Challenger news..?

[bipto]

So out of the blue I got a phone call from my salesman at local dealership today. He tells me that he's calling everbody on the "Challenger List" to inform them that despite press releases heralding availability in '08 as an '09 MY, they had just gotten wind that the first models (SRT automatics) would be hitting showroom floors in March or April of next year.

For a dealer this guy has a pretty good hit rate in the rumor mill sorting fact from fairy tale, but I'm pretty skeptical on this one...

Can anyone confirm or deny that DCX is accelerating the Challenger production schedule?

[Carfinish]

wow that would be incredible if they got them out in 6 months...:popcorn:

[Bandit]

So the SRT's ARE first???

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I was worrying about having to wait while watching the R/T's going down the road tempting me!

[bipto]

So the SRT's ARE first???

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I was worrying about having to wait while watching the R/T's going down the road tempting me!
Can't say for sure, but that rumor has been echoing back and forth between a bunch of "sources" here, so I'm thinkin' that's a good bet... :wink:

[legmaker72]

[quote=bipto;528568]they had just gotten wind that the first models (SRT automatics) would be hitting showroom floors in March or April of next year.

quote]

Automatics!!! I thought they were supposed to be a six speed manual?

[bipto]

[quote=bipto;528568]they had just gotten wind that the first models (SRT automatics) would be hitting showroom floors in March or April of next year.

quote]

Automatics!!! I thought they were supposed to be a six speed manual?
Rumors are saying that the autos will be first, and that the 6 spd manual models will start production a short time later...

[Redfox0099]

We can ask at SEMA, the Challenger will be there

[Bandit]

Glad I got in w/my dealer months before they got the greenlight on the production. I have been following up every couple of months and I won't leave them alone about it.

What sucks about having the 1st one in the state? That means you have one of the first anywhere and there'll be NO MODS available for a LONG time!!! Whatever shall I do to console myself?

[FactoryD]

DCX is lucky they got us to buy autos on the LX line. Ain't no way I'm buying an auto Challenger.

I guess I'll have to settle for...not first.

[BUTWEET]

AUTOMATIC!!! Don't they know that the 6 speed is one of the big selling points? I could loose interest real quick. :evil:

[hawkxp]

I would love to see... a true paddle setup. Heck, I would love to see the mod for the standard LX line. forget that stick based tiptronic... paddles... Who needs the clutch... my knees have been shot for too long to miss that... But a high end auto with lightweight componenets and paddles!

[FactoryD]

I would love to see... a true paddle setup. Heck, I would love to see the mod for the standard LX line. forget that stick based tiptronic... paddles... Who needs the clutch... my knees have been shot for too long to miss that... But a high end auto with lightweight componenets and paddles!

shhh. No ideas to DCX ok?

[PDXChargerRT]

I seriously doubt the tooling could be setup and running in such a short time. If they can introduce to the market a new model within a year of official announcement, wow. I would wait for another year or two to buy in this case to limit ensuing quality problems. I really think the best date will be early 08, maybe late 07.

[formerice]

I'm not worried about quality , I have an early build 05 Magnum. 6 speed for me SRT orange, black stripes. Gonna keep my Magnum as daily driver and Challenger as a toy.

[Fondy]

Glad I got in w/my dealer months before they got the greenlight on the production. I have been following up every couple of months and I won't leave them alone about it.

What sucks about having the 1st one in the state? That means you have one of the first anywhere and there'll be NO MODS available for a LONG time!!! Whatever shall I do to console myself?

The nice thing about the challanger is you dont have to mod it.. LOL what

and you have an itch to mod something I guess we can work on my car some more. LOL you know when you get that car I am gonna have to come up there with my camara and hang out with everyone again.

[bigdaddyoc]

I was told when I got on the list( I'm #2..someone beat me) at my local dealer they were expecting late spring early summer. So factoring in when I ordered the magnum( I was #1 for that!!) and they told me a February delivery and it wasn't until May....I'm gonna go with end of summer. When I told him that he laughed a little and said yea you're probably right! I'm going tonight to the OC auto show where the challenger is on display!!!

[legmaker72]

So what do you think these will go for?
I will definately hold out for the manual ones!!!

[bipto]

So what do you think these will go for?
I will definately hold out for the manual ones!!!
In the absence of any concrete princing info as of yet, I would expect the stickers to be in line with LX's - R/T's for 30K+, SRTs for 40K+. And I wouldn't be at all surprised to see significant dealer markup early in the game...

[shiltz]

AUTOMATIC!!! Don't they know that the 6 speed is one of the big selling points? I could loose interest real quick. :evil:

6 speed really isn't a big selling point, manuals don't sell well anymore, that's why so many cars are automatic only. Personaly for me no automatic is a no-sale for me regardless of how good and/or affordable a car is.

As for being avalible next year it's definatly fesable, the original Magnum SRT-8 concept was shown early 2003 and was officialy release on June 2004, the Challenger concept was shown early 2006 so mid 2007 for release is posible, especialy sharing so many components from an existing model.

[Bandit]

Rumor places the SRT8 version somewhere in the $50k range.

Dodge has officially commented on the R/T though, and it's supposed to be in the same range as the current LX R/T's, or only slightly higher. Right around the $30's.

People are getting way too hung up on the whole manual vs auto thing. Today's modern auto trans issions outperform manuals, so it's not like you'll gain anything except for nostalgia with the manual.

[nick_danger]

Automatics are so much better now, I guess I wouldn't care. I would never buy a Challenger, only because I'm a 4-door guy, but if I did, a 6-speed Auto would be my preference... especially if it had paddle-shifters!

