Yea...what he said! Even a Neon has rack & pinion steering!! No, really - I've said it before...I think the Crossfire is an American designed car that utilized the Mercedes parts bin...kind of like the ultimate 'kit car' using Mercedes donor parts onto an American designed body/frame. I believe that if there had been more flexibility, things like the steering and other Mercedes items could have been replaced with proven Viper parts or other items that were in the supply lines, but the Mercedes side of Daimler-Chrysler wanted to utilize those items...and even if they are outdated, they still work, and work very well; however it is those items that give the Crossfire the Mercedes 'feel', good or bad.