NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Dodge.com has updated their site...........Pony up....... and get ready to roll.

http://www.redletterdodge.com/

CHALLENGER

Not surprisingly, the Challenger is a hot topic of conversation, which led to the following questions and even the occasional demanding chorus of chanting:

Q: davesanrn posted:

“I heard all the R/Ts have been pre-sold already. I hope that isn’t true.”

A: We can safely say that no R/Ts have been put up for sale yet. They are, as yet, unavailable for pre-sale in the 2008 model year. — RLD

Q: craig posted:

“is there a chance we will see the challenger body in NASCAR”

Our own Mike Accavitti offers this answer:

Read More »

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Yeah. Be interesting to see if they answer this:

#
On Sep 26, 2007 at 2:52AM, RoswellGrey posted:

Will a six-cylinder version of the Challenger be available — if not on the 2008 model, maybe on the ‘09? Some of us are interested in the car just for its looks — NOT as a performance vehicle. Also with gasoline climbing in price and insurance rates being what they are, a six-cylinder version makes perfect sense for many.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Sorry, folks came across this yesterday, and I was foolishly believing someone else would have posted the update. Don't know the source being cited, but ALLPAR is generally pretty good w/ their specalation (sic).

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/challenger.html

".....The always-reliable oh20 reported that the Challenger would start production in March 2008 with the SRT8 and 6.1 liter engine (LC series). The 2009 Challenger, to be built starting in July 2008, will include a 3.5 liter SXT with the 3.5 liter engine and four-speed automatic, R/T with the second-generation 5.7 Hemi, and the SRT-8. The 2010, to start production in July 2009 - with convertibles starting in early 2009 - will be similar but with SXT and R/T convertibles, and a new 6.4 liter High Output SRT8 option. Finally, the 2011 Challenger will include the 4.0 liter Phoenix engine instead of the 3.5 liter.

Features and options on the 2008-09 Challengers should be similar to the 2008 Chargers, except for a functional hood scoop, keyless ignition starting in 2009, Boston Acoustics audio, and the six-speed manual TREMEC transmission....."

Not 100% verifiable, but if you say it with confidence, anything (well almost anything) is believable.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Interesting. On the Dodge site itself, one of the answers concerns the convertible. The answer -- from Dodge -- is that there are no plans to make one.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

I kind of saw that as a non-answer. I think it is probably likely to happen in a year or two based upon good sales. Just my opinion.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

They were kind enough to answer one of my questions too (and so far I've asked alot).

As far as a convertible, I don't know why Dodge seems to be so dead set against one - it's not like there wouldn't be a market for one, I mean look at the Mustang convertible, it's not like those are exactly rare. Chevy has already planned a new Camaro convertible... why Dodge has taken this "not only NO but HELL NO" mentality about a ragtop Challenger is a bit of a mystery.

[sm=WTFsgign.gif]

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

I am guessing but I believe it is because of a lack of time. You have to stiffen the chassis for a convertible and that adds time and cost.

After a couple of years I would think they would add it. They are just trying to beat everybody else to the pony war race. Camaro is on their heels.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

One word in that is key: "Finally." Apparently, that means the '11 model year will be the last! We're getting ripped off a year compared to the original Challengers of 1970-74! Oh, my God! We all better run right out and pay ANY price dealers ask to get ahold of one before they disappear! ;)

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

True... but there's still no real reason they couldn't have a convertible model if they really wanted one. All of the original Camaros, Firebirds, Mustangs, Challengers and (E-body) Cudas all had a convertible model in their first year... Chevy has already been parading around their concept Camaro convertible for several months now - even though it still won't be out for a couple of years, at least we know they'll have one.

Bottom line, Dodge COULD have a convertible Challenger if they wanted to make one. Why this isn't such an issue for the Ford Mustang and the new Chevy Camaro but it is for a new Challenger is still a mystery - and again, why they seemingly refuse to even entertain the idea is even more baffling. I mean, it's not like we're asking for something ludicrous like a station wagon model or something equally ridiculous... [&:]

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Please see this post: https://dodgechallenger.com/forums/fb.asp?m=16716

It is talking about cost cutting.

That is not a way to make a business decision. It has to be a business need and not a want.

