New 06 Charger intered in car show

[Chris G.]

The 80s chargers are actually cool. they are in the spirit of a muscle car in a time when muscle cars were dead. i would rather have one of those cars then a new charger... a sporty compact econo car is more fun then a "sporty" 4000LB sedan

So back in the 80's when there was no muscle car, the 80's Charger was cool? What about the Buick T-Type, or the Camaro 5.7, or even the GLHS Omni? There were fast cars then. Granted they may not be defined as "muscle", but they were quick.

Chrysler was doing the exact same thing back then...using a name they could sell.

I would take a new Charger over any late 70's to early 80's catastrophe. They had a hatchback for god's sake (the 80's).

BTW, I really want to know the definition of what the "spirit of a muscle car" means?  

[Ghoste]

Everything in the 80's had a hatchback Chris.
Of course, everything has four doors now.

[911bear]

    roflmfao!

[Silver R/T]

Everything in the 80's had a hatchback Chris.
Of course, everything has four doors now.

true that

[6670charger]

In the 80's, the Omni-Charger was the best they could do with what they had.  Chrysler was just coming off the heels of a bankruptcy and didn't have the luxury of building what at that time would have ended up being a specialty car.  I think they were even prohibited from building any new models with V8 engines (besides what they already had) due to the gas crunch at the time.

I don't think they should have called those cars Chargers myself.  However, I can see where the company was probably desperate to find a way to sell the car, and thought the name Charger would be popular enough to bring sales.  Considering what they had to work with, they made the car fairly fast for the day.  Remember, none of the other manufacturers was having a much better time of it.  The Mustang of the day was but a sorry shadow of the 60's cars.  Some had V8's, but, they weren't all that fast.  GM had some better luck with the Monte Carlo SS, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Buick Grand National.  Chrysler was limited to four-bangers.

The difference between then and now is that DCX has the money and could have made a really nice car, but instead, chose to take the car a whole new direction and make it a four-door like everything else on the road.  Look at the new cars today.  Almost all trucks are four doors; even the pickups.  The companies are even making four-door coupes for Christ sake!  They all seem to believe that if it doesn't have four doors, it won't sell.  The new Charger has fallen victim to that same line of thinking.  The only cars that still have two doors are the little cars that they know will sell to the tuner crowd.  A lot of those are little boxy things with four doors too!

[Ghoste]

You're right.  I'm pretty sure that one of the promises Iacocca had to make the government in order to get them to guarantee Chrysler's loans, was that they would only build small FWD, fuel efficient cars.  Those types of commuter cars are the ones that are close to ole Lee's heart anyway.

[TheGhost]

The companies are even making four-door coupes for Christ sake!  They all seem to believe that if it doesn't have four doors, it won't sell.

GTO.  Firebird.  Camaro.  Thunderbird.  Cougar.  All of them, gone.  They didn't sell enough to justify continued production.  Hmmm.....

[Plumcrazy]

the 06 charger is anice car, they have a nice looking body and they run damn hard (id be willing to bet they will tear up a more than their fair share of "the real chargers").      but that being said i see no real similarities between the 2 and dont think it should be called a charger.   they should have called it something different.    but they already basturdized the name plate when they stuck it on a dodge omni.

Well said Runner, but the OMNI was never labeled a Charger...at least I hope it wasn't. They did enough damage with the Charger name in the 80's, but most of these youngn's don't want to remember that for some reason.  

Here's a refresher..
l

I'm not a fan of the new charger.  But I have to stick up for some of the FWD Chargers.  Specifically the Shelby's
I had one of them, one of those cars on a road course will make any stock RWD Charger look like a dump truck.

[Ghoste]

I agree.  But great performance doesn't make it classic.  Only time will do that and the jury is still out on the Shelby Chargers.  Although I think it's beginning to come in favorable.

[Chris G.]

Only time will do that and the jury is still out on the Shelby Chargers.   Although I think it's beginning to come in favorable.

The jury's still out? Dang I would hate to be on that jury. The fact of the matter is, the 80's Chargers can be had for a little over $1K. Most have been beaten to death, and no one really wants them. The late 70's Charger might get a few thousand, but that's it, and the car would need to be near perfect.

68-70 Chargers will always be top dog. I think '71 Chargers are in a world of their own and come in second. After that 66-67 Chargers and then the 72-74 years. It's always been that way, and I don't ever see it changing.  

[Ghoste]

I'm not talking value Chris.  I'm talking about the intangible quality that makes a classic.  When people see one and get a fond nostalgia. 

