View Poll Results: Crossfire. Chrysler or not?
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 249. You may not vote on this poll
Why Pretend?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Salisbury, MD, USA
Re: Why Pretend?
I wonder how many Chrysler Conquest owners rebadged their cars to say Mitsubishi Starion or Dodge Stealths to Mitsubishi 3000GT? 
I appreciate all of you taking the time to post and respond to the admittedly slanted poll.
I have never before owned a Chrysler; although I've had several Jeeps and Dodge Rams. I guess that's why I don't comprehend why so many of you think Mercedes are superior. Perhaps, I'll learn, in time; but, so far, I like my Chrysler Crossfire more than I ever liked my Mercedes SLK. The Crossfire is much more exotic looking, imo.
Moreover, Mercedes aren't all they are cracked up to be; including my then new E55AMG.
I appreciate all of you taking the time to post and respond to the admittedly slanted poll.
I have never before owned a Chrysler; although I've had several Jeeps and Dodge Rams. I guess that's why I don't comprehend why so many of you think Mercedes are superior. Perhaps, I'll learn, in time; but, so far, I like my Chrysler Crossfire more than I ever liked my Mercedes SLK. The Crossfire is much more exotic looking, imo.
Moreover, Mercedes aren't all they are cracked up to be; including my then new E55AMG.
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From: Crystal Lake, IL
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From: Central CT
Re: Why Pretend?
Is a Ford a Mercury?
Is a Chevrolet truck a GMC?
Is a Honda an Acura?
Is a Toyota a Lexus?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Salisbury, MD, USA
Re: Why Pretend?
I must be weird. 
Recently, I bought two new cars, that the market didn't like and I really love them.
In November, I bought a 2007 Volvo S60R, which I love, and traded a 2006 BMW M3 convertible, that never particularly turned me on.
A couple of weeks ago, I traded a 2006 Hummer H2 SUT for a 2007 Chrysler Crossfire. I love it too.
Perhaps, auto makers should retain me as a test market for models that won't sell.
Of course, I prefer to believe that my fellow Crossfire, and S60R, enthusiasts have more refined tastes than the hoi polloi.
Recently, I bought two new cars, that the market didn't like and I really love them.
In November, I bought a 2007 Volvo S60R, which I love, and traded a 2006 BMW M3 convertible, that never particularly turned me on.
A couple of weeks ago, I traded a 2006 Hummer H2 SUT for a 2007 Chrysler Crossfire. I love it too.
Perhaps, auto makers should retain me as a test market for models that won't sell.
Of course, I prefer to believe that my fellow Crossfire, and S60R, enthusiasts have more refined tastes than the hoi polloi.
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From: Akron, Ohio
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From: Arizona [85255]
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by walc
Iappreciate all of you taking the time to post and respond to the admittedly slanted poll.
I have never before owned a Chrysler; although I've had several Jeeps and Dodge Rams. I guess that's why I don't comprehend why so many of you think Mercedes are superior. Perhaps, I'll learn, in time; but, so far, I like my Chrysler Crossfire more than I ever liked my Mercedes SLK. The Crossfire is much more exotic looking, imo. Moreover, Mercedes aren't all they are cracked up to be; including my then new E55AMG.
I have never before owned a Chrysler; although I've had several Jeeps and Dodge Rams. I guess that's why I don't comprehend why so many of you think Mercedes are superior. Perhaps, I'll learn, in time; but, so far, I like my Chrysler Crossfire more than I ever liked my Mercedes SLK. The Crossfire is much more exotic looking, imo.
