DCX Challenger Survey

[ASU_Magnum]

Hey guys,

I got this in an email from DCX today. Sorry if its already been posted.

http://www.dodge.com/challenger_survey

[67alecto]

Very cool - everyone should go and fill this out.

[formerice]

Done. No 392cid I guess. Hope at least we get 6speed.

[MagnumFreak]

Done. 425 6 speed drool!!!!!

[Displaced Hokie]

Done. Now really, who else checked that they would buy a Challenger even if the 6spd wasn't offered. Yeah, I did. My first choice was a six-speed however.

I see this survey as a very good sign. It shows me that DCX is seriously considering the Challenger. You know that developing a 6spd will take a good bit of capital, so they are judging whether they can justify it. On this type of car, I think you pretty much have to make one available even if the "take rate" will be low. Without one being offered, I think the street cred isn't as high.

Anyway, a very cool deal. Did anyone else catch that the jump to 425hp versus 350hp was only $800?

Hokie

[MagnumFreak]

I actually checked that i would not buy it if it was not offered with a 6 speed. If I am going to have a performance car like that, I have to have a 6 speed.

[Rev.Hammer]

I checked that I would still buy it in an automatic but I would rather have it with the manual!!

[XCITsNU]

I was seriously disappointed that the 6.4 was not an option. If it isn't offered, I'm not sure I will buy one. If I am going to buy a modern day muscle car, it's got to be able to compete with other two door muscle cars on the road and by the time the Challenger comes out if it doesn't have the 6.4 it won't be a real contender other than a styling advantage. Not good enough for me when there are stronger options on drawing boards from other manufacturers right off the production line.

VERY, VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED DODGE!!!

[RocketJock]

Gave me a "can't find server" error...

[Banshee]

Gave me a "can't find server" error...


same here

[MattRobertson]

Similarly disappointed in the lack of a 6.4, but I will wait and see if they change their mind. I also think that unless its got a serious motor in it the thing is just a styling statement and not a real muscle car. Would I blow 40 G's+ for a 4100 lb Challenger when I can get smoked by a 3500 lb Camaro with a Corvette motor in it that costs $5k less?

I'd probably step up to a Vette. C6's ought to be out there used dirt cheap by then.

EDIT: GOD ALMIGHTY I would hate to step away from Mopar. Don't think I make the above statement lightly. Mayyyybe I would do a used Viper if I could bag a 2005+ coupe at a decent price. But the C6 is the Ridiculous Deal of the century with their new pricing structure.

[fnkychkn]

I put the GRRR in BOOGERR, BABY!!!!
:lol::lol::lol:Scott, man you crack me up.:lol::lol::lol:

[shiltz]

The link is working again today, just filled it out, 425hp 5 speed auto for me, I hope they do just offer every trim with both the 6 speed manual and 5 speed auto since some people won't buy without one or the other, if it was a manual only it would be a no sale for me.

[ASU_Magnum]

if it was a manual only it would be a no sale for me.

wimp.






haha jp

[ckofod]

I would like to see it with the 6.4 also. But most of all I would like to see it.

[lieu910]

Similarly disappointed in the lack of a 6.4, but I will wait and see if they change their mind. I also think that unless its got a serious motor in it the thing is just a styling statement and not a real muscle car. Would I blow 40 G's+ for a 4100 lb Challenger when I can get smoked by a 3500 lb Camaro with a Corvette motor in it that costs $5k less?

I'd probably step up to a Vette. C6's ought to be out there used dirt cheap by then.

EDIT: GOD ALMIGHTY I would hate to step away from Mopar. Don't think I make the above statement lightly. Mayyyybe I would do a used Viper if I could bag a 2005+ coupe at a decent price. But the C6 is the Ridiculous Deal of the century with their new pricing structure.

Interesting take you have on the Challenger situation. Certainly the 6.4 hemi rumoured as a possibility would be what most of us would ultimately want. However, to say the Challenger is not a serious musclecar with the 6.1 isn't a statement I could agree with. The Challenger should be a potential 12 second car with a decent driver. That's a TON quicker than most of the old musclecars I have owned.

I would also be hesitant to say the Camaro will "smoke" the Challenger. I highly doubt that will be the case. For example, the SRT8's and the significantly lighter GTO are essentially a driver's race. The SRT8's are much heavier and have automatics as a handicap as well. This situation may be true with the Camaro and Challenger as well.

Thus far I have not seen a real curb weight for either car. I would be shocked if the Camaro comes in at 3,500 lbs and the Challenger at 4,100. There's still a long way to go until production. I have no doubt the Challenger will weigh more, but I have a hard time believing D/C will come to market with a car that is 600lbs heavier than the competition.

[MattRobertson]

Agreed we are talking show car vs. show car, but DCX has already announced a weight of 4100 lbs. for the car. Since it has a carbon fiber body I am assuming (knowing full well the danger of such a thing) that weight could go UP rather than down when they skin the car for production.

Its that weight that I find troubling. 425 horses would be killer on a 3000 lb car, but at 4100 lbs we're talking about another fast but very beatable automobile. Sure, anything can be beaten given enough time and money, but modding a Mopar typically takes a lot more money and you have a lot fewer options. Besides, this is a car I want to leave stock (which, for me, would be quite a switch).

To me Challenger is a purpose-built muscle car. A statement. And if you're going to make a statement, MAKE it. The 6.1 is a great engine but 425 horses up agains over two tons of automobile doesn't make for a potent enough combination, in my opinion. Challenger should be an animal. A beast (or rather the beast should be an option). Otherwise we're going to have a hell of a time lining up against a Cobra or the new Camaro, assuming it is built with the C06 engine GM showed it with.

