New LC Challenger: Buy new or a low mile used?

[Kern Dog]

The wife and I are interested in buying a late model Challenger. We have both loved these cars since seeing the prototype in 2008.
To save money, I am considering a low mile used one. My biggest hope is to find a well treated one owner car and save several thousand dollars. It seems though that many of the ones I see online are still priced in the mid to upper 20,000 range. I see ads for new ones for under $28000 after rebates and incentives. It seems silly to pay $25000 for a 2009 if a 2014 can be had for a few thousand more.
Resale value isn't an issue for us. I keep my cars a long time. I have a 2007 Ram that will be paid off in December and I hope to have the Challenger soon after.

[thedodgeboys]

If you can wait one more year the refreshed 2015's should bring the used car prices down with all the new improvements and the updated body changes.

[Kern Dog]

Interesting.....

[JB400]

If possible, I'd make friends with a used car dealer that goes to car auctions on a regular basis.  Go with him to one of these auctions and you can bid on the car you want at the price you want to pay.

[69bronzeT5]

What sub-model are you looking for? SXT, R/T, SRT8??


I paid $30,000 for my used 2008 SRT8 numbered First Edition with 40,000 miles on it back in February. My girlfriend's dad knows the owner of the dealership I got it from so I got a good deal, sticker on the car was $35,995. It belonged to the owners wife so I know it was taken care of.

[Kern Dog]

What sub-model are you looking for? SXT, R/T, SRT8??

I can't believe that I didn't mention it....
The car has to be an R/T model. The V6 just wont do it for us. SRT 8 ? Certainly too much power for the wife. Since 1997, she has only driven Honda!

[myk]

Ah but the beauty is that YOU'LL get to enjoy that SRT-8 power from time to time...

[68X426]

Greg, I faced the same situation over the past years. My answer was to buy new.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,102576.msg1212343.html#msg1212343

I'm not far from you in Northern CA, I know you got lots of dealers in Sacramento and the Bay Area. I found good discounts, plus rebates, on new 13's that made a used RT easy to decline.

[Cooter]

Ill have to wait till I can get one like I finally got my 'new' Dodge truck....busted, clapped out, been wrecked, and can be had for $2k...

[Kern Dog]

The wife really likes the Green metallic available on the new Camaro and wishes that it was an option on the Challengers.
I like the Deep water Blue.
The current inventory in town here seems to be limited to Black, Silvers, Whites....Oh, and are ALL the interiors supposed to be the same color? What the heck happened to some variety there?

[TexasStroker]

Call Baxter Performance Group (Nebraska) and ask for Lee.

Tell him that Lance from Amarillo Area Mopars sent you.

Tell him what you want, and he will give you his best price with no bs.  Don't know where you are located, but one thing I know about late models is there are far more crap dealers than good ones.  Don't waste your time with local lots if they have that reputation, start somewhere good and you'll be enjoying your new Challenger much sooner.  Not much for color options, but you can go via Katzkin.

Good luck!

[6spd68]

What sub-model are you looking for? SXT, R/T, SRT8??

I can't believe that I didn't mention it....
The car has to be an R/T model. The V6 just wont do it for us. SRT 8 ? Certainly too much power for the wife. Since 1997, she has only driven Honda!

If you go with an automatic, the SRT-8 is actually pretty tame and drivable.

[Ghoste]

If you plan to keep it a long time then get a new one and order it as you want it to be.  Less compromise that way and you know the cars history.  Personally I don't care for the auction cars from used dealers, too many rental fleet cars in that mix for my liking.

[charger_fan_4ever]

I have a soft spot for the srt8 PCP cars. Been following used prices. They came down almost 10k this summer compared to last. Pretty much all of the srt's i see for sale have stupid low miles.

[heyoldguy]

Can hook you up with a guy who is selling a 2011 R/T Classic, 5.7, 6-speed manual, black w/ red strip, nearly every option in the book, 599 miles, get it before he wears it out by going over 600 miles.

[Kern Dog]

Thanks, Jim. Ours will have to be an automatic since it will be the wifes car and she has absolutely ZERO interest in learning to drive a manual transmission.
Interesting story though.... tell me more!

[Lord Warlock]

Unfortunately, all challengers have the same color interior, black.  You can however order Katzkins through the dealership to change the color to whatever you want, cost is only 700 bucks.  (plus installation).  I got tan katzkins when i bought my 2010, and love having an interior that stands out from the pack.  You can get an RT with the basic option set for around 28k on sale,  or you can buy a used one for 24 to 26k, dealers tend to be charging hefty prices for used ones, so the best bet is to get one from an auction somewhere if possible.  I wouldn't get one with 40k miles, I'd be searching for one with 30k or less, there are plenty around with low miles on it.  

