1971Chall

The facts are this; I own a 1971 Challenger with 440 six pack. On a certified scale with half a tank of fuel it weighed 3650lbs(nobody in it). The new Challenger will weigh 4100 - 4200lbs. The difference is 450 - 550lbs. Does that make it light? NO. Is it 1000lbs heavier? NO again. I also have a 1967 Camaro with a 427, set up as a COPO style clone. It weighed 3420lbs on the same scale. So the Camaro's have always been a little lighter due to being a smaller car. The same will hold true today. I believe the new Camaro will come in around 3700-3800lbs. Lighter than the Challenger(just like the originals) but still heavy. As somebody stated a few posts up safety equipment and other mandatory things are responsible for most of the increase over the years. Even if you took an original 1970/74 318 Challenger it would weigh in at 3400lbs +. Still not 1000lbs.

7schulz

I don't care how heavy it is, just give me the 6.4L 525 hp 392 and call it a day. I would rather have a big sled with lots of HP, anybody can make a small light car go fast but when you can get a big beast to go fast and handle like they are saying it will, then you have something speical.

66Cuda

The weight doesn’t bother me that much. It’s the fact that we are days away from May and there is no information. The 08 guys don’t know anything, and that’s not right. The rest of us waiting for the 09’s are getting irritated that there is no pricing or ordering info and we still don’t know what options the cars are really going to have…

Thor77

Bottom line the Challenger is an awesome car. Would I like to take 500lbs out of it? Sure. But how could I be pissed that such a sweet car is coming out? Many of us will always wish that it were lighter, faster, more powerful, less expensive, nicer interior etc. But that will always be the case.

2007HemiCuda

I'm not angry almost all cars weigh more now, check the weight of a Honda Accord with one ten years ago. Thirty years of safety, emissions and comfort have added weight, most of which is federal mandated stuff. They did not turn the Challenger into a fat kid but a 1971 GTX.


Edited: for family friendlyness forum

RLSH700

Alright, first of all, we don't use language like that on our "family friendly forum." There are lots of good alternatives such as irritated, ticked off, mad, etc. It reflects more positively on yourself if your vocabulary consists of more than 4 letter words (or "-ed" variations).

Now to the issue at hand, the weight is a common complaint, the thing you have to understand when comparing the current Challenger to the classic is that people are demanding that cars are made to be as safe as possible while being as affordable as possible. Now we not only have the Gov't cash tests but insurance companies crash tests. If the manufactures want to be able to pass all of these test, they have to build up the structure. The potential danger they run into if they don't increase the safety to perfection level standards is lawsuits. The fact of the matter is even if someone is doing something absent minded with a car and get themselves killed in the process, many greedy family members then want to blame the car company for the compact not being able to withstand having a head-on collision with a semi with a combined speed of well over 120mph. There are ways of doing this that will not way as much; however, the problem is these routes really cost quite a bit of money and on top of this some of them are still questionable on if it is really as structurally sound. That is why it weighs so much.

Another point to help you feel better about the situation. Thanks to improvements in transmissions, engine's efficiencies, much better tires, and other improvements that have come out since the 70s, these cars despite being heavier and producing in some cases less tq & hp, they are still faster than their 70s counterparts.

1971Chall

Forgot to answer the main question: No, I'm not ticked off. In fact I drove right next to an SRT-8 with M-plates yesterday. Love the car, it has awesome presence on the road. I am content to wait it out but I guess I can drive my '71 while I'm waiting so that's a bit of a consolation. The problem now is too much speculation(it's slow, this isn't good, that isn't good) right now. When the cars get out into circulation(Which won't be long now) then the FACTS will come in. Let's judge it by that. I can already say the car won't be a disappointment in my opinion. The car looks beautiful to me in person. Give it a chance.

claymore

Who gives a rat's behind! I own one of the first 2005 Mustang GTs off the assembly line. Guess what....it seems like everyone owns one now, not even a hot item anymore. Going to be the same with the Challenger eventually, the thrill and newness (if there is such a word) will eventually wear off. Get a life people.

Justinec101

There still won't be half as many challengers on the road. Also, it looks more similar to the retro 70s cars than the new camaro and mustang do and people haven't gotten tired of seeing those after 40 years.

And no I'm not pissed. I could care less if the challenger is faster than the camaro and the mustang, it looks 100x better. If the only thing that matters to you is the speed you can get one of the others or a corvette.

1971cuda convert

The newness will were off after awhile but it will be a year or so and I will still enjoy driveing it then .I own a 07 shleby and get thums up and looks all the time and thoses car have ben out for years . The challenger will have more room so it will be a much better trip car .