Have you heard of the "Core" SRT8 Challenger

[Budnicks]

Neat idea, but i think they can do better, even less equipment and a lower price  

Agreed yeah the road runner was a go fast 383 car  , put a little hotter  5.7 in one and strip it down to bare bones and price it for just under 25k and i think they would sell  like hot cakes .  

yep well proven formula

[Hard Charger]

i just bought a new R/T 3 weeks ago, The decision was a loaded R/T or a stripy Core SRT.

I surprised myself by liking all the gadgets it came with. never had a car with leather seats and a cool sunroof also included all the performance options too.

My sticker was the same price as the Core SRT. i got a nice discount off the sticker for the RT and the SRT sticker was the final price.

i have 2 hot old cars in the garage, this new car is for comfort. i don't have to worry about weather, summer heat, stinking of exhaust or planning out a long drive. its easier on the old bones also.

i will have this a long time. i am glad i got the options.  i think the core SRT's will have a poor trade in value too if you need to bail early.

[ws23rt]

i just bought a new R/T 3 weeks ago, The decision was a loaded R/T or a stripy Core SRT.

I surprised myself by liking all the gadgets it came with. never had a car with leather seats and a cool sunroof also included all the performance options too.

My sticker was the same price as the Core SRT. i got a nice discount off the sticker for the RT and the SRT sticker was the final price.

i have 2 hot old cars in the garage, this new car is for comfort. i don't have to worry about weather, summer heat, stinking of exhaust or planning out a long drive. its easier on the old bones also.

i will have this a long time. i am glad i got the options.  i think the core SRT's will have a poor trade in value too if you need to bail early.

You reminded me of the buying price. My first offer from a dealer was $27,000 over msrp. I ended up paying msrp from another dealer. A third dealer offered me $600 to cancel the deal I had already taken. (not). So there is much room to move. (The guy I bought it from told me they made about $2700 on the deal).

[Hard Charger]

i got 7k off sticker, includes $500 for college grad (my wife) and $500 for dodge loyalty. the discounts seem to be rebates from the factory not the dealer.

i walked in looking for a 28k new RT that seems to be floating around my area but it was a stripped version. the dealership was promoting a factory order funny enough.

but as always the case if you buy a loaded one you get deep discounts.

i don't plan on doing this again so i got one that worth the monthly sacrifice.

[ws23rt]

i got 7k off sticker, includes $500 for college grad (my wife) and $500 for dodge loyalty. the discounts seem to be rebates from the factory not the dealer.

i walked in looking for a 28k new RT that seems to be floating around my area but it was a stripped version. the dealership was promoting a factory order funny enough.

but as always the case if you buy a loaded one you get deep discounts.

i don't plan on doing this again so i got one that worth the monthly sacrifice.

My experience was good all around. I bought it over the phone with the dealer before ether of us knew what the msrp would be. I found out first and called him. We made the deal on the phone and I tracked it being built  through the internet. Could even track the train ride to the west coast. (One of the first 6sp made) I met the salesman when I picked the car up. A good day.

[Paul G]

The stripped down model has a very unique purpose.

Look at like this. Say you buy a regular SRT8 and modify the crap out of it with suspension, engine work, tranny work, safety harness, etc., then take it racing, auto crossing, road race events, or what have you, you just killed any resale value the car may have had anyway. Who wants a second hand car that has been treated like that? Besides all the money you spent on the car plus the mods just put the total price in to very "deep pockets" territory. A stripped down model saves you money on stuff you don't want anyway and at resale time since it is not worth much because of the beating it just took you are $5 grand ahead of the game.

I think it has a very good use for racers and people who intend to beat the snot out of it, and got it at a reduced price to start with.   

[Hard Charger]

The stripped down model has a very unique purpose.

Look at like this. Say you buy a regular SRT8 and modify the crap out of it with suspension, engine work, tranny work, safety harness, etc., then take it racing, auto crossing, road race events, or what have you, you just killed any resale value the car may have had anyway. Who wants a second hand car that has been treated like that? Besides all the money you spent on the car plus the mods just put the total price in to very "deep pockets" territory. A stripped down model saves you money on stuff you don't want anyway and at resale time since it is not worth much because of the beating it just took you are $5 grand ahead of the game.

I think it has a very good use for racers and people who intend to beat the snot out of it, and got it at a reduced price to start with.   

i guess you can look at it that way. but the 68 road runner was an entry level car. it was an entry into a performance car for little money, for some one who could not afford a GTX.
the SRT is still a lot of money at 42K and most likely not your everyday car. the guy looking to thrash a car would buy used. these new muscle cars priced above 30K are geared to older guys who can remember the old days and can afford them. a lot of kids are happy with the high HP V6's, just to get into the car.

[ws23rt]

The stripped down model has a very unique purpose.

