The new Challenger is disappointing

[zmoonchild]

I recently read through the Dodge website about the new Challenger, and now I’m somewhat disappointed.

 

The Challenger’s interior somewhat resembles that of a luxury car, with some sporty accents.

To me, it just doesn’t seem that the original Challenger was a luxury car at all, and that Dodge completely missed that point.

 

Now, I was willing to overlook that, but then I found out that the Challenger is only available with an automatic transmission. I’m sorry, but how could anyone want to drive a sports car/muscle car with an automatic transmission?

 

Then the price: $40,000 USD. WTF?!

This car is clearly being targeted for older rich white men who are trying to capture something from their youth; older men that just want to cruise around slowly and show off their wealth, while occasionally being able to release their aggressive tendencies onto others by keeping people from passing them on the highway as they head to and from work, not the track.

This car is not made for performance minded people like myself that appreciate and understand the importance of a Standard Transmission for speed and control.

 

I had seriously considered buying one, but never with an automatic transmission, and I’m not criticizing anyone who likes the automatic transmission, but understand that it should only be an option, not standard equipment.

And there should definitely not be any luxury items; that’s not what Muscle Cars are about.

 

I guess my disappointment stems for the fact that I’ve been waiting so long for it, and it isn’t living up to my expectations. Visually though, the exterior is brilliant.

[Black-hawk]

A manual version is scheduled for release in 2009/2010.

[bagga rabbit]

Lets not call ANY new car a "muscle" car. They don't build them anymore IMO.

[chris cambo]

Lets not call ANY new car a "muscle" car. They don't build them anymore IMO.

agreed.

 

Bagga IYO when did mucle cars die out the late 70's?

[EvilPenguin]

Lets not forget the car is built on a not very modified Mercedes E-Class platform and ways in excess of 4000lbs. Not really a sporty combination. This car is more about image than performance.

[zmoonchild]

 

Lets not call ANY new car a "muscle" car. They don't build them anymore IMO.

agreed.

 

Bagga IYO when did mucle cars die out the late 70's?

Around 1972 in the USA, and around 1978 in Australia.

Roughly around those years on each of those locations.

I own a few American Muscle Cars as well as a couple of Australian Muscle Cars.

 

I will say that the 'True' Muscle Car age ended then, but ever since 1996 there have been some production cars that match and/or exceeded some of those classics as far as horsepower is concerned.

[bagga rabbit]

 

Lets not call ANY new car a "muscle" car. They don't build them anymore IMO.

agreed.

 

Bagga IYO when did mucle cars die out the late 70's?

 

Around 1972 in the USA

Yep..I'd say that's about right.

There was "one last gasp" with the Buick Grand National in the '80's though.

Edited March 12, 2008 by bagga rabbit

[Picolini]

 

I hardly call that luxury. That might be the concept version, I can't seem to find any production version images. If I remember right, I heard that it was basically going to be a Charger's interior, with a few changes. And what kind of interiors did muscle cars used to have? Basically just slightly-more sporty interiors than their baser models. I really don't think it's nearly as luxurious looking as even a CTS's. The SRT-8 version is $40,000 and that is a low production version. Are you sure it's only auto? If anything, the base, and if they make it the R/T, version might be auto-only which is dumb, but not nearly as blasphemous as making an auto-only SRT-8 version would be.

 

I'm pretty sure base, V6 Challenger's are to be priced competitively with V6 Mustangs and the upcoming Camaro.

[lurchseesu420]

The new Challengers interior looks a bit retarded compared to the simplicity of the original.

 

 

The new one just seems to have too much mass in places (door sills, central tunnel, center console). I don't get it. It doesn't seem very retro at all (compared to the exterior). The only similar thing in it is the the way the leather seats are stitched like the old one's vinyl seats. The new one does seem to be a bit more "luxury" like.

Edited March 12, 2008 by lurchseesu420

[Picolini]

Luxury for the 70's, but for nowadays? No way.

[stretch.]

Seems to me like you want a carbon copy with new internals rather than a new model that takes it's cues from the original.

[zmoonchild]

Here’s the Interior of the New Challenger, directly from the Dodge website:

 

I said somewhat luxury, not totally Luxury. This new Challenger is based on the 70 Challenger… and during the late 60’s, Muscle Cars were usually no frills at all, just your basic sedan with all the horsepower that could be packed under the hood; that’s what makes me happy.

