New Challenger is due soon, is this a threat to old muscle?

[1969chargerrtse]

So the new Challenger is due this spring I believe?  Soon after the new Camaro, big horse power, convertible tops, what's your thought on this to those of us that love old muscle?  I have to be honest, I was holding on to my last classic until the new Challenger came out.  I was thinking about the idea of shiny new paint, the smell of leather, working A/C and just owning a new toy.  A feeling that would be just about as close as one could get to buying new Hemi car back in 69.  Problem was, I was only 13 then.  Why did I change my mind and buy a 69 Charger (that has been a trip and 1/2, actually thats all I got out of it until it spent a rod).  Well, a one income family, 3 kids, college soon around the corner, and most of all.  High tax's year after year, depreciation year after year, that was pretty much my turn around thought on it.  I think It's going to effect a lot in the muscle car world, what do you think?  If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like?   Any thoughts on this awesome new car coming our way soon?   

[TK73]

New Challenger is F@$#!N COOL!!

I've been interested in getting something new for a few months now, damn near bought a Scion xB in August to have a reliable econobox...
Now the Mustangs are lookin good to have something fun.  If Diamler hadn't f@$#ed up the Charger I'd probably have bought one by now.

We have a good 10-11 months before the '09 hits ('08s gonna be "limited") so we have time...

[69charger2002]

i think the impact will be slight.. these cars are now toys, and guys will always have toys. the new challenger is going to be a mixture of both.. toy and daily driver.. if i can afford one after they bring the price down to reality after the first year.. i'll buy one.. if not so be it. BUT i will not go sell a couple of my old classic chargers to buy a new challenger. no way in hell. i could see where someone that has had terrible luck and not been able to enjoy that thrill of driving a 69 charger would want to give up and buy a new chally.. but overall i don't think it will affect our hobby all that much. our cars are just too cool. i think what will have more of an impact on our classic car hobby than new muscle cars coming out.. is baby boomers getting older and buying less of their "childhood" cars. THEY may turn to the new challengers/camaros etc more than most of us. personally that would be fine with me, i'll just buy more of them if the price goes down!
trav

[70charginglizard]

i think the impact will be slight.. these cars are now toys, and guys will always have toys. the new challenger is going to be a mixture of both.. toy and daily driver.. if i can afford one after they bring the price down to reality after the first year.. i'll buy one.. if not so be it. BUT i will not go sell a couple of my old classic chargers to buy a new challenger. no way in hell. i could see where someone that has had terrible luck and not been able to enjoy that thrill of driving a 69 charger would want to give up and buy a new chally.. but overall i don't think it will affect our hobby all that much. our cars are just too cool. i think what will have more of an impact on our classic car hobby than new muscle cars coming out.. is baby boomers getting older and buying less of their "childhood" cars. THEY may turn to the new challengers/camaros etc more than most of us. personally that would be fine with me, i'll just buy more of them if the price goes down!
trav

[PocketThunder]

If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like? 

Hell no!  I'd give er a shot. 

[TruckDriver]

i think the impact will be slight.. these cars are now toys, and guys will always have toys. the new challenger is going to be a mixture of both.. toy and daily driver.. if i can afford one after they bring the price down to reality after the first year.. i'll buy one.. if not so be it. BUT i will not go sell a couple of my old classic chargers to buy a new challenger. no way in hell. i could see where someone that has had terrible luck and not been able to enjoy that thrill of driving a 69 charger would want to give up and buy a new chally.. but overall i don't think it will affect our hobby all that much. our cars are just too cool. i think what will have more of an impact on our classic car hobby than new muscle cars coming out.. is baby boomers getting older and buying less of their "childhood" cars. THEY may turn to the new challengers/camaros etc more than most of us. personally that would be fine with me, i'll just buy more of them if the price goes down!
trav

[1969chargerrtse]

If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like? 

Hell no!  I'd give er a shot. 

Oh, I bet you would

[1969chargerrtse]

i think the impact will be slight.. these cars are now toys, and guys will always have toys. the new challenger is going to be a mixture of both.. toy and daily driver.. if i can afford one after they bring the price down to reality after the first year.. I'll buy one.. if not so be it. BUT i will not go sell a couple of my old classic chargers to buy a new challenger. no way in hell. i could see where someone that has had terrible luck and not been able to enjoy that thrill of driving a 69 charger would want to give up and buy a new chally.. but overall i don't think it will affect our hobby all that much. our cars are just too cool. i think what will have more of an impact on our classic car hobby than new muscle cars coming out.. is baby boomers getting older and buying less of their "childhood" cars. THEY may turn to the new challengers/camaros etc more than most of us. personally that would be fine with me, i'll just buy more of them if the price goes down!
trav

Hope you don't mean me!  My Charger ain't going no where.  I took the heads off today.  Most of the bolts were loose, and some so tight the impact gun couldn't move them, I had to get a long breaker bar.  I knew right there it was slapped together by a non pro.  My Mopar buddy that dropped off the NOV 68 440 block for my car (the build date of my car also mind you), said that 77 block is a thin wall block and should not of been bored, and it was.  So as others said, it's not the cars fault, so I'm not mad at it anymore.

