This is all a matter of perspective. The Challenger commercials are entirely too juvenile for my taste.
Good point you make. I see the Challenger more like the T-Birds, StarFires, Riveras of the '60s. Those were cool cars, with plenty of punch, they had upscale prices, and were desirable. Same for today's Challenger. I kind of like it and think anyone who buys one will be happy. That said, I prefer the feel and response of Mustangs. Nothing wrong with everybody being happy.
Could be their target market so that they can get multiple repeat customers that buy 3 or 4 cars instead of an older customer who may only buy one vehicle.
This may be true but you remember them and you're seeing them almost every day. When you see something every day your remember it, its not like that left over lasagna shoved to the back of the refrigerator forgotten only to find it two weeks later.
It would be nice. All the required safety features now, and new electronics tech that people want, is expensive. Prices have risen faster than inflation.
Don't think so, most of the guys on the Challenger forum are older- like, way older. They love the 70's style of the Challenger and don't really care about track days or road courses at all. Same thing is happening in motorcycles- sport bikes are more amazing than ever and sales keep declining. Vintage cafe style bikes are very popular.
This particular chart displays the Challenger's gradual increase very well, since the segment representation is on the base line. But overall is hard to read for Mustang and Camaro.
I agree to an extent. The Challengers ability to grow market share within a shrinking total sales environment speaks louder than most of the points made here. Yes, in a growing total sales environment I'm sure the other two would reclaim market share quickly but the fact of the matter is that isn't the case and certainly hasn't been for quite some time. The trend now for a while and given the direction of major R&D and tech development would only lead us to believe that total sales of these three vehicles will continue to tighten and shrink. The visuals are a bit difficult to see for the other two cars given this chart was made to display the challenger numbers. When the market sales shrink and yours holds steady it shows a healthy product line versus its competitors.
I am not sure what you're trying to say. Challenger sales haven't increased in over two years. Well, to be precise, 2017 beat the 2016 production by 59 units. Neither year saw Dodge break 65k with the car. I like the car. And I think FCA has worked an amazing sales feat, with a platform that has seen better days. But the Challenger's best year was 2015, when FCA managed to sell over 66K units. The best month, May of 2015--the only month the Challenger moved over 7K units. The car has not seen a sales gain since 2015.
The point has been made several times- even with a much newer platform and a brand new refresh, Mustang sales are down 30% and losing market share to the Challenger which is on a 10 yr old platform. Since Challenger sales are not really up, it shows that the total segment is losing buyers but the buyers that are staying are buying more Challengers. That's pretty simple. The hard part is determining why. Could be price, styling, demographics... probably all of them. The Challenger is the most usable of the 3- a real back seat that can hold adults and a huge trunk. Considering the trend towards SUV's, it is definitely the most SUVish.
Yes, definitely the most SUVish. That makes it a different segment. It ain't a pony car. Could be a high powered taxicab. This is the Mustang site. There is no auto badge in production more true to it's identity than Mustang. Steve McQueen's front engine rear drive 2 door coupe fastback was bullt on a 107" WB. Everybody on this site driving a Mustang is driving the same wheel base and FR/body configuration-50 years later. That's the way uhuh uhuh we like it. Don't care if Challenger adds a third row of seats, a 1000 HP, and sells 15,000 a month. It ain't a Mustang, never was and will never be.
I agree that the Challenger is the most practical of the three. If you want a sports coupe that could double as a family car--the Challenger is it. And I agree that price, styling, and demographics all factor in. And you might throw in the rising interest rates, that make borrowing money cause buyers to consider purchases more critically.