Sour Challenger Owners on ChallengerTalk

[buRNout]

Heh... my dad was a huge MOPAR fan and built "race cars" as far back as 1962(at least). He's now well into his 70's and when I showed him the new car he just grinned and said, "I did that in 1965, so whatever." and casually walked away, 100% uninterested. He built engines like those Don Garlits used and when I asked why not his own he said, "I could never really afford my own... so I built theirs." He was working to raise 9 children, so I get it nowadays. He built a Chevy shoebox for himself and it was an 11 second screamer in the early 60's. He said those wouldn't run with the MOPAR, but they were a whole bunch cheaper. It bummed me, frankly. I hated to know my dad literally put his passions 2nd to raise his kids... but that's how life... WAS (back then).

Today he could walk in and pay cash for a VIPER if he wanted, not to mention the Hellcat... but at his age, he's just not concerned. With that, Dodge needs to pay attention. MANY of their perspective buyers will soon be losing interest if they still have it. Dad's too old for Vietnam, but not by all that much. Had he still be on active duty when it started, he'd have surely gone himself, to show how narrow the gap was.

Fantastic post! I know exactly what you mean. I love finding those great men who sacrificed so much oceans away from our country only to come home and sacrifice some more for family. I admire them and wish we had more of that now days. They all deserve their own documentary. I know I would watch. The hard earned wisdom and more realistic point of view from a different generation that they have is one of our national treasures. I wish I could buy your dad a beer. Sorry, didn't mean to hijack the thread. Back on topic.

I can't wait to see what the hellcat MSRP is although it will probably be selling well over the sticker price. How many are they going to build?

Sponsored

 

[Rob WH]

Thanks guys... I'm glad to still have the old man around... and know I'll be crushed when his time is up. Seeing his health deteriorate already gets to me. He wasn't always nice, but he was always right(right or wrong)... and fair if he had time to get the facts... and mean as Hell if he was wronged. He still does what he can and it's far more than most his age(always was) and the 1 thing I suspect everyone mentally digests once their parents tip toe past 70 if they're blessed to live that long... you don't get another set.

Now: about finding a way to get him to buy that car... and will it to me.

 

[Free Agent]

Thanks guys... I'm glad to still have the old man around... and know I'll be crushed when his time is up. Seeing his health deteriorate already gets to me. He wasn't always nice, but he was always right(right or wrong)... and fair if he had time to get the facts... and mean as Hell if he was wronged. He still does what he can and it's far more than most his age(always was) and the 1 thing I suspect everyone mentally digests once their parents tip toe past 70 if they're blessed to live that long... you don't get another set.

Now: about finding a way to get him to buy that car... and will it to me.

You are correct. I'm blessed to still have both my parents at age 72 each. My wife has lost both her parents too soon. My Dad has no real interest in buying cars, he's all about trucks and SUV's. But it sure is fun to go to car shows with him and listen to him talk about the classics when they first came out. You are right, parents are a treasure trove.

 

[IGJoe2192]

You have to remember, these are the same people who fell into the "Hemi" trap. They aren't very bright and obviously don't care for performance bargains.

Edit: It is nice reading the stuff about your dad Rob. I myself am big into cars because of my father, I am lucky enough that him and I are still young (relatively) and are going to the track tomorrow to run his 2006 GTO with a 427 under the hood. (LQ9 @ 4.065x4.125)

 

[ChefBorOzzy]

I browse all three forums and they are all the same.. The only difference is the bias is towards different cars.

 

[MizzouRT]

I browse all three forums and they are all the same.. The only difference is the bias is towards different cars.

Yes, there are always those who can't see past the brand. All the muscle cars today are delivering terrific performance that seemed impossible just a few years ago. I think the vast majority of Challenger owners recognize that without the ground breaking performance and sales success of the GT500, there would be no Hellcat today, and it certainly wouldn't have over 700 hp. You know they were pushing to top the GT500. By the same token, success for the Hellcat makes it much easier for Ford to greenlight a TT 5.0 GT500.

