When we think of bargain luxury sports cars, we often draw up images of a peppy foreign model from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Audi, with many of their models carrying massive discounts on the used market. However, there are a few early-2000s American models that deliver an upmarket experience as well as a sporty experience, including the Cadillac CTS-V and the Buick Park Avenue Ultra.

Chrysler, an American luxury manufacturer with decades of luxury excellence, introduced a model in the early 2000s that was essentially the child of their partnership with Daimler-Benz. And while it didn’t take the world by storm, it left buyers with a niche model that had a noteworthy background. Not to mention, it spawned a supercharged model carrying the venerable SRT designation.

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The 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 Is A Rare Coupe With Heavy German Influence

The Chrysler Crossfire was first introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model, and was heavily based on the first-gen Mercedes-Benz SLK. In fact, Chrysler claimed about 40 percent of the Crossfire was Mercedes SLK, with buyers and enthusiasts saying “everything but the paint” when accounting for the German manufacturer’s influence. Regardless, the Chrysler Crossfire is known as a German-built American luxury car thanks to its exterior styling and, later on, sporty upgrades.

2005 Chrysler Crossfire Specs

Speaking of those sporty upgrades, the standard Crossfire didn’t have much bite when it came to power and performance, with its base Mercedes-Benz V-6 making 215 horsepower. Though just one year later, the Crossfire would get the added power it so desperately needed to compete with the popular sports cars in its segment, like the Nissan 350Z, Audi TT, Mazda RX-8, and Infiniti G35. The 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 upped the power and the road ability, while giving the sleek roadster an aggressive facelift that complimented its newly-found ferocity.

Driving Was Tuned For Powerful Precision

Under the hood of the 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 was a hand-built supercharged 3.2-liter Mercedes-Benz AMG M112 V-6 that delivered 115 more horsepower than the base Crossfire thanks to a Japanese-built IHI supercharger. That said, the standard, non-supercharged Crossfire provides a less dominant driving experience, but a spirited one nonetheless. This is thanks to the standard front and rear independent suspension with double wishbone fronts and multilink rears, massive Michelin Pilot Sport radials with 225 up front and 255 in the rear. All that said, the biggest draw the non-SRT6 model has going for it is its manual transmission option – a feature that is criminally omitted from the SRT6 variant.

The ride quality is described as being stiff and course over road obstructions. While this is by design, in order to “tighten up” the road demeanor, it often turns off its target audience, who likely won’t spend as much time at the track as they would zipping down the city strip on Friday night. Regardless, it handles its power well and delivers a significant power boost over the standard V-6 without adding too much extra weight. When tested by Car And Driver, the 2005 Crossfire SRT6 was able to eat a quarter-mile drag strip in 13.5 seconds at 107 MPH, which isn’t mind-boggling, but it is noteworthy for a bargain used luxury sports car.

The Crossfire SRT6 Marked A Unique Time In Auto History

The partnership between Daimler-Benz and Chrysler was less than a decade old when the Crossfire arrived in 2003, though the collab product was long overdue as far as enthusiasts were concerned, with many expecting some German/American creations to start sprouting from trees much sooner. The Crossfire SRT6 was more akin to the images many were conjuring up when picturing the partnership’s results, and it didn’t disappoint in the performance department. The cabin was modestly equipped, with standard features including:

• Leather/faux-suede upholstery
• Power front seats
• Cruise control
• GPS
• CD Player
• Sporty seats accents (SRT6)

The 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 was the first Chrysler to feature SRT upgrades, which had been previously reserved for high-performance Dodge models. It was also the only SRT model to feature a non-SRT engine. Upgrades included a sport-tuned chassis with stiffer suspension and spring rates, performance-tuned dampers, larger brakes, re-tuned steering, and a sport-tuned electronic steering program (ESP). These upgrades allowed the German-built sports car to behave more like a spirited American coupe, which made its blue-blood Art Deco styling cues even more Gatsby-eque.

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Chrysler Crossfire Average Used Market Value

Chrysler produced the Crossfire from 2003 up until 2008, with the model failing to gain traction after its initial release. When new, the 2004 model started at $35,570, though it can be bought for far less than half of that nowadays. According to KBB, the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire had depreciated by 13 percent in the last three years, resulting in an average resale price of $4,259. While this price doesn’t hold true for every example, many used offers don’t exceed $10,000.

The price of a used Chrysler Crossfire depends on the condition of the vehicle as well as the model year, with some later models fetching more than $10,000. Those looking to grab a supercharged 2005 Crossfire SRT6 should note that the price is substantially higher, with averages sitting around $17,144 to $18,200. Still, it stands as a bargain considering its rarity. According to Hagerty, there were less than 5,000 Crossfire SRT6 examples produced.

Reliability And Long-Term Ownership

The Chrysler Crossfire’s annual maintenance costs are $422 on average. RepairPal ranks Chrysler, as a brand, 11th out of 32 car brands, which, while an average score, far outpaces its Euro rivals. The same could be said about its 10-year maintenance costs and repair severity, as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi models all cost more to own and maintain than on average – though you must take into consideration the German-built properties of the Crossfire. That said, rivals from Japan, like the Nissan 350Z, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Mazda RX-8, outpace the Crossfire in terms of reliability and cheap maintenance. Still, there is plenty of aftermarket support for the Crossfire coupe, which increases its viability on the second-hand market.

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The Crossfire’s Lasting Legacy

While it didn’t end up being a runaway hit, it did signify an increased push for performance in the American luxury market, with models like the Chrysler 300 SRT8 and Cadillac V Series capitalizing in the following years, the latter of which was just beginning its journey around the same time the Crossfire SRT6 made the scene. Today, we’re blessed with modern luxury performance machines like Cadillac’s V Series Blackwing sedans and the Chrysler 300 C, which features real American muscle car engines and high-intensity performance ability. However, in the early 2000s, modern performance luxury was often limited to European brands.

The Crossfire Is Gaining A Following

KBB, Edmunds, Cars.com, and more all offer owners to voice their opinions regarding almost every model, the Chrysler Crossfire included. Unsurprisingly, the responses to the Crossfire are overwhelmingly positive, with owners praising its affordability, performance, style, and value in the decades following its demise. While not all reviews are positive, KBB reports a 93-percent recommendation rate, with 79 percent of reviews giving the Crossfire a five out of five rating.

The SRT6 variant, in particular, has become somewhat of a highly sought-after unicorn, in the sense that it’s definitely rare, and even more so in tip-top condition. Hagerty reports that sales of Chrysler Crossfires have more than doubled from 2018 to 2023, possibly signifying its slow transition to “collector” status. That said, the buyer base seems to hold steady, with most buyers falling under the Boomer generation – a common trend with affordable sports coupes, like the Mazda Miata and Pontiac Solstice. But don’t let the demographic figures dissuade you, as the Chrysler Crossfire is more than just a mid-life crisis indicator, it’s a rare German-built, Americanized luxury sports car that won’t break the bank.