When I got started with the items to offer. I thought it would be no big thing. So much of it looked really simple. For example the replacement grill. I was able to make the prototype over a weekend. But there are a number of issues with the fit and how to affix it without blocking the hood latch. This has been a major problem and I truly think one of the key reasons there has been really only one company who has made one (very expensive and custom made)

I met with a contact last week. He is very interested in making a custom grill and other components for our cars. The problem is initial costs. After speaking with him about our forum and the active members he told me that if we can somehow guarantee 300-500 sales of a given item we can pretty much have anything made.

In the past posts always include the comments that we all want to see a prototype be it a grill or whatever. I think you have even mentioned the need for "skin in the game" by these people.

Sometimes that skin is more like a pound of flesh (sorry Will). It costs a minimum of $10K to make a mold. Not to mention the cost to proto and design the product so it works. Then there is mfg setup and all this has to be paid in advance.

To make a point, he said we can offer a grill that would look great and cost less than $200 if we sell 500 of them. This grill would fit perfectly just as if it came from Chrysler originally. I also showed him the OEM diffusers. He told me that they could easily sell for 1/2 or less if we can guarantee the numbers.

I am not in a position to take those kinds of financial risks without some form of guarantees. That is the bottom line why a handful of companies are willing to make a few items in low volume at ungodly high prices. I can't believe how much we have to pay for the various "trim rings" for our dashboards.

Am I doing some of this out of the goodness of my heart? Right now it seems like it, just ask my wife. I have already invested several thousand dollars up front and had to squeeze the cheeks really tight waiting to see if the forum members who committed their word would follow up with dollars. Most have, but some either changed their minds or moved on. At this point I am not quite at break even.

I truly love cars, always have. I like the camaraderie that special cars like the Crossfire seem to foster. I will be retiring from my regular job in a few years and it would be nice to have a viable business to both make a little money from and something to pass on to my kids. I already have a domain name and my kids are helping with the site. The name will be Cardoover.com

Don't look for it yet, there is nothing there. BUT it will be! That site will cater to all cars not just the Xfire. For now I am concentrating on my forum friends and fellow Xfire enthusiasts.

This is why it is so important for you all to be honest with your commitments. If we are to get reasonably priced modifications it will have to be a team effort. Otherwise we all will continue to lament the dearth of options available and the overpriced items we now have to deal with.

Thanks to all those who have supported individual efforts by forum members to make this happen.

Karl