What they did in the past was a different business case and you cannot compare that to now. Business is different now. I would not be surprised if they don't have one
in a couple of years but they are just highly focused on the now.

Ford and expect to do it as they have been making this car for a long time and as for Camaro it is just vaporware.....they don't have one yet. Anybody can make a one of car to show the world.

They are in the business to make money and not entertain ideas and are more secretive than other car manufacturers.

I would suggest being patient.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Valid points Jeremiah, it isn't over until the fat SUV sings. Just because it isn't going to offer it immediately does not guarantee anything either way. They might change their minds. It could be possible that they are afraid it could cannabalize the Sebring convertible sales as well. I personally think they should offer a convertible model as they appeal to different audiences, but it may be more trouble than what its worth. Remember this platform was originally used for larger sedan, a convertible model might require a lot of work on their part.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

I also agree with Jeremiah. I think Chrysler is cautiously optimistic and acting responsibly to their share holders. They probably have a gut feeling Chally's will sell well, but until they have some units rolling off dealer lots, they won't have hard numbers supporting their gut feelings. And if it were your money in Cerberus, I'm sure you wouldn't want those responsible for growing it to be making irrational decisions on "well, ford and chevy have'm". There has to be proven demand for the money required to tool up a significantly different assembly line.

I'm sure if there's money in offering a convertible we'll see one, and even if one isn't offered by Chrysler, there'll be someone offering their hacksaw services and welding to stiffen up the chassis, for a nominal sum of money of course!

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Theoretically I will concede that Jeremiah and Skippy do have a valid point, strictly from a business standpoint.

HOWEVER...

Car companies make prototypes all the time, some that end up getting produced, some that never see the light of day. Take the new Chevy Volt, for example. Is GM really gonna build this car? Who knows, I doubt even GM knows for sure. But at least they're thinking about their customers who may want a strictly hybrid/electric car (or whatever its claim to fame is), customers who very well might otherwise shop the competition because they feel their needs aren't being met by GM.

Take the Viper as another example. Did Dodge really NEED to build an outrageously fast 2-seater? From strictly a business standpoint, I would say no, it didn't. But Dodge did it anyway largely because, I feel, they WANTED to, for a number of reasons. And all the reasons I can think of are largely from a WANT and emotional standpoint, not a business one. Dodge knew that it wouldn't be a mass-produced car and that its profit-margin wouldn't be that great, but it knew such a machine would be the perfect target for those who had an emotional NEED (or WANT) to have such a car - screw the bean-counters who would have otherwised nixed the car because their MIGHT not be a sufficient demand for it - from strictly a business standpoint.

Personally I have no need or want for a Challenger convertible... but I think it's a mistake for Dodge to dismiss the idea of one. Sure, in a couple of years they might consider the idea, but what about those potential customers it will have lost in the meantime to Ford or GM because they DIDN'T take a couple of years to "consider" the idea - they just went ahead and did it. Maybe Dodge is doing the safe by holding off on any convertible plans, maybe they aren't. It may be safe, but I personally don't think it's necessarily the right thing. Only time will truly tell, I guess.

Sorry for being long-winded, but do you see what I'm getting at here? Am I the only one who feels this way?

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

You are again taking an old car, the Viper. 1st Production started in 1993 and the concept car before that. Again a different time and era (14 years ago). The economy wasn't so global as it is now and fewer MBA's in existance.

Chrysler needed it to go after it's nemesis the Corvette back then and prove to the American public they could.

Cerebus is being financially very cautious and trying to make good business decisions for its stock or financial holders.

I agree that I think they could get more marketshare but they have to take everything into consideration such as financials, time to market, manufacturability, limited resources, etc.

You first have to build it and build it well and then grow. Crawl before you walk

I would not be suprised to see one in 2009.....but just a few but I am just guessing.

THis is a different global economy that we live it than back in the day when bean counters were not as important and engineers had more control.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

1992, actually ;)

Again... from strictly a business standpoint, your point has some merit. And again, if Dodge came up with some off-the-wall idea of making something like a sedan version of the car (or worse), believe me I'd be right there with you.

