Angry!

[msbaugh]

What do y'all think about a modern market for a cheap muscle car?
I realize people will pay bookoos of money for these modern muscle machines, but come on.  Why can't dodge make a cheap car with a beast power plant like the 5.7 or 6.4.  Start by cutting weight... get under 4000lbs and the thing would run like a bat out of hell.  Put roll up windows, cloth interior, basic controls, whatever, make it cheap but fast. A poor man's race car! All the new cars are awesome, but they're fat pigs... and they'll get walked on all day by 15 year old camaros trans ams and fox bodies... I know my daily driver is a 08 charger r/t.  I don't know about you guys, but I would buy the hell outta something like this. 
Whose running this joint? Fiat or something???

(Sorry I've had a ****ay day.  I like to rant about this stuff when I'm angry)

[Bullitt-]

I'm with ya on the concept but the reality is there is no platform in production that lends itself to lightweight rear drive.
As for cost take the base price of a new Challenger, 24K and the upcharge for a 5.7, 2K in a P/U, & your about 3K from where the R/T starts.   
I don't know if that's enough difference to leave off the junk that the masses seem to desire.  I've learned that it hurts the trade value more not to have the do-dads than they cost in many cases.

[Chryco Psycho]

with all the gov legislated saftey & pollution crap how are you ever going to make a light weight car again ?

[msbaugh]

What about corvette? Mustang? Viper? They all are pretty light on their feet

[73Chally]

What about corvette? Mustang? Viper? They all are pretty light on their feet

But they are based on chassis that are specifically made for them. 

A bit of a different taste, but have you checked out the Ram Express?  It's a regular cab, short bed stripper with the Hemi that starts right around $21K.  Probably the cheapest V8 rear wheel drive you're going to find, and with a few extra bucks can be well over 400hp/450 torque.

[msbaugh]

Yeah I've heard of it. I saw Stacey David do an episode of gears on it. Bad ass truck for sure.. But the problem is that it's a truck... I WILL own a truck one day most likely a jeep for offloading because I'm an avid duck hunter, and need it. (I would buy the gladiator concept in a heart beat if it was in production). But as far as speed goes, a truck simply won't work... What we need is a little red express option for a muscle car!

[shadango]

with all the gov legislated saftey & pollution crap how are you ever going to make a light weight car again ?

...or a CHEAP one for that matter.  LOL

And what do you consider "cheap" and what do you consider a "muscle car".

Back in the day, anything that had 300 hp was a muscle car....

Well, my wife's 11 Stang with the v6 has 305 HP, has relatively light weight (compared to the portly Challenger) and is nimble and has just the basics and was under $25k.

But I dont think $25k is "cheap".

Just sayin'.

[tommyg29]

Dodge is probably doing more than most manufacturers providing near race ready challengers, but I dont think they are street capable, and theyre certainly not cheap.
No sense getting angry though. Buy a base model and build your own!
Show your own ingenuity. Thats the real american way

BTW, welcome to the site 

[msbaugh]

And I couldn't agree with you guys more.  Im not exactly angry, that's a misleading title... just starting a conversation.
All of my ingenuity (and money for that mattter) go into my 70 chally project anyways... 

All I'm really saying is,  "cheap," under 28k? (granted that's still not "cheap") powerhorse with no extra options would be cool. Performance and only performance in mind... although I know that I'm only dreaming

[AARuFAST]

Fat an overweight

Check out these prices at our local dealers

Green w/ envy or Toxic orange pearl.
click below v
http://www.darcarschryslerjeepdodgeofsilverspring.com/new-inventory/index.htm?SByear=2011&SBmake=Dodge&SBmodel=Challenger

If  you placed  a 66 thru 69 camaro beside a 70 thru 74 BarraCuda the BarraCuda's are larger.

Its your personal choice of the style, looks, engine hp, etc. 
My ride........1994 25th Anniv. TA.
 Take it over any of the new school.

[burdar]

What about corvette? Mustang? Viper? They all are pretty light on their feet

I believe the Viper is a very heavy car.

Chryco got it right.  The gov safety regs that need to be met make it impossible to build a light car from the factory.  However, what's stopping everyone from taking weight out of the car themselves?  Pull the interior and remove all the heavy insulation.  Gut the trunk exc...  Buy a car without a sunroof to start with.

I think the only thing the factory could do is offer a car without A/C.  You would most likely pay more for no A/C since 99% of the cars would have it. 

[msbaugh]

I don't know about that burdar, according to allpar, the viper only weight 3,400lbs.  With 600 horsepower that thing is unbelievable...

The new 392 has an est. 470 horsepower... that's great numbers but how much does the thing weigh? nearly 4,200 lbs... As much as I love the new chally, It's size simply makes the car a pig... shed the weight, keep the horsepower and the thing would fly.

And as for the government safety ratings? bull ****... you can make a car under 3,600 lbs.  Corvette is under 3,200 and mustang is close to 3600, all the while passing regulations and safety requirements.... How can that be an excuse for a 4,200 lb car?? It's designed big and that's all there is to it...

[Cooter]

I remember a time when 4200 LBS had a nameplate like "Fury", "New Yorker", "Chrysler 300", ""Or Imperial" to weigh that much..Basically because of all the "Luxury" things it had on it.
First of all, Corvette, Viper, ertc. are SPORTSCARS, or "Supercars"..Not for the average Motorhead...That is the definition of a musclecar...Average Gearhead can buy a 400 HP machine....

Rich guys toys don't count...Plastic chevy's don't count...Could they have made a 3600 LB Challenger? Sure they could...They could have done it with the Charger as well, but guess what?
There'd be the idiots online *****in' bout how "Harsh" they ride, or how it doesn't have this, or that...The "REAL" Musclecars were a handful to say the least to drive and rightfully so...Does this mean you can't have a nice handling and smooth ride with a 500 HP New musclecar? No, but be prepared for it to be a porker and be overpriced at best....Hmmm, kinda like the new Mercedes [Cough,Cough]err, Challenger is right now.. Wanna guess what's under those cars tranfering all tat 470 HP to the ground? Yep, a piece of rubber at the trans and rear....

[msbaugh]

look at the old e-bodies... even they weighed what? like 3800 or less?
By the way I only mentioned the viper, corvette, and mustang to show that a light weight challenger could be done despite epa and government regulations

[tommyg29]

A Viper at 3400 lbs and 500 hp sounds like a lot today, but in the old days it was more like 400hp and 2800 lbs. Cars were lighter....no doubt, but you can easily strip 600 lbs of weight, and sell all the stuff on ebay to raise cash for mods. Just plan on owning the car forever.