[0X01B8]

If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like?   Any thoughts on this awesome new car coming our way soon?   

I think I'd have to run him, just to see what 40 years difference makes.  I'd buy one but that's prolly not going to happen, not at new car prices.  What are they going to sell for, $40-50k?   

[1969chargerrtse]

If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like?   Any thoughts on this awesome new car coming our way soon?   

I think I'd have to run him, just to see what 40 years difference makes.  I'd buy one but that's prolly not going to happen, not at new car prices.  What are they going to sell for, $40-50k?   

I would think in the 30's. they have to compete with the Mustang.  I'm sure Dodge wants to sell cars,then you will have your limited edition models etc  bringing in  the 40 to 50 mark.

[no318]

I spoke with a local dealer last week and he said that it is ONLY going to be SRT challengers for the first year and 5000 or so built.  I asked about $$ and he said that the #'s weren't released, but he is thinking high $40's like other SRT 8's.   Maybe someone else has other info.

[remta1]

I would by a new chally for a daily driver they look awesome  , but it just cant compare to the charger to let of some steamand have some fun  , they bring back so many memories ( just like when you listen to certain songs ) its like comparing gas to electricity ( the new challenger being " gas " and the 1st to 3rd generation chargers being  "electricity ") lol ...ahhh the good old days

[bull]

If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like?   Any thoughts on this awesome new car coming our way soon?   

I'll wait until the second year and race a six-banger. Just kidding. I think anything that pays homage to the muscle car era is a good thing, and that's exactly what the new Mustang, Challenger and Camaro do, in addition to saying we're still players in the auto market and we refuse to go away or be ignored.

[nakita7]

Look at it this way...

'X' number of guys are going to buy a Challenger in the next year.

'Y' number of old ones will be for sale, 'Z' number of new ones will be for sale.

If X and Y were the only ones in the equation, things would stay status quo. Throw Z into the equation, means less of Y will be sold. The price of Y's will go down, if they are to be sold.

Chrysler isn't stupid. They study demographics a lot. There seem to be a lot of people with $50,000 burning a hole in their pockets for Muscle Cars the last couple years. Chrysler says "Hmmm..maybe we could get some of that money (and finance them at the same time!)". Y + Z simply means more Challengers on the planet. More Challengers, means the price will go down (slight or lots). Law of supply and demand. Chrysler is going to do all it can to get more people to throw money their way.

Trust me, Mopars are not going to go up forever. The prices have dipped in the past, they will dip again. Sorry, everything is cyclic when it comes to finances. I hope the prices do come down so I can buy more. 

[HemiDave]

  My Mopar buddy that dropped off the NOV 68 440 block for my car (the build date of my car also mind you), said that 77 block is a thin wall block and should not of been bored, and it was.  So as others said, it's not the cars fault, so I'm not mad at it anymore.

There is NO SUCH THING as a thin wall block....to repeat, there is NO SUCH THING as a thin wall block! Not to offend, just I am SO tired of that myth!! Thanks!

http://www.440source.com/blockinfo.htm

New Challenger....I'll wait.

Dave

[Mike DC]

I wouldn't care if the new Chally had 450 hp and sold for less than a nice 383 '69 Charger.  I'd still spend my money on old Chargers. 

   

[moparstuart]

 If they had a convert challenger I buy it right now
add  a 6.1  hemi and a shaker hood    I'd die right there

[keepat]

Look at it this way...

'X' number of guys are going to buy a Challenger in the next year.

'Y' number of old ones will be for sale, 'Z' number of new ones will be for sale.

If X and Y were the only ones in the equation, things would stay status quo. Throw Z into the equation, means less of Y will be sold. The price of Y's will go down, if they are to be sold.

Chrysler isn't stupid. They study demographics a lot. There seem to be a lot of people with $50,000 burning a hole in their pockets for Muscle Cars the last couple years. Chrysler says "Hmmm..maybe we could get some of that money (and finance them at the same time!)". Y + Z simply means more Challengers on the planet. More Challengers, means the price will go down (slight or lots). Law of supply and demand. Chrysler is going to do all it can to get more people to throw money their way.