But come on... we all know that the Challenger is going to do battle mostly with the Mustang, which of course has a ragtop, and the new Camaro, which Chevy has paraded around a prototype convertible version of for the public to see and has certainly generated more interest in the car than there otherwise would be - would you not agree with that? (especially since they apparently won't have any competition from the Challenger...)

So, by that rationale, is GM being financially irresponsible or not making a good business decision by already stating that they are in fact making a Camaro convertible - even gone so far as to produce multiple prototypes of it? Or should they be "financially cautious" like Chrysler and tell their stockholders and fans alike that "there are no plans to produce one at this time" (even though there really are).

Does Chrysler know something that GM doesn't? I agree that Chrysler does need to be a bit more careful since it's now under new management, but the Challenger was a done deal long before Cerebrus took over, so I don't think that argument is valid.

The bottom line is... here are new 2 cars, the Camaro and Challenger, that will competing for largely the same market share. One company is willing to listen to its customers and not be shy about offering a convertible as well as its hardtop (GM HAS to know there'll be a sufficient market for it - they wouldn't build one otherwise, since they have their bureaucratic bean counters too). The other company, despite many fans saying they want one, gives a VERY left-handed (and VERY stubborn) "maybe-we-will-maybe-we-won't" attitude. I can't help but wonder if Dodge is being TOO cautious in this case for its own good.

Again, I will concede that maybe Dodge is doing the right thing here. I originally thought that a 4 door Charger would have been a laughing stock and I thought it was a dreadful mistake not to at least make a 2-door version... but I (thankfully) was proven very wrong on that one. I remember back in 1994 when Dodge debuted the new Ram pickup design - I was convinced that it wouldn't sell at first... boy was I wrong on that one too! Maybe I will be this time too... like I said before, only time will tell.

BTW, good debate [sm=icon_cheers.gif]

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

It has to be in this global economy. If you are a major corporation, that is the only way to look at it.

Do not look at any other way, if you are a major corporation. I think this is the part you are not getting.

Yes it will do battle with the Mustang, but the Ford Mustang has a head start and the Challenger has barely gotten off of the ground. You cannot compare those two.....it is not fair.

GM has the muscle to pull it off and Cerebus is too new. Again not a fair comparison.

Your comparisons you keep making are not totally valid between the cars and companies back then to the way things are done now in global economy.

You have to build something that you feel will have a good ROI based on the market and doing marketshare research and what you can build.......
you cannot do this on emotion or shoulda, woulda, coulda mentality.

Thanks for the complement on the debate, but I am not trying to debate. I am just trying to paint you a realistic picture.

As an example, Ford built my all time favorite car the GT-40 but they call it the Ford GT. This was supposed to be "the pace car for an entire company".


That was a decision that was based on emotion.....it was a flash in the pan. Ford is not doing too well these days and btw neither is GM for that matter.

I do not like convertibles myself so I will consider this my last post on this topic. I would much rather talk about what is about to happen in Challenger news in a configuration I am interested in and a convertible is not one of them.

Give me a 7.0 L/MDS/VVT/6-speed manual Tremec/LY platform/G meter/shaker hood/18/19" wheels/HD-FM/six-shooter LED/electrochromatic mirror/IRS/hi perf exhaust/gear ratios and you then you get my attention.

Enjoy the forum!

One of your favorite moderators....Jeremiah 29:11 LOL!

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Yes I agree, I believe I've stated my point and any attempt to do so further would cause me to end up repeating myself... it's obvious we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.

And, like you, I personally don't care about a convertible model, I personally couldn't care less if Dodge ever makes one or not - that was never my point.

I'm definitely with you on that one... but until all the hoopla and dealer gouging subsides I may have to settle for a "base" R/T with the 5.7 motor - if I can get one out the door for less than 35K. I realize it may be a VERY long wait! [sm=smiley13.gif]

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

Personally I prefer that they would make the Demon convertable to compete with the solistic/sky and the MX-5 than a challenger convertable.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Whatever happened to the Copperhead. That was a hell of a concept.

Personally, if you're talking and Dodge and convertible......DAKOTA!

http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Desert...geDakota2.html

I never understood why these didn't sell well enough to be around still?

Seemed like they were ahead of their time.

RE: NEW on the Dodge Site!
 

It's good that they are addressing potential consumers