Fortune Mag:Backlash Begins

[ACJupiter]

Dodge Challenger SRT8: catching the wave or sucked into the undertow?
"As one of its opening acts under private ownership, Chrysler LLC introduces – ta dah! – the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8. If timing is everything in life, this car starts off on the wrong wheel.

With every ounce of its 4,140 pounds, the Challenger symbolizes what’s right – and what’s wrong — with the U.S. auto industry.

On the one hand, Detroit can be responsive to consumer tastes, aggressive in exploiting new market niches, and unabashed in appreciation for its own heritage. On the other, it often seems mired in the past, bereft of new ideas, and handcuffed by its quaint vehicular isolationism – building cars that can be sold nowhere except in North America.

For those who have missed the public relations blitz, the 2008 Challenger is the production version of the 2006 show car, which itself is based on the 1970 pony car that arrived on the market a few years before the first Arab oil embargo of 1973.

On its own terms, the Challenger is worthy of appreciation by that fraction of auto buyers whose decisions are made on the basis of nostalgia. All those characteristics that would have made you king of the high school parking lot – aggressive stance, noisy exhaust, ability to burn rubber – are here in abundance. The execution, inside and out, is direct, if unsophisticated. All that is missing is the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear-view mirror.

With its two-door body, Hemi V-8, and rear-wheel drive, the Challenger represents a vanishing species of the American passenger car. A couple of numbers explains why. One is the sticker price on the Orange Pearl Coat tester I drove: an imposing $41,310. The other is the EPA fuel economy estimate of 13 miles per gallon city, 18 miles per gallon highway. Future models will have smaller engines and price tags, and pass more gas stations, but they won’t feel as authentic.

One of the curses of the automobile business is that you have to figure out what the public wants four years or more before you are able to deliver it. The Challenger appears jinxed on several fronts.

Back in the summer of 2004, Chrysler was operating under the benevolent, if disengaged, ownership of Germany’s Daimler, and nobody was talking about $4 gasoline. But as the Challenger arrives in dealerships, it provides answers to none of the questions that the new Chrysler now confronts: How to reduce its dependence on gas-guzzling vehicles, how to develop a presence in small cars, and how to find some traction with overseas buyers.

That won’t stop some middle-aged enthusiasts from queuing up for the early production models, and some journalists in search of a story line from waxing nostalgic about Detroit’s past greatness. In response to those readers who wonder if I actually drove the vehicle - I did and here’s what I think: After spending a weekend behind the wheel, I found it extremely satisfying on its own terms: powerful on the straights and sticky in the turns.

But my guess is that Nardelli and Company would rather be introducing almost any other car in the summer of 2008 than the Challenger SRT8."

[Hfd79]

Yeah, I saw this article. The author is a birkenstock wearing, tree hugging, Prius driving, far left winger. As far as I'm concerned his opinion and $4.50 is only worth one of his double mocha cappucino lattes at Starbuck's.

[jptxchallenger]

By the way you can go to cnn.com and read the story in the business section and make comments about the story. This guy is so far out of touch with what customers want.

[djwhog]

Originally Posted by Hfd79

Yeah, I saw this article. The author is a birkenstock wearing, tree hugging, Prius driving, far left winger. As far as I'm concerned his opinion and $4.50 is only worth one of his double mocha cappucino lattes at Starbuck's.

Yes I 2nd that and add a non oil drilling ultra leberal puke, that wants $5 gallon gas too!

[M3SMG02]

Originally Posted by djwhog

Yes I 2nd that and add a non oil drilling ultra leberal puke, that wants $5 gallon gas too!

Absolutely spot-on correct. This guy is clearly a wet blanket. EVERY nation has car manufacturers that produce muscle & economy. Cars that produce over 40 mpg highway are on sale in this country as we speak.

I'm buying an '09 Honda Fit. Good go around town/utility vehicle. Don't dispair, I'm keeping the '06 300C/SRT8 and the '02 M3 Cab. You can have BOTH. That's one thing this twit doesn't get.

I'm soooo tired of this "this nation doesn't get it" routine. GM now makes cars that are the equal (actually, GM's overall quality is better) of Toyota. It will take time before the public accepts this, but, we DO have great cars made here.

The Challenger is a high performance car, NOT an economy car.

Enough ranting.

LJB

[Ragamuffin]

Welcome ACJupiter to Challengertalk ! Thanks for the "jolting" article: just hope you really are not that journalist { otherwise it's time} ! I'll 4th & 5th along with the others and take a chance on saying that Nardelli &Crew is likely very happy with the Challenger ,since that is the best looking vehicle to not only come out of Detroit [ via our Brampton comrades and the California Pacifica Design Studio]: but America as well !!

[firstmethod]

the guy simply isn't a fan of these types of cars. the fuzzy dice quip is grounds enough for dismissal. if he likes camrys, accords, minivans, SUVs, mercedes or porsches he'd be amazed to hear many challenger fans also own one of these too. its a niche car for a specific group so why the hell would he fault it.

[DinoMoparman]

I agree with you all, some people really don't get it...this is a musclecar not an economy car so why do they try to compare it like that? Guess they don't know the difference...and honestly, the gas prices will effect alot of people but you don't buy this kind of car if you're worried about it, this is something that you have to enjoy and most likely will not be a daily driver although some may and my hat's off to those that do.

[WhatifMopars]

Idiot! By that reasoning the Italians shouldn't build Ferraris. All those Lamborghinis are bad for us. I guess a Porsche has no place in the world. Corvettes should be condemned. Duh! Sometimes I wish we could just old school give him a thumping.

Sorry, just found out I'm not getting mine until 16 July and I'm frustrated. Oh the pain!

Well now that my blood is boiling....back to work. Have a good one.

Butch

[brampton builder]

Not everybody wants to drive an prius or fit . Honda last week showed off its newest car a Hydrogen powered no emission vehicle they are going to produce . Great you say , they flew in some movie stars from Hollywood for the introduction in Japan. These same star want to own one to show they are environmentally friendly . Well unless they have zero emission planes , they just dumped more crap into air from that plane ride over than any Hemi ever will . yeah environmentally friendly my A$$