Chrysler Viper Reviews

Holden has its HSV, Ford their FPV, Mercedes-Benz their AMG.Now American car company Chrysler is introducing us to SRT. We are the first country outside North America to get them.SRT stands for "Street and Racing Technology", not street racing technology. In these days of anti-hoon legislation that "and" makes an important distinction.The first SRT-branded vehicles to hit our shores are the Crossfire Coupe and Roadster SRT-6.As if the standard Crossfire wasn't sporty enough, this model receives the benefit of Chrysler's extensive motorsports, Dodge Viper development and Mopar Performance Parts expertise. That's the "racing" part of SRT.That means a hand-built 3.2-litre, supercharged V6 engine with 246kW of power, up a whopping 86kW on the "base" model, and 420Nm of torque, up 110Nm.There is much more to this German-built autobahn buster, such as race-tuned suspension, a bigger fixed rear wing, SRT badging and trim details and sportier seats, all for an extra $16,000.The standard Crossfire was a competitive package at $69,990 for the Coupe and $75,990 for the Roadster against the Mazda RX-8 ($54,465-$63,030) and Nissan 350Z ($59,990-$73,790).But at $85,990 for the Coupe and $91,990 for the Roadster the SRT-6 is a cheap and attractive option for those seeking a real exotic gran turismo road machine, like the 206kW Porsche Boxster S at $139,500 or the 170kW BMW Z4 ($86,000-$88,600). Especially since it is basically the AMG engine, chassis and more from the previous-generation Benz SLK roadster. And remember, the previous model SLK 32 AMG with this engine cost $154,000.Some may say it looks even better than the SLK in its American-designed skin. I'm not a keen fan of American automobile design — too detailed and flashy. Yet it was love at first sight with most of the Crossfire . . . it took a while for the "creased" bonnet to grow on me.Now I appreciate its distinctive look. Those crease marks up the bonnet and down the side are the sorts of lines cartoonists draw to make cars look like they are going fast. Not that it needs crease marks to look quick. Try 0 to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds.But all that go without whoa would be simply antisocial, so SRT uprated the brakes to 330mm/300mm ventilated discs with dual calipers front and back.Likewise stomp without handling is useless, so this one gets super-stiff suspension to match the supercharged firepower beneath the bonnet.The suspension set-up was tested on the autobahn, race tracks and high-speed ovals (that's supposedly the "street" part of SRT), but it obviously wasn't tested in the back streets around my place where the speed bumps grow like mushrooms.So taut are the suspenders that you can take the speed bumps at a reasonable clip without scraping the low front dam because there is simply no give in the springs.That translates to a bone-jarring ride through the ultra-firm seats. And in the Roadster I drove it also translates to a lot of shake and rattle without the roll.The Roadster actually has "softer" spring rates than the Coupe SRT, so that must be a real fillings rattler.That harsh ride is rewarded on smooth surfaces where speed and adhesion go hand in hand with the electronic stability program to save you from instantaneous trauma when you touch the loud pedal and tweak the wheel.All round, a great muscle machine in an attractive package.My only complaints are no sound system controls on the steering wheel and volume on the left of the stereo, plus flimsy plastic switches and knobs that are typical of all Chryslers.

The Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 coupe offers sensational acceleration and handling and will keep more fancied runners in the high performance segment honest.Here is a car with enough kick in the tail to sprint from 0-100kmh in five seconds but that's only part of the story. Being supercharged means no waiting for boost to kick in as with a turbo engine. The Crossy SRT6 delivers truckloads of torque right off idle and it's there through the entire engine rev range. Push the throttle and away she goes, push harder and it goes harder. Instant grunt – there's nothing quite like it.The engine is based on the regular Crossfire with necessary reinforcements to cope with being force fed. It runs as smooth as silk and hardly makes any noise unless the taps are opened.Fuel economy is better than a V8, significantly better if you drive steadily.Power goes through a strengthened five speed automatic transmission with a number of electronic modulations to keep everything in control including Electronic Stability Program (ESP).There's a sequential shift mode if you want to play manuals.Suspension upgrades include stiffer springs and firmer damping to cope with the extra loads a 53 per cent jump in power bring.The brakes are similarly upgraded.Inside has a sporty flavour and extensive luxury features right down to heated seats. The exterior changes from the regular Crossy with a large fixed rear wing and different wheels among other detail changes.The SRT6 is in against a slew of tidy sports coupes, all of which it will see off in terms of acceleration, mid-range response and quite possibly handling.And at $85,990, it undercuts them on price by thousands of dollars, tens of thousands in some cases. 

