bobs/idaho,

excellent arguments on both sides. i think a major consideration for frequency of oil changes should be based on the owner's expectations for length of ownership. if you plan to keep the car for say 10 years/100k miles, the frequency of oil changes is insignificant (as long as they are in line with the manufacturer's recommended interval - for warranty claims or as proof and peace of mind to the buyer when reselling). chances are fair that a crossfire wouldn't suffer any mechanical breakdowns if you never changed the oil during the warranty period - even out to the 7 yr/70k though it might cause problems down the road from wear or sludge buildup. if you've leased a crossfire (39 mo/39k miles) it probably only needs to have the oil changed 4 or 5 times during the life of the lease.

it's when you want to be able to drive 200k, 300k, or more miles that more frequent oil changes can result in a net benefit. but statistically that is the minority of car owners since most people don't keep a car for 5 years much less 10 years. i might keep my crossfire for 30 years, but since i drive it only 5k miles a year, a once a year oil change makes more sense than the actual mileage intervals.