Albeeno

I just want to say a couple things really quickly, if I could. I've been reading all the posts here since yesterday and want to address a few of them. Before I do that, I want to pass along a little trick that is helping me get over the fact that none of us, no matter how much we still believe it might happen, is ever getting THEE CONCEPT. Therefore, in order for me to help get past this, I have deleted every single pic I have of the concept, every article I've collected on the concept, etc. It's yesterday's news as far as I'm concerned. I don't even wanna think about it, let alone look at it. Hey, if this is what it takes, then sobeit. OK, so I have some issues...I'll give ya that.

Interior: Not the best, nowhere close to what I was expecting, but I do actually like it nonetheless....still, I don't love it. Can I live with it? Oh yeah!

It's competition: I didn't ever think this thing would be in the same league as a Vette...ever. This thing was built with two basic principles at work: 1) To crush Mustangs and Camaros and 2) To look cool as hell...while crushing Mustangs and Camaros! That's it, nothing more, nothing less. I mean we all know what we're gonna get when we order a #1 supersized at McDonald's...a Big Mac, a ton of fries and plenty of Coca-Cola to wash it all down. Plain, simple, and kicks a lotta butt. I think it's only fair that we all know what to expect with the Challenger.... I just think some people are expecting a 14oz filet mignon, for the price of a #1 at McD's.

My perceived bias for Mustangs: OK - I apologize if that bias rears its ugly head every once in a while. I'm presently on my second Mustang and I have always loved it. I stress "loved" - our realtionship, most recently, has become what some might call slightly "strained" after I did $12,383 worth of damage to it one icy, December morning on my way into work. I got her back (51 days later) and it's just not the same...nor will it ever be. That's another story for another day. My point here is that in the past if I had compared the Challenger to the Mustang, it's only because I don't have any other benchmarks to compare the Challenger to - especially not a Corvette. I wouldn't insult a Vette like that! Those things are in a league of their own; end of story. So my apologies if my "Mustang-ness" has caused any of you to just puke in your mouth. But, please understand, I mean zero disrespect to the Challenger, I just want a basis of comparison to the Challenger..whether it be on the topic of looks, price, performance, etc. GOOD, glad I got that off my chest.

I absolutely can't wait for the 2009 R/T to come out...now all I have to do is decide on what color. Harder said then done....

lear4406

We all deal with it in our own unique ways and Albeeno yours is unique. I hope you have a blast in your new Challenger and I can't wait to hear your stories of the road This is it folks and its as close as you will get. It does everything better than the old. Stock for stock. With mods all bets are off. I now sit in waiting for the 2009s and I will live vicariously through you lucky guys who will be the first in your city to have star status And may I say " YOU LOOK MARVELOUS". Have fun guys and give us lots of pictures and stories

joeyr

Honestly albeeno I dont fault you either, I think the mustang is great car. In fact one of my friends dad had two mustangs, a third generation `93 ( I think) with pipes so loud they would wake me up every morning at 5:30 like clockwork when he blew past my house. He eventually got a ford harley davsion truck and a 2003 mustang SVT cobra, which was a bit quiter but was still mean. I dont have many mustangs in my top ten list, but those stand out in my mind. Also a friend of my who's overseas in the Airforce got her a mustang, which she has wanted as long as I knew her. She said she had a chance to drive it in Germany.

I know what you mean, Lear. At my church an older guy and I both want the challeger, and I believe he will most likely get his before mine, so I'm content with him getting it and enjoying it with him. Hopefully we can go to the track together.

Jeremiah 29:11

There is nothing wrong with the Mustang. My son has a 2006 Mustang GT and when I get my Challenger and my wife get's a Camaro (owned a 1976)
it could be war at our house.

73Cuda340

ALbeeno, don't fret man, I think you still rock.

I admit I like the new mustangs too and when I think of the Challenger, I can not help but compare the two. (I susppect I will compare the new camaro to both the mustang and Challenger.) My oldest daughter (now 11) loves the Mustangs (of course she has a real pony so I think it is the moniker she love more) but she also loves the Challenger because the old man has his '73 'Cuda 340 pictures on his wall along with every other piece of memorabila depicting old and new Cuda's and Challengers.

For me, I passed on the 2008 Challenger only because it did not come with a manual transmission. I almost jumped on it, (I was #1 in line in Nashua having put a deposit down [in hopes a manual was offered]), it was my daughtet who brought me back to reality, "Dad, if you are going to get this car you have to get a manual transmission." Ok I said, but you wont be able to drive it, I told her. She smiled and told me for that car, she will work hard to learn - That was enough for me (of course there was a lot more dialog but this is the gist of it.) All said and done my daughter and I are going to pick out the colors and options. We both agree we want the biggest baddest engine and extras available (she wants it for bling - actually to be cool, I want it for the tuned exhaust sound and some comforts.)

So I do not fault anyone's opinion of any car - after all, they are just cars (as my cousin who works at Chrysler Corporate keeps telling me.) Of course I wish I could get him excited about cars again. I keep pestering him with questions and his response is always, ok, I will give you a one day head start, then I have to inform the dealers. 8^) Any way I digress. The Challenger is what it is. You either like it or ya don't but it is what it is and that's all it is ever going to be. Personally, I think the interior leaves me wanting, the exterior is fantastic. It could only be improved with some decals and butterfly valves. I would like to see a stripe down its side, but an after market experience can fix that itch.

