Comments on: Dodge Challenger SRT8: catching the wave or sucked into the undertow?

By: Michael Pawlowski, Decatur Illinois

Michael Pawlowski, Decatur Illinois — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:56:29 +0000

The Dodge Challenger is symtomatic about what is wrong with Detroit! The car is NOT something that will resurrect Chrysler to greatness. Chrysler needs to get rid of a lot of high-priced Executive level people and start over with a “Car” person who knows the importance of style… Just making the same old cars isn’t a salvation strategy

By: Twila Presnell Nokomis, Illinois

Twila Presnell Nokomis, Illinois — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:41:58 +0000

The only thing I see wrong with the Challenger is the body is not made with metal and it is not even a little loud like the old ones. Otherwise it is a beautiful car.

By: Joe Sevierville, TN

Joe Sevierville, TN — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:03:51 +0000

I own a Toyota Prius and I will own 2009 Challenger when the hype dies down. I recycle and conserve more than most people but I want to park one right beside my 65 Mustang Fastback with EFI that gets 25 MPG. This car is what it is….I don’t think anyone expects it to be GREEN.

By: Philip Reim St. Paul MN

Philip Reim St. Paul MN — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:32:25 +0000

I think you are dead wrong! I own one! Number 116. Bottle water is more expensive than gas. Life is short – enjoy it!

By: dan los angeles,ca

dan los angeles,ca — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:53:53 +0000

1982. That was the first time I heard that Japanese cars were a threat to American car dominance. 26 years later and Ford, G.M., and Chrysler STILL can’t figure out a way to compete. I’ll say what I said after I traded in my crappy 1999 mustang: I want to help the economy, and buy american, so make a product that competes. I still cannot find one american car that wins it’s class against the world’s other cars.
It’s a shame Detroit cant’ figure this out because of arrogance. Please, run and buy a honda or toyota and make these dinosaurs extinct. Maybe then an American car company with new Ideas can rise from the ashes.

By: Chris Scranton, PA

Chris Scranton, PA — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:22:13 +0000

This is a wonderful car. People complain about 4 dollar gas. Thats why you buy it as a luxury not a daily driver. The old school challenger is much nicer. And I guarantee you don’t see them cruising down the road everyday. I’m pretty sure that if your buying a car like this for show. You don’t really care how much gas is

By: Chris Scranton, PA

Chris Scranton, PA — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:17:45 +0000

In Response to the person asking about the 4 cyl. turbo chrysler made in the 80’s and 90’s. They dropped the 2.2 turbo in in lieu of the 2.0 dodge neon motor. the turbocharged counterpart was placed in the Mitsubishi eclipse. The PT cruisers had a 2.4 Turbo. Turbo’s are more efficient than 8 cyl. for obvious reasons but they are real high maintenance. Thus people who had them and didn’t know how to car for a turbo motor properly or didn’t believe the hype ended up with a scrap heap in about 80 thousand miles

By: Joe, Windsor ON.

Joe, Windsor ON. — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:07:59 +0000

This is a foreign car for Americans, it should sell just fine, its made in Canada.
Brampton Ontario assembly plant on the same line as the Charger and the 300C, it is to replace the Magnum wagon they no longer build.

By: James Friel, Huntsville Alabama

James Friel, Huntsville Alabama — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:24:09 +0000

This is what is wrong with the auto industry today–they live in the past.
After the initial rush to get the car sales will fade as the reality of
$80-$100 fillups sinks in. Lets see if Chrysler can make a nice sporty looking vehicle that gets 40 miles or more to the gallon, most commuters would be interested. This vehicle is a blast from the past, that’s it. No wonder the U.S. auto industry might be out of business soon.

By: toronto

toronto — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:23:44 +0000

actually….its canadian made…

peace

By: Jim, Columbia, SC

Jim, Columbia, SC — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:38:39 +0000

What ever happened to the 4 cyl turbo that Chrysler used to make? I think a few of them even made it into K-cars and minivans in the late 1980’s.

By: Jim, Columbia, SC

Jim, Columbia, SC — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:12:02 +0000

This car is targeted at a highly profitable niche market. $41k for a car like that isn’t a bad deal, even with the expensive gas. Besides, if you can afford to pay that much for a car like that, you can afford the gas.

Even without the Hemi, the Challenger is an attractive car. Chrysler will get people drooling over the SRT8, but people will actually buy the R/T with the 5.7L V8 or the V6 version. Hopefully, Chrysler will be smart enough to come out with a convertible version.

By: Cave Dave KCMO

Cave Dave KCMO — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:11:58 +0000

No one ever purchased a challenger for fuel economy. The car evokes everything that Americans love about America. Powerful, strong, uncompromising, and beautiful; I love car. The commanding & reliable 38 year old 440 is her heart of gold. Challenger owners do not care what the detractors think. The media bashed the original as well – who cares?

