Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Originally Posted by guionM
It's facinating that the Challenger is readily accepted in the Camaro community, yet the Mustang seems to stir up quite a few haters. Why is that? 
On the flip side, it seems the Mustang guys want Camaro back almost as much as Camaro guys.
The whole thing's pretty amazing.
On the flip side, it seems the Mustang guys want Camaro back almost as much as Camaro guys.
The whole thing's pretty amazing.
Mustang has competed with Camaro all 35 years of its life, and some years after it went silent. Also Mustang guys see Camaro as a welcomed competition to get Ford to put out better and better Mustangs.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,870
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Odd. I thought they were looking at a high volume mustang/camaro competitor. The 3.5L v6, 5.7L, and auto should have been offered as well. I know the other LX cars sell in enough volume to justify a low-volume challenger, but this'll mean that the challenger will be out of most everyone's reach. It'll most likely have a 35k+ price tag. Not a car the average joe can buy and drive off the lots like a z28/GT.
But given the hefty weight of the challenger, maybe it's a good thing a v6 auto isn't optional. It'd be a dog. They should atleast offer a 5.7L/5spd combo/option though at something like 28k and give it R/T badging.
But given the hefty weight of the challenger, maybe it's a good thing a v6 auto isn't optional. It'd be a dog. They should atleast offer a 5.7L/5spd combo/option though at something like 28k and give it R/T badging.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,132
From: Santa Clara, CA
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
So unlike the original Challenger, this one will be a boutique model which will likely sell for $40K+, at least if the rumor is correct.
That's probably the right way to go for a big two door coupe. It would never appeal to the mass market, so why not make a nice profit on the "AMG CL63 for the working man".
That's probably the right way to go for a big two door coupe. It would never appeal to the mass market, so why not make a nice profit on the "AMG CL63 for the working man".
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Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,947
From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
A bigger question that has been gnawing at the back of my mind is, Why not Cuda???
I mean, the Hemi-Cuda was WAAAAAAYYYY more popular than the kinda obscurr Challenger....
And 340 Cuda's were feared, and with good reason, by many Camaro owners in the early years....forged steel cranks = very durable, big cams, some of the most powerful small block of the time....
I mean, the Hemi-Cuda was WAAAAAAYYYY more popular than the kinda obscurr Challenger....
And 340 Cuda's were feared, and with good reason, by many Camaro owners in the early years....forged steel cranks = very durable, big cams, some of the most powerful small block of the time....
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,496
From: Roseville, MI, USA
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
People doubted me when I said first year would see 35,000 sales then drop to 18,000 at the end of it's 5 year run.
Jeeze. There's a reason for such low ball #'s and it's because of the powertrain combo. Yet, I've read consistant #'s of "at least 60k per year"...aaaaant nope, it's a 5 year run with sales topping out at 35,000 then declining to 18,000 at the end of it's 5 year run.
Jeeze. There's a reason for such low ball #'s and it's because of the powertrain combo. Yet, I've read consistant #'s of "at least 60k per year"...aaaaant nope, it's a 5 year run with sales topping out at 35,000 then declining to 18,000 at the end of it's 5 year run.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 547
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Originally Posted by Josh452
People doubted me when I said first year would see 35,000 sales then drop to 18,000 at the end of it's 5 year run.
Jeeze. There's a reason for such low ball #'s and it's because of the powertrain combo. Yet, I've read consistant #'s of "at least 60k per year"...aaaaant nope, it's a 5 year run with sales topping out at 35,000 then declining to 18,000 at the end of it's 5 year run.
Jeeze. There's a reason for such low ball #'s and it's because of the powertrain combo. Yet, I've read consistant #'s of "at least 60k per year"...aaaaant nope, it's a 5 year run with sales topping out at 35,000 then declining to 18,000 at the end of it's 5 year run.
However if they offered it with a 5.7L hemi and auto for 28ish, I'd say 60k units combined on average.
