Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

They may be waiting to keep GM in the dark till the last minute.


Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995

Posted Today 11:09 AM by Rory Jurnecka



While all 6,500 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8s to be built have already been presold at $37,995 and are set to hit showrooms very soon, the base model 2009 Dodge Challengers could hit showrooms at just $23,995, according to a recent Detroit Free Press report that sources a Dodge executive.


The source, Chrysler executive vice president for North American sales Steven Landry, said that some Challenger models will hit the $39,995 price point in 2009. Yet, later Landry's statements were retracted by a Chrysler spokesman who said 2009 Challenger pricing has not yet been determined and that final pricing will be announced in the following months.

Should the base model Challenger be sold for the figure Landry mentioned, it could spark heavier competition with the Ford Mustang in the lower price levels, though the base model V-6 equipped Mustang still starts at under $20,000. Still, the uniqueness of the Challenger over the commonplace Mustang may help steal sales away. Landry has said the Challenger will be sold in three versions for 2009, including a 250-horsepower V-6.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Ya, that's about the price I think we came up with for the V6. I'm still not getting that one though.:D

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

I, meanwhile, just might go ahead and get two at that price. :D

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

I will not be buying one etheir, there too slow.;)

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

in two years im sure you get one for 20k, a base charger sells at dealers for 18 in my area. Either way I'm happy.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

For 18 I would buy one for my daughter to drive .I think they will come down in price after a year or so .

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Are we paying for the R&D on this? I see the SE plus chargers going for $19,000 with rebates from dodge so they can clearly price the challenger for under 24k. Add a sunroof and the other options and it hits 27-28k. Assuming they price the R/T at 31k or under that'll be the only model that's really priced right.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Of course we are who else..:D

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

I believe it goes back to ........"If we build it, they will buy it....." I'ld like to see the RT at 30k aith the Se high teens, well equiped to low 20s, I don't think it will happen though[sm=smiley19.gif]

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Yeah, but which engine does it have? Believe me, you don't want a 2.7L powered Charger.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Personally I think it'd be perfect if they priced the SE at 21,995 and the R/T at 29,995. That magic under 30k price point makes the difference. They could also steal away that "The most powerful car for under 30,000" line from pontiac.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

I would agree that would be a desirable thing to try to aim for the R/T. I honestly think that we will see R/Ts below $30K since the Challenger R/T is not going to come loaded standard as the Charger R/T is, plus the fact that a manual is available should also help. I don't know if they will be able to price the SE at $21,995 since it is not a mass produced car.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

I have a feeling there won't be a very big price difference between the manual and the automatic since the manual is taken from an $80,000 car. But between the removal of the standard leather seats and maybe some savings with the manual there's no reason the challenger should be more than the Charger R/T.

I was hearing they would be producing as many SEs as R/Ts so that sounds like mass produced to me. Anyway, add any package or option to the SE and it's no longer a low 20s car. It's a mid 20s car. Definitely a far cry from the high teens mustang can advertise. And no I'm not saying they're equal cars, but I'm still not sure how they're gonna market the V6.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Remember though that this transmission is also being used in the GT500 and a few other cars; therefore, the price tag of the Viper isn't really an accurate indicator of how much this transmission will cost them. Remember that the auto is a MB design and I believe they have to pay them royalties for using it although they are building it in Indiana.

I'm also concerned about this issue, it seems strange to me that they can price the SRT-8 so well against the GT500 but can't do the same with the V6. It is probably an issue that they cannot produce near the number that Ford can since it will not sell nearly as well as the Mustang. The other thing is the Mustang's V6 is a very old design which original variants are supposed to route back to the 1960s vs. the 3.5L routes back to the early 90s, so the 3.5L is a lot higher tech and probably more expensive to build. The only way around this that I can think of it is if Chrysler were to make a V6 out of the 5.7L Hemi since it is claimed to cost less to build than the V8s it replaced as well as the 4.7L. Since it has MDS and VCT, the fuel mileage would probably be better and the power would as well. This is what I think that they should do, but I know it isn't going to happen.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

How come they're not using the same V6 that's in the nitro? Puts out another 10hp.

RE: Report: Base Dodge Challenger could cost just $23,995
 

Well for one reason, it is probably due to fuel economy. Since the 4.0L is basically a bored and stroked 3.5L, the fuel economy is not going to be as good unless you adjust the gearing which may not help the acceleration in the long term with such a mild power boost, then the second issue is cost. I'm sure a larger version of the same basic engine is going to cost more. It just wouldn't be very cost effective nor really worth it; however, if they were to drop in a H.O. version of that engine like what was dropped into the SEMA Avenger Stormtrooper that produced about 285hp, then it might be worth it.