Drawing alongside as we cruised down the motorway, he wound down his window to find out exactly what kind of car it was that we were driving?Of course he could see that it was a Chrysler Crossfire, the soft-topped roadster to be exact – but that's all he knew."It's the SRT," I shouted back, struggling to be heard above the roar of two high perform- ance engines."What's that mean?" he asked."246kW," I shouted back."Oh . . ."The SRT (Street and Racing Technology) is the supercharged, high performance of the car. Chrysler's equivalent of HSV.It's good for 250km/h and will tear from standstill to 100km/h in an amazing 5 seconds flat.That's very quick.It's faster than any HSV and, in fact, faster than a Porsche Boxster S which at $132,500 is considerably more expensive and doesn't perform anywhere near as well.The Porsche at 206kW is good for 5.5 seconds but is not speed limited to 250km/h the way the Chrysler is.The Coupe is a bit slower again.Did I mention the Crossfire Roadster SRT costs $91,990 ($85,990 for the coupe)?SRT is the mob that brought us the scintillating Dodge Viper a couple of years back.It was created to boost the performance image of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles and it has done a pretty good job of doing that.To go with the Crossfire, there will be SRT versions of the Grand Cherokee and soon to be released Chrysler 300C.The supercharged SRT engine produces 53 per cent more power than a standard Crossfire.The cars are built in Germany and the hand- built 3.2-litre Benz engine is paired with a five- speed sequential auto.There's no manual and after driving the car, we can say truthfully there's no real need for one either.With 420Nm of torque to play with, the quick changing auto does a superb job of getting the car mobile, with a nudge sideways for quick change downs.If the original car didn't turn heads (we've never been able to work out why), this one is certainly going to make performance hungry Aussies sit up and take notice.Of course there's a stiffer ride and less understeer to go with all this extra power, plus some huge 19 inch rubber and a neck-snapping set of dual piston brakes front and rear.Keeping it all glued to the road is electronic stability control.All we can say is thank God someone is producing cars with character.Car watchers be warned, however, there's not much to distinguish the car from the standard one, apart from a small SRT badge and large fixed rear spoiler. 

