The New Hellcat Buyer

[ws23rt]

I am one of those new hellcat owners. (even though I don't have mine yet)

So who are we in this hobby?

For me?---- I am older than the cars we celebrate to start with. I have been enjoying these dodge/mopar muscle cars since I was at the age of driving, and these cars were new.

What moves me at this time in my life is the new thing that dodge has come up with. It is not much different than what I felt in 1969 when I bought my superbee.--I cheer dodge for coming up with a car (after all these years) that sparked in me what I felt back in the day.

This new enthusiasm I have with the new stuff does not take away from how I feel about the old stuff. It adds to it.---The gap between the two is to great for their to be a fair comparison. They are two different animals just as I am different after 45+ years.

I am now in a place where I can afford to give another go to a new hot/fun car.--BTW I worked for awhile and think I am due-

Their has been some conversation about where the hobby is going with regard the age of the cars and their owners.

Are the classic chargers (and muscle cars from those days in general) slowly fading in to the background?   

Are their enough of the younger persuasion to keep them on the roads and not fading into just another car at the concourse?

My sense is that the second gen. charger has a very sound place in the old car hobby for a long time. However a long time is not to be confused with forever.

[Aero426]

Congrats on your new acquisition.   A dream machine that runs 11's with the windows up and A/C on.    

I believe there is a window for most collectible items where items go up in value and eventually go down.   In regard to 68-70 Chargers, it is the genuine article and it seems like it will be safe for a long time.     The aging of the hobby is a real concern and will eventually become a factor.  Not just with cars but with all the Americana and pop culture the boomers grew up with.    But the Gen 2 Charger will always be perceived as a beautiful car.   The performance editions will always have a buyer, so long as fuel is available to run them.   They will always have "some" collector value.    It is an iconic design.   That isn't going to go away.  

Now, about the new car.   It's an appliance.   A VERY fast appliance.    Time will tell how the market perceives it long term.   Certainly, it is the current high water mark.  None of us have a crystal ball.   As I see it, you have a limited amount of time on earth and the time to enjoy this car is NOW.    That is the payoff and probably worth any depreciation the car will have.  

They are going to build more of these.   They must have left some horsepower on the table so they can bump it in subsequent editions.    Thus, the current model will not be the flavor of the month forever (example: orange first year Challengers in orange with an automatic).   Eventually, the euphoria on these cars will wear off and people will be less inclined to stop and look.  But the '68 will always draw a crowd.    

Compared to the old Charger, I think my biggest concern long term with all the electronic crap and computers is keeping all the systems in the Hellcat operating.   There has to be a bunch of expensive proprietary parts in this car that will eventually by unsupported.    Most of us are old enough we won't have to worry about this.    

I am curious as to what consumables and out of warranty running costs will be.    Those Brembo rotors on the HC are not gonna be cheap.     I am waiting for the first post from someone about how the dealer wants to ram it up their you know what on parts.          

[DixieRestoParts]

Compared to the old Charger, I think my biggest concern long term with all the electronic crap and computers is keeping all the systems in the Hellcat operating.   There has to be a bunch of expensive proprietary parts in this car that will eventually by unsupported.    Most of us are old enough we won't have to worry about this.    

I am curious as to what consumables and out of warranty running costs will be.    Those Brembo rotors on the HC are not gonna be cheap.     I am waiting for the first post from someone about how the dealer wants to ram it up their you know what on parts.          

I think you nailed it. And not just on Hellcat's, but all new cars. The long term (30+ years) sustainability of these cars is still in question. I hope I'm wrong, because it'll probably be 10+ years before I can afford to buy a '15 Hellcat. LOL.

[Mike DC]

  
I think we crossed the Rubicon in terms of electronics & complexity in the 1990s.  From here on out, the increasing complexity won't make things run better or longer.  It will just please more govt standards & include more gadgets.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Now, about the new car.   It's an appliance.   A VERY fast appliance.   
     

I'm sure the same was said about "our" cars back in the late 60's-early 70's

[1974dodgecharger]

still nothing like driving a old muscle car even with all the super high powered modern cars, you cant replace the feeling of feeling the whole road at your feet with all that torque. 

With that in mind wish I could get a hellcat 

congrats man...

[Aero426]

Now, about the new car.   It's an appliance.   A VERY fast appliance.  
     

I'm sure the same was said about "our" cars back in the late 60's-early 70's

In general, I agree.     The old cars were not certainly not expected to run 45 years.    But they are simple enough that the common folk have been able to keep them running with simple hand tools.  

The point is, "don't assume lightning will strike twice".   Just enjoy the ride.    I think cars like the HC compliment an older Mopar.  

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Now, about the new car.   It's an appliance.   A VERY fast appliance.  
     

I'm sure the same was said about "our" cars back in the late 60's-early 70's

In general, I agree.     The old cars were not certainly not expected to run 45 years.    But they are simple enough that the common folk have been able to keep them running with simple hand tools.  

The point is, "don't assume lightning will strike twice".   Just enjoy the ride.    I think cars like the HC compliment an older Mopar.  

Agreed. 

[ws23rt]

I've had a lot of fun with the old and the new. The cars in my avatar are a good example. --Both dodges--both hemi with man. trans. and about the same advertised HP.

The coronet is 69 and the challenger is 09. What a difference 40 years makes.  Moving from one car to the other for a drive is an interesting close comparison.  

I recall driving my superbee back in the day and it felt like luxury. Driving the coronet today feels like driving an old truck after getting out of the challenger.

As many have said---they are very different critters.

Just a reminder for us is that in 1969 when our cars were new the future then is the now today.--Lots can (and did) happen in forty years.  I won't see another 40 but many of us will.

Someone of the (younger persuasion) may find a nicely preserved hellcat in 2065 and reminisce about the old days like we are doing today.

[Charger-Bodie]

You will absolutely love the feeling when driving your hellcat. It's docile when just cruising, and an animal when you want it to be.

[ws23rt]

I am convinced that there will be no let down in how the car feels.   Even though I am very used to my 09 SRT.

[Lord Warlock]

Once the cars get older than 12 years, you'll be able to find lots of parts for them from people parting cars out, I'd strongly suggest that hellcat owners start buying replacement parts long before the original parts go bad.  There was a gap of about 8 years where there was NO availability to find new parts (both on my 69 and on my 91 dodge) nowadays if I need special parts I'd have to go to a car salvage yard to get them.  (or use the internet...wish we had the internet when I was younger)

[ws23rt]

Once the cars get older than 12 years, you'll be able to find lots of parts for them from people parting cars out, I'd strongly suggest that hellcat owners start buying replacement parts long before the original parts go bad.  There was a gap of about 8 years where there was NO availability to find new parts (both on my 69 and on my 91 dodge) nowadays if I need special parts I'd have to go to a car salvage yard to get them.  (or use the internet...wish we had the internet when I was younger)

Agree   When I bought my 69 coronet in 1980 I bought many parts from the dealer that can't be found today.
I would (however) do some careful thinking about what might be good to buy now. It was a gamble in the day and surly a gamble today.

[64dartgt]

Good luck getting updates for your GPS ten years from now 

[Lord Warlock]

not concerned with gps updates, our phones will do tons more than our cars can as time moves on.  I never use the Nav feature in my car anyway...I always know what direction i'm going and don't get lost.  (I just miss a turn occasionally)