If you like the green color on the new camaros, search for challengers with the Green with Envy paint color, it is very similar to the camaro green color.  That color was available on RT Classics, as well as the SRT8s in 2011 (have to get a used one as it isn't available on other years).  You can find an occasional srt8 in one of the high impact colors used for low 30s nowadays.  I've seen a couple go for 34-36k which is reasonable for a 392 powered srt8.  If you really don't want the srt8 (the auto is as easy to drive as the RT auto is) by all means get an RT classic,  they are well optioned, have very good performance for the bucks spent, and get just as many looks as the srt8's do.  Either way you'll love the challenger as a daily driver, i know i do, personally i'm glad i got one new, maxxed out on options for a reasonable 35k. Sticker was 39.7k.  

2015 will be an interesting year as the supercharged version will be available, but will likely be so overpriced that only a few will be able to afford them,  I'd rather just get a KB blower and add it to my Classic than spend 65 to 70k on a supercharged 6.2L with 600hp.  10k is a hefty pricetag for a blower but the r/t pricetag is reasonable enough where an extra 10k would still be less than most optioned out srt8's go for.  

If you don't plan on trading, I'd recommend buying a new one, order it fitted out the way you want, and have dodge install the different color interior for you, keep the old seatcovers as you can get about half the price of the new seatcovers by selling the originals (mine are stored in the katzkin box in case i want to go back to black one day) You will not regret getting the RT classic, I prefer the softer ride mine has on the highway, the srt8 would have been a little harsh for me.  If you want stiffer, get the STP package (don't really need it as the 2011s and up have a stiffer suspension than the 2010s and below did.  My 2010 has the perfect suspension for me.  It rides steady and firm on the interstate,  hardly leans at all in high speed turns, and doesn't seem to mind going over 120mph for long stretches if i feel a need to enjoy a little speed on long trips.  It is by far better on the highway than my old SVT cobra used to be.  Your wife will love driving an automatic, if you want to shift manually, just slap the shifter to the left and it downshifts, slap to the right and it upshifts.  I can shift manually if i want to, or just leave it in drive during heavy traffic to and from work.  

Talk I've seen is that they'll be offering lime green this year as an optional color, it isn't the same color as the camaro (paler and washed out if you ask me) I'd prefer the GWE myself.  I tend to like grass green or emerald green myself.  But i'm also partial to yellow. 



LW

[Kern Dog]

Thanks, Warlock.
Nice looking car in the picture. I appreciate your words and think that if there isn't a surprise release of a better blue or green by the time we plan to buy next year, we will be looking at a low mile used one. My understanding is that the Blue Streak was available until 2012. She likes that color as much or more than the famous B-5 blue. The current Jazz blue is too dark.
I appreciate the words regarding ride quality. She is used to a Honda CRV that has a semi-firm ride. I drive a lowered 2007 Ram 1500 so I am used to a firm ride. A friend has a 2013 R/T with the 20" wheel option. His rides almost as stiff as my modified 70 Charger does. I was surprised to learn that a late model car rode like that. Actually, i was happy to see that. Too many cars ride like a pillow on a cloud.

[TexasStroker]

Oh yeah, the new Challys handle great!  Mine has a few suspsenion upgrades, but you can really throw then into turns/corners and stay planted.  Far, far from the luxurious cloud-like ride of a C-Body, lol.

Lee that I referenced above might help you locate what you want...huge inventory.  Good luck!  Y'all will really enjoy the Challenger once you find one!

[tcs69rt]

Can hook you up with a guy who is selling a 2011 R/T Classic, 5.7, 6-speed manual, black w/ red strip, nearly every option in the book, 599 miles, get it before he wears it out by going over 600 miles.

WHOA!!!! If that Challenger is really a Classic with red RT stripes....they only made 31....buy it!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I have a soft spot for the srt8 PCP cars.

Same here. 

[ws23rt]

I went through this decision making process when I bought my 09 challenger.

First off is when you have made up your mind to buy the salesmen can smell you from long distance.

Buying new has several satisfying aspects that you already know about.

The car will depreciate as soon as you start driving it but it is up to you if that is a pay off for being the first buyer. (a tough one)

You say you expect to own the car for a long time (+for buying new)

If buying new you need not pay more than MSRP for the car you order the way you want it. (you can find that price on the internet)

When I bought my 09 (for MSRP) the dealer made around $2800. So they still have room to move in a deal.

I'm happy with what I did buying my 09 6sp. new. (no regrets) For me it was to be a long time driver I was buying and not looking at future sales value.

Another thought is you could find a used one that fits your liking and if it doesn't fit you can trade it in on one that does.

[Kern Dog]

One of my main thoughts and issues is that COLOR is a major sticking point. If there are no new ones available in a blue color we like, we will have to resort to a used car. If there are no desireable blue colors in their color list, same story.

[Lord Warlock]

New ones are available in Jazz Blue, used ones can be found in Deep water blue, B5 blue.  b5 hasn't been an option since 2009, DW blue has been available in 2011/12 I believe there is another blue color that is almost black.  So there are options available as far as blue goes.