I can't think of a soul that was more excited about the new Challenger than I was. Every January or February we have a new car show in Houston and over the past 3 years I have attended and expected to see a new Challenger. I can't believe the 4th largest city in the USA couldn't get a Challenger at the new car show.

Finally I got to see one, ran 2 red lights and made 20 miles in Houston traffic in 15 minutes.

I absolutely loved the car, except for the hood decals.

I had every intention of buying a new SRT8. I also started a thread about if the SRT8 is worth 11K more than the R/T.

I had Challenger in my blood.

Things change. Even though I was going for a 2009 (unnumbered) the salesmen at two different dealerships were still talking MSRP. No way!

Recently GM had the Employee pricing and it occured to me that I could get a Vette for almost the same money as a Challenger. Since we don't have any kids, and have another family car, the lack of a back seat is a non item.

I loved my GTO. Raced at the track over 200 runs and when I sold it, she was still a very solid car. The LS series engine is a work of art, so I am comfortable with the GM high performance products. I know the 6.1 hemi is also a work of art, but I have never owned one.

I went to the Chevy dealership and we searched for a Vette.........had to be a LT2, automatic (wife has diabetes and sometimes has trouble with her feet, so a manual is out), and had to be a Cherry Red, Blue, or Black. A search didn't find any or if they did, the dealership with the car would not trade for another car. I felt bummed.

The manager told me he would sell me a 2009 at 500 over invoice. So if you take the car I ordered it is a 2009 automatic with package LT2, about candy apple red color, special exhaust, and a 2.73 gear. The price was about 4K more expensive than a SRT8 at MSRP.

Before anybody thinks I am one of 'those' Vette guys, think again. I am a blue color type of guy, but I just want the Vette as I figure I am getting more bang for the buck with the Vette. Had I been able to get a SRT8 for a couple thousand less than MSRP, I probably would have done that, but I wasn't ever offered that option.