[bipto]

It's clearly a preference thing. While it's true that automatics today are better than the slushboxes of twenty years ago, to me a manual transmission-equipped car rates higher on the fun meter...

[Ghost]

I work at the plant and haven't heard anything about the Challenger being built next year. But then again we're often the last to hear about things like that.

However, the company has just officially announced a one week shutdown for the week of October 23rd. Another week in November is rumoured.

It's possible that those two weeks plus Christmas might be enough time to retool the plant for the Challenger. Because of the similarities between these cars, not much retooling is needed.

So the Challenger next year is possible, although the only date I've heard was for the pilots to go down the line next September or so, with production starting in January 2008.

Ghost

[rogerdoger]

Mine with auto (dont want a stick at all), was priced right where comparably equipped Chargers and Magnums are.

[Higshemi]

I work at the plant and haven't heard anything about the Challenger being built next year. But then again we're often the last to hear about things like that.

However, the company has just officially announced a one week shutdown for the week of October 23rd. Another week in November is rumoured.

It's possible that those two weeks plus Christmas might be enough time to retool the plant for the Challenger. Because of the similarities between these cars, not much retooling is needed.

So the Challenger next year is possible, although the only date I've heard was for the pilots to go down the line next September or so, with production starting in January 2008.

Ghost

Its always nice to hear someone chime in from the plant. Thanks Ghost, now just make sure when they do start running down the line that you run to a computer on lunch break and fill us in on all the goodies.

[billybigrigger]

I talked to my dealer and he tells me that the Challenger will be a true '08 model, saying that it most likely won't hit the floors until 2/08 at the earliest. I don't know where I heard it but is there any word on engine designations yet. I thought I heard that the R/T is suppose to have the 6.1 w/MDS in it and there was a bigger engine going into the SRT's

[rogerdoger]

I understood him to say THIS february. Mine is already done deal with trade in of my Vette. It was supposed to be out next model year as 08 coming out next fall. He told me today that its possible to be out now before this winter is over (current one). Mine is ordered as a 5.7 auto in orange. Powertrains as of my order time were the 6.1 and 5.7 (both with MDS and the 3.5 V6. Standard trim model plus RT and SRT. There is a 6 spd standard only available in the challenger. I already got the order in so I wont get caught up in a dealer 'markup' situation when they show up.

[billybigrigger]

Did they tell you what the cost will be. I still have not heard a set price.

[rogerdoger]

RT Hemi 5.7 auto for $34K, less $14K for my C4 conv. Loaded all but nav and sunroof.

[billybigrigger]

Good price. I am going to call a couple of other dealers and see if they have anything different to say to me.

[70GT6]

I have never heard an official "SRT" used anywhere near Challenger - even the concept was not an SRT model. I do not think there has been any specs on what the SRT team plans. Maybe scale back the concept and call it an R/T?
All I know is that it had better compete with the GT500 in the hp game.
Also a SRT model has never been first in production, I doubt they would break tradition - SRTs are usually on about a 6 month lag after introduction.
IMO

[bipto]

Also a SRT model has never been first in production, I doubt they would break tradition - SRTs are usually on about a 6 month lag after introduction.
IMO
Historically that's true, but this one may surprise you... :wink:

[Displaced Hokie]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I bet none of the dealers know squat about production dates or pricing. It's all speculation.

[rogerdoger]

nothing to do but wait and see whos right...all I can do is see if my dealer is bsing. He was on the money with Magnum, Charger and SRT info.

[rogerdoger]

Well I called back today for a clarification. Sadly I did misunderstand. It WILL be out as early as late next summer as an 08 (with normal 08 introductions), and when I was told maybe February...he meant it might be as late as NEXT Feb (of 08) because of expected demand. I took next Feb as meaning this COMING one.......boohoo

[JT...]

I want a Challenger, and 6 speed would be my choice over automatic, my main reason for buying is the fact it's a two door, and hopefully this thing would be atleast 500 lbs lighter...

JT

[MAGNUM8R]

I can tell you that I am quoting one of the Plastic parts, a fuel door cup for an alloy fuel door option.
They are asking for 50K units a year for 5 years!!!

[bipto]

I can tell you that I am quoting one of the Plastic parts, a fuel door cup for an alloy fuel door option.
They are asking for 50K units a year for 5 years!!!
Cool... and WHEN are they asking for delivery of the first units..? :popcorn: :mrgreen:

[MAGNUM8R]

Soon, my freind, soon....Their approval processes take a while though....
I'll update you when they place the order thru our Customer.

[RT NOMAD]

To compete at the highest level there must be a Challenger with the 6.4L motor.

[MightyAl]

From my understanding the challenger is going to essentially be an assembly line test bed. They are using it to see if they can build a completely different platform on another line without retooling it. This will be the ultimate in lean manufacturing. They want to be able to fill open capacity in plants bacause we all know that the most efficient plant is the one running at full cap. This is why they are putting the LY platform on the LX line in Brampton. I last heard a max volume of 15k units the first year. Engine choices have been bounced around a ton but I wouldn't be surprised to see the 6.4L on the option sheet. I am hoping we get to see the pony car wars all over again like the 60's. With a new Camaro coming out and the GT500 mustang on the road it will be exciting to see what DC might do to compete. In fact I just turned one of my vendors, that is on the waiting list for a new camaro, to take a hard look at the challenger after he saw one on my screen saver. I have already had my soul appraised in case I have to trade it for a challenger. I can't wait to see what happens.