The New Challenger Is Awesome - Quit Your Whining

[bb71challenger]

Jeff, you hit the nail right on the head. If they are still making them when my wifes Yukon is paid off then a shiny, brandy new Challenger R/T convertible (again that is if they make them) will be sitting in my driveway. Cannot think of a better compromise in Yesteryear styling and solid performance along with killer looks. The only real reason it is a hefty mama is because it is built off a 4 door platform.

[73Chally]

It just kind of goes to show how some people won't be happy no matter what.  Chrysler gets crucified when they turned the Charger into a 4 door family car (I agree they should have used a 4 door name, like Coronet, etc), and now with the Challenger, it's too small.  I find this part kind of interesting, because some of the early reviews were saying that the back seat was a lot more functional than the Mustangs.  Oh well, I'm just tickled pink that they are building it, and hope it lasts more than 4 years.

[matt63]

Sure - I applaud Chrysler for having a go at it.  Unfortunately with the price of gas and the big "R" looming it might have a short life.  It could become very collectible although I would never speculate too heavily on that one.

[Mopar Noob]

From day one I have been for it and still am, 100%. Opinions are one thing but to openly dis the car altogether is just wrong. I think they did a great job of designing the Challenger, better than the Charger, yes?! At the end of the day we should all be happy this thread and others like it aren't "I wish" threads begging, calling and emailing Dodge to make something for us, shucks, sometimes no matter how hard companies try they will never please everyone. They listened, designed and made the bastard, move on, get over it and support Mopar for what they've done.

  You will never make everyone happy... But if you look around a bit I think you will see that they did a great job with the Challenger. What so 1 out of 10 people has major complaints (if that)? If I was to guess I would say that most people probably like it and for those who don't.... well I guess your damn lucky theres other cars out there for you.

Oh and I have offered this tip up before and will do it again... If weight is a problem for you then get an R/T, get 18" rims instead of 20", and don't get the power sunroof. You cut out major weight and if you feel you are now lacking power you can pop a blower of your choice on the engine. You then have more power, less weight, and spent less.

[torredcuda]

We finally have what we have been crying about all these years-a rear drive V8 TWO door from Chrysler.My only complaitn about the new Challenger is that I cannot afford one!I do plan on buying a used v6 model when they come down in price in a couple years as a nice daily driver.Be lucky that we have this car and stop whining about the little things. 

[bb71challenger]

Well just to reply to a couple of points you make go as follows, traction control is to protect the car to a degree in the event of that......traction is lost, you dont have to be driving like a nut to lose traction. I bet a car with the windows closed with air conditioning on gets the same or better mileage than a car with the windows down and the air off. drag is costly too. Air bags save many more lives than they take I assure you. I was in a wreck myself but does that give me the right to speak for everyone else that has? You have a right to your own opinion but do you think that people back in 70 thought that these cars were going to be this valuable? I could buy nice running cars all day long for under 2 grand in the mid 80's. These new Challengers WILL be collectors items in the future.

[torredcuda]

Since this is a post where opinions are open to be spoken, and people know my net skills...  ... ok I wont just curse it.

Here is what I know and have heard and have seen.

In Many situations the reason for death in a car accident of somebody that may have been helped/survived was due to the AIR BAGS. Yes the very thing people are brainwashed by advertising and technical words to believe they are safe infact have been killers. I have been in a car accident, where we went rolling accross the road, roof was caved in etc etc. Im still alive (miraculously). When you have a collision, your head will never hit the steering wheel cause the seat belt prevents you from leaning over forward (been there, i know what im talking about). Having said this, that air bag is purely for inconvinience and danger. It is there to protect u from hitting a hard surface which you wont hit and gets in your way so much that you can A: not be able to breath propperly and B: Take logner for ambulance to take u out of the vehicle causing u to  die. Instead of you hitting the wheel which you wont, the air bag comes and hits u. 

As far as weight being better... the heavier the car the longer it takes to slow down and has more inertia around corners causing it to swing more than a light car and therefor easier to lose control. Ofcourse it has Traction control etc etc etc, however, if the car was far lighter, and the driver not an idiot playing with the gas etc but driving like a grandma, traction control has no need. So traction control and all these other safety features are there to compensate the fact the people who buy the car wont be normal drivers but crazy.

As far as air con filling gas tank up etc etc, how do you state that as better?

I myself hate air conditioning. Breathing in that garbage air while the outside has nicer/non stale air to breath (Fresh).

Cruising the roads with the windows down in hot weather is fine, thats the feel I myself love. It also saves weight which makes the car faster. All the cup holders etc etc that new cars have... hate them to... your not to drink in my car period. Car is not the place to drink (unless its a bottle of water which wont cause any harm) so those bits and pieces are void and not wanted.


Next, new car will always be a new car, when that old beast comes out, then you know a real car is on the road. 10 years+ from now, new car will be worth as much as 1990 model cars are now worth (nothing) but the old car will be worth a hell of a lot more then it is now.


