I've always wondered...

"The Transporter" (transporter)
07/23/2014 at 18:52 • Filed to: None

...if this thing was really as bad as Clarkson made it out to be. On the surface it appears to be the most Jalop thing to ever Jalop. Mercedes V6 up front delivering power through a manual transmission to the rear wheels as the good Lord intended. The coupe version was a shooting brake and the roadster was basically the Miata's older brother. The only fault I can find on paper is that its a bit down on power, but so are the Miata and the Toyobaru twins. Clarkson always goes out of his way to make American cars look worse than they are (even though the Crossfire was basically a Mercedes SLK in a Chrysler dress and was manufactured in Germany by Karmann, but he never lets facts get in the way of a good story), even if they don't really deserve it. I can't trust his review of it, so the question remains. Was it really that bad of a car?

DISCUSSION (41)

Milky > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:54

#InB4BashFest

Bad Idea Hat > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:55

This is the other car that makes me consider overlooking my family's "no Chrysler products" motto.

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:56

They will be increasingly hard to find and likely very collectable in not too long of time. As far as Clarkson goes, if it comes from across the Atlantic he isn't going to like it, or at least every little thing wrong with it. I imagine the Supercharged V6 SRT has some get up and go though.

jkm7680 > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:56

A fellow Opponaut has one if I recall correctly. I've always had a soft spot for them, especially in black. The SRT-6 seemed good also. Even if they are basically plastic-ier Mercedes Slk.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:56

It's an SLK under the skin, there's no way in hell it could be that horrible.

I'd totally drive a Crossfire roadster.

Conan > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:57

I love mine. They pull a g at the skidpad stock. There's not that much in the way of modification opportunities unless you have the terrible automatic with the base engine or the slightly less terrible automatic that was the only option for the SRT-6 though.

Mine was manufactured in Belgium however.

ly2v8-Brian > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:57

Good question. All the press seemed meh about it. But it is a good looking roadster. I think it's the badge, the press love making Chrysler products sound worse than they are.

Mercedes Streeter > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:58

No, and yes. Clarkson drove the car a few times in different episodes. The final verdict was that he liked things like the power and styling, but hated the build quality and numb steering. Apparently, they don't handle as good as they should as well. Or I'm told...

Despite that, I'd DD one so hard...

EL_ULY > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 18:59

The things Clarkson says I categories as Youtube comment section level of quality.

But the kids love it. Europe can do no wrong in the car world, according to Clarkson

Jedidiah > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 19:02

They don't have many American cars overseas; so Clarkson can make fun of them without reprocussions.

It allows him to make jokes and comments that he wouldn't otherwise be able to. It seems that what Top Gear thinks about a car depends on how big of a joke they can make about it.

They have to entice viewers with humour and it is easy to make fun of something that your audience knows a limited amount of information about.

The Transporter > Mercedes Streeter
07/23/2014 at 19:02

Shoddy interior materials were a given during the Daimler Chrysler era.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 19:07

Read/watch Clarkson car reviews with a grain of salt.

But to answer your question, no these cars are not bad. I drove/tested one for ~50 miles. Handles okay, adequate power, good sports car compared to others during the time

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jedidiah
07/23/2014 at 19:08

I, as an American, actually find it funny when they make fun of American cars. It's no secret our cars have plastic-y interiors and aren't always the best of quality.

lone_liberal > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 19:08

As I remember most reviewers thought that they were overpriced but not horrible cars.

Conan > Mercedes Streeter
07/23/2014 at 19:09

The internal build quality is far from the greatest. They handle quite well though.

Conan > Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
07/23/2014 at 19:12

I wish I'd bought one in spite of the automatic.

Jedidiah > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
07/23/2014 at 19:15

It's because we are dumb enough to keep buying that cheap crap. The USDM would rather have a touch screen sat-nav than a leather-wrapped dashboard. We want gimmicky 4 cylinders and v6s instead of smooth V8s. We want gizmos over craftsmenship and it shows in the stuff we buy. The level of percieved quality is different than it was a little more than half a century ago.

Anything designed for the modern US mass-market will feel cheap. Do Toyota Corollas and Honda Accords feel like quality vehicles? No.