Trust me, Mopars are not going to go up forever. The prices have dipped in the past, they will dip again. Sorry, everything is cyclic when it comes to finances. I hope the prices do come down so I can buy more. 

I'm not sure that's how it will work with the new Challenger. The new 05+Mustang may have drop the value of pre 05 Mustangs but 1964 to1972 Mustangs have not drop in price! And the production number for the 05 Mustang was over 150,000 the first year!    

[Joshua]

If a new high horse power Challenger rolled up next to you at a stop light, and it was just you two, and he smiled and revved the gas, would you do the same, or just say " Good day mate" and roll away real slow like?

The driver of the new Challenger would be heading to the dealer to get new doors........once the smoke cleared.....

These new musclecars??? are a deparate grasp at the past for the manufacturers....old cars are "in", so to speak, and they're trying to cash in on that.....it ain't gonna save 'em......

[nakita7]

Look at it this way...

'X' number of guys are going to buy a Challenger in the next year.

'Y' number of old ones will be for sale, 'Z' number of new ones will be for sale.

If X and Y were the only ones in the equation, things would stay status quo. Throw Z into the equation, means less of Y will be sold. The price of Y's will go down, if they are to be sold.

Chrysler isn't stupid. They study demographics a lot. There seem to be a lot of people with $50,000 burning a hole in their pockets for Muscle Cars the last couple years. Chrysler says "Hmmm..maybe we could get some of that money (and finance them at the same time!)". Y + Z simply means more Challengers on the planet. More Challengers, means the price will go down (slight or lots). Law of supply and demand. Chrysler is going to do all it can to get more people to throw money their way.

Trust me, Mopars are not going to go up forever. The prices have dipped in the past, they will dip again. Sorry, everything is cyclic when it comes to finances. I hope the prices do come down so I can buy more. 

I'm not sure that's how it will work with the new Challenger. The new 05+Mustang may have drop the value of pre 05 Mustangs but 1964 to1972 Mustangs have not drop in price! And the production number for the 05 Mustang was over 150,000 the first year!    

I know, I thought about it that way. Just a theory, let's see what happens....

[hemihead]

I don't think it's much of a threat. The new Challenger is just a shade of it's former self. The outside resembles the old but with things like Air Bags, Cruise Control, Heated Seats and Cup Holders, Engine Management Systems,Electronic Traction Control,GPS, etc. , etc. , it's just another way of getting more money out of aging , non automotive types.

[TK73]

I don't think it's much of a threat. The new Challenger is just a shade of it's former self. The outside resembles the old but with things like Air Bags, Cruise Control, Heated Seats and Cup Holders, Engine Management Systems,Electronic Traction Control,GPS, etc. , etc. , it's just another way of getting more money out of aging , non automotive types.

That's funny; just about 40 years after the originals... I wonder if in '70 there were a bunch of guys sitting around bitching about them "new fangled gadgets" such as power steering, power brakes, power windows, FM, seat belts, curved glass and pining for the "good 'ol days" of 1930s auto purity...

I'll take my '09 in Hemi Orange with a 5.7 thank you....

[69charger2002]

lol good point

[1969chargerrtse]

I don't think it's much of a threat. The new Challenger is just a shade of it's former self. The outside resembles the old but with things like Air Bags, Cruise Control, Heated Seats and Cup Holders, Engine Management Systems,Electronic Traction Control,GPS, etc. , etc. , it's just another way of getting more money out of aging , non automotive types.

That's funny; just about 40 years after the originals... I wonder if in '70 there were a bunch of guys sitting around bitching about them "new fangled gadgets" such as power steering, power brakes, power windows, FM, seat belts, curved glass and pining for the "good 'ol days" of 1930s auto purity...

I'll take my '09 in Hemi Orange with a 5.7 thank you....

That's funny, and 

[twenty mike mike]

The new Challenger will cause boomers with holes in their hair to buy original Challengers and Barracudas/Cudas to relive the street racing days they never had in their youth. Those buyers will be the ones who don't realize the new one is coming, but they won't be able to miss the commercials on TV Land. So the old ones will go up for a while, then the boomers (and their wives) will bemoan the lack of creature comforts and sell them, so there will be some really good deals on the market. After that, prices will go back to normal. Even the '72-'74 Challengers will command a premium since the buyers won't know the difference.

The same thing happened to Prowlers and hot rods.

Chargers probably won't be affected much.