Moreover, Mercedes aren't all they are cracked up to be; including my then new E55AMG.) about posting an "admittedly slanted poll," that begins to affect the credibility of this forum, which I thought was meant for facts, not admitted biases. Perhaps some feel otherwise.And someone who has "had several Jeeps and Dodge Rams" has indeed owned products that were designed, manufactured and assembled by the Chrysler Corporation. That's unlike the Crossfire, which was not. Automobile branding is nothing but a business device. The essence of a model is determined by its parts and its assembly, not by its paper brand. By that measure, the Crossfire is much less a Chrysler than were your Jeeps and Rams. This is not about "superiority," but it is about honesty. Badging the Crossfire as a "Chrysler" was nothing but an act of cynical corporate dishonesty. Why do you believe otherwise? Even Chrysler itself seems to be unwilling to claim the model. The results of your "admittedly slanted poll" won't change any of those facts.
So again, please tell us exactly what specific parts from your Crossfire were made by Chrysler? What proportion of the car did Chrysler produce? Please give us some facts here instead of your "admittedly" biased prejudices. Thanks.
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From: Bainbridge Island WA
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by walc
My Crossfire is a Chrysler.
I don't understand why so many owners, on this board, feel compelled to argue or protest what model Mercedes a Crossfire is, or isn't, and to rebadge their Crossfires to disguise the fact that these cars are Chryslers; not Mercedes, AMG's or Karmanns.
Is a Ford a Mercury? Is a Chevrolet truck a GMC? Is a Honda an Acura? Is a Toyota a Lexus? Is a Nissan an Infiniti? They share numerous parts and one brand is often considered more upscale than the other.
As those of us, who have owned Mercedes know, it has its' share of problems and lousy dealers, too. Thankfully, quality has improved over the last few years, in my experience.
If we, owners, deny our Crossfires heritage aren't we propagating the opinion that our cars are red-headed step-children?
I knew my car was a Crossfire when I bought it. While I have no real feelings about Chrysler, good or bad, I feel that it would make me a poser to pretend it is other than what it is.
I don't understand why so many owners, on this board, feel compelled to argue or protest what model Mercedes a Crossfire is, or isn't, and to rebadge their Crossfires to disguise the fact that these cars are Chryslers; not Mercedes, AMG's or Karmanns.
Is a Ford a Mercury? Is a Chevrolet truck a GMC? Is a Honda an Acura? Is a Toyota a Lexus? Is a Nissan an Infiniti? They share numerous parts and one brand is often considered more upscale than the other.
As those of us, who have owned Mercedes know, it has its' share of problems and lousy dealers, too. Thankfully, quality has improved over the last few years, in my experience.
If we, owners, deny our Crossfires heritage aren't we propagating the opinion that our cars are red-headed step-children?
I knew my car was a Crossfire when I bought it. While I have no real feelings about Chrysler, good or bad, I feel that it would make me a poser to pretend it is other than what it is.
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From: Akron, Ohio
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by maxxm
And someone who has "had several Jeeps and Dodge Rams" has indeed owned products that were designed, manufactured and assembled by the Chrysler Corporation.
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From: Arizona [85255]
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by +fireamx
Just for the record, Chrysler purchased American Motors back in 1987 just to get the "rights" to the Jeep. But they continued using (with only minor changes for nearly 2 decades) the same in-line 6cyl. designed and first built by American Motors in the mid 60's. But for the life of me I don't remember ever seeing an AMC logo on any newer Jeeps. Where's the loyality?
I think the difference between your example and mine is that AMC completely disappeared 20 years ago after it was fully acquired by Chrysler. With the Crossfire, on the other hand, Benz and Karmann are still very much alive -- indeed, they're in much better financial shape than Chrysler is. And when MB took over Chrysler in 1998, it wisely recapitalized its own soon-to-be-replaced engineering by willing some of it to the Crossfire and hiring its partner Karmann to design and assemble the vehicles. The cases would be parallel if Chrysler had supplanted the AMC Jeep's proven engineering with its own hand-me-down technology, which it was careful not to do, and then rebadged it as a Chrysler Jeep, which it never did either. What I believe both of us are saying, though, is that the car is more honestly defined by its underlying engineering than by its paper badging. If a "Jeep" is a "Jeep," then a "Crossfire" should be a "Crossfire." Neither of them was created by Chrysler no matter what the marketing badges might say. This is not about embarrassment, but it is about honesty. I have owned (and continue to own) other Chrysler products that are excellent vehicles, but they're real Mopars and not misnamed offspring of a since soured international corporate marriage.