Attracting a $16,000 premium over the normally aspirated model, the new SRT-6 boasts a hand-built supercharged 3.2-litre V6, which produces 246kW of power and 420Nm of torque. The AMG-built engine (the performance arm of Mercedes-Benz) was previously in the Mercedes-Benz C32.The SRT-6 features a helical supercharger and delivers 90 per cent of peak torque from 2300rpm to 6200rpm. The upgraded tiptronic-style, five-speed auto provides a great drive but lack of a manual option is lamented.Gear changes are smooth and swift, but on some occasions, in traffic for example, the gearbox was left hunting. Along with extra performance, SRT cars were created to boost the image of Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge. The US has 10 SRT cars including a Dodge Charger SRT-8, Dodge Viper SRT-10, Chrysler 300C SRT-8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8. The ideology behind the SRT badging focuses on five main cues: powertrain, ride and handling, braking, exterior, and the interior appointments.The SRT-6 costs $85,990 for the Coupe and $91,990 for the Roadster.The SRT-6 has stiffer suspension for a sportier ride and reduced understeer. The spring rates have been significantly increased and the suspension uses performance-tuned damping and a gripping compound on Crossfire's high-performance Z-rated tyres. The electronic stability program (ESP) is less intrusive than the base Crossfire.Power is at a premium – put your foot down and you are up to 100km/h in a little more than five seconds. But, with the ESP system off in the dry, minimal acceleration causes the car to kick sideways despite the huge 19-inch alloys on the rear.The SRT-6 has internally ventilated disc brakes on all four corners with dual-piston calipers on the front and rear, which Chrysler claims equates to a braking distance of just 35m from 100km/h to zero.This car looks like a high-powered performance machine. The most noticeable feature is the fixed rear spoiler, which replaces the pop-up, pint-sized one on the base model.The more aggressively styled front spoiler reduces lift and enhances vehicle balance, while providing greater cooling airflow.The SRT-6 sits on 18-inch alloys on the front and 19-inch on the rear.It is available in four colours: sapphire silver, graphite, black and aero blue.The race seats are a little hard but are supportive thanks to the suede inserts and bolsters, and feature the SRT-6 logo on the headrests. Other than grey stitching on the seats and steering wheel and a new 320km/h instrument cluster, the interior is the same as the base model. However the lack of a full-sized spare wheel is a disappointment.The fabric top on the Roadster test car is partially electric. To release the roof the occupant must pull down a lever before the electronic system will engage. While it may be the middle of winter our unseasonably warm weather meant the top could be dropped without the outer extremities turning blue. The heated seats were nice and cosy, but with the windows up and the roof down it is still necessary to don a hat to stop the hair flying in the driver's face.The sound system incorporates a 240-watt digital amplifier (six speakers including dual subwoofers) and pumps pretty hard.

Amid the glamour of new models, star cars from the past add variety and a sense of history to the Motor Show.Always a favourite with the crowds, the 2006 Shannons Insurance and Auctions display highlighted the growing popularity amongst collectors of Aussie muscle cars from the 1960s and ’70s.According to Shannons, cashed-up Baby Boomers are driving muscle cars to record prices at auction. Several such cars, including an original one-owner 1971 Valiant Charger E38, were offered at Shannons’ traditional motor show auction – held on the last afternoon of the Show.Shannons 2007 Auction Items

The look hasn't changed; full points for still being one of the funkiest cars on the road – especially with a front grille that looks like a big grin and chrome door handles with buttons.And the PT feels the same – until you put your foot down. What's under the bonnet is bigger and better. Chrysler has responded to criticisms that the Cruiser was underpowered by upping the ante with a 2.4-litre engine.There's more torque in this 16-valve, four-cylinder version. The engine no longer feels like its struggling to pull the big body of the PT.And the gears are tight in the five-speed manual ... "as tight as Pinky Tuscadaro's butt", quips a male friend of mine. (Apologies to anyone who didn't watch Happy Days ... or its re-runs).Those who already own PTs – especially the 122 die-hard enthusiasts in the PT Cruiser Car Club – will tell you that the bigger engine isn't the only attraction for their much-loved cars. It's the whole package that sets their spark plugs firing. In my eyes, though, grunt is good. More grunt? Well, that can only be Grrroovy.Whoops, sorry, wrong era. But there's a lot of that going on when you're talking about the Cruiser.Most people think 1950s ... a car to go with big skirts, bobbysocks and stovepipe pants.Others say we should be thinking more along the lines of gangster cars in the vein of Bonny and Clyde or Al Capone.But I'm told that the PT was actually styled on a 1940s' car.To save confusion, picture someone in the '50s, restoring a prewar 1940s' car. Then transport it to 2005, upgrade the engine and add the latest gadgets such as airbags, power windows, a sunroof, adjustable armrests, side mirrors that fold in like cute ears, cruise control – even seat warmers – and you have a funk-mobile that's still turning heads. Love it or hate it, the Cruiser does command attention.Inside, the black leather and suede-trim seats, sleek silver dash, cue-ball knob on the gearstick and holes in side-door pockets add to "the" look.But enough talking, I'm ready to rock and roll.SEAT-BELT warning – as loud and annoying as it is – it does its job very well.Seats in the back fold down and clip out to make the boot space even bigger.IT has a big turning circle that takes a while to get used to.Lack of lighting on the instrument panel and in the glove box.

