Says the "Gal" who used to have a Lightning, but now has a 2008 F250 4x4 Crewcab, Lariat, V10...

 

I still have doubts that the market is large enough to support 3 volume RWD+V8 coupes.

In general, we don't buy coupes any more and haven't since the early 90's.

 

Biggest word in the english language.
IF they didn't have the MCE coming, the car would be 6 MODEL YEARS OLD!!! And you think it would not sell as well as a classic American musclecar that has not been offered in almost 40 years...

IF you'd listen to what some knowledgeable people who EARN A LIVING at this game are trying to tell you, you might learn something.

I put my money where my mouth is. I take it you are going to pass on he offer... and subsequently you don't ultimately believe that the Challenger will outsell the Mustang.

As for thinking that speed sells... You're wrong, but that's OK. Go buy you a fast car... any fast car. It'll help me get my next paycheck either way.
Foolish money spends just like smart money.

 

Trudat - especially 3 domestic ones.
That doesn't include all the import offerings.
With only 9-million cars expected to sell in 2009, there will be a furious fight for that market, and I suspect that utilitarian and cost-effective models will be the ultimate victors... not sporty musclecars or big-honking trucks and SUVs.

 

FWIW, I would take a Mustang GT (w/ Track Pack) over the Challenger as well -- even the SRT8.

I simply don't care for the Challenger's styling.

Throw the Camaro into the mix, though...

 

IF the Camaro wasn't here I would take a Challenger over a Mustang hands down. Who cares about a great interios if I want to vomit everytime I look at the outside of it. They should only have revised the nose, the back end looks horrid. We won't even get into the OHC vs OHV discussion either.

 

That's how I feel about Challenger.

 

Hey ford nut hugger, read the title of the thread. Challenger outsells mustang. That's 2009 vs 2009.

If that was the case through the year, the Challenger would wipe the floor with the Ford.

I have already stated that the 2010 GT evens things up.


*MOD EDIT: removed inappropriate comments*

 

All I know is that this is an AWESOME time. GM, Ford, Chrysler all bringing out Muscle. I don't care which one is better. That will be argued on kids at gathering places all across the United States. The fact these arguments have a chance to be happening now makes me smile. For once I feel like Detroit is back.

All I know is that even though my 02 Z28 is fast, I can't get lazy as these cars are getting faster and faster. My plans for a 408 have been bumped up to probably next year sometime...

 

With the exception of the economic situation - I agree 100%.
If the current offerings were all out back in 2004/2005 when the economy was much better, we'd be seeing SICK sales levels and mag articles out the poopshooter comparing this to that and one to another.

As it is, I'd be happy to see 2 of the 3 offerings make it out of the recession in-tact. Estimates for total sales volume in 2009 just keep tanking. Not a death certificate for units that typically sell 100-200k/year, but a real bad sign for models that target 30k or less/year.

1 thing for sure, GM drew a real sh1++y card when the economy tanked right before the Camaro's launch, and that's nothing any of us can pin to their backs either. Sometimes, 5h1+ just happens.

 

The Challenger is 3" taller and 7" longer than the Camaro, on a 4" longer wheelbase. Width is basically the same between the two.

The Camaro is already 2-3" taller than a 4th gen; Challenger is another 3" taller than that. The 5th gen has a pretty high beltline in its own right, but a 3" difference in height is noticable. Combine that with the blockier, stockier styling of the Challenger, and it does look sort of larger than life.

I like how it stands out too. But I also don't want my sports couple to look like an H2 when parked next to other vehicles.

 

Best post I've seen on this thread yet!

Guys, we're living in the best age of cars that has ever existed!!

Think about some things for a moment. The quickest cars ever made in every single class from econboxes to big Cadillacs are in production right now! Even the lowly Impala SS will match the LT1 F-body in every acceleration and top speed measurement. The big 3 have RWD coupes again. A live axle Mustang not only outhandles a IRS Camaro, but has grip that only a short time ago was limited to supercars.

The fact that we can even have a debate over which one is better is a whole different universe than the discussions we had only 6 short years ago where if you wanted a domestic RWD performance car, unless it was Corvette or Mustang, the conversation was pretty short. Today we have no fewer than 7 domestic RWD sedans, 6 domestic coupes, and at least 5 sports cars that all will get to 60 in under 6 seconds flat... and at least half of them will do it in less than 5 seconds flat!

So, there's going to be strong opinions here. But while no one can deny Mustang's handling and the fact that it plainly acts like there's a lot less than a 111 horsepower disadvantage to a Camaro, or that Camaro itself is lightning quick, or that the Dodge Challenger R/T Hemi, the biggest and 2nd most powerful of the group (closer to the Camaro's output than Mustang's) also gets the best fuel economy of the group.

Some of these debates may get heated, but the fact that we have them at all..... let alone the fact that the cars are great enough that these debates can even get heated... is a testimate that we're in a golden age of performance cars.

Eat your heart out 60s muscle cars.

 

Had one park in the front row at work last week, between other cars.

That car just outright dominated everything around it.

It gathered a enthusiastic small crowd.

Sure, it may look big (the high beltline contributes), but you can't miss it in a parking lot, and the thing looks simply and absolutely BADASS next to regular cars. Even it's wheels and tires stand out as massive next to the average import or family car.

Lots of people say the GTO (a car I also like, BTW) simply didn't stand out or look aggressive.

Think of the Dodge Challenger as the Anti-GTO!!

 

Now that I've seen a few Challengers around I think they look even more ridiculous in real life.

It's kind of like kit car "Ferraris". They do kind of look like the real thing, and the drivers want people to believe that, but in the end they just seem cheap. I've never been one for image though

I thought for a while that maybe all the ricers were growing up and able to afford new cars but it seems I'm in the minority of the established gearhead culture too. That should generate discussion

 

I have to agree with Guy on the various Challenger observations he has made. I got up-close and personal with a few Challengers at a lot yesterday. Virtually any car out today is nothing but vague background noise when sitting next to Challenger. It just grabs you by the ***** at first sight. I could have unfolded a lawn chair, had a seat and gazed at this car for a half an hour, and I imagine quite a few owners are doing exactly that after spending the afternoon waxing one of these beauties. He's also right about the interior materials, they are a definate step up from the LX cars I've seen and looked much better than I expected from photos, even if the monotone black is pretty drab. I stand by my earlier statement, this Challenger elicits an emotional response that no S197 Mustang ever came close to giving me. 4100 lbs or not given the choice an '09 Mustang is not even on the radar with this car. I am looking forward to seeing the Mustang efresh, but if Dodge ever gets Plum Crazy offered on the Challenger (WTF is the holdup anyway, it is available on the Charger) it would still be a hell of a tough choice picking between the two.