I can't recall if the Maserati came first or the Lebaron. Either way, the Lebaron should have never entered the picture. Maserati was a brand -- with a long colorful history. Chrysler should have never mixed them up.

Mercedes and Chrysler marriage was also problematic from the start. It would have taken a really fantastic product with just as fantastic marketing to make the marriage result in anything good for either of them.

Take a look at Pacifica Vs the R class. Have you looked at them? What a difference a brand makes. The Crossfire, for me, isn't about Chrysler or Mercedes. It's about the cool design of the car that harks back to the Bugatti and other classic sport cars. I wish it's interior was more "classic." Another is what appears to be high reliability ratings -- even better than SLKs.