Chrysler trod a different styling path with its retro turn in the late 1990s. It was a calculated gamble to revive its flagging brands by tapping into a nostalgia craze, particularly in America where cars like the Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler and Chrysler PT Cruiser were met with wild enthusiasm.Chrysler designers unashamedly looked to the 1930s for their inspiration for the PT Cruiser. They'd wowed show crowds with their modern interpretation of the American hot rod with the Plymouth Prowler, which for a time revived interest in the Plymouth brand, and the Cruiser was conceived to do the same thing for Chrysler which was also struggling to appeal to younger buyers.The designers' stated aim was to produce a car with the external dimensions of a small car and the interior space of a much larger vehicle. The key to the Cruiser's appeal is its clever interior which, in a matter of a few seconds, can be converted from a one-passenger cargo carrier to a full five-seater family wagon. It's all thanks to its seats, which can be moved, folded or even removed.In total, Chrysler claimed there were more than 25 possible seating configurations.  While Americans could buy a Cruiser with a 2.4-litre engine, export markets had to make do with a smaller 2.0-litre unit.The 2.0-litre engine was a double overhead camshaft fuel-injected unit with four valves per cylinder which put out 104kW at 5600rpm and 186Nm at 4400rpm. Buyers could choose from a five-speed manual or four-speed auto. Performance was adequate for a small car, although looks suggested it was a performer.Its ride was comfortable, it handled predictably and with precision, and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS ensured it stopped well. Chrysler offered the Cruiser in two models, the Classic and Limited. Included in the Classic were dual frontal airbags, air-conditioning, remote central locking, power windows, CD player, traction control and power driver's seat height adjustment.Add to that front side-airbags, chrome alloys, suede/leather trim, front fog lights and a leather-wrapped wheel and you had the Limited. Anyone who felt particularly nostalgic could add one of a number of graphics kits Chrysler offered. These ranged from stripes and scallops to flames.Early cars are approaching the first major service that will require a timing belt change, so be aware of the extra cost of that service. Generally the Cruiser seems to give little trouble, the engine and gearbox stand the test of time quite well.Take a look under the oil filler cap for signs of sludge that would indicate missed services, also remove the oil dip stick and check the state of the oil in the sump.The oil should be clear, not dark or with obvious contaminants. When driving, observe the automatic transmission for heavy shifts or flaring during shifts and make sure the manual shifts smoothly. Also on manuals make sure there's some free play at the top of the clutch pedal travel, and that the clutch fully releases. Inspect the interior for signs of damage from commercial use.The Cruiser has a well-proven chassis package with four-wheel discs, along with ABS and traction control for crash avoidance, and an array of airbags for protection in the crunch.All models feature front airbags for the driver and front seat passenger, and the Limited has front side airbags for added protection of driver and passenger.Worth a look if you need a versatile vehicle, but its flashy styling means you must be able to stand being in the spotlight.

