Never call it an SLK again! Required reading for every owner.

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Mar 25, 2009 | 06:55 AM

#61 (permalink)

LantanaTX

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 3,084

Likes: 8

From: Lantana, Republic of Texas

Re: Never call it an SLK again! Required reading for every owner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppro

The complete article still online as if this writing here
http://www.sae.org/automag/globalveh.../1-111-7-8.pdf

It's funny too because the search engine on the site provided to links - one to purchase the article as a PDF file ($12) and the link to the PDF file.

I wonder why AMGLover deleted posts?

If I remember right AMGLover tried to convince us our cars were not re-bodied SLK's and ended up looking foolish. I am glad that Chrysler got to draw up a car that to me looks 1000% better than the first generation SLK.

I don't know if anyone here ever saw it, but a year or two ago Dodge came out with a prototype that was also based on the SLK which I guess will never get produced. If there are people here that still think their cars have Chrysler parts in them, I challenge them to find a single part that is common to a another Chrysler and not to a Mercedes. You can't even swap other Chrysler wheels onto these cars.

Last edited by LantanaTX; Mar 25, 2009 at 06:59 AM.

Mar 25, 2009 | 07:36 AM

#62 (permalink)

Egodriver71

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 256

Likes: 0

From: Jacksonville, FL

Re: Never call it an SLK again! Required reading for every owner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LantanaTX

I challenge them to find a single part that is common to a another Chrysler and not to a Mercedes.

I would pull headlight bulbs from the Pacifica, but I know that is a stretch. Especially since ChryCo never used H7 bulbs in anything domestically designed/produced prior the the Damiler 'merger'.

I have no doubt that ChryCo got to use the old hand me down and created their own body.

A perfect example of this in reverse is the old 'TC'. Try to find anything on that car that is Maserati other than the emblems. The complete drivertrain in that was ChryCo to the core. Want to upgrade the brakes or suspension, steal it from the Daytona Shelby!

I really don't care if the Crossfire is a knock off SLK or a custom Chrysler. It is something unique that you will probably not see from them again for at least another 10-15 years, provided they make through the next 1-2 years.

I'm glad something happened from the DC 'merge', but I'm glad MB is gone for the most part. I think they came in and destroyed what was a good and unique car company.

Last edited by Egodriver71; Mar 25, 2009 at 07:38 AM.

Jul 26, 2009 | 02:57 PM

#63 (permalink)

onehundred80

Senior Member

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 25,432

Likes: 648

From: Ontario

Re: Never call it an SLK again! Required reading for every owner.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDDP

I can't recommend anything to you Lantana... All I can say is that I have had a Limited Edition Crossfire 6 spd since March 2004 ... I drove it as a daily driver for about 18 months and then decided it would be a fun "unique" car to race with SCCA and NASA... So, slowly but surely it was disassembled and modified... I found that EVERY part of the engine, drivetrain, suspension, brake system was swappable... And every "engineering" component on the Crossfire has a MB product number, and most have the MB logo or bar code...

I don't have the time to generate a list for you, but if you look at my posts you will see this is true and correct...

Now... The body parts are definitely not MB... They were not built by Chrysler either... It was all sub-contracted to the Karmann Co and others. But then again... Some of the engine components were not manufactured by MB either, (Bosch, etc) but they still have the MB logo attached and MB part numbers...

So, if you ever doubt that this car is a Mercedes Benz "product" order a replacement part... something simple and cheap, like a "brake sensor" or perhaps "fuel injector" or perhaps something as inane as the cap that covers your front wheel bearings...

Now then, if you still don't believe me... order a piston... order a clutch, order a rear differential, order an airbag, order a spring... If they do not get delivered to you with a MB product number attached to them, I will eat my hat...

The parts found on todays cars are made up from parts that could be shelf items used by many companies, parts designed by a car manufacturer specifically for a car model or as a part to be used in many models.
The fact that it has a MB logo on it does not mean it was made by MB solely for MB but rather that MB said it wants this part delivered as outlined in the contract and it is to have a MB logo, part number etc marked on it, with JIT deliveries.
Car companies cannot efficiently make most items on their cars, so they get specialist companies to supply them, to their design, as a standard item or a modified standard item. Sheet metal parts are most often subcontracted to companies that make the dies and provide the manufactured panels. These parts will have the companies labels and bar codes for stocking purposes.
In bad times contractors may be squeezed to supply parts at prices lower than the contracted price, often with dire results to the contractor. Such are the hazards of being locked into agreements with the auto industry.
Auto manufacturers basically engineer, even some of this is subcontracted, and assemble cars. Satellite divisions may supply engines, chassis etc. Henry Ford pioneered this system and it is still good today.