Speedy jumps ship - bought the Challenger
 

It was a tough decision, but after having issue with local dealers not wanting to honor my GSU discount nor wiggle on MSRP price at all with some charging $2500 to $5000 over MSRP for the Camaro, I started more seriously considering the Challenger. I always liked the looks, but was drawn to the higher performance of the Camaro.

However, when EPP+ was announced, it really got my attention again. Now the price gap betwen a Camaro and a Challenger became VERY significant. MSRP vs. MSRP, I'd say the Camaro is a better deal, however throw in all the rebates, discounts, Employee Pricing, and 0% financing on the Challenger and the gap became very close.

I'm one of those guys that doesn't "push" on things like this. I'm a religious guy so I figure if it's meant to work out it just will. In my case, a Hemi Orange Challenger just happened to be showing up at a dealership the very next day I was there talking to them. The car had been on order since June 2008 and just got to the dealer yesterday. It was the only Hemi Orange within 1000 miles of me according to Vehix that had the options I wanted.

They made me an offer I just couldn't refuse on the price making it about $6000 less than an equally equiped Camaro, as well as 0% financing for 48 mos. In a year or two, these deals might be available for the Camaro as well, assuming GM stays a float, but I just didn't wanna risk not getting to own a muscle car at some time in my life.

After driving the car around for a day, I think it fits my personality a little better than the Camaro as well. The Challenger is straight up muscle car and looks the part. The Camaro is part muscle car and part sports car, but I'd say more sports car in appearance.

I've never owned a Dodge before, so I hope I have good luck with it. The lifetime power train warranty is a cool feature, but with the mods I plan to do I'm not sure it'll be worth anything to me anyway. So far I really like all the features, and have always liked the interior lay out better than that of the Camaro, except for the Camaros 4 pack gauges which are pretty cool.

I'll still pop in from time to time and look forward to seeing some Camaros out on the road.

Here's what I ended up with:
2009 Challenger R/T Hemi Orange with R/T Hood Stripes
27J Package (leather and all that jazz)
6 speed manual trans
Track Pack
Sound Group II
20" Wheel Upgrade which includes performance brakes and 3.92 gear ratio
Electronic Convenience Group
HID Headlamps

The only down side...it's obviously going to be a cop magnet. I wasn't 5 miles from the dealership after picking it up and already had the popo on my arse.

The exhaust is quite loud for a stock car. I guess that's what got his attention.

I hope you guys aren't too mad at me, but the economics were just too good to pass up.

Finally, I'd encourage you guys to be careful with your money on ordering Camaros. There are A LOT of guys on the Challenger forum that are having buyers remorse. They paid MSRP or higher for their cars, put in orders, etc and still haven't received their vehicles. I walked on a lot and drove mine home for thousands less. Patience pays fellas.

Congrats!

Nice buy...congrats!! I don't blame you one bit for jumping ship to this vehicle....the Challenger is a sweet ride!!

Enjoy! I'd invest in a radar detector and a laser jammer quickly!! (if they are legal in your area)

Sweet ride. Good luck this year.

Very nice ride...I like them a lot! Congrats!

Congrats!

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Congrats on your new purchase!

A bit of advice on Dodge/Chrysler products, based on my experiences (owned a Dodge Stratus, two PT Cruisers, and best friend owns one of the Hemi Ram trucks)...Buy an extended warranty for the entire vehicle and don't mess with the powertrain so your lifetime warranty stays valid. None of my Dodge/Chrysler products held up to 100k miles without some major and expensive repairs needed. Almost lost an entire PT due to fire when there was a short in the multi-function stick (lights,wipers,turn signal).

Enjoy your new toy and thanks for buying from Chrysler - maybe I'll get some of my tax dollars back from them at some point in the future. :thumbsup:

Congrats !! looks good..

How large is the Challenger compared to the Camaro? It looks enormous in those pictures. Those 20" wheels look like 18"!

But nice ride man...can't knock the Challenger. If it wasn't for the few hundred pounds of extra mass I'd be considering one too.

You get no simpathy from me, you made you bed NOW LIE IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








J/K, nice car. That would be my ride if the Camaro wasn't coming.

nice man, I can wait to finally get a new car.

Yes it does....I'm really going to enjoy having waited for my CAMARO!! ;)

But honestly....gratz on the car. :w00t: I can't say anything negative about someone getting a great AMERICAN muscle car. It's gonna be an awesome summer with all the Challengers, Mustangs, and Camaros battling it out again.

They offered a lifetime bumper to bumper warranty, but I'm pretty good with a wrench, and typically modify everything I buy. This will be a weekend warrior only, so it won't get very many miles anyway.

As for the tax thing....that was something else that kinda stood out. With Chrysler Financial offering 0% for 48 mos it made me "feel" like they were giving back a little after taking some bail out money. I know it's probably just perception, but that's how I felt anyway. They also gave an additional $1000 rebate just to finance with them. It was a no brainer.

According to Edmunds the R/T has a curb weight of 4041 lbs. I think the Camaro 2SS/RS is 3800 supposedly? So the weight isn't that much different. However the car is a decent size. I expected the hood to weigh a ton, but when I opened it it's very light weight. I believe it's made of aluminum, as wella s the trunk deck. Driving the car it doesn't feel big at all, but comfortable. You don't notice the size until you put it in the garage, then you notice it, but like I said, it screams muscle car and they were larger cars.

I've seen numbers all over the place for the HP of the R/T 6 speed, but Edmunds says 372HP and 401 ft/lbs of torque. However, some guys on the Challenger forums have dyno'd theirs and it seems they're more than 372...but as they say all dynos are different.

I've found a guy that did similar mods that I plan such as LT headers, cat back, and CAI and he put down 372 at the wheels on the dyno with just those mods.

Another added a blower and put down 467 at the wheels on the 5.7L as well.

So it seems these motors have a lot of head room. I'm sure the Camaro will be the same way and you guys should be pushing 400 at the wheels pretty easy.

Finally, the thing is a chick MAGNET! I thought my motorcycle was bad enough, I had 4 different gals holler at me on the way home. Funny thing was my girl friend was riding shot gun and she was cracking up. Girls would pull up at a red light and roll their windows down to say something to me. I'd crack my window and they'd see Renee' in the passenger seat and immeidately roll their windows back up. We got a kick outta that. Renee' warned me I'd better not be picking up girls in that car:bellyroll:

Thanks for not chastising me for jumping ship.

Nice car there Speedy,That wheel upgrade gets you a 3:92 gear? that should make that car scoot. good luck with your new toy.