Most of my classic cars (American & Australian) have no power-options at all; no power-steering, no power brakes, no air conditioning, no fancy interior, just raw power.

 

This new Challenger is supposed to be a Muscle Car, for me that means no navigational mapping device, no cruise control, no air conditioning, no center console w/cupholders, etc, etc, etc.

I was too young to buy a Muscle Car when they were new, so this appeared to be an opportunity for me to experience it first hand, with a new car.

 

I always get confused looks from people because they don’t understand why I don’t want air conditioning in my classic cars during the Summer, or any other option.

People like that just don’t understand what a Muscle Car is; Muscle Cars are just raw power!

The new Challenger has too many frills, that makes it somewhat like a luxury car.

Edited March 12, 2008 by zmoonchild

[stretch.]

No frills has changed nowadays, you can spend a rediculously low amount of money and get ac, remote central locking etc.

 

If you don't want a/c don't turn it on, disconnect the power steering etc.

 

You'll soon want it back.

[lurchseesu420]

 

No frills has changed nowadays, you can spend a rediculously low amount of money and get ac, remote central locking etc.

 

If you don't want a/c don't turn it on, disconnect the power steering etc.

 

You'll soon want it back.

I wouldn't say that. My bug has a gutted interior, no a/c, no heater, no power steering, no power brakes, worm and roller steering, 4 wheel drum brakes, no radio, no muffler, no bumpers, and a 1 barrel carb, but it was still fun as hell to drive everyday (except in the winter and rain). You don't even really notice not having the A/C, radio or power steering. Was as bare bones as it got, netted me over 30 mpg, and was incredibly light weight (around 1750 lbs. with fluids) because it didn't have any of those accessories. Unfortunately, reliability problems made me retire it as a daily driver and now it only sees short trips around the block.

 

And unless you actually take out the power steering pump, a/c compressor, etc., you'll still have the weight if you turn them off or unhook them (not to mention a car with power steering that doesn't work is going to turn a lot worse than the same car without power steering altogether).

Edited March 13, 2008 by lurchseesu420

[Picolini]

I would assume that 90%+ of the buyers of an SRT-8 or similar car wouldn't buy it if it didn't come with AC and similar accessories. If it was optional, I'd say that 90% or so would get it.

 

Like stretch said, they didn't have it back then because it cost too much, now it's so commonplace it's hard to not put it in there. The only disadvantage to these "frills" are more weight, for the most part. Sure power steering and stuff may affect the steering feel, but in most cases I'd assume it's for the better. If it pains buyers that much, you can take it off.

[lurchseesu420]

Basically, if people want no frills, they'll buy a lotus, caterham, or an ariel atom. Otherwise, most people want a big coupe like that to coddle them to some extent.

[tuff_luv_capo]

No surprise really, that's all the charger was available in. But I think demand will bring the manuals, like an above poster said. They will come.

[GTA3Freak-2001]

I understand where you are coming from but you can't expect a new car even one based on a great muscle car to 100% give you the experience the true muscle cars of the past can.

[streetfire]

I said somewhat luxury, not totally Luxury. This new Challenger is based on the 70 Challenger… and during the late 60’s, Muscle Cars were usually no frills at all, just your basic sedan with all the horsepower that could be packed under the hood; that’s what makes me happy.

Most of my classic cars (American & Australian) have no power-options at all; no power-steering, no power brakes, no air conditioning, no fancy interior, just raw power.

 

This new Challenger is supposed to be a Muscle Car, for me that means no navigational mapping device, no cruise control, no air conditioning, no center console w/cupholders, etc, etc, etc.

I was too young to buy a Muscle Car when they were new, so this appeared to be an opportunity for me to experience it first hand, with a new car.

 

I always get confused looks from people because they don’t understand why I don’t want air conditioning in my classic cars during the Summer, or any other option.

People like that just don’t understand what a Muscle Car is; Muscle Cars are just raw power!

The new Challenger has too many frills, that makes it somewhat like a luxury car.

A drum roll for my friend here...

 

Anyway... put your head out of the window of a 1960s muscle car and you won't get your hair blown back, you'll get it torn off.