By: Bob, Vancouver, WA

Bob, Vancouver, WA — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:20:20 +0000

Derrick in Etown,

I think your view of the American way is skewed. I thought it always had to do with doing the right thing, working hard, and innovating NEW products to make a living and support our families. Not greed for the sake of greed.

By the way, the ‘green revolution’ will make many American’s unbelievably rich. This is a niche product for a select few and will do nothing for Chrysler’s stock price or to push the envelope of engineering. Make a car that millions around the world will buy and that stock price might go up.

By: Brian, Dallas, TX

Brian, Dallas, TX — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:37:52 +0000

If I had to, I would forclose on my house to be able to buy this car.

Gas prices suck, but it doesn’t mean I can’t afford 12mpg.

By: RonF, Racine Wisconsin

RonF, Racine Wisconsin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:58:53 +0000

If John McCain and his buddie Phil Gramm hadn’t voted for, and been in favor of the Enron loophole, we wouldn’t be paying the high cost of gasoline today. By being in favor of the provison to extend Commodities Futures to crude oil, he’s opened up oil to speculators which has driven up the price of gasoline at least double, buy some estimates. Thats why the Saudis have said that increasing the oil output might not have the impact on oil prices that it would normally. Look it up on Google under “Enron Loophole” and read for yourself.

By: Derrick, Etown, KY

Derrick, Etown, KY — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:44:03 +0000

I always thought Fortune magazine was about money…greed…the American way.I was not aware that it was about butterflies…rainbows…save the whales. Why am I purchasing a 2008 Dodge Challenger…..because it is American made….a beautifully designed vehicle….and most of all, because I can. The only thing “green” I care about is whats on my plate.

By: Tank, Portland, OR

Tank, Portland, OR — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:24:23 +0000

What a waste of good engineering power. Way to go Chrysler–you’re stuck in a ’70’s mindset in a world of $4 gas. No wonder US car companies are tanking. Take a cue from Tesla. That is the future of sports cars–this is nothing but regurgitated waste.

By: George, Detroit, MI

George, Detroit, MI — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:26:20 +0000

I’m an old musclecar guy, having owned two Chrysler Hemi cars (a ‘68 Roadrunner and a ‘70 Hemi Cuda) a LONG time ago.

While the Challenger makes for some fun nostalgia, it will never be a big cash cow for Chrysler. Honda sold 53,000 Civics in May, 2008. Chrysler’s competition for the Civic is *maybe* the Dodge Caliber, and although I don’t know what the sales numbers are, I don’t think they are up there with the Civic.

All of the big three have massive problems right now, because the big pickups and sport utes (Dodge trucks and most every Jeep model in Chrysler’s case) just ran into a giant wall of jello in terms of sales.

The domestics need to focus on desirable and VERY economical small cars, right now. Or ideally, 4-5 years ago. Instead, Chrysler dumped a load of resources into a redesign of the Dodge pickup for 2009. And with ’08’s and earlier year trucks being available for giveaway prices, the pickup as cash cow is all but dead.

I’m in Detroit, and keep rooting for the big three, but they are in the same spot as Chrysler was in 1974, with lots full of their newly-redesigned full size cars that were all but unsaleable. I drive by lots full of Dodge pickups and Jeep Commanders on the way to work every day….pity these aren’t high-mileage economy cars…

By: Tim Monroe, Mi

Tim Monroe, Mi — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:04:14 +0000

Al from Conn.
The problem is that “perception becomes reality”. Granted the US automakers are making SOME pretty decent vehicles. But if you want to buy a high mileage Chevy Cobalt check out the quality rating and it is at the bottom of the list. The real reason that the big three have not put any money into increasing fuel efficiency and smaller cars is because they cannot profitably build a small car. At least in the U.S. While the foreign automakers can, while paying their people more. Why is that? It is a lot easier to get things done with one job classification rather than with 8. Especially when your absentism is sky high. Wait for the coming announcements out of Ford and GM this year. The layoffs and cuts will seem mild to what is about to happen. You cannot suffer 30+% sales declines of your most profitable vehicles and not be in a world of hurt. I personally know that Ford is currently having high level meetings right now that are so secretive that anyone caught diseminating information “will be fired”. I would like nothing more than to see the american auto industry kick butt, but I am amazed how after all these years, they continue to make the same stupid mistakes. Furthermore, why should the management guys continue to get paid millions for being idiots. If you had experience dealing with them as a supplier you would know first hand. For instance GM had their purchasing in Mexico, then I think they moved it to India. Accounts payable was in the Phillipines. It’s laughable because nothing gets done.