So now we all wait for 2009. There is a fair amount of information already available. In fact, we know all there is to know except for a few (color facts) but the rest is a given.

People enjoy it, get one if you can. Definitely test drive one. I have been in one, and I think it isn't bad. It does feel remarkably similar to the Charger, but a little more,hmmm, squirly. Of course it was a mule and things could have changed but it was interesting to say the least. My cousin was laze fare about it, but got me a ride and I will never forget the experience - but I have to tell ya; The people who have the "job" of driving them and showing them do not have that gut wrenching desire to "have to" own one. They reflect my cousin's opinion, it is just a car.

So maybe it is just a car. It made me think, "what the heck am I in love with"? I think memories of my youth. Speed, sound, car shows, attention - any of the above. But at the end of the day, it gets parked in my garage, not my bed (and it costs more than my wife, who has very few demands (except horses)). 8^))

I think I will get one as soon as the 2009's become available - but I am still wondering if the 2009 1/2's will be more to my liking. There are some interesting things coming the second half of 2009 for the Challenger - but I do not know if I can wait. My youth is leaving me all too quickly.

I think overall Dodge scored a 8+ out of 10.

Enjoy all,
09Challenger2009

Jeremiah 29:11

You are as young as you feel. So keeping thinking young and you will be. "Ride that Challenger Passion" with your daughter.

Thanks for sharing that father/daughter moment. Good for you. Everybody needs to experience those moments with their sons and daughters. Sounds like you are a great dad.

Justinec101

"There are some interesting things coming the second half of 2009 for the Challenger"

What would those things be?

73Cuda340

You know I wish I knew. My cousin can be pretty tight lip'ed. He makes these statements but stops short of embellishing. Sometimes he will be more specific the day before or a couple of days before an announcement, but that is the best I can hope for. So I am in the dark as much as many others here. My cousin has worked for Chrylser for some 28 years, and I have been pestering him as long about what Chrysler is doing/thinking. I have come to recognize for my cousin it is "just a job", not much unlike how I view my occupation. For many familiarity breeds contempt or something close - apathy.

I recall many years ago he and I would cruise in my 'Cuda, now, he says the Dodge Challenger is a high stakes gamble, a frivilous attempt at revitalizing Dodge's brand. I think I understand where he is coming from and it makes me a little sad. If (and it may be a big if since I am going way out on a limb to speculate) Chrysler intends to use the Challenger as a means of revitalizing the Dodge brand, THEN it ONLY needs to be as good a car as people "perceive" it to be. That is, they get it real close and allow our imaginations and reminiscence to do the rest. Will it be enough to pull people back to Dodge? Something like, I buy a Challenger and then I get my wife to buy a Caravan - something along those lines. Hey, it may work.

I am sorry, I wish I knew. All I can say is right now I intend to order an 09 as soon as I can - unless my cousin says something like, "shame, oh well, if only you had waited" - but of course he wont say that until after I order it. 8^) - Such is life!

09Challenger6.1

Tass13

Alright, A little History Lesson.

First and foremost, in the late 60's early 70's DRAG racing was the rage. Translated to the street, that was Stop light to stop light or a little midnight airport running. We all know what happened to the T/A mopars. Back track and roundy round were not the MOPAR strength.
BUT>>>> NOTHING GM or FORD made could hold a candle straight line to the HEMI or even a well tuned 440-Six Pak. Even the Vette and the venerable Shelby had trouble seeing anything but tail lights back then. Hence, any 1/4 mile motor is a HEMI now, am I wrong?

So, while this challenger most certainly was not expected to keep up to the vette over the river and through the woods to grandma's house, I was hoping for the Vette killing, camaro crunching, mustang mauling eat my dust 40-110 in 3 seconds shut it down before you get to dead man's curve hey-day that Mopar RULED. Or at least, in my humble opinion, Vette killing look of the Concept W/ that oh so special interior and 1/4 mile designed left hand gauge cluster!

Think about it boys, the concept had that 1/4 mile cluster to REMIND us mopar fans of those heady by-gone days of dominance. Was I NOT to assume that the engineers had that fact in mind when they installed that "gauge" in the Concept? Any Mopar guy would have gotten the hint... HEMI CHALLENGER, won't corner for crap torsion bars, but will beat your ass the shortest distance from point A to B. rebirth...including the "rocketship" interior.

Now, some commented on affordable to the masses. DAMN... how many people could afford a Daytona, Super-Bee, Hemi-Cuda or even a 440 Six-Pak shaker hooded side exhaust Challenger back then? Build the Monster and the ones that cant afford it will by the slant-six model... Come on. I for one, would pay the money for the "concept" challenger. Then sell the dumbed down version with a smaller hemi, charger interior and boxy rear end to the wanna bees. No??

Tass13

Maybe Someone will start a "Saleen" or a "Shelby" or god-knows what Company to address this issue?

BODY KITS for an ass end overhaul??

CRATE MOTORS with BLOWERS for the Hemi-house?

ROLL CAGES??? NARROWED REAR DANA"S?? WEIGHT REDUCTION BUMPERS????

RACING INTERIORS with Chrome Pistol Grip SHIFTERS and a TRIGGER STYLE NITROUS BUTTON!!!!!!!!
......sorry, the possibilities are too exciting.

All We'll have to do is buy one of these new ones for 35k, add another 30k, Gut it out, carve it up and Whaaaa laaaa. Vette Killer! (no cornering allowed) That my friends will sell more challengers than that poor canadian factory can make... and then I woke up.