2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Roadster

2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Roadster (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

The seats are well bolstered but not stiff, and the seat warmers are fantastic. The Infiniti Modulus stereo system will easily drown out those common in most Civic Hatchbacks with undercarriage lighting and excessive stickering. With the roof down, you could let everyone hear what you are listening to for a good two or three blocks. It's even got two built-in subwoofers, one behind each seat, hidden out of the way. From Air Supply to ZZ Top, whichever CD you listen to sounds glorious.

The roof disappears in about 20 seconds at the touch of a button. Simply pull and twist a central latch on the roof above you, give it a little push, and hold a button down until the 20-second-long mechanical sideshow finishes swallowing up the roof and storing it neatly behind you. If you really like attention, do this at a stoplight and watch people's heads sticking out of their windows for a better look. Top-down driving is a real treat, with minimal wind noise and powerful heat. The seat warmers get you from behind, while the SRT6's heater is powerful enough to cook with. Top down driving in November? No problem.

2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Roadster (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com)

With a roof taking up a large amount of room in the back, trunk space tends to suffer. In this case though, you can fold a divider backwards, so long as the roof is up, and have a decent amount of trunk space for a full load of groceries, some hockey equipment or even a weekends worth of gear if you pack lightly. With the roof down, the divider must be in its forward position, giving limited space for anything more than a few bags. The divider has sensors that ensure it won't be in the way if the roof closes, ensuring nothing gets damaged just in case. Though the trunk isn't large enough to fit a person inside, there is still a little glow-in-the-dark escape handle which can be pulled just in case.

Aimed at performance enthusiasts who want luxury and everyday civility in a package that also delivers blistering performance figures, the SRT6 seamlessly blends two completely different ingredients into a stealthy, executive package. An interesting split personality exists as a result. On one hand, it will cruise along slowly, shifting at 2,000 RPM or less depending on how heavy your right foot happens to be feeling. You can take in the scenery with the roof down, listen to the magnificent stereo, and be cuddled by the power adjustable and heated suede seats. Give the gas pedal a poke and the SRT6 portion of this Crossfire comes to life.

The V6 engine in the regular model creates a healthy 215 horsepower, but that isn't enough for the SRT team. Remember, these people really want you to have a really fast car. They have installed a Mercedes-AMG Supercharged 3.2-liter V6 which creates an eyeball flattening 330 horsepower. It's a hand-built engine, made with tender loving care by German craftsmen, and it is a masterpiece. The Germans are very serious about their trades, as well as their hand-made hardware, and it shows with every breath this engine takes. Low RPM cruising creates a noticeable and deep sounding rumble from the tuned exhaust system, turning heads every time you set off from a light. At full blast, this engine sounds irate as the supercharger kicks up boost, rocketing you along with

2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Roadster (Photo: Chris Pritchard)

a childish grin on your face and keeping your torso glued to the suede for as long as you hold your foot down. The ponies come on instantly, backed up by enough torque to squeeze the air out of your lungs--I've driven V8 powered cars without so much low end torque. There is so much of it that if you drive the SRT6 for long enough, you'll look years younger. Pressing the accelerator has the same wrinkle reducing effect as a facelift, but without the scalpel. The helical blower mechanism doesn't make very much noise- there is no whine to speak of at any RPM, just incredible thrust accented by an incredible sound. Every so often in city driving you can hear a little puff or whine from the blower when shifting gears, but for the sake of discussion, the supercharger does its job in total silence.