First, there is way more to vehicle reliability than a good drivetrain. You have to consider all systems. And as for the drivetrain, the MB 6 speed used in the Crossfire is a clunker, not smooth at all. On the other hand, the 5 speed auto stick is very smooth. You are correct, overall MB reliability has not been that good in the past five years or so.

Maintenance cost are on the high side compared to American built cars, you are paying MB prices for the parts, not cheap (the $$$ is not what it used to be overseas, it has lost it's purchasing power a long time ago in most other countries). Then there is the problem of parts not being readily available (maybe due in part because the car is produced in low numbers... only 20,000 worldwide per year). Try $18.50 for an oil filter just to start with or OEM Michelin tires about $1,200 a set (or you can go with a set of Goodyear F-1 Eagles for around $1,000 from Tire Rack).

There have been some issues with the Crossfire, look through the technical section of this forum. Some here will say most of the issues with the Crossfire were/are due to being a first year model, I disagree. The Crossfire uses old parts from other MB's that have been around for many years, so other than the body, there is nothing all that new in the Crossfire that IMO can be blamed as first year production issues.

I'm not trying to turn you away from the Crossfire. It's a great little car and fun to drive. As mentioned in a post above, the fit and finish are good. The car is put together tight for the most part. There have been some minor problems with rear hatch rattles and wind noise.

In a nutshell, I think the Crossfire is the kind of car you WANT to own and not a car you buy because you NEED a car.