Challenger stays true to roots

[burningman]

The price will be the make or break for me on this deal..as long as it's offered in a Manual..if it's a slushbox only then forget it.
Of course Money would help too so I may end up getting one on the secandary market a bit down the road.
I really want to make my Cuda and this will be a great starting point.

[mike the tiger]

Up untill now, DCX was very logical in its decisions! Because of the reactions to the CHALLENGER, it will be built. For the same reasons, our car will be built as close as possible to the concept.

The concept is branded R/T...not SRT. It will have been very easy to add an S before the RT. If we stay logical like DCX, then the SRT will be different like the SRT Charger is different from the R/T Charger. It will not have the same engine nor the same hood. Since the name CUDA is from Plymouth, DCX will not build a CUDA...but how about a CHALLENGER SRT without the CUDA name but with the Shaker hood, a larger engine and other CUDA visual specifications!

In my book, up till now DCX is 100% on target and it earned my full trust!

I am convinced that the new SRT CHALLENGER will be different and madly powerfull and will send all the DODGE fanatics into MOPAR HEAVEN! I am sure ready to go there!

[My Hemi]

Personally, I don't understand the argument that the Cuda must be a Plymouth. Why couldn't it be a Chrysler? (Maybe because Chrysler is not the performance side of the organization??)

The Prowler was a Plymouth, then a Chrysler, then it was nothing. The Viper in Europe was a Chrysler (but it may be a Dodge now). I mean, they've swapped names around before.

Sure, it would be the best of all possible worlds if they brought back the Plymouth name for the Cuda, but I don't care what it's parent is, I want it, and make it mean as hell, with a shaker hood!!

[DubleDex]

The Neon was a Dodge AND a Plymouth at the same time. I'm pretty sure that everyone is aware that Plymouth was part of the same family, so I don't see why the couldn't use the Cuda name if they wanted to. Not sure if they would... as that may just muddy their ability to cleanly market the vehicle.

[The_Legend_Lives]

i dont want to see a cuda model because i want mine to be one of a kind, my plan is to build a custom car out of a challenger with the cuda parts like the shaker, the grille and the rear end like in burningmans pictures. also i've said it before, i dont want to see the srt or srt8 name anymore. i want T/A and R/T, i thought we said it was staying true to its roots?!?!? c'mon DCX

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by The_Legend_Lives

i dont want to see a cuda model because i want mine to be one of a kind, my plan is to build a custom car out of a challenger with the cuda parts like the shaker, the grille and the rear end like in burningmans pictures. also i've said it before, i dont want to see the srt or srt8 name anymore. i want T/A and R/T, i thought we said it was staying true to its roots?!?!? c'mon DCX

Well yea the Challenger is staying to its roots meaning that it very, very closely resembles its Original and not a 4 door or an import mock-job like the '78 -'82ish models ! It doesn't mean that DCX by producing a 'Cuda as well as a Barracuda wouldn't be staying to its roots : it would only enhance DCX in stature ! .....Also it almost seems like your contradicting yourself , " i dont want to see a cuda model because i want mine to be one of a kind " yet if DCX doesn't make a 'Cuda ,you'll Make your own 'Cuda ?? Wouldn't it be real special if they did make one ??? That would be very special ! It's like back to the roots....Dodge had the Challenger so its cousin ,Plymouth needed something.....and the Barracuda / 'Cudas were born .... and thereby ' The Legend Lives ' ! !! !!!!!

[The_Legend_Lives]

haha, well put. i have to agree, you are right, but you know what i mean, to have a one of a kind 2009 hemicuda would be amazing. but it is also very true that any 09 hemicuda would be amazing, i probably wouldnt be able to afford it anyway so who am i kidding? i just love this car to peices and wouldnt be able to stand it if they were to screw this up.

[DubleDex]

My two cents on R/T vs. SRT:

I completely understand people wanting the R/T to be the top model of this vehicle, harkening back to its roots. And, emotionally, that makes a lot of sense. But from a marketing/brand standpoint, it would be counterproductive for DCX to do that.

Back in the day, the R/T badge stood for something. It was the most bad-ass of vehicles you could get from Dodge. It had something lurking under the hood that would eat you up, spit you out then laugh at you.

And, in more modern times, there have been some nice R/T badged vehicles. The Spirit R/T, Daytona R/T, Stealth R/T - all top-end, FAST versions of those vehicles. As it should be.

But then R/T kinda lamed out. You've got the Intrepids and the Neons and the Dakotas with that badge. NOT bad vehicles by any means. But certainly not the kind of pavement pounding vehicles that strike the fear into Chevy and Ford owners. Just nicer, slightly faster, slightly sportier versions of their lesser counterparts.

Then Dodge unleashed the SRTs. These are what R/T USED TO BE. These are the cars that take performance to the pinnacle of what's possible. They've spent a LOT of time and money developing SRT vehicles and making sure everyone KNOWS they'll make ANY one of their vehicles an SRT version. And when they do it, they're gonna do it right and they're gonna do it hardcore.

Sure, all the people who have a love of the original Challenger and its roots know that the R/T is the one you want. But this car isn't only going to be purchased by purists. This car is going to be bought by anyone looking for a bad ass ride. And if they DON'T badge it with SRT, then there are going to be a lot of people wondering where they top-end, bad-ass model is and why Dodge didn't do it with this vehicle... a PRIME candidate for the full SRT treatment.

If they don't do it, it will go against everything they've been working to accomplish over the last couple years. It would appease a small minority, but ultimately damage their ability to sell this car.

So, I think it classic "sleeper" fashion, the purists should buy the SRT version, strip the badges and maybe throw some R/T badges up on it. That way it looks like their beloved classic AND behaves like the King of the Street and Strip... also like their beloved classic.

[XJameson]

Great points DubleDex - frankly, I don't care what they call it. As soon as I get my black on black chally home, i'm stripping all the logos off (but it may be tough to conceal the HEMI 6.6L log on the hood!!!). I say, forget the talk, just walk the walk. there's NOTHING like driving a beast down the street real slow and everybody else wondering whats in it. Let 'em find out!

[My Hemi]

DubleDex, your post is right on. Even within that R/T envelope, there existed the 426 Hemi, by far the most fearsome. We may not see that impact again, when someone might ask if you have the 440 or 426, and when you say 426, eyesbrows would rise.

Dodge has watered down the "R/T" (or "SRT") badge from days gone by. Would be nice if they had a SUPERHEMI to mimic the old 426 presence. You know, 6.1 vs. 6.6 (or 6.4), all in SRT form.