I have to agree. The Challenger is a GT cruiser and really is on a different plane that the other two. Having my Challenger on an actual road course with the other two in tow I can attest that the Challenger struggles with every single one of those factors. It IS heavy, it DOES have traction problems, and it DOES NOT handle as well as the other two. For good reason too, it is NOT a sports car. Now that is not saying the Challenger can't be competitive in the right hands with handling mods and weight reduction. That much is true. Out of the box, however, the Challenger is not the awe inspiring lap turner that many would like to believe. It is fun though no matter what.
I'm afraid I have to agree.
Same for the 1992 Viper R/T 10. People were paying close to double sticker for them for when they were new, now they go in the mid $20k range.
The most insane value increases from the muscle car era took a lifetime to happen, too. Yes, '71 Barracudas go for over a hundred grand now, but they were still cheap when they were 25 years old, and you can restore them with very basic fabrication skills.
Where are people going to get the broken plastic parts and new computer modules when a 2009 Challenger is 25 years old in 2034?
I came to this conclusion as well. Look at many vehicles from early to mid 2000's and try to see what it would take to get those back in great shape. Many of them you can't even find parts for anymore. Not to mention brittle plastic parts and different modules that cost $300 to repair. Everything from drive by wire to anti-lock brakes and Body Control Units. The reason the older cars were more valuable and easier to restore was because of their simplicity. Lights don't work? Replace the switch and run a new wire. Car won't start? Check that fuel pump. Seven parts later and the car is good for another 100k miles. Newer cars are meant to be driven and thrown away. The Challenger is no different.
they can do what they want - but Dodge did it first with the Hellcat. the car is an icon - like the viper was. those never die.
Dodge is far from being the first with the Hellcat. Actually Dodge was the last to join the party with the Hellcat. After the 13-14 GT500 and the C6 ZR1 the Hellcat showed up and just topped the other two at the end of their life cycle. Now Ford and Chevy are starting new life cycles with more powerful cars that will put the Hellcat back into 3rd place again. Remember, they all go in cycles. Check out the new ZL1 and 1LE Camaros. Now Ford is going to be joining the ranks with its new GT500 which will put the Hellcat down again. You are right the Viper will never die. It is an icon. That is because it is an actual track car that is seen an international market and competed against other makers on the Nurburg ring. The Hellcat is a Challenger with a supercharged motor. Lots of horsepower with no way to get it to the ground without R spec tires mounted on it. Is it impressive? You bet. It is not the first of its kind nor will it be the last. Unfortunately, after Chevy and Ford put the Hellcat out to the pasture in the next few years, Dodge will attempt to show up with something else again. Lets face it though, FCA has already talked about ditching all of its V8's for lighter cars running turbo 6's. It is a solid bet that there won't be a Hellcat part Deux.
Attended a classic Mustang club meeting (I used own a restored 66 fastback). Anyway, a high level sales manger from one the country's largest Ford dealerships gave the group a preview of what Ford is developing for the next several years.
Coming soon: the Shelby GT500 - a 750 to 800 horsepower ball-breaker with extraordinary sports car handling. He compared the Mustangs to Camaros, and stressed Ford's high retention rate of value (especially the Shelby GT350 which he believes will be a sure-bet collectors car because of its limited number and short run (next year it will be replaced by the GT500). I asked why he didn't mention Challengers. He matter-of-factly explained that the demand isn't there as evidenced by the HC and SPs already being discounted on the retail market. (Not the case with the GT350) He added that most auto buffs view the Challenger as too big, too heavy, no traction... and with the forthcoming horsepower competition, not unique enough to be a hot collector's car. I so DISAGREE!! Although, it is true, with the ZL1 and GT500 our cars are no longer the only bad boys on the block. No matter, I would never go to the Chevy or Ford dark side. They seem cheap and plastic.
Respectfully, bud, I have to disagree with you. The Challenger is also cheap and plastic in many ways. Only recently have they been able to make their cars look and feel a bit better. Look at the older Challenger interiors. Cheap and plastic. It is clear you love your Challenger and I do too, hell I bought one afterall. When I was shopping for a hot new muscle car to drive, however, I looked at all three to see what they offered. The Challenger beat them all for comfort, interior space, power, and pretty decent handling. I am not a Dodge fanboy though, in fact, I have been GM all my life. This is the first time that I swayed from my roots. It has been a great experience to a degree and the chances of me looking at a new Ram in the future is pretty good. To disparage another vehicle simply because it is not a Dodge is a bit foolish I think. If the other two guys come out with some bad ass ball busting mean machine that destroys everything on the road and track with killer looks to go with it......I dunno man....
I would just encourage you to look at the entire spectrum. We make fun of Mustang guys because their cars typically suck, but you can't tell any of them that. They defend their brand tooth and nail with every ounce of fanboyism in their system. Then when they get beat it is nothing but one excuse after another. Be careful joining that way of thinking with Dodge. Dodge has always been the last one to the party with something cool. The Hellcat came out at the END of the Chevy and Ford cycle. Now the other two are about to decimate the Hellcat for everything its worth. Several years from now Dodge will want to come up with something else, but itll be too far too late. The Challenger won't be a collectors item and even if some of them are it will be special edition and it will take well after your lifetime before they come into true value. Even then, what happens when we start phasing out gasoline? The older cars are collectibles because of their simplicity and because they were at the start of the automobile era. With Tesla producing cars that are making Hellcats look silly it is only a matter of time.
I love my Challenger for what it is. Great looking and a fun driving car. I am also realistic that one day I will pass this car on to somebody else while I move on to something even more awesome. I will then remember the Challenger as a fun time in my life while I watch all of the high school kids wreck and trash them in 10 years.