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 10,285
From: Albany, NY
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
No V6 cars is fine by me, but not having a 5.7L w/ automatic is a mistake. They could double sales with an automatic, and not every one wants the gas pig 6.1L, MDS 5.7L w/ 350HP is enough for most.
I wonder what priceing will be. $35K? a $28K auto/5.7 model would be nice. THe GTO needed a sub $30K model too.
I wonder what priceing will be. $35K? a $28K auto/5.7 model would be nice. THe GTO needed a sub $30K model too.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,748
From: New England
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Originally Posted by 90rocz
A bigger question that has been gnawing at the back of my mind is, Why not Cuda???
I mean, the Hemi-Cuda was WAAAAAAYYYY more popular than the kinda obscurr Challenger....
And 340 Cuda's were feared, and with good reason, by many Camaro owners in the early years....forged steel cranks = very durable, big cams, some of the most powerful small block of the time....
I mean, the Hemi-Cuda was WAAAAAAYYYY more popular than the kinda obscurr Challenger....
And 340 Cuda's were feared, and with good reason, by many Camaro owners in the early years....forged steel cranks = very durable, big cams, some of the most powerful small block of the time....
Cuda...I think DCX is letting PLymouth and its names rest...
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Originally Posted by 5thGen
If it's around 35k in todays money, maybe. If more money, it will be a lot less.
However if they offered it with a 5.7L hemi and auto for 28ish, I'd say 60k units combined on average.
However if they offered it with a 5.7L hemi and auto for 28ish, I'd say 60k units combined on average.
GTO when it dipped down to $29K got up to 2200 that month (about 27,000 annual rate w/o seasonal adjustments). Mustang is smaller, sportier, and sold through far more dealers, and offered with a stick, and the GT version is running about 90-100K annually.
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Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,947
From: Springfield,OH. U.S.A.
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Cuda...I think DCX is letting PLymouth and its names rest...
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,817
From: O-Town
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
Here is a good reason why Chrysler is only building one model in low quanities.
Originally Posted by Allpar.com
it goes like this...they could decide to build 60,000 vehicle in the first year with all the options (v6, auto, convert, whatever) but then what happens if the flex-plant process doesn't work out as they had planned?
1. All of a sudden they have a warehouse full of parts that they can't build out because they need to keep the 300/Magnum/Charger lineup moving. Huge investment up in smoke--never to be reclaimed.
2. Customers who ordered cars not only won't get their cars in a timely fashion, they likely won't get their cars at all.
3. Public sentiment turns against DCX. Charges of "they don't care about the customer" fill the air.
This is all about Chrysler doing the prudent thing. Flex plants have never been tried to this extent. If DCX gambles too much on the hope of perfect execution out of the box, then they choke off the very car lines that have turned the companies image around. Do you really want DCX to end up in the same situation as Ford and GM so soon?
1. All of a sudden they have a warehouse full of parts that they can't build out because they need to keep the 300/Magnum/Charger lineup moving. Huge investment up in smoke--never to be reclaimed.
2. Customers who ordered cars not only won't get their cars in a timely fashion, they likely won't get their cars at all.
3. Public sentiment turns against DCX. Charges of "they don't care about the customer" fill the air.
This is all about Chrysler doing the prudent thing. Flex plants have never been tried to this extent. If DCX gambles too much on the hope of perfect execution out of the box, then they choke off the very car lines that have turned the companies image around. Do you really want DCX to end up in the same situation as Ford and GM so soon?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,887
From: northeast Miss.
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
I think they might be on a good idea of making ~15,000 cars for the first year or maybe even 2. Then on the 3rd year, roll out a smaller V8 option, auto tranny and maybe a V6 with a more base interior.
Get the name out... then get the buyers in....
Get the name out... then get the buyers in....
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,958
From: Kansas City, MO
Re: Challenger a "go" with 6.1 and 6 speed only?
I agree with all of the folks who say offer the 5.7. I think no V6 is fine - this isn't really a "mass market" coupe, but why not the 5.7 Hemi with either 6 speed or auto as R/T and the 6.1 as SRT/8?
