Used Chrysler Crossfire Roadster 2003 - 2008 review

The car's striking appearance lets you believe you're driving a classic American soft-top.

But that's not the end of the plus points. The burbly 3.2 V6 may produce just 215bhp, but its mid-rev pull is better than you'd expect and it emits a rich, throaty note above 4000rpm. The SRT-6 produces rather more at 330bhp, but isn't worth the extra money.

Drivers will love the seemingly endless grip from the tyres and the excellent body control, but the ride is poor and jars over even the slightest lump and bump.

Practicality's not great, either: the cabin may be comfortable enough for two, but the boot is awkwardly shaped and the hood folds into it, robbing most of its space.

Likewise, the low driver's seat and high window line make the cabin cosy, but restrict rear visibility, so it's tricky to reverse-park.

At least, refinement is good - hood up, most road noise stays outside; hood down, the cabin is calm and civilised, even at speed - and the equipment levels are high: leather seats, dual-zone climate control and cruise control are standard. However, the quality is poor for the price.

That 3.2 likes petrol and it also pushes up insurance bills to group 19 for the standard 3.2 and to 20 for the SRT6.

Even with a manual gearbox, it achieves average fuel economy of just 27.2mpg, and significantly less for the SRT6. You can budget for a couple of mpg less if you're after a model with automatic transmission.

Servicing comes around every year or 12,000 miles, which is sooner than for most rivals, but main dealer charges are reasonable for a big-engined roadster.

The car itself is rare and complex, so it is best to stick with Chrysler dealers for work, or proven sports car specialists at the very least.

And the costs won't stop there. Spare parts are expensive and tyres notably so. A set of good quality replacements won't leave much change from £1000.

There really is no choice: just go for the standard V6 model - it has everything you'll need, and is much better value than the SRT6. There is a choice of manual or auto gearboxes. Neither is exceptional, but they work reasonably well.