Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Coupes
Chrysler polls Challenger forum for production ideas
by John Neff on Jan 26th 2006 at 7:00AM 
The forum Challengertalk.com is an online community dedicated to seeing the Challenger Concept make the short jump from auto show exhibit to showroom floor. The community has been lucky enough to be chosen by Chrysler to participate in some polls that allows the manufacturer to gauge which drivetrains and options might be most popular on the production version of the muscle car concept.
The first poll asks the forum’s members to choose which powertrain they would purchase, and the options range from an underwhelming 250-hp V6 with a 6-speed manual to a fire breathing 425-hp, V8 HEMI with a 6-speed manual. The latter is estimated to cost about $3000 above a base V6 manual, which we think is a steal.
What’s more interesting is a follow-up poll for those members who chose a powertrain with a manual tranny. It asks whether or not you would still purchase a Challenger if a 6-speed manual were not offered. About 55 percent say they would, but a not-to-be-ignored 45 percent say they wouldn’t.
Only registered forum members can vote in the polls, so if you’re interested in shaping the future of this important concept, become a member of Challengertalk.com and let your voice be heard.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mikek 7:18AM (1/26/2006)
The "buying" public will vote when they produce it and 80% to 90% of the buyers will still take the automatic.
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Galley 7:49AM (1/26/2006)
A manufacturer gauging interest from its customers; what an interesting concept!
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John 8:51AM (1/26/2006)
I never understood why manufacturers seem to ignore the massive online communities that sprout up for their products. Especially the brand-arms that sell in lesser volumes like Mazda.
Even if they sell 20,000 Challengers a month (this is an optimistic high-end estimate based on 2x new Mustang sales). At least making the effort to cater towards the die-hards who actually love the brand name should make business sense. I doubt they'll use the results of the poll at all - but it's extremely intelligent for them to involve those on challengertalk.com
With Mazda - they sells 100,000 Mazda3s annually. There are online communities with 10,000 people and an unknown number of guests for that browse the site for information. There are over 25,000 members on Rx8Club - and Mazda hasn't sold 40,000 RX8s in the last 2 years. Given the large population of internet users and a focused way to direct marketing messages in their direction, Mazda is glaringly abscent.
I don't really want to see a manufacturer take over an online forum; but completely shying away from the online world is foolish. The "big souless corporations" would probably lose all the users if they took over on the self-run owner boards... but there is a way for the carmaker to get the users and visitors of these boards excited by doing fun things like this poll.
Chrysler should find ways to continue a passive relationship with Challengertalk - and possibly even move to dodgetalk or dodgeforums as new models or variations come rolling out. Think about offering a discount on accessories to randomlly picked members as a gift (as opposed to a sweepstakes that had to be announced and resulting in a lot of bogus user signups). Or communicating product developments straight to these boards instead of just having everybody rely on PRNewswire.
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John Vilsack 8:53AM (1/26/2006)
"The "buying" public will vote when they produce it and 80% to 90% of the buyers will still take the automatic."
Don't bet on it. Check some of the numbers regarding the demos of Charger buyers. I'm 99% sure that the numbers I saw weer astronomically slanted towards the Hemi manual versus any other option.
I for one, would be selecting the Hemi manual on the Challenger. Anything other than that just seems wrong.
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Corey W. 10:06AM (1/26/2006)
#1
I love the Challenger, but I will not purchase it without a manual transmission.
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Car-la 10:32AM (1/26/2006)
Yeah, clearly the manual. I just hope it works better than that of the last-generation mustang, which was kind of heavy.
If the price holds true, it'll be the bargain of the decade.
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Steve S 11:09AM (1/26/2006)
They still really need to make sure the 5.7 is a base level option. One thing the +3000 option doesnt mention is the 2k+ gas guzzler tax it will have added on it.
Now there are people who can afford a 36k coupe but there are a lot more that can afford a 26k coupe.
A manual on this type of car is a must.
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Corey L 12:17PM (1/26/2006)
mikek - agreed.
The problem with the internet forums is that demographics are not factored into the group, thus true purchasing capabilities cannot be determined. I can go into a ferrari forum, tell them I'm a Fortune 500 exec and want XYZ on my F430. That isn't true, though I do wish it was.
