All Hail the Charger! Or… Challenger? I Barely Know Her.
Last month, I brought you the shocking news that local Dodge dealers were marking-up Charger SRT/8's by $10K, or more. I recently revisited the same OK (as in the state) dealer, after a tip-off that they had several pre-delivery Challengers on the back lot. Sneaking on scene with sets of "borrowed" Challenger keys, I passed the same two SRT/8 Chargers that were gracing the showroom floor 30 days prior. They'd painted "Hail Sale!" on the windscreen. A large hail storm had turned their sculpted rears into cellulite infested thighs. You can now pick one up for $38K or so, and 0 percent financing (but no leases). As for the Challengers, seeing them in the metal changed my opinion. They're a sight to behold, with menacing faces and near perfect proportions. The seats are incredibly comfortable, the dash sports soft touch plastic. And the bad news: the build quality sets new lows, even for Chrysler Corp. The paint on the rear bumper didn't match the fender. The metallic grain flopped in numerous places, and the panel gaps were uneven on the trunks and passenger doors (on all three models). So I guess the Challenger is the most faithful rehashing of the 70's muscle car yet. Stay tuned for a full Challenger review; Sajeev Mehta has his own insiders. And yes, they marked up the Challengers by $20K.
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Zcline - yes, it's not an investment. But the apple example stands because the price dropped quickly and significantly. According to the link I provided and the "media," people (customers) were angry. The company recognized this by providing vouchers of $100 to appease the earlier takers. I still think it's a poor practice, but then again, I'm really, really cheap (I'm a grad student). That being said, what is the make/model of the bridge? ... :-)
I still have to disagree if the example stands ... Apple was at that time in full control of the price of the phone, in this case Chrysler only sets the MSRP, and its the dealer who is doing the alienating. I also read after apple did this, that they were thinking of doing the same thing for concert tickets. Price them really high so that only people who really want to pay that price will pay, then drop them after demand falls off. I think after the iphone backlash they re-thought it though. Its all about what you're willing to pay, "what the market will bear". The bridge has a 2-litre mitsubishi turbo charged engine, and is hand-crafted by honest American union labor. Its a win/win!
The Challenger is one reason why Chrysler finds itself into so much trouble. Instead of looking into the future they cling to their past glory. The Challenger is one big ugly car which prove how ignorant management has become when it comes to the worlds current and future energy problems. Why would they big such a big ugly car. I understand many people are simply brainwashed to like these types of ugly American cars due to their stupidity and ignornance.
dan: The Challenger does nothing for me as I'm generally not that interested in American Muscle. However, the people that find this car attractive were never "brainwashed," nor are they stupid or ignorant. The people that purchase this car will buy it for nostalgic purposes and/or performance. Would you not admit that there is a market for a modern muscle car? The challenger combines classic car looks with the performance and safety of a modern vehicle. I agree that this vehicle is a poor decision for Chrysler, but to attack the people who find this car appealing is a low blow. Why the hostility? Where's the love man?