Look at like this. Say you buy a regular SRT8 and modify the crap out of it with suspension, engine work, tranny work, safety harness, etc., then take it racing, auto crossing, road race events, or what have you, you just killed any resale value the car may have had anyway. Who wants a second hand car that has been treated like that? Besides all the money you spent on the car plus the mods just put the total price in to very "deep pockets" territory. A stripped down model saves you money on stuff you don't want anyway and at resale time since it is not worth much because of the beating it just took you are $5 grand ahead of the game.

I think it has a very good use for racers and people who intend to beat the snot out of it, and got it at a reduced price to start with.   

i guess you can look at it that way. but the 68 road runner was an entry level car. it was an entry into a performance car for little money, for some one who could not afford a GTX.
the SRT is still a lot of money at 42K and most likely not your everyday car. the guy looking to thrash a car would buy used. these new muscle cars priced above 30K are geared to older guys who can remember the old days and can afford them. a lot of kids are happy with the high HP V6's, just to get into the car.

I am one of the older guys. I remember the old days. And have been able to afford a new one.
A good question is will the new buyers be just like we were in the day. I think not. Lots of things are different now.
There will always be gear heads that love to tinker. There is lots of stuff to work with and with cost being ever present those that have bug to hot rod and have little funds will make do with what is at hand. (What is currently in with their peers is important). Some can afford the "core" challenger but that price is still high. The 08 and 09 challengers are becoming more affordable all the time. I am trying to put my old gear head into a do over today with dodge blinders.

[Hard Charger]

i have been wanting a new one since i saw the concept car in Carlisle in 2005. i have been watching them for the last couple years. last year most of the used cars had no milage, like under 2K. but this year most of the used ones have much more miles on them(>20K) but are cheaper. almost like the trophy car had to be used daily.

back in the day the car payment was 1/2 a weeks pay. today its 1/2 the take home pay even after medical,Christmas club, 401 etc.

Core SRT, I'm not sure who they are marketing this one too.  the price i paid for my loaded RT would get you into a nice 3 year old SRT.

[ws23rt]

That nice 3 yr old srt to day is basically a new car. In the old days a 3 yr old car was hammered. I know I did it to my 11 mo old superbee. On the other hand my old hammered superbee was an easy fix.

[ACUDANUT]

i just bought a new R/T 3 weeks ago, The decision was a loaded R/T or a stripy Core SRT.

I surprised myself by liking all the gadgets it came with. never had a car with leather seats and a cool sunroof also included all the performance options too.

My sticker was the same price as the Core SRT. i got a nice discount off the sticker for the RT and the SRT sticker was the final price.

i have 2 hot old cars in the garage, this new car is for comfort. i don't have to worry about weather, summer heat, stinking of exhaust or planning out a long drive. its easier on the old bones also.

i will have this a long time. i am glad i got the options.  i think the core SRT's will have a poor trade in value too if you need to bail early.

You reminded me of the buying price. My first offer from a dealer was $27,000 over msrp. I ended up paying msrp from another dealer. A third dealer offered me $600 to cancel the deal I had already taken. (not). So there is much room to move. (The guy I bought it from told me they made about $2700 on the deal).

Really, you offered 27K over msrp ?

[ws23rt]

i just bought a new R/T 3 weeks ago, The decision was a loaded R/T or a stripy Core SRT.

I surprised myself by liking all the gadgets it came with. never had a car with leather seats and a cool sunroof also included all the performance options too.

My sticker was the same price as the Core SRT. i got a nice discount off the sticker for the RT and the SRT sticker was the final price.

i have 2 hot old cars in the garage, this new car is for comfort. i don't have to worry about weather, summer heat, stinking of exhaust or planning out a long drive. its easier on the old bones also.

i will have this a long time. i am glad i got the options.  i think the core SRT's will have a poor trade in value too if you need to bail early.

You reminded me of the buying price. My first offer from a dealer was $27,000 over msrp. I ended up paying msrp from another dealer. A third dealer offered me $600 to cancel the deal I had already taken. (not). So there is much room to move. (The guy I bought it from told me they made about $2700 on the deal).

Really, you offered 27K over msrp ?

The offer was from a dealer not to a dealer. They called it a market adjustment.
The same thing I saw on a srt10 pickup window sticker when they were new.  A separate window sticker for $10,000 more. I asked what that was for and was told that it was what we think we can get so I could be the first on my block to have one.
I don't have one.

[Hard Charger]

those SRT10 rams went for 55k w/o a test drive.

can't even find one today.

in 05 when i was picking up my new ram a kid was picking one up at the same time with his buddy. the dealership took the truck off the trailer truck and parked it 40 feet away and never moved it.

my 3 kid were climbing all over the one in the showroom. i think they gave me a good deal on my truck to get me out of the showroom faster.

[Ponch ®]

The stripped down model has a very unique purpose.