Next, buy your car drive out the driveway and put it on sale. You lose 5000 already. Old car however, you could buy and flip for Positive 5000.


Next, it does look like a challenger I must admit, best "remake" made. I love chargers and the new charger is just a heap of garbage with charger badges, it aint a charger, it doesnt even resemble 1 in the slightest. It shows its headlights (chargers were hidden behind grill) Rear tailights look retarded (Chargers were hockey sticks or 4 circles if u liked the 68) Chargers had sail panels, new one doesnt... Old charger was square, new one has an LOL looking grill, to top it off... Chargers were called chargers due to the fact they decided to stick 2 doors on it (though 4 could fit), now its a 4 door... it aint a charger anymore, doesnt even look like 1 in the slightest degree.

The new mustang looks absolutely retarded also. Challenger Hands down is a true "look alike". Same curve around the rear wheel on the rear quarter... same oval grill up front, same straight across rear tailight on back, same 4 circle headlights on front... i see that and i know its a challenger without a doubt.

However, its still not ever going to be looked at like a car with chrome bumpers, mirror finished paint jobs, nice chrome wheels going for a cruise either. Muscle cars will ALWAYS be just that, MUSCLE cars and the new stuff will always just be a "new car" nothing more.

Last

I like a simple car, no air con, no tinted glass, light as possible, modify however you want, engine totaly visible in engine compartment without 1000 things covering it, rumbles, rattles, makes noise and turns heads. No power windows, no power this and that, no air conditioning... just a nice cruising manual car the way it was in the 60s and 70s.

Would I want a new challenger? No because it offers all the things that take away the joy of a "cruising" car. I wanna feel the road, feel the air, hear the engine, hear the noise while cruising. In short words 'feel the car'. If im gonna cruise like in an aeroplane, feel nothing, hear nothing... air con etc etc... hell, I mayswell drive a bloody Toyota. There is no fun in that.

I myself will drive a challenger or 68 Charger as a daily driver hands down over a new car. Its just what I like and have fun doing. I dont have fun in new cars irrelivant of power, they just dont 'feel' fun cause there made to not feel anything.

My 1st car was an 87 Pontiac Trans-am. Had no air  con, Taraga Top (sadly it had power windows which i was going to get rid off) etc. Drove that as an every day car and had fun doing it. Sold it, got a 1972 VH-Valiant Charger. Had rust, engine was brown, oil stains everywhere, motor wasnt rebuilt since 1972, water didnt leak, paint was pealed, bounced all over the road from soft suspension, no air conditioning, made noise through the bad window seals (air blowing sound) 245ci 6cyl Hemi. Drove that every day and that was hell alot more fun then any modern quiet car. I actualy felt like i was Driving it.

Now I plan to have a Dodge Charger to drive every day (1968). If it gets too expensive on the amount I will drive, fine, I will stick LPG in it, if its still too expensive, drop a smaller motor in. I would always rather drive these cars than ANY new car cause its alot more FUN and feels damn good!.

 

Where do you get this stuff?   

[Carlwalski]

No offence G-Man but your posts can often look like they are straight out of a comic book script. I can't wait for you to actually get a Charger or Challenger (or 'Cuda) on the road so you can see that daily driving one of these cars isn't about posting you'll do such and such a week and then laugh at others who think 25 miles a week is a good run. They are old cars that need respect and attention. Unless it's your only means of transport but if it's your classic ride you'll be quite surprised at just how much you drive it. Whether it be weather, time restrictions, gas, just don't want to (take a modern car to do the task) who knows but they're a different car.

I love my Challenger as much as the next guy and drive mine a lot.  At best I take her out around 3 to 4 times a week in summer (each time an hour minimum they like to have a good stretch) and once possibly twice a week in winter, if I'm lucky. I plan to increase this figure more. I just remember seeing one of your posts where you mentioned you'll drive "no less than 200miles a day" LMAO.......good luck with that. By the way, if you put LPG in that Charger, don't PM me again  That's just wrong. If you have to put LPG in a muscle car you're in the wrong hobby, it's that simple.

[Twenty Mike Mike]

Since this is a post where opinions are open to be spoken, and people know my net skills... (etc., etc.)

So you think your "taraga" top didn't add weight? 

Sure, it adds weight, but you don't HAVE to use the air conditioning. You can always use the vent feature...and the air that you breathe using air conditioning is from the outside unless you select recirculate.

A '68 Charger is your example of a light weight car? YGBSM. From your description, your dream car is a Fiat 500.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1966-fiat-500_W0QQitemZ330249734728QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20TrucksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330249734728&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1318

[Red R/T]

Just buy a horse and a feed bag, wear a helmet and shoulder pads, and enjoy the fresh air.  It's not about what's ecconomical or earth friendly.  It's about what you want.  It is what I want and nobody is making you buy one.  I think some people that think everything has to be practical.  Lets all just live in a black and white world void of color and twiddle our thumbs.  Just another perspective.  Have a nice day! Chuck

[Carlwalski]

These new Challengers WILL be collectors items in the future.

