Challenger Hellcat delay

[JB400]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/challenger-hellcats-seemingly-delayed-by-lack-of-satin-black-hoods/


But, only if you ordered the satin black hood treatment.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

There's an even bigger problem; they have taken thousands more orders than they antcipated & at 35 units being built per day, it is questionable whether they can fill all these orders in the 2015 model year.  

[J.Bond]

One of my clients is a local Dodge dealership, I asked the lead sales person, last week, what the orders have been like on the Hellcat's. This dealership primarily sells trucks, farm country. They may only have one Chall and maybe one Charger on the lot at any given time. And really do not care about the performance end of the business. Last time they had an SRT8 Chall, it sat on the lot for pretty much a year. Any way's, I was shocked at what he said. Eight on order right now, and Chrysler has confirmed only one of the eight ordered, he is really doubting if his orders will be filled. I guess this is what Ford went thru when they brought out the Mustang in 64, I think they had to build a second plant

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I spoke with my sales dude last evening & it appears that Chrysler severely underestimated the demand for these cars. The salesman said that that in 2013, Chrysler built about 5,000 total SRT branded vehicles (Jeeps, Chargers, Challengers, Vipers, etc.), and they registered about 7,000 Hellcat orders when the order banks opened in September. Given Ralph G's statements last summer where he talked about that there was only a small percentage of enthusiasts who wanted a car with such brute power, you can see how badly demand was underestimated.  And my order is in hellcat limbo. Who knows if it will be built or not?   

[Ghoste]

No doubt, because people didn't kick the doors down to buy an SRT Jeep or an even more expensive version of the Viper or a Caravan with RT badges it obviously confirmed to the marketing experts that there aren't any performance enthusiasts out there. 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

My guess is that they probably anticipated only a thousand or so orders and as such they contracted to make only so many parts. When they actually realized the real demand for this one vehicle outweighed total SRT production, they probably had  an "oh shit" moment, which may explain why the order banks were a month late to open. Of course, this is just me speculating, but I bet that I'm not far off the mark.

As for my order; at this time of year, "my" car would just sit in the garage anyway, so I'll sit tight for a while, but if I'm still in limbo by early March, I'm canceling the order. By spring, I would assume that the initial fever to have one of the first ones will calm down and dealers who haven't moved them will want to give up on their "adjusted market value" price gouging.  And I'm sure that in time, I'll be able to find one I want within driving distance.

[GOTWING]

740 HP Mustang for 2017 is in development as we speak..

[Ghoste]

I did see where Dodge had a program in place to try and discourage price gouging by the dealers.  Apparently if they have a Hellcat on the lot for more than a month and its wearing a market value adjusted price, they don't get any more Hellcats.  The dealers who move them will get the allocations.

[RIDELIKEHELL]

I cross into Michigan Weekly at The Bluewater Bridges & I see a few Cats on the trailers on there way to Taylor Michigan I believe

[Troy]

We make some of the significant parts for the engine and we're cranking out a lot more than these estimates could possibly account for. I say the salespeople are full of it. On the other hand, Chrysler (as a company) doesn't seem to have any idea what's going on from one end to the other so you may be able to buy some really cool stuff on Overstock.com some day soon...

Troy

[myk]

740 HP Mustang for 2017 is in development as we speak..

Competition is a good thing.  Without it you won't see anything like a Hellcat from Dodge again..l

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I did see where Dodge had a program in place to try and discourage price gouging by the dealers.  Apparently if they have a Hellcat on the lot for more than a month and its wearing a market value adjusted price, they don't get any more Hellcats.  The dealers who move them will get the allocations.

Apparently, that's all a bunch of BS......


http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action?stkTyp=N&tracktype=newcc&mkId=20012&AmbMkId=20012&AmbMkNm=Dodge&make=Dodge&AmbMdNm=Challenger&model=Challenger&mdId=20807&AmbMdId=20807&prMx=&rd=100000&zc=02081&searchSource=TRAIL_HEAD&enableSeo=1

[TheAutoArchaeologist]

Lets just say that 707 is just a nice sounding number.

[ws23rt]

I did see where Dodge had a program in place to try and discourage price gouging by the dealers.  Apparently if they have a Hellcat on the lot for more than a month and its wearing a market value adjusted price, they don't get any more Hellcats.  The dealers who move them will get the allocations.