[Chris G.]

I'm not talking value Chris.   I'm talking about the intangible quality that makes a classic.   When people see one and get a fond nostalgia.  

Hey, that's cool Ghoste. If you think they are going to be classics, then that's your opinion. I personally don't see them as classics, but that's just my opinion. I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one. 

[ipstrategies]

I had a 85 Turismo 2.2 (Plymouth version of Charger) and it was a blast to drive (5 speed), got good gas mileage and it  looked a lot better then the other cars at the time Pontiac Lemans (remember that) Ford Escort. I also owned a Dodge Lancer ES Turbo, man that made a difference on that 2.2 . I agree the name thing but also think Chrysler did the best they could in the early to mid 80's making some decent cars recycling names wasnot a favorite f mine ( Daytona//  with a 2.2 turbo??)

[73dodge]

i don't think going to a dealer and buying something off the lot and then entering it into a car show makes it car show material. why not go to the local Dodge dealer and walk the lot if that's their idea of a car show.

As for the late 70's and 80's & 06 version of the Charger it's about selling cars. Period. They'll slap the Charger name on a toilet if they think that they'll be able to sell a few more units. The ChryMerceDodge corp is about and has always been about making money. even back in the 60's and 70's it was all about making money but back then they recognized that people were going to races and buying cars that were winning back then and it gave the car designers added competition because they wanted to not get beat on sunday at the races. So not only did they want to build cars that would sell alot of units they also wanted something that would win on Sunday, which would then translate into $$$ on Monday. That's why you see cars with monster wings and spark plugs thorugh the valve covers.

Now that's not the philosophy of cars designs but I have to admit that you can get a car that pumps out 450 horses and rides nice now for a reasonable amount of money. So it kinda shows that the competative spirit is alive still with the guys who design the cars.

That being said I'll admit that I like the looks of the new Charger I just wish they would not have called it that. And if one should end up in my garage I would not have a problem with that. I just would peel the Charger emblems off and go find some CORONET emblems and put them where the Charger emblems were.

[MoparUSAF]

As for the late 70's and 80's & 06 version of the Charger it's about selling cars. Period. They'll slap the Charger name on a toilet if they think that they'll be able to sell a few more units

Ha ha.... right on target!

[Old Moparz]

As long as there is a class at the show for newer cars & the old ones don't compete directly against them, what the hell difference does it make who's entered? I tease my Chebby friend all the time, (since I just have to) but I'd never come off as a complete a-hole to him about his choice of car, or someone at a show because they have a new car entered. I do agree that buying a new car & entering it is not really the best thing to do, but so what? Someone is proud of their box with a mortgage & thought enough of it to show up & enter, so let them have fun. I guess someone who'd actually open up their mouth & put the person down is the same person who stands there & picks apart all the incorrect things on an old car. There's more important things to do.

I think I'd now find total enjoyment in bringing my '04 quad cab ram to the next show & enter it in the non-stock class because I added stainless steel steps to it. Better yet, I'll buy a nut & bolt restored, stock show car & put a chain steering wheel in it.

[4402tuff4u]

I have to give you a thumbs up RECHRD No need to be an ahole towards someone because you dislike a particular car. I agree I'm not crazy about the fact that the new Charger has four doors, but attacking someone verbally because they found it attractive is totally assenine. Especially if they were being nice and acknowledging the fact that your Charger was impressive. They probably would love to own a "real" Charger, but finding one is getting hard and expensive. It would of been different if they had the attitude that their car was above yours and they were belittling you - but that was not the case.   

[andy74]

one point that i failed to make earler is i understand if someone doesnt have the ability or time to work on an old car,and not to mention the spare cash-its the arrogant people who buy new cars,enter them ina show,and critize your car because it isnt perfect-those are the ones who really piss me off,not some one who buys a new car,hell i have to sell them every day!

[67_Dodge_Charger]

I really don't like new cars at the classic car shows (ie 74 and earlier are defined as classic for most cars shows).

I stopped by my favorite body shop and one of the guys working on his pickup said he thought the new 06 Charger was "cool."  He said it was cool because it has a 345 hp motor.  I rebutted with it can not produce anymore than 345 hp, and all he was getting was the new hemi motor in a sedan.  A bb will produce 325 hp stock and you could go up with hp from there with some engine modifications.

It would be difficult to swelch someone's enthusiasm for their new car when the dealer, and DCX are creating a faux charger.

Everybody is happy when a real Charger parks next to their car.  At least someone will glance at their will they finish gawking at the real Charger.