 

Wheelspin is fun. Not having power steering is fun. Not having to deal with obnoxious bodykits is fun. It's all part of the experience of driving a muscle car. Also, when you break something, you can actually open the engine up without pissing off the electronics found in modern cars.

 

Anyway, my right foot is 'cruise control'. I cruise as fast or slow as I like. 'Traction' isn't in my vocabulary.

[Picolini]

'Traction' isn't in my vocabulary.

And that's a good thing?

[*gta star*]

All Dodge are trying to do is keep up to date. I think if you were to buy a car now and get in it, you wouldn't be expecting to sit in a car that felt like being back in the 70's. What I mean by 'felt' is the actual interior specifications, not the actual drive of the car.

 

 

This new Challenger is supposed to be a Muscle Car, for me that means no navigational mapping device, no cruise control, no air conditioning, no center console w/cupholders, etc, etc, etc.

I was too young to buy a Muscle Car when they were new, so this appeared to be an opportunity for me to experience it first hand, with a new car.

 

Big hint there mate, "for ME that means no navigational mapping device".

 

Yes, YOU, what about everyone else?

[chris cambo]

I like the new challenger, IMO if you want an awesome 70's muscle car buy an original Challenger, if you want a car thats got the retro stylings of the challanger but dont want to be sitting in an outdated interior then buy the new challanger.

 

It all depends on what you want. If it was me id have the old one purely to get the muscle car experience.

[*gta star*]

The new Challenger will have muscle car experience aswell. Only thing that's different about the car is that its newer, has a few more gadgets inside.

[lurchseesu420]

 

The new Challenger will have muscle car experience aswell. Only thing that's different about the car is that its newer, has a few more gadgets inside.

If this thing has Mercedes' undefeatable traction control like the rest of the mercedes/chrysler products, than I doubt there will be much muscle car experience there. I think that will be the main thing to kill its driving fun factor. At least with Ford's mustang, you could turn it off.

[streetfire]

'Traction' isn't in my vocabulary.

And that's a good thing?

I see you had to pipe up...

 

It's good because it's fun... can't you take a joke?

[*gta star*]

 

If this thing has Mercedes' undefeatable traction control like the rest of the mercedes/chrysler products, than I doubt there will be much muscle car experience there. I think that will be the main thing to kill its driving fun factor. At least with Ford's mustang, you could turn it off.

 

You can turn traction off in a Mercedes.

[lurchseesu420]

 

If this thing has Mercedes' undefeatable traction control like the rest of the mercedes/chrysler products, than I doubt there will be much muscle car experience there. I think that will be the main thing to kill its driving fun factor. At least with Ford's mustang, you could turn it off.

 

You can turn traction off in a Mercedes.

I didn't say Mercedes. I said the Mercedes/Chrysler cars (300C, Charger, and Magnum). According to all the test I've read, you can't turn off the systems in them.

Edited March 14, 2008 by lurchseesu420

[*gta star*]

I'm pretty sure you can, there's an 'ESC' button (Electronic stability control), sometimes referred to as 'ESP'.

[Cran.]

I'm pretty sure you can, there's an 'ESC' button (Electronic stability control), sometimes referred to as 'ESP'.

That button might as well just say "You know, I really don't trust you". When you press it, it doesn't completely disengage the ESC, so it's always on, no matter what you do. Stupid nannying electronics!

 

As Jeremy Clarkson once said "The Americans lecture the world on democracy, yet they won't let you turn off the traction control 'Oh no, but you might hurt yourself!'"

[kevin2006rhs]

I'm pretty sure you can, there's an 'ESC' button (Electronic stability control), sometimes referred to as 'ESP'.

That button might as well just say "You know, I really don't trust you". When you press it, it doesn't completely disengage the ESC, so it's always on, no matter what you do. Stupid nannying electronics!

 

As Jeremy Clarkson once said "The Americans lecture the world on democracy, yet they won't let you turn off the traction control 'Oh no, but you might hurt yourself!'"

Hey...that was left over crap from Daimler Chrysler...we shouldnt have that problem now. Hell, even my dads van can totally disengage its traction control.

 

 

...lol...my Grand Prix doesn't even have traction control, ABS, or airbags...lol