So: What if?
 

If the big 3 become the big two or big one and in the cutting of platforms in this consolidation the Challenger becomes a casuality, will the few Challenger's built in the first couple of years become instant collectibles?

RE: So: What if?
 

I would think they would be collectable, but it might take years for them to be worth much. The problem I worry about is the lack of parts on a vehicle that was only manufactured for less than two years. I'm sure aftermarket parts would be readily available, but at what cost?

RE: So: What if?
 

You are right. Something like a broken windshield would probably cost a fortune to replace.

RE: So: What if?
 

Also, we face the prospect of owning modern versions of DeLoreans. Everything said and done these Challengers are NOT the E-Bodies. There will always be a market for the E-Bodies, but who knows about ours. We could wind up with vehicles like DeLoreans where everyone might look at one, but few people would want to buy one. Hence, unlike SOME people on the forum (names won't be mentioned to avoid embarrassing Paladin), I wouldn't stake my retirement on having a pristine Challenger to sell off at some point. ;)

RE: So: What if?
 

Yea, you're right, I guess I have to settle for just being a triple dipper.

RE: So: What if?
 

Sounds like it's about time to make remakes of "Back to the Future" 1, 2 and 3 starring the Challenger as the time machine. "ROADS? WHERE WE ARE GOING WE DON'T NEED ROADS." :D

RE: So: What if?
 

Better order your Mr. Fusion today! :D

RE: So: What if?
 

Deloreans didn't get the reviews that the Challenger has. It performed like crap and was a pain to drive. It had absolutely no factory backing and the builder was a drug trafficer. Then there was the Prowler. It still didn't bold the press over like the Challenger has but the support for the car is still around years later. I really can't see us losing Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. Especially since this economic down turn is similar to what happened in the early eighties and we recovered just as we will this time. Why tank a whole company when it will turn around in a couple of years.

RE: So: What if?
 

Very simple: Because it's owned by an investment firm, NOT an auto manufacturer.

RE: So: What if?
 

Good Point. American Industry more than any other has become incredibly short sited mainly due to the pressures put on them to pay quarterly dividends no matter what.

RE: So: What if?
 

All the industry watchers say that Chrysler will be the first to merge with another company. We don't know this will happen and we also don't know if the merger would happen with a US company or a company based in another country. My personal opinion is that with Chrysler not being traded on any stock exchange all it needs is the agreement of it's board of directors and a willing financial partner to pay the asking price for it to be sold or merged. Then the future of the Challenger depends on the desire of the of the new company to own the platform. We all know that many of the platform pieces are from the now dated Mercedes E Class. This is also true for the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Charger which have been around since 2005 with no major platform changes. A hybrid is in the offing but wether it ever see's the light of day depends on the future of the company as a whole. The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger only have minimal facelifts planned according to industry publications. In my opinion this is not the plan of a company that is looking to operate as a car company in the future.

RE: So: What if?
 

The all new Challamarostang by Fodgevy.
Photoshop that!:D

Man, I had 5 minutes if fun just trying to figure out a friggin' name.:D

RE: So: What if?
 

you"re seriously making me want to puke tdub... BACK OFF!!! [:@]

;)

RE: So: What if?
 

Don't make me repost the "Challamaro".......

RE: So: What if?
 

Well if they get the loans from the Government, then the cars that we have come to know and love are just a memory. We will get the cars that Congress and the Senate want us to have and believe me that does not include any muscle cars. Just look at who controls the Gov. now and who pulls their strings and makes them dance. Can you say green. So get it while you can or hope that they file a restructural bankruptcy. My spelling is off today... sorry. But that way they can get rid of the Un ions and start fresh and be competitive with the imports that are kicking our tales. The only way they will survive in my eyes. But I'm no economist, just hard honest logic. We need to be competetive and as it sits now the prices are way out of bounds. The average american needs to be able to afford what they are selling. When you add the safety features and comfort gizmos we all need, the price is too great for most americans families. Just my take on it:)

RE: So: What if?
 

personally, and this is just the canadian in me talkin..... but I think the media has blown all of this resession crap waayyyy out pf porportion. THese guys feed into our fears of losing companies, mergers and instability. Auto mergers aren't going to happen, how many attempts to merge with Chrysler and then back out? c'mon it's a marketing ploy to fuel the economy.

If you think about Henry Ford, he made a company and ran it through a hard economic time, and he weatherd the storms. Now very true here with the investors and such, I say the manufacturer open the doors like a local airline here in Calgary and offer shares to the public, get public dollars into a company to maintain stability. It would boost economy and allow for a more controlled platform. This way the big wigs aren't lining their pockets and screwing a company over.

Parts on the other hand may become scarse, but majority of our parts are interchangable with other platforms.

RE: So: What if?
 

I gotta agree with the idea that the "recession" has been blown way out of proportion. I've lived through numerous recessions, and this just doesn't feel like a recession. In San Antonio, at least, stores are always packed. You don't see more people than usual lined up a free-food places. Tourists keep flocking here. Maybe it's just this city (which admittedly doesn't have a large manufacturing sector and always is one of America's poorest cities), but things here right now don't seem anywhere near as bad as, say, after 9-11.

RE: So: What if?
 

I to have to agree regarding the recession, if you repeat something enough times...people will believe it and as a result it becomes a reality. I still see a lot of building going on, so someone has money and in turn is making money. And the malls are still busy with people spending money….I also see a lot of new cars driving around with newly issued temp licenses...but if you get all your news from ABC/NBC/CBS news stations it sounds like the sky is falling. Not the best of times, but not the worst by a long shot...

RE: So: What if?
 

Kind of like global warming. . .:eek:

RE: So: What if?
 

Not sure the Bridge loan for the auto makers will get past the Senate. The repubs are not down with helping out-going to be and interesting day for the Big 3!

RE: So: What if?
 

There is a few differences between the situation between the LX Challenger and Deloreans.

#1. Many of the components and parts are shared with the LX sedans (Charger & 300). Being that there are quite a few of those out there and those have a following in aftermarket parts due to their performance appeal, this should cover much of it.

#2. The engines that the Challenger uses (with the exception of the 5.7L) have been out for quite a few years in this version and there are plenty of parts for them and replacements by third party companies, as is also true about the automatics, and as long as Tremec stays in business, there should be a plentiful supply of transmissions if needed. The DMC-12's engine was a French engine that had to be imported to begin with.

#3. Chrysler has been in business for over 80 years. Delorean had only been in business for three years. There is still a very strong network of support for supplies that could be obtained that Delorean never had due to his short run.

It could be difficult to get certain body parts, but I believe we would be alright in the long run.

brentmannrt09, if this loan/bailout happens, we may lose the chance to have cars like this in the future because if the Gov't gets involved in this, they will make the cars THEY want us to drive as lear explained (expect a SMART four-two type to be full-sized). There are worse things than filing for bankruptcy, one of them is being run by politicians with their special interest groups behind pulling their strings and moving their lips.

RE: So: What if?
 

Same thing in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. It is all hype.

RE: So: What if?
 

We haven't hit the bottom yet( NE FL), but construction has definetly slowed. Residential construction for sure. Large commercial projects have been delayed due to current bond rates and a slow down in spending. Hopefully things will pick up after the new regime is in place, but htheres a good chance things will get much worse before better.