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.

 

Don't know what you're really trying to say but I think most people look at the commonality of parts because they're proud of the parts our cars share with a more expensive/prestigious brand and the quality real or perceived that this brings to our Chrysler products. They're not necessarily denying the car is a Chrysler but merely stating its also many parts worth a Mercedes. And the way I see it your other comparisons are true but in the reverse of the way you stated them. A Honda is not an Acura but my Acura is a Honda (my monthly lease bills say so). A Nissan is not an Infiniti but an Infiniti is a Nissan, and a Toyota is not a Lexus but a Lexus is a Toyota. Just as a Ford is not a Mercury but a Mercury is a Ford. Who really cares, if this makes someone feel a bit better showing off their cars blood lines enjoy it and be proud that you had the smarts to get something with the quality of a Mercedes at a Chrysler price.

 

I agree with you. Hey, if someone wants to debadge their Crossfire and replace the Chrysler emblems with MB emblems that's certainly their choice. While there is obviously no denying the MB connection/parts/engineering in the car, it was never sold as a Mercedes, never marketed as a Mercedes, and never badged as a Mercedes. It's a Chrysler.


With a whole bunch of Mercedes parts.



But I'm a big Chrysler fan from waaaaay back, so even though I hate what Mercedes did to Chrysler the company, I love that this car came to be.

 

I know my crossfire isn't a chrysler!

 

+1

incorectly made poll...

i don't pretend my crossfire is not a chrysler..

I belive my crossfire is not a chrysler...

 

Where's the "My Crossfire is a Harley" option?

 

I got the car because I liked the look and styling of the car. If it had a chevy of ford badge on it I would have still bought it. I didn't even know it had anything to do with mercedes til I joined this forum.

 

Well put Marc, and nice to see you on here again.

 

Some people are just more excited about the car being a Mercedes. That was definitely a deciding factor when I purchased it. The looks got me and the Benz part sold me. How could I go wrong? It's sad that Chrysler acts the way it does towards the car and it's owners. If I can get it fixed at a Benz dealer or shop, I'll go there before the Chrysler dealer!
I have no real warranty except for the powertrain. If it's powertrain issue, I won't have a choice.

 

Look just because it has a sticker on it that says chrysler does it make it a chrysler..?

It is like a man selling apples one day gets an orange and decides to sell that orange as well, but places a sticker identifying the orange as an apple... does that make that orange an apple?

I don't care if they call this car Morgan, Bentley, Honda, Acura, Mobil1, or Head & Shoulders.. nor do I care who originally sells the car because I have never bought a new car and most likely never will, but what I do care is what parts were used, where it was built, and who built it...

and guess what.. all those three point to... Mercedes, Karmann, and for some.. AMG!!... NOT CHRYSLER, HONDA, MORGAN, or Head & Shoulders...

thats the way I see it...

 

for the non-believers out there, I challenge you to sit in a Chrysler Crossfire for a few minutes. feel the wholle car examine it.
Then get out and sit inside a Chrysler 300 and do the same. That will answer your question about the crossfire not being a Chrysler! you'll quickly notice the parts inside the 300 are cheaper quality.

 

You said it right Sidesz!!

 

I don't pretend it's a Benz in another skin ! But it is more Benz than Chrysler ! And the option of different badges is only a custom personal choice thing to me and it's not really built by a Chrysler employee but Germans, I like my "Made in Germany" logos the best or just the plain Crossfire one !

 

let it go.

 

+6 (I think) and counting.

For walc, please identify the specific parts of your car that were not sourced either from Benz or Karmann but instead came uniquely from Chrysler. As you said, "I knew my car was a Crossfire when I bought it," but that mere nomenclature doesn't make it a Chrysler either. That decision was made solely by the bosses at DCX and was intended for marketing and self-serving competitive purposes. Industrial bosses might tell little white lies, but the parts and the assembly don't. Thanks.

 

walc,

I think you're way out in left field on this one. Calling a Crossfire a Chrysler is like calling: a Colt a Dodge, an Escort a Ford, and the Luv or Geo a GM. These cars have the same thing in common, built by one company but marketed in the United States by another. So really who is the poser here?

I have been a Chrysler fan since since the purchase of my 1996 RAM; it spent a fraction of the time in the shop that either of it's Ford or Chevy counterparts I owned previously. So when I call it Mercedes I do it because I don't see anything Chrysler on it, not because I am ashamed to own a Chrysler, I have three.

 

Our cars are the illegitimate offspring of the Daimler and Chrysler union. Chrysler heritage & design, MB genetics and Karmann built. Our cars are what we as individual owners want them to be, after all we paid for them.....we have the right. Some paid more than others, it was the MB genetics and the design that drew me to the Crossfire, so in my humble opinion, I got an MB in Chrysler/Karmann designed clothing.

 

The Crossfire is a Daimler Chrysler product, designed and produced by Karmann. It is a German car, designed and produced by Germans. Karmann did the bulk of the design using Mercedes Benz components. American Chrysler designers had little to do with it. How would they have the knowledge to rework an alien design? I think I'll put a Tri Star and a Karmann badge on my car to express it's pedigree.

 

I think this poll would actually be interesting if it was set up with a little less bias, the answer is obvious to everyone "My Crossfire is a Chrysler" is the most correct and socially appealing choice, hence the poll results. Now what would have been interesting is if the options were

When I think about my Crossfire I...

A. Think of its Mercedes underpinnings and german heritage but its still a Chrysler

B. Think of its Mercedes underpinnings and german heritage so its a Mercedes/Karmann

C. Think of it as a Chrysler

D. Don't think about it either way

I think in this format the answer choices are much more even and allow everyone to express how they actually feel about their car, I think the spread of votes would be much more even.

 

how about all the above !!