I'm not discrediting the information in forums, but the reality is that it is hard to determine the likelihood of a car's success just from an internet poll without any supporting on how truly capable the author is.
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Dodge Challenger 12:38PM (1/26/2006)
The poll is a good start for DCX to first make the case that "hey, we can produce this vehicle with good margins because of the take rate of X engine package" which IMHO, is a high profit item for DCX. Making a Hemi 5.7 does not cost $2000 more then a standard V6 -- so the profit margin increases on those types of units.
So, once DCX gives the green light on production of the vehicle I expect them to complete scientifically correct studies..
However, this is quick and cheap and still a useful tool.
So, dont forget to register and let your voice be heard!
http://www.challengertalk.com
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WillDaThrill 1:25PM (1/26/2006)
Muscle cars with automatics are for chicks and wussies. No real man would buy a muscle car without a manual. It's understood that driving a manual sucks in stop and go traffic.....I see that point clearly, but you don't buy a beast and worry about stop and go traffic.
Autosticks are for people who try to think they are, but really aren't (or are too lazy to have to manage clutch/throttle response). Besides, autosticks work like automatics anyway. It makes you think you are in control of power management until the "auto" kicks in. Next thing you know you're in 4th or 5th gear doing 80 and getting owned by the guy that is still in 3rd doing 100.
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adam 7:53PM (1/28/2006)
Dodge hit it with this one! Chevrolet doesn't stand a chance against it with their camaro concept. And Mustang owners had best respect this beast on the street. Dodge should build this car, but make it affordible. I know most people on the polls are in favor of the 425 HP Hemi and so am I, but when it came down to buying one the V6 would propably be more in my budget. Just look at how many V6 mustangs Ford sells in comparision to their V8. I think they do need to make the V6 manual base without all the fancy do-dads and then have an option list a mile long for the buyers who can afford it....Just my opinion on it...
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john dews jr 9:32PM (1/29/2006)
I am a Chevy man to my hart and has hated mopar vehicles all my life. Old age must change people I am fifty and I must have a Dodge Challenger. I come from the 60's and 70's with high performance vehicles and that's where I have been. This is the baddest of the bad. I hope they put the 6.4L HEMI with 510+ HP and a five speed automatic trans, bump anything chevy may come with in the price range. Oh buy the way the Challenger is the first best next to the Magnum and I have one of those too.
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nikivee 10:42PM (1/29/2006)
This needs to be built with both options simple as that. 6 speed or auto. Why would you not?
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Dan Botelho 10:51AM (1/30/2006)
The different displacement Hemi choices are a good; it will allow the buyer to customize the car to their abilities. Making a 6 speed Manuel Trans available is a must...
Also an independent rear would also be appreciated.
Solid rear axles have there place, but not in a modern poney car. The car is going to need to handle close to that of the small tuner cars. Don't get me wrong the charger and the platform rides comfortable, but the car is a boat and can tend to float on the road. The challenger needs to stick to the road like a good sport bike.
All in all the over all look is great, the interior needs to be a bit more modern looking though the current concept has too much of an original flair.
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Dave Melville 11:54PM (1/30/2006)
Awesome car. I will not buy one without the large Hemi and 6 speed manual transmission. I hope the car can be had in the original bright colors and plain old white (gotta remember Vanishing Point). A vinyl roof option should be considered as well. I would like to see a limited production run versus a mass produced vehicle. If these things are all over the road...people will not be turning their heads anymore. Thanks and keep up the good work.
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Billy G 7:26AM (2/03/2006)
"I would like to see a limited production run versus a mass produced vehicle. If these things are all over the road...people will not be turning their heads anymore."
I kind of agree here. DCX may roll out the new Challenger as a limited production car first, but my gut feeling is the demand will be so massive they will have to go into full production to keep up with the demand! This car does not look like a limited production car to me, but a car that can be made in mass quantities like the Mustang.
If they go into full production, DCX should sell and promote it just like they have done with the Charger/Magnum: Very agressively with plenty of powertrain options while also keeping it affordable. I just hope the mass production vehicle looks JUST LIKE the concept.