The American big three have been stuggling financially for a long time and it shows. Chrysler was bled dry by Daimler and their quality suffered; GM has the worst management out of any company ever; and Ford was struggling to get back into the green for a long time.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jedidiah
07/23/2014 at 19:17

Exactly what I've been saying. That's what turns me off about newer US market cars. I don't want a touch screen, I want leather, a powerful engine, and a 6 speed. Build me a car with real quality and I'll buy it. The Euro market has been doing it better for a while.

Frank Grimes > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 19:17

I never could see the dog taking a dump. Also I like the art deco styling.

The Transporter > BrownMiataDieselWagon
07/23/2014 at 19:21

I've learned Clarkson's shtick. I understand most of what he says and does is for entertainment value, but it would be nice if TGUK could balance entertainment and information better than it does.

Thanks for the info about the car, though.

The Transporter > Frank Grimes
07/23/2014 at 19:21

And I don't golf, so that's a non-issue for me.

The Transporter > Jedidiah
07/23/2014 at 19:24

Actually, the interior quality of the 2014 Corolla isn't that bad, but your statement still applies to previous MY Corollas and Camrys as well.

The Transporter > Milky
07/23/2014 at 19:26

I'm kind of amazed that it didn't turn into a bash fest.

Jedidiah > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
07/23/2014 at 19:26

Unfortunately, nothing like that is mass produced anymore and you'd have to shell out big bucks for a low production vehicle. Even machines like Vipers and Bentleys are becoming plagued with gimmicky shit.

Interiors in mass produced cars are a facade; they are all made with the same manufacturing techniques regardless of whether they use synthetics or leather or carbon fiber or plastic. A mass produced car's interior is only as good as its seats and steering wheel; they are the most important parts.

If it has comfy seats and has good low to mid range torque, then I consider it to be a good car.

Jedidiah > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 19:28

The early 2000s and late 90s were a low point for quality in the whole car industry. Luckily we seem to be moving past it as the level of percieved/expected quality changes.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jedidiah
07/23/2014 at 19:28

Well I wasn't exactly saying there aren't good cars out there. I was just saying what I'd like to see and what I want.

Jedidiah > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
07/23/2014 at 19:29

I feel the same way; I was just lamenting because the cars I want seem to be dwindling in number.

The Transporter > Jedidiah
07/23/2014 at 19:34

Under the hood it still has the same coma inducing powertrain and running gear as before, but that's what people want.

Renescent > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 19:41

Fun tip, the 5-speed automatic transmission in the SRT is the same one that's in my C55.

Milky > Renescent
07/23/2014 at 19:49

Also the SLR & the V12 cars through 2012 iirc.

Renescent > Milky
07/23/2014 at 20:02

Really? Wow, I thought the 722 was out sooner than 2012. Stunned they got away with a 5-speed in 2012, figured the 7-speed was in by then?

Not really a comparison, sister's 06' R350 and mother's 10' CLK350 have the 7-speed autos.

Milky > Renescent
07/23/2014 at 20:21

Check it bro ….

The 7spd couldn't handle all of them torques.

Milky > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 20:30

Yea me too … I guess thats a FP thing to do. I'm happy with mine though.

Sn210 > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 20:39

don't care, still want one

ranwhenparked > The Transporter
07/23/2014 at 20:59

No, nearly every car Clarkson hates is nowhere near as bad as he claims. Top Gear is primarily car-based comedy, if you want actual reviews and informed, nonbiased opinions, look elsewhere. The Crossfire is a perfectly fine car if its the sort of thing you're looking for.

Mercedes Streeter > The Transporter
07/24/2014 at 10:15

True! Even Mercedes vehicles of that era suffered too. Check out a Mercedes of that era residing in Chicago or Wisconsin, all of the ones that have been daily driven will be peppered with rust.

Renescent > Milky
07/24/2014 at 19:39

Hilarious... the 7 speed is rated for 562 torque, the 5 speed is rated to almost 900 haha.

Milky > Renescent
07/24/2014 at 20:20

Lol, the last thing that will break on my car is the tranny.

Renescent > Milky
07/24/2014 at 20:25

Yeah, I'm not worried about it either. Engine and tranny are bulletproof... it's the electrical gremlins that'll get me.

Milky > Renescent
07/24/2014 at 20:33

True. I don't know about your car, but SLK's / Crossfire's have ignition problems and mine went out 2 months ago ….

… so I know the struggle.

Renescent > Milky
07/26/2014 at 09:18

Gah, hurts me to see that! Knock on wood, only issue I've had is the outdoor temp sensor went wonky... it's -140 degrees outside right now :P