If I buy a Challenger I expect to see the tailpipes of only a select few automobiles. There's more to it than that, of course. There's heritage, mystique... coolness/badness and passion. But that would be cold comfort when some butthead blows past me.

[lieu910]

Agreed we are talking show car vs. show car, but DCX has already announced a weight of 4100 lbs. for the car. Since it has a carbon fiber body I am assuming (knowing full well the danger of such a thing) that weight could go UP rather than down when they skin the car for production.

Its that weight that I find troubling. 425 horses would be killer on a 3000 lb car, but at 4100 lbs we're talking about another fast but very beatable automobile. Sure, anything can be beaten given enough time and money, but modding a Mopar typically takes a lot more money and you have a lot fewer options. Besides, this is a car I want to leave stock (which, for me, would be quite a switch).

To me Challenger is a purpose-built muscle car. A statement. And if you're going to make a statement, MAKE it. The 6.1 is a great engine but 425 horses up agains over two tons of automobile doesn't make for a potent enough combination, in my opinion. Challenger should be an animal. A beast (or rather the beast should be an option). Otherwise we're going to have a hell of a time lining up against a Cobra or the new Camaro, assuming it is built with the C06 engine GM showed it with.

If I buy a Challenger I expect to see the tailpipes of only a select few automobiles. There's more to it than that, of course. There's heritage, mystique... coolness/badness and passion. But that would be cold comfort when some butthead blows past me.

Do you recall where you saw the weight estimate? The only one I have seen so far estimates it weight under 4,100 lbs.

[MattRobertson]

Do you recall where you saw the weight estimate? The only one I have seen so far estimates it weight under 4,100 lbs.Several places, but the one I was able to find right away was the Challenger page on Allpar (http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/challenger.html)

"The Hemi has 425 hp, 420 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission. So geared, with its 4,100 pound weight, it can do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds (with 20 inch wheels on front and 21 inch wheels on back), and runs the quarter mile in 13 seconds flat; top speed is 174 mph (limited by wind resistance), while gas mileage is estimated at 14 city, 20 highway, ..."

EDIT:
another not-so-fun fact I pulled up while I was looking around:

2007 Shelby GT500:
Weight: 3920 lbs
HP: 475
TQ: 475

By those numbers (and I admit this is a gross oversimplification) it looks as if the Challenger couldn't hope to even try to be a Cobra Killer. We'd have to satisfy ourselves with a Mustang GT. Thats not my idea of Mopar supremacy.

[henry]

Don't express such disappointment yet over not offering a 6.4.

If the car is going to be built, you can bet that there will be "improvements" after the initial launch, just like the SRT-8 was a running change over the RT and didn't come for some time after launch.

[Displaced Hokie]

I also think that we might be expecting too much from the Challenger. The basic Challenger should be taking on the Camero and "regular" Mustang GT. I wouldn't expect a Challenger to match a Cobra, that would be for an SRT version. Plus, the Viper is the Mopar top dog, so it's out there fighting for the brand too.

I guess I'm just saying that it might too much to expect the regular production Challenger to take some of these quasi-tuner variants of other cars.

I also agree though that weight is the killer here. I think DCX could get the weight down, but will customers accept the loss of options that will likely come with it? I'm not sure many will want a "stripper" $30K car.

Hokie

[DanRealtor]

My Votes were for 6.1 and 6 speed maual.

My comments were that if they don't offer the 6.4 and they don't offer the Manual Tranny then I won't buy a Challenger.

Why should I? I already have the 6.1 and the 5 speed Autostick in my 300c SRT-8. That is my daily driver. It would make no sense to buy the Challenger as my wekend car with the same drivetrain.

IF they offer a 6.4 I will buy it (regardless of price).


Dan

[bmartin9122]

My Votes were for 6.1 and 6 speed maual.

My comments were that if they don't offer the 6.4 and they don't offer the Manual Tranny then I won't buy a Challenger.

Why should I? I already have the 6.1 and the 5 speed Autostick in my 300c SRT-8. That is my daily driver. It would make no sense to buy the Challenger as my wekend car with the same drivetrain.

IF they offer a 6.4 I will buy it (regardless of price).


Dan

Ditto!

[JamminWagon]

Just did it. Im more show than go. Be nice if I could step into one for $25k(3.5L).

[MattRobertson]

I also think that we might be expecting too much from the Challenger. The basic Challenger should be taking on the Camero and "regular" Mustang GT.
Agreed. If they use the 6.1 for this they would succeed handsomely. I don't think the 5.7 can do it in this weight class.

I wouldn't expect a Challenger to match a Cobra, that would be for an SRT version. Plus, the Viper is the Mopar top dog, so it's out there fighting for the brand too. Agreed again, BUT... scuttlebutt says that DC -- having had Viper's supremacy eclipsed by the most recent Corvette -- is coming out with a revised version after a year's production layoff ... and the engine is going to be mightily ... *mightily* upgraded. If those rumors are true then a 6.4 Challenger would fill in a niche well below Viper without endangering its performance level or premium price point.

And DC would have a resounding answer to all of its competitors rides at all price points.

Only time will tell, but unless Something Big tilts the landscape in favor of the 6.1 I'm off the buy list if there is no 6.4 available.

:sad:

[Zentenk]

Just buy the 392 and drop it in yourself since it is going out as a crate motor and crate motor only.

[bmartin9122]

Just buy the 392 and drop it in yourself since it is going out as a crate motor and crate motor only.

How can you be so sure it will be a crate motor only? What do you know that the rest of us don't?

[Zentenk]

Trust me, just think like I am and you wont be dissapointed. :D

[bmartin9122]

Trust me, just think like I am and you wont be dissapointed. :D

Ahhh.... Good point. Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

[American Muscle]

Dodge got my opinion.