As for me, I'm a car guy first. My brother has a Boss 302, and it is an incredibly fun car to drive (see pic below). I joined here because I am interested in the GT350. Sure like what I've seen and how it sounds in the videos.

As for demographics, the average age Mustang buyers are slightly older than Challenger buyers. More than half of Challenger sales go to Gen Y and Millenials, not boomers.

 

[MizzouRT]

See the attachments don't automatically resize, so repost with smaller pic size.

I browse all three forums and they are all the same.. The only difference is the bias is towards different cars.[/quote]

Yes, there are always those who can't see past the brand. All the muscle cars today are delivering terrific performance that seemed impossible just a few years ago. I think the vast majority of Challenger owners recognize that without the ground breaking performance and sales success of the GT500, there would be no Hellcat today, and it certainly wouldn't have over 700 hp. You know they were pushing to top the GT500. By the same token, success for the Hellcat makes it much easier for Ford to greenlight a TT 5.0 GT500.

As for me, I'm a car guy first. My brother has a Boss 302, and it is an incredibly fun car to drive (see pic below). I joined here because I am interested in the GT350. Sure like what I've seen and how it sounds in the videos.

As for demographics, the average age Mustang buyers are slightly older than Challenger buyers. More than half of Challenger sales go to Gen Y and Millenials, not boomers.

 

[Grimace427]

That is an awesome collection of cars there!

 

[scottpe]

That is an awesome collection of cars there!

Absolutely! But they are in the wrong order...

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Awesome picture!!

Is the new Challenger really that much larger than the '70? Or is the angle of the picture causing that big deception in size?

 

[Brent302]

Awesome picture!!

Is the new Challenger really that much larger than the '70? Or is the angle of the picture causing that big deception in size?

 

[Todd15Fastback]

Gracias! Looks like that answers it

 

[Free Agent]

Yes, there are always those who can't see past the brand. All the muscle cars today are delivering terrific performance that seemed impossible just a few years ago. I think the vast majority of Challenger owners recognize that without the ground breaking performance and sales success of the GT500, there would be no Hellcat today, and it certainly wouldn't have over 700 hp. You know they were pushing to top the GT500. By the same token, success for the Hellcat makes it much easier for Ford to greenlight a TT 5.0 GT500.

As for me, I'm a car guy first. My brother has a Boss 302, and it is an incredibly fun car to drive (see pic below). I joined here because I am interested in the GT350. Sure like what I've seen and how it sounds in the videos.

As for demographics, the average age Mustang buyers are slightly older than Challenger buyers. More than half of Challenger sales go to Gen Y and Millenials, not boomers.

I'm not a brand snob any more. ;)

Its weird though, I understand what you are saying demographics are overall for the Challenger, but at least in my area it is the exact opposite. I see NO GenY or Millenial drivers and mostly Baby Boomers with a few Gen X thrown in. It really is almost exclusively Baby Boomer drivers in my area of Challengers. As for Mustangs its all Millenial, Gen Y, and Gen X with just a dash of Boomer drivers thrown in.

The average age of ALL new car buyers is something like 51 years old right now here in the USA. Money lies at the top of the demographic pyramid.

 

[Free Agent]

Cool with the pictures.

It would look similar if you lined up a new vs. old Camaro as well

You'd even see the difference between new Mustang vs. 1st gen Mustang as well, but not just quite to the extreme of the other two.

 

[Brent302]

Cool with the pictures.

It would look similar if you lined up a new vs. old Camaro as well

You'd even see the difference between new Mustang vs. 1st gen Mustang as well, but not just quite to the extreme of the other two.

Yeah I checked the dimensions back when I purchased mine. I just wish it wasn't on that boat frame. They should have just named it the Damn Charger since they advertise it as a Muscle Car and not a Pony Car.... Can't wait to have almost an extra foot in front of my car in my garage.

Sponsored