...I guess if I owned a New Beetle, I wouldn't particularly care if the paint chipped, either. How can you explain that purchasing decision to your buddies?

Regarding Crossfire paint durability, I have been quite satisfied. Sure, my Crossfire usually spends Monday through Friday tucked away under an Evolution3 car cover with a fresh coat of wax on it. However, there have been many occasions for rock chips and other minor damage to happen just driving on Michigan highways. Michigan is in a perpetual state of road construction and road repair. Every day, I will pass at least two gravel haulers spewing rocks and debris from their undercarriages (regardless if it is a weekend jaunt or workday commute). The center shoulder is usually full of stones, pieces of tires, etc. And, as a result, every new car that I've owned gets its share of rock chips before the first oil change even comes around. With almost 4,000 miles on my Crossfire now, there are a few tiny depressions on the glossy (black) bumper where a stone impacted, plus two tiny chips above the wheel arch on the right front fender. I know they are there, but most people would never notice.

I was actually wondering, since the front bumper seems so impervious to rock chips, if the gloss black was actually molded into the bumper, rather than painted on it. If you bought a base Neon in a non-metallic color after 2000 model year, you got this glossy molded-in color. DC still owns that technology, and in my opinion, it is a great idea. Anyone know if base or non-metallic Crossfires have molded in color, for their bumpers?