiate it from the 911. And it worked. 2016’s Boxster, branded the 718, was simply beautiful,sporting a new, curvy design and smooth finish. Unlike the 911, the 2016 Boxster didn’t need harsh looks or a brutal engine note to sell. Instead, it sold on the promise of being the perfect open-top cruising convertible that could still, if driven correctly, pack enough of a punch to satisfy.

A 2016 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder (911 Paint Job)

From 2017 to 2019, the Boxster would become sleeker, bridging the gap between itself and the hard-top Porsche Cayman and, although it did this well, it lost some of the charm that made the 2016 718 so special.

However, I am happy to say that, in 2020, the 718 is back.

The new 718 Boxster takes many of its design cues from the 2016 model, while also taking inspiration from last year’s 911. The beautiful curves of the 2016 have returned, accompanied now by a set of air vents that seem to scream the company that made the GT2RS loud and proud. It’s also considerably lower than previous models, resting three inches closer to the ground than the old Boxster, giving it a much sportier look.

A 2020 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder (Guards Red)

The car has been upgraded under the hood as well, now featuring a 414 horsepower 3.0 Liter turbo four-cylinder engine as standard, with more powerful engines being available in higher class models.

The base model 718 Boxster can reach a top speed of 170 mph and features a choice of two gearboxes, the standard six-speed manual or Porsche’s new 7-speed automatic. No matter which choice you go with though, going from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds will always be fun.

The new 718 bests the old model when it comes to fuel economy too, averaging 28 mpg on the highway. While that might not be great when compared to something like a 2019 Toyota Camry, you have to remember that the Camry is a mileage-based family car, whereas the Boxster is a non-hybrid, convertible sports car. 

But now we get to probably one of the biggest concerns when it comes to buying a car like this– the price.

As I have already stated, the cost of the new 2020 Porsche 911 starts at over $100,000, but the real question is, how much will it cost you to buy a beautiful sports car with a top speed of 170 mph? Well, in the case of the base model 2020 Boxster 718, $61,000.