Moving the masses was reflected in a significant milestone achieved by the American car maker in March when it chalked up its 11 millionth people mover sale.It invented this segment more than 20 years ago and in some markets the people mover segment dominates its business.Transactions in this class are a little slower in Australia.In the first quarter of 2005, 233 Voyagers were sold.The Voyager is not the cheapest player in the market especially against the likes of the budget Kia Carnival or the competent four-cylinder Honda Odyssey.Mind you, Toyota's bottom spec Tarago commands a hefty price coming in at a little more than $50,000.These days the Voyager is smarter. It is armed with a stow 'n go system enabling the second and third rows of seats can be folded and stored underneath the floor.So in no time at all mum's taxi can be turned into dad's van.Together with the flexibility of a multi-purpose cabin, the Voyager also gains safety improvements.There are now side curtain airbags that offer protection for all three rows.This has helped the Voyager gain the maximum five-star rating for side impact collisions awarded by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US.Bits and pieces freshened on the exterior of the Voyager include a new grille, quad projector headlamps, new body mouldings and wheel covers.Out on the road the 3.3-litre V6 is quiet and refined and has strong kickdown response.It rides well over bumps and lumps, offering plenty of cushioning for occupants.Complaints from some passengers suggest Chrysler could do with adding grab handles. Even at low speeds occupants were swaying around in their seats.This front-wheel-drive Voyager is biased towards under steer.Handling is otherwise sound and for a big, heavy vehicle it pulls up well under emergency braking.Without lugging any load on this test the car at times, particularly up gradients, felt heavy and bulky. One would think performance and fuel consumption would be put to the test when the Voyager was fully loaded.On this 900km test of mainly free-wheeling on the highway with about 100km running around the 'burbs, the Voyager sounded its low fuel warning chime and illuminated the fuel light at 450km.It was chewing close to 15litres/100km without doing the heavier work it's designed to do, hauling people and gear.Overall the Voyager wins brownie points for flexibility.On the downside you are paying a hefty initial price and while it comes with a three year/100,000km warranty that includes 24-hour Chrysler Car roadside assistance, day-to-day running costs might be worth perusing.

It has some real, useable luggage space behind the third row of seats.This is unusual because most of the large people movers have 500mm or less with the third seat in use, and it can be a struggle to fit in something the esky for a picnic.Also, for what is ostensibly a family wagon, it makes it pretty difficult to pack up and take the tribe on hols without taking a trailer or using an expensive, roof-mounted luggage pod.Even more impressive is Voyager's new "Stow n Go" system that allows both second and third row seats to be folded. tumbled and hidden completely out of sight beneath the cabin floor.With the seats upright, the storage bins below offer an additional 340 litres of storage space.In some people movers you can stow the third row under the floor, but Chrysler is the only company to offer the facility for both rows.As you can image, with both rows of seats tucked away, the Voyager has a huge flat load area suitable for carrying larger items like furniture.We were impressed last time we drove Voyager, particularly with the car's whisper quiet ride.Our test vehicle, the base model Grand Voyager (they're all Grand/long wheelbase models now) exhibits the same kind of refinement.The extra 288mm length (5096mm versus 4808mm) and the addition of Stow and Go takes the car to another level.However, Voyager is certainly not aimed at the budget end of the market, not with a starting price of $55,990.And the size of the car sometimes works against it, particularly when it comes to parking.The seven-seat Voyager is powered by a 3.3-litre petrol V6 that delivers 128kW of power and 278Nm of torque.Transmission is a traditional four-speed auto operated even more traditionally by a column mounted shift.Sorry Chrysler but this is just a bit too American for our tastes and can be fiddly to operate.It works well enough but most manufac- turers are now offering five cogs with their autos.The car also lacks a driver's footrest, probably a victim of the change from left to right hand drive.Chrysler needs to address both items plus Voyager's fuel consumption could be an issue.Claimed fuel use is 13.3L/100km, but in real world driving it gets more like 15.7L which is excessive.On the safety front Voyager scores a maximum five-star safety rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis- tration.Standard equipment includes three-row sup- plemental side curtain airbags, advanced multi- stage front air bags, ABS and three-zone airconditioning. 

23 June 2006 Cruiser Cabrio - you are the sunshine of my life02 Jul 2005 Happiness is a bit of funk02 Mar 2005 Back to the '50s05 Feb 2005 Passion for retro fashion|http://search.carsguide.news.com.au/news/research/specifications/search-results.do?pageSize=&clearCompare=true&make=CHRYSLER&model=PT+CRUISER&year=2004 |http://search.carsguide.news.com.au/news/find-a-car/power-search/search-results.do?searchType=5&clearCompare=true&view=1&make=CHRYSLER&model=PT+CRUISER&priceFrom=&priceTo=