I have to disagree with that. This is an open debate, both sides of it will be voicing opinion and only time will tell but I don't think any of these new cars will be collectors items. The Charger, 300C, Challenger, etc. All nice cars in their own right, don't get me wrong, wonderful cars but they have one thing against them, all the same engines. Sure, a few old retro colours and some old name tags slapped on grabs a few buyers but there isn't much going for it in terms of resale in years to come, in my opinion. Every car has a Hemi, 5.7 or 6.1. That's it, end of engine choices (V6 ain't performance, ain't counted). The E-Bodies as everyone will know had 340s, 340 SIXPAKs, 383, 440 with 4 or 6bbls and of course the 426 Hemi which unlike today's engines were very few and far between.

They can't afford to put the Hemi under a limited amount of hoods as possible in todays world/market. They need money, something that will sell, enter the legend - the Hemi. The E-Bodies also had a huge range of colour options and add-ons available. These new cars kick arse, no doubt, they're awesome but to me anyhow, not in the same league. Good current day thrash cars but don't bank on getting anything back if you're thinking of buying 3 orange 6.1L Hemis and putting them in the garage for 30 years. The odd model may sell better but at the end of the day, like most modern cars (no matter the brand) they sell anything with "limited" or "special edition" badges on it to drive sales and interest, some are good ideas/cars, some are just badges.

[bb71challenger]

I have to disagree with that. This is an open debate, both sides of it will be voicing opinion and only time will tell but I don't think any of these new cars will be collectors items. The Charger, 300C, Challenger, etc. All nice cars in their own right, don't get me wrong, wonderful cars but they have one thing against them, all the same engines. Sure, a few old retro colours and some old name tags slapped on grabs a few buyers but there isn't much going for it in terms of resale in years to come, in my opinion. Every car has a Hemi, 5.7 or 6.1. That's it, end of engine choices (V6 ain't performance, ain't counted). The E-Bodies as everyone will know had 340s, 340 SIXPAKs, 383, 440 with 4 or 6bbls and of course the 426 Hemi which unlike today's engines were very few and far between.

They can't afford to put the Hemi under a limited amount of hoods as possible in todays world/market. They need money, something that will sell, enter the legend - the Hemi. The E-Bodies also had a huge range of colour options and add-ons available. These new cars kick arse, no doubt, they're awesome but to me anyhow, not in the same league. Good current day thrash cars but don't bank on getting anything back if you're thinking of buying 3 orange 6.1L Hemis and putting them in the garage for 30 years. The odd model may sell better but at the end of the day, like most modern cars (no matter the brand) they sell anything with "limited" or "special edition" badges on it to drive sales and interest, some are good ideas/cars, some are just badges.

C'mon Carl that argument doesnt wash. You could get a TNT 440 in a Chrysler 4 door barge, does that mean our E-bodies are less because of that? Even the mighty hemi was installed in a few 4 door cars. It is a different era, no need to stick a powerful but heavy, ill tempered engine in a street car to meet a mandate to go racing. These cars and this new round of horsepower wars is about to ge gone, probably forever this time. I will stake everything I have to say that these new Challengers WILL be collectors in the future. Since I hope they make more than 14 Hemi Challengers this time I dont expect them to be as rare but certainly rare. Sometimes I think we put our cars on a pedestal that is out of touch with reality.

[Carlwalski]

C'mon Carl that argument doesnt wash. You could get a TNT 440 in a Chrysler 4 door barge, does that mean our E-bodies are less because of that? Even the mighty hemi was installed in a few 4 door cars. It is a different era, no need to stick a powerful but heavy, ill tempered engine in a street car to meet a mandate to go racing. These cars and this new round of horsepower wars is about to ge gone, probably forever this time. I will stake everything I have to say that these new Challengers WILL be collectors in the future. Since I hope they make more than 14 Hemi Challengers this time I dont expect them to be as rare but certainly rare. Sometimes I think we put our cars on a pedestal that is out of touch with reality.

I myself never put my/these cars on a pedestal and am as modest as they come. I just feel the new cars won't become collectors items. Nothing, not even close to the e-bodies. Every car has a Hemi and you know as well as I do that helped(s) our E-Body prices tremendously. Again, the LX Challengers are awesome cars but I doubt they'll be anything other than "a nice car in it's day". All cars will become rare soon enough with the birth of flying cars, yes, sounds weird and sci-fi but they are building them and everyone has said, not if but when. When this does happen, flocks of air born generations will be with grandpa around the steel E-Bodies and the dinosaur V8 engines rather than the new one. The originals had soul, these don't. Guess only time will tell. I'll be 65 in 40 years time and will make a post on this thread LMAO. Off topic, can you imagine being here in 40 years time on this forum.......lol that's a LONG time.

[Carlwalski]

If you post here in 40 years when ur 65... i will be 65 in 40 also. I will be sure to reply 

[hannah]

Just saw another black Challenger....long way from home had Georgia plates