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Chrysler roadster fun, but it’s big and expensive

At 3,140 pounds, the new 2005 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster is just too heavy. It’s a couple of hundred pounds heftier than the manual-transmission version of the Porsche Boxster or the BMW Z4.

And, at $40,000, I still think it’s too expensive. Although much cheaper than comparable European roadsters, it’s $4,000 more than the very nice Nissan 350Z convertible.

And it has such a cramped interior that I managed to knock over a cup of coffee as the fairly worthless cup holder proved no match for my powerful elbow.

But, sometimes, just looking at a car’s specification sheet, or its pricing label, or even the spilled coffee on the passenger floorboard doesn’t tell the whole story.

That’s because I really love the new Crossfire Roadster. I drove one that was painted aero blue for a week, and I think it’s a beautiful car, and one that’s unmatched from the domestic automakers.

Of course, some would argue that Chrysler isn’t really one of the Big Three anymore, since it’s part of the German-run DaimlerChrysler that also owns Mercedes-Benz. And that argument has merit in this case because much of the Crossfire — first the coupe that appeared in 2003 and now the roadster that went on sale in April — shares much mechanically with the Mercedes SLK roadster. That includes the car’s 215 horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 engine.

But, just like a South Korean-built Aveo is a Chevrolet, the German-built Crossfire is a Chrysler in my book, and to the folks who will go to their neighborhood Chevy and Chrysler showrooms to buy them, I suspect.

And, whether you think of it as an Americanized Mercedes or a Germanized Chrysler, the Crossfire is wonderful — both to drive and to look at.

Its design doesn’t stray far from the first-to-appear coupe. That means a boat-tail rear end and a signature crease that goes down the center of the car, both on the outside (along its long hood and over its short trunk) and the inside (dash and shift knob).

But, once the top comes down — power-operated, it takes 22 seconds after a gentle push upward — it comes to life as a classy statement that’s perhaps not quite as evident on the coupe. This includes metallic-finish sport bars and a contoured tonneau cover.

This car is sleek and sophisticated. It looks fast, thanks to wheels that are bigger in back and its centered dual exhaust.

In fact, the speed-activated spoiler is the only imperfect note on the exterior.

The inside of the Crossfire is pretty, too, with a nice mix of metallic trim and high-quality plastic. The seats are leather bucket, but there’s no wood trim here, and that’s a fine decision.

On the road, the Crossfire Roadster handles precisely and feels very solid, with virtually no rattle and shake. The six-speed manual — a five-speed automatic with AutoStick is offered, and actually g ets better gas mileage — felt perfectly in sync with its very short throws.

But, this car is more tourer than torchbearer. The 3.2-liter V-6 makes 215 horses and 229 pound-feet of torque. That’ll be plenty fast for plenty of drivers, but probably too little for a true enthusiast.

Chrysler emphasizes that the Crossfire tops the Boxster, Audi TT Quattro and Z4 in torque ratings, but that’s because it loses in the horsepower numbers game to all three. Nissan’s 350Z convertible, in comparison, gets 287 horsepower and 274 pound-feet of torque from its 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

Still, the rise and fall of sporty cars like the Porsche Boxster show that mercurial taste rules this segment, and the Crossfire earns the crown as the new kid on the block.

Will Chrysler buyers pony up $40,000? In time, I think they will. The Crossfire Roadster might attract some Mercedes-Benz buyers, too, especially when they consider that a 2004 SLK320 costs $7,000 more than th Chrysler equivalent.

Cars such as this one, as well as the forthcoming high-performance SRT-6 versions of the Crossfire and the HEMIpowered 300C sedan, foretell a shift in the type of buyers showing up in Chrysler showrooms.

The company stumbled a bit when it introduced the Pacifica sports wagon last year, but a strong string of products like the 2005 Crossfire Roadster should lead to sales success.