Apparently, that's all a bunch of BS......


http://www.cars.com/for-sale/searchresults.action?stkTyp=N&tracktype=newcc&mkId=20012&AmbMkId=20012&AmbMkNm=Dodge&make=Dodge&AmbMdNm=Challenger&model=Challenger&mdId=20807&AmbMdId=20807&prMx=&rd=100000&zc=02081&searchSource=TRAIL_HEAD&enableSeo=1

Thanks for that link.   It tells the story as well as it can be told.
The MSRP that they came out with brought on the long list of buyers that are waiting like me. That perhaps extra fast interest may have added to the fire.
Some on the challenger.com forum are talking about selling their newly arrived hellcat for a profit and will get in line to buy another.
I am just fine with waiting this frenzy out. The car is a lot of car but everyone has their price.
I wonder how this all would look if the MSRP started at 90K (for example)?  In my case I would be looking at a used one a few years from now and not be willing to pay over 40K then.  Everyone has their price.  My  --+ 60K for now.

[moparnation74]

65k-165k, No kidding, What a story that link tells!

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Now here's a pair of brand new pair of Hellcats leaving the dealer...............

https://www.facebook.com/scott.brown.31149359/posts/747035632017596

[Ghoste]

But are those dealers on cars.com sitting with the cars and then not getting more Hellcat allocations?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Hope the green one in that video wasn't this one.....

[JB400]

That didn't take long.  This car has only been available a couple months now, and we're just starting to get pix of the first one wrecked.   

[polywideblock]

and with an impact like that the motor is probably toast   

[moparnation74]

What a shame too see so soon!

[Ghoste]

That didn't take long.  This car has only been available a couple months now, and we're just starting to get pix of the first one wrecked.   

I'm sure there were a thousand Camry's destroyed in the same time period for similar stunts and driving skills.  (making assumptions about the Hellcat being a stunt victim of course)

[TheAutoArchaeologist]

The first ones were only delivered to the dealerships 3 weeks ago.

[polywideblock]

wait for one of the "national rags" to start the whole "their too powerful and too fast" for sale to the public thing   

[Mytur Binsdirti]

The first ones were only delivered to the dealerships 3 weeks ago.

Here's one that was damaged by the press....


http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/hellcat-carnage-the-first-wrecked-2015-challenger-srt-hellcat/

[ws23rt]

It is news and in this case good news  (occupants were ok)
It won't be long before the first fatality is the next news.
I remember seeing that first when the first (08)challengers came out. --- What we see are cars that are broken and the fact that they have power and are new catches attention--It got mine---  
People make these messes far more often than defective cars do.

[Ghoste]

Which was exactly my point about the Camry's.

[myk]

The first ones were only delivered to the dealerships 3 weeks ago.

Here's one that was damaged by the press....


http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/hellcat-carnage-the-first-wrecked-2015-challenger-srt-hellcat/

Freaking Californians can't drive....

[Ghoste]

Its a continental epidemic, trust me.

[Stevearino]

Sorry for the redundant pic post

[War wagon]

In the past five months since the order banks opened in Canada my dealer has only received ONE allocation and that car is yet to be built.
I've been told not to expect any updates or movement with my order until March or April at the Earliest and their best GUESS is my car will be delivered June or July. I was promised spring delivery last JULY when I ordered.
Sublime green is supposedly ending in Febuary before my car is even built , I can't get an answer for any questions or concerns I have from Chrysler Canada, my dealer, SRT Canada.
In five months .. Nothing.... No email conformation from Chrysler of a spot in line, No phone call NOTHING.....
Traded in a brand new truck that was paid for as a deposit and 2wks after placing my order I was informed my order had been ACCEPTED pleased bring in the truck....
And I've been left completely in the dark as a customer and after five months and a large deposit have no idea IF I will ever see a car......
Not very hopeful at this point and disappointed with Chrysler/ FCA whoever ... Once the auto shows start showing this car to people the demand will only get worse . Rumour has it they planned for 3500 orders and have more than 13000 so far.
They are still happily taking orders here in Canada $5K deposit, but yet those that placed orders FIVE MONTHS ago have no idea on the status of their orders. I sit with a VON in. BX status .
Factory worker posted on another forum over 1100 cars built so far, less than 100 for Canada.
I'm in no rush but I'd sure like to know what the hell is going on with my order?!?
I live in the wrong country if I want this car, even thought it's made here

[Ghoste]

I'd say there are likely big executives at Dodge just as in the dark as you.  And don't forget that thanks to the Obamunists and their outrageous CAFE standards Chrysler now has to figure out they are going to the thousands of tiny cars needed to offset the success of this profitable model.

[ACUDANUT]

I wonder what Jay Leno paid for his ?

[Ghoste]

Hard to say, his may have been rushed through at cost to put one in the hands of a celebrity known for car collecting or he could have bought it through a thrid party and paid whatever it took.