Originally Posted by PAULW
First I think of my XF as a COOL car.
Second I just don't care what others say, there I've said it.
That's the ticket...just enjoy your car and let others have their opinion. You may not like THEIR car but they are probably very happy with it.
It is a Daimler Chrysler product. You can say all you want it's not a Chrysler, but it carries a Chrysler badge, is warranted by Chrysler, sold and serviced through Chrysler dealers. It's a Chrysler. A different kind of Chrysler to be sure, but it's a Chrysler.
It's also a Mercedes. Poor man's, stylish man's, if it walks like a duck, acts like a duck, sounds like a duck...it may not look like a Mercedes, but all the mechanicals and even major interior components are Mercedes.
If you don't want it to be considered a Chrysler, nor do you not want it to be considered a Mercedes, the only other practical alternative is to consider it a kit car, made up of bits and pieces from other cars. You don't want to do that, do you?
So it is what it is. Let others think what they want. Long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.
EVERY enthusiast car that evokes reaction will automatically evoke positive and negatives. Some people LOVE the Solstice and Sky, styling and all. Others hate them. The Lotus Elise and Exige evoke all kinds of comments, from people thinking they are $150K cars to others thinking they're kit cars. People either really love or hate the C6 Corvettes.
It goes on and on. The Crossfire is no different than any other enthusiast car in that respect.
The thing is, for each person telling you it's a poor man's mercedes, there are probably 10 drooling over your car, pointing at it, taking cell phone pics on the highway...