And yes, DCX should make a base V-6 model - thats been Mustang's bread and butter model for years selling to first time car owners, teenagers and women, it also keeps the V-8 GT's in production.
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Barry Longest 4:09PM (2/04/2006)
I decided to give my 2 cents as one who drove a 1970 Barracuda as a daily driver for ten years. And even ran pizzas in it back in the mid 90s! Can you believe it! Anyway heres my take on it. Take it for what its worth.
Center fill tank so you can fill the car from both sides
Love the back seat and exterior. Dont touch! Front seats look great!
The original didnt have as much chrome on the inside on the dash.
Look at the white face treatment that some people are having done to their original gauges. The dash looks a little too bright. I liked having the overhang on it and the little lights in it shining down on the gauges. It looked really cool, people always commented on it the 1st time they rode in the car at night.
Love the look of the turn signal and high beam indicators they really take me back.
I think the console around the shifter will look bad after you arm wears through the silver finish. I would like to see the console around the stick as an optional thing. It would make it look more like a muscle car if the stick came out of the floor with just a rubber boot at the base. That would open the area up around the driver a little I think.
In the original car my left elbow always seemed to ride in the hand hold of the door. Sore elbow on long trips. But they do look like dead ringers for the old ones.
I hope the telemetry thing is a prototype only gimmick
Make the console around the stick shift optional.
AAR paint job? Yes, I know, Barracuda, but Plymouth isnt coming back for one car thats so do it! Make mine lemon twist! Heck, think outside the box and just badge it as a Plymouth Barracuda and sell it out of the Dodge dealerships. Who says you couldnt?
Smaller motored car T/A with AAR type strobe stripe maybe? Slight Suspension upgrades and exhaust out the sides? Give the smaller motor guys something to brag about?
Need all the loud colors available. Stripe kits (hockey, billboard, AAR, T/A etc) a dealer installed option?
The small Chrysler pentagram on the front fender behind the tire would look nice and would still be in step with the monochromatic finish of the car.
Where is the toggle switch for the headlights? Really need that to complete the feel. one that gives a good snap when you throw it.
Steering wheel looks great! Pistol grip needs some work. Doesnt look like it would form to the hand as well as the original does, no finger groves.
Some people have said that the front needs D O D G E put on it but I think the ram looks perfect on the front as is.
The seat accents are ok, but I think embroidering like Chip Foose did on the challenger built up on overhauling and like in the new GTO would look better. (really nitpicking here)
The lower part of the car behind the back wheels really need to be chip resistant the back tires will throw stones onto the lower part of it. Thats why the later models had mud flaps on them. We dont want a repeat of that!
Engine compartment:
Like the painted fenderwells, valve covers are good, manifold looks uninspiring,(no 6-pack etc) not sure what I could suggest as a fix for that though.
Turn signal indicators on the hood like the original would give it a devil or angry cat with ears back look. (ok, not sure about that one)
Advertise the car in a nonpolitically correct way that people think about using a car like this! The dodge duster guys showing up at the light with a beat up old challenger would be great! Racing at the drag strip! Show it beating a new Mustang or Camero! What would get people talking QUICKLY!
Anything that the aftermarket asks/needs to know to make performance parts for it give it to them posthaste!
Easy grill change, tail panel change and you have a Dodge Barracuda = More sales. Some gripes about not a Plymouth but I think even the die hard would accept that you wouldnt bring back a whole division to make one car. Believe me someone will change one of these cars into a Barracuda so beat them to the punch Mother Mopar.
Above all dont make me sell the house to buy it. Keep it down for the little guy! Not in BMW land! The GTO is already there!
Thanks for reading!
Signed,
Waiting with bated breath
P.S. Make mine a Stick!
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moparman 11:19AM (3/15/2006)
Hey #4 John Vilsack, the "charger" isn't offerred with a manual transmission. That's what one of the major beefs was when it came out. It is only offerred with the "auto-stick", an automatic that can be sort of speed shifted, but there's no clutch.
That being said, I think your right, alot of people will buy manuals with the challenger, because they want to be able to jam gears and burn rubber.
I just hope the "charger" ends up morphing into something more like the challenger, 2-dorr, retro, hot looking.
Charger sales aren't as good as the 300, and my fingers are crossed.
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