I've noticed a lot of comments on the forum lately over concern about the Crossfire's falling transaction prices and increasing dealer inventory. I've started to notice myself that there seem to be a lot more Crossfires at the dealer lots than on the streets...

I never expected the Crossfire to be a big seller. With the exception of the Corvette, no American 2-seater has enjoyed long-term sales success. Even the original '53 vette was a sales dud. So was the original T-bird. I'ts ironic, but today's 2-seater T-bird is following in the footsteps of the original T-bird in sales. Then there were some real terds like the Pontiac Fiero, Chrysler/Maserati TC, the Buick Reatta, and Cadillac Allante.

The difference between the T-bird and the Corvette was vision and commitment. Both cars started out on borrowed platforms with borrowed mechanicals. But GM had the vision and commitment to allow the Corvette to evolve over time into an icon of American performance. Through continued development and improvement over 5 decades and a visible presence in motorsports, GM has carefully crafted a true American performance icon, while the T-bird immediately caved into corporate politics and marketing by becoming an overgrown 4-seater. The T-bird never had the corporate backing to become anything more than a bouleverd cruiser.

The true test of the Crossfire will be what DCX decides to do with it over the next few years... Will the convertible boost sales and provide stability? Will the SRT-6 finally give Crossfire some street credibility? Will DCX use the Crossfire to create a presence in motorsports? Will there be a next generation Crossfire, and what kind of a car will it be?

A next generation Crossfire would help solidify its identity and provide a true long-term boost to the Chrysler brand image. Personally, I think of the Crossfire as a sophisticated performance GT. The next generation should continue the tradition of using the best components from Mercedes and Chrysler, but it should have its own unique driving characteristics and not just be a rebodied Mercedes. I don't think it would hurt to make it a 2+2, but it should not a true 4-seater. DCX should be committed to supporting Crossfire in motorsports. All of the Crossfire's main competitors, including the TT, 350Z, the RX8, and the Z4, have the advantage of coming from a long line of performance cars, and all have maintained a solid presence in racing.

Stong brand identity is not created overnight. It is carefully crafted and cultivated over many years sometimes decades. If DCX decides to stay committed, then the 2004 Crossfire will always be remembered as the original. Otherwise, the Crossfire will fade into obscurity like the Allante and Reatta...

That's my rant for today...