OK...first off, I am not talking about world racing-wooopie grand prix...that is NOT grass roots, but shows what you can do with HUGE financial backing, factory support, etc etc...not the kind of thing you go out and drive at the local track, with a tool box for a pit crew etc....grand prix racing is pretty fantastic, but it may as well be space shuttle racing for the rest of us...
And as for the sales of the Crossfire, I believe the core of the American buying public were worried about the 'Mercedes' side of Chrysler when it came to this car. It was obvious that the MB parts bins were gone through for the mechanicals, and along with that would be the Mercedes price tag on service etc., for a car that could be embarrassed by the navigation/stereo and other luxury items found in the 'lowly' 300...
Actually, the lack of those things are what drew me to the X-fire (no dash-board technical wizardry) and I have no complaints about the simple interior-the things that do bug the $#!+ out of me are those Mercedes things (vague throttle (drive by wire), not having the ability to shut off the Traction Control entirely, relying too much on computer controlled brake assist, ESP, Clutch on supercharger, lame location of cruise control, etc)...hell, Mercedes probably over-engineered the cupholder, too. These are all carry over features from other fine Mercedes vehicles, and all may be features that impress you...however things like the vague throttle and 'cruise control on a stick' have been Mercedes staples for DECADES!!! I thoroughly enjoy my SRT-6, and when I can resolve these issues, I will like it even more...I just wish that Chrysler could have been allowed to take these bits of Mercedes out in the initial design of the car. ...