Your earlier post was equally perceptive. I'm sure some members bought the Crossfire "in spite of" the MB connection, particularly those who were concerned about more expensive and less reliable routine maintenance services and a much smaller range of available performance mods, not to mention MB's own well publicized "quality" problems at that time. And that's cool too. Buying with knowledge is always better than buying without it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Salisbury, MD, USA
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by +fireamx
Just for the record, Chrysler purchased American Motors back in 1987 just to get the "rights" to the Jeep. But they continued using (with only minor changes for nearly 2 decades) the same in-line 6cyl. designed and first built by American Motors in the mid 60's. But for the life of me I don't remember ever seeing an AMC logo on any newer Jeeps. Where's the loyality?
I had a then-new 1971 AMC Gremlin, which served me well for 4.5 years.
However, I never had a problem with anyone stealing the logos to stick on anything. 
They were kind of cool, too. They were " little elves ".
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Gatineau, Canada
Re: Why Pretend?
CHRYSLER can design with the best and take chances, look at Prowler, Viper, SRT program as well as new Hemi and taking chances where others run. Just look at the new Challenger beauty compared to GM's new Camaro.
I think we got the best of both worlds with Crossfire with Chrysler being brave enough to go from prototype to production and Mercedes Benz expertise and components.
We have one very unique (beautiful) example of american/german engineering that has nothing out there that looks like it...wow...
I think we got the best of both worlds
with Crossfire with Chrysler being brave enough to go from prototype to production and Mercedes Benz expertise and components. We have one very unique (beautiful) example of american/german engineering that has nothing out there that looks like it...wow...
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From: Arizona [85255]
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 160
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From: Salisbury, MD, USA
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by maxxm
When a member is "very happy" about posting an "admittedly slanted poll," that begins to affect the credibility of this forum, which I thought was meant for facts, not admitted biases.
I thought a lot of the fun of discussing cars is that many of us have different opinions.
Would it make you feel better if I claim that my poll was objective and that I really have a moped with Harley badges?
In any event, my point is that I think ( which is an opinion; not a fact ) that the Crossfire is a neat car and I don't feel the need to deny that it's a Chrysler.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Salisbury, MD, USA
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by DrMike
CHRYSLER can design with the best and take chances, look at Prowler, Viper, SRT program as well as new Hemi and taking chances where others run. Just look at the new Challenger beauty compared to GM's new Camaro.
I think we got the best of both worlds with Crossfire with Chrysler being brave enough to go from prototype to production and Mercedes Benz expertise and components.
We have one very unique (beautiful) example of american/german engineering that has nothing out there that looks like it...wow...
I think we got the best of both worlds
with Crossfire with Chrysler being brave enough to go from prototype to production and Mercedes Benz expertise and components. We have one very unique (beautiful) example of american/german engineering that has nothing out there that looks like it...wow...
Dont forget the 300, the new Charger and the recently departed Magnum.
Chrysler Corporation has been on the cutting edge of design.
We should be proud to own a car from such an innovative company; when almost everything else, on the road, looks like a Honda Accord.
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From: Arizona [85255]
Re: Why Pretend?
Originally Posted by walc
Very good point!
Dont forget the 300, the new Charger and the recently departed Magnum.
Chrysler Corporation has been on the cutting edge of design.
We should be proud to own a car from such an innovative company; when almost everything else, on the road, looks like a Honda Accord.
Dont forget the 300, the new Charger and the recently departed Magnum.
Chrysler Corporation has been on the cutting edge of design.
We should be proud to own a car from such an innovative company; when almost everything else, on the road, looks like a Honda Accord.
But, hey, its a Dodge, not a Chrysler....
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Salisbury, MD, USA