Look at like this. Say you buy a regular SRT8 and modify the crap out of it with suspension, engine work, tranny work, safety harness, etc., then take it racing, auto crossing, road race events, or what have you, you just killed any resale value the car may have had anyway. Who wants a second hand car that has been treated like that? Besides all the money you spent on the car plus the mods just put the total price in to very "deep pockets" territory. A stripped down model saves you money on stuff you don't want anyway and at resale time since it is not worth much because of the beating it just took you are $5 grand ahead of the game.

I think it has a very good use for racers and people who intend to beat the snot out of it, and got it at a reduced price to start with.   

I agree about why racers, etc would want that car and from that angle it makes sense. But I think it's kinda pointless businesswise - the market for that kind of car is probably minimal. So either Chrysler is pretty cool for having the balls to cater to that market, or they're really dumb for making cars no one will buy.

[JB400]

I wouldn't call them dumb for making a package that seems to be selling.  They tested the market with the Superbee when the SRT's first come out.  If these Bees weren't selling, they wouldn't have spread it to the rest of the other performance models.

[BB1]

Back in the 1970 the majority of people that walked into a dealership would think the same thing about the Hemi Cuda. "Wow what where they thinking, way to expensive, nobody would buy that, that's just stupid."
Same with the the Daytona, Superbird, 440+6 Super bee; no option, can't get an a/c with Hemi.

Now they are the coolest cars in history, because the majority didn't buy them. That's what makes a car cool.
I don't care what people think, the Core is cool and it fits my thinking of what a muscle car should be.
The thrill isn't the opions, it's how much it pulls period. 

[Paul G]

Back in 99 and 00 GM did something similar with Corvette. Before the Z06 came out with a lighter body and bigger motor than the base car, around 01 maybe, the 99 and 00 Corvette had a fixed roof coupe option. Lighter weight, few options, manual trans only, and the rigidity of having a solid roof. It sold well and are still collectable today only because of the limited production numbers. I assume the Core will be the same way in 20 years. 

[charger Downunder]

I know what i would have if i had to choose between these two.
Poverty pack 68 Hemi Charger or
440 fully loaded 68 Charger.

[Mike DC]

              
I think this car sounds like exactly what guys like us are always asking for.  


People have complained for years that every time a hot new Z28/Shelby/whatever comes out, they can't find one optioned reasonably.  Every example of the car they can find within a 3-state radius has a ton of extra luxury crap that the dealer checked off just to run up the sticker price.  Well, I guess here's our chance not to deal with that.  


It's not like these things are heater-delete, one windshield wiper, and no sound deadening.  They aren't genuine strippers.  

Who really misses deleted fog lights?  What does it take to work a manual seat lever, maybe 5 lbs of effort once in a while?  If cars weren't frequently coming with these extra options already, then guys like us would be the first ones ridiculing the idea of paying more for them.  

[Ponch ®]

             
I think this car sounds like exactly what guys like us are always asking for.  


People have complained for years that every time a hot new Z28/Shelby/whatever comes out, they can't find one optioned reasonably.  Every example of the car they can find within a 3-state radius has a ton of extra luxury crap that the dealer checked off just to run up the sticker price.  Well, I guess here's our chance not to deal with that.  


It's not like these things are heater-delete, one windshield wiper, and no sound deadening.  They aren't genuine strippers.  

Who really misses deleted fog lights?  What does it take to work a manual seat lever, maybe 5 lbs of effort once in a while?  If cars weren't frequently coming with these extra options already, then guys like us would be the first ones ridiculing the idea of paying more for them.  

except that the majority of "guys like us" who want cars like that are mostly armchair shoppers who don't actually plan on buying a new car any time soon (that 73 D100 is still going strong!) or will simply find reasons to pick it apart and be unhappy with it. Remember when the 4 door charger came out and "guys like us" said "i aint buying a new car til Chrysler comes out with a V8 powered 2 door muscle car". Then the Challenger came out, and those same guys were saying it was too ugly, too big, too heavy, too expensive, blah blah....

[BB1]

Those were girls not "guys" 

Mike is right.

I can afford it, it's marketed to old guys like me who would rather hear the exhaust tone than Pandora radio. I've been turning wrenches for 30 years, I want a driver that has the fight, in the right hands, to find the finish line of whatever race.

I had fun racing my old Charger, it was heavy, it was big, but it ran like hell and it was fun.
Screw the faster cars, I got respected. 

[mauve66]

Back in the 1970 the majority of people that walked into a dealership would think the same thing about the Hemi Cuda. "Wow what where they thinking, way to expensive, nobody would buy that, that's just stupid."
Same with the the Daytona, Superbird, 440+6 Super bee; no option, can't get an a/c with Hemi.

Now they are the coolest cars in history, because the majority didn't buy them. That's what makes a car cool.
I don't care what people think, the Core is cool and it fits my thinking of what a muscle car should be.
The thrill isn't the opions, it's how much it pulls period.