Axel

I sat on mine for six months and never got the thing so I know how everyone feels. It wasn't the classic which is even worse. Now I have tree sap on it and that's driving me crazy. Trying to figure out how to get it off since it's all over the car. If it's not the order placed six months ago, it's the tree sap.

Axel

And a question, why the hell do people come here, say they have sold or are selling a car, cancelled an order, etc and then never come back again? Is there really a call for that? Stick around after you say that then fine, but hit and run, what's the point?

guionM

The only remote danger Camaro is in will come if the CAW (Canadian Auto Workers) fails to reach an agreement with GM-Canada as demanded by the Canadian Federal and Quebec governments. If they can not reach an agreement, then GM will liquidate their Canadian operations, which includes the Oshawa plant that makes Camaro (as well as Impala and Lacrosse).

Saying the Dodge Challenger is in trouble because of "Federal Scumbags" is not just wrong, but also pretty stupid. Here's why.

First, the Automotive Task Force... if you actually read their report... is in no way limiting, dictating, or restricting the availability of performance cars or sports coupes.

Second, Chrysler (and GM) got to where they were today by the business choices they made, not by the gun of a Federal Task Force. Sure, Daimler basically raped Chrysler's cash and early decade product lineup, then Cerberus picked up Chrysler with the intent of getting Chrysler Financial and spinning off the rest to someone else. Sure, GM simply swept their problems under the rug until they had a debt 60 times their market value. But in both instances, the blame begins and lies at the doorsteps of Chrysler and GM.

Third, the only reason why GM and Chrysler had to go to the feds in the 1st place is because no other institution would lend to them. As with any lender, they are going to want to ensure that they're going to get their money back, and the same practices (and people) that put the company into the ground aren't continuing business as usual, and are going to apply stipulations that can either be accepted or not. If not, then they don't get the cash.

Forth, and most important... and forgotten...
IT'S THE PUBLIC THAT DETERMINES SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF A VEHICLE!

A vehicle that makes money and meets regulations gets to continue, one that doesn't won't. Challenger is in no regulatory danger whatsoever. Even the Hemi V8 gets similar if not better fuel economy as Infiniti's 3.7 V6. CAFE is based on averages of an entire car company's sales. The more Calibers, Avengers, or Sebrings Chrysler sells, the more SRT8 Challengers, SRT8 Chargers, and SRT8 300 can be sold. Fuel economy standards won't threaten the Challenger till the end of next decade. But what DOES threaten Challenger is the same that killed the Magnum.... SALES!

Even if you go back to end of the last muscle car era, it was sales more than anything else that killed the muscle car. The insurence industry slapped a surcharge on all "performance" cars in 1970. Sales plunged like a ton of bricks. By the time lead was removed from gasoline in '72, ending high compression engines, muscle cars were already dead on the sales front. Emissions came in 1973, the fuel crisis in late '73-74, and CAFE kicked in starting in 1977. Muscle cars were long gone well before any of those points.


As pointed out, Challenger sales aren't what was initially projected. That's mainly because of the economy, everyone's hurting. However, the other side of that coin is that compared with other Chrysler cars, the Challenger is actually doing very well. Also, the Dodge Challenger was originally slated for just a 3 year lifespan, it's business case built much along the same lines as the GTO/Monaro was: limited run, sedan based, coupe. I don't know where that 60,000 figure came from, but I recall being told 30-45K by Jason Vines who was Chrysler's media rep.

As a strong selling car and a car that is still very new, Challenger is in no danger until at least the Brampton plant is redone to start making the revised LX cars, and even then it may continue for some time afterwards... if the public keeps buying them, making it worthwhile.

Sergio Marchionne is no dummy. He did a job on GM, walking away with a mountan of money just to let them out of their merger. He's trying to assemble what would turn out to be the world's 2nd largest car company if he pulls in Opel next. He definately isn't going to be able to do that by killing off Opel and Chrysler, and sell nothing but Fiats.

Fiat owns Alfa Romeo, Maseratti, Lancia, and Ferrari.

Fiat becomes a majority owner of Chrysler only when federal loans are repaid, upon which, the feds will pull out.

I wouldn't worry about Fiat killing off any LX cars just yet if the demand (and the money) is still there, and Chrysler still meets CAFE (a certainty if Chrysler can get some decent mid-sized and small cars).

But expect the Sebring & Avenger to be replaced by Fiat based vehicles... and I don't exactly see that as a bad thing.

brentmannrt09

Even if you go back to end of the last muscle car era, it was sales more than anything else that killed the muscle car.

So true-Don't you think if Plymouth could have sold 20,000 hemi Cuda Convertibles instead of 12 they would have made every one?

lear4406

I believe it all starts with financial hardship of sorts. High insurance rates (ala 70s) and the price of fuel. To say that the gov. will not interfear is not a proven point. At least with this new Government. So as I have been saying... lets wait it out and then we will see. I hope you guys are right.

RRUNNER

Were you totally set on the Classic? Just go buy an R/T or SRT8, you won't be disappointed believe me. Most 08 owners never drove or sat in one and we ordered the car and waited 6-7 months for delivery. I was one of them and believe me, I have not been disappointed in any way, shape, or form. It is better than I ever anticipated and I don't regret buying this vehicle for one second. Go buy a Challenger, mod it and make it your own or keep it stock, either way, you won't be disappointed.

kramtrah

Here here rrunner!!! I never imagined in my life that I would have bought a car sight unseen, other than the concept and then production model in magazines, and here of course. The last six months, wow, wow, wow, all pure joy with The Grin being as wide as ever. This is THE CAR, no doubt about it.

germansheperd

just an excuse, buyers remorse set in

brentmannrt09

I'm with Rr and kramtrah the RT is THE BALLS! If you absolutley don't like the car after driving it you need to move to the Camaro forums LOL Just kidding of course. But it is 1 thing= fast, ok comfy, ok it handles well, ok gets tons of looks, alright it looks amazing you get the point! Will you get smoked by a SS Camaro? probably but who cares! It will make a more lasting impression I'm sure. I just saw a new Silver Camaro on the road yesterday and I just didn't react like I STILL do when I see a new Chally I think that says alot!

Axel

I agree. I still can't get over the fact that when I pull into Dodge dealers that they still stare at the car like they haven't seen it yet. They say that it's because the color I have. They see orange and black all the time with some silver and torred, but not inferno red.