One of our readers pointed us to this page over at Dodge's website that contradicted our earlier post about the 2008 Challenger SRT-8's pricing, which was originally announced at $37,995 (including the $675 destination charge). We realize that inflation is a cruel mistress, but a bump in the sticker to $40,095 left us scratching our heads. A few emails back and forth between the people at Chrysler revealed that the SRT-8 was slapped with a $2100 gas-guzzler penalty that accounted for the discrepancy in price. Not a real surprise considering the 425 hp 6.1-liter HEMI V8. As a comparison, however, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 gets a $1300 consumption penalty, even with 75 more horses under the hood. A quick search over at fueleconomy.gov revealed that if Challenger SRT-8 owners are penalized $2100, that means that they'll also only be getting between 18.5 and 19.5 mpg in the combined cycle. We doubt that'll be a deterrent, but it's food for thought.
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
In the Autoblog Garage: Aprilia RSV 1000 R
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
MemphisNET @ Nov 30th 2007 8:25PM
well, now it's inline with all the other SRT8 cars/trucks.
I'm more interested in the R/T. I just hope/wish a RoadRunner package is avail. (18'' wheels, great suspension, 5.7hemi, and NO BS like leather, nav, dualzone climate, power this power that)
Not likely... but a low buck big bang car is what some of us want.
jefflmercer @ Nov 30th 2007 8:30PM
Wow come on how hard is it to get at least 22.5 mpg so people aren't taxed. Im sure there is some ECU that can help it achieve this.
Whatever dodge I'll be test driving the G8 one day.
MemphisNET @ Nov 30th 2007 8:43PM
Umm, getting 25-29mpg isn't that hard. It's called going the speed limit, or just barely over.
georgejetson @ Dec 1st 2007 10:52AM
Won't happen. They'll sell all the $30k 5.7s they can make at a nice profit. Why offer a low-margin cheap version that would require additional development costs?
strongbadinator @ Nov 30th 2007 8:27PM
It's too bad this is catered to the fat, aging middle class schlock, instead of the actual car enthusiasts. We would gladly do without all of the power BS for a huge cut in price and weight. If only dodge had something to compete with the WRX... and no, the caliber does not count. It's FWD, too heavy, and the interior is garbage.
MemphisNET @ Nov 30th 2007 8:44PM
Unfortunately, they may add AWD and call it just that.
EnviroBob @ Nov 30th 2007 9:37PM
If it weren't for the people that are now part of the"fat, middle class" this car wouldn't exist. This car is designed primarily for people who were around 38 years ago when the orignal debuted. It's not intended to sway some kid to leave his ricer with a fart can to buy a Dodge.
Larry @ Dec 1st 2007 8:01AM
EnviroBob, your comment is one of the funniest I have ever seen: "ricer with a fart can!" At first I read "can" as a verb, then re-read and realized you meant it as a noun, and suddenly the hideous sound of a "fart-can" came to mind!
kastonie @ Dec 1st 2007 10:26AM
last time I checked, most car enthusiasts that I know like better stronger faster........haters...(sorry for the kanye west lyric)
"We would gladly do without all of the power BS for a huge cut in price and weight."
Dude thats the whole point of this car to be big monsterous strong ass whoop any honda civics ass anyday type of car. And I am a car enthusiast and I dont like how you lump yourself into that WE...... because its not WE...its just You....
strongbadinator @ Dec 1st 2007 1:43PM
You misunderstood. We like POWER in the engine, but by 'power bs' I meant power seats, power windows, heated this, beverage cooling that, etc.
And yeah, this thing is way too expensive. I can go faster in a straight line, and around corners, while getting better MPG for 10,000 dollars less. It's called a Subaru STi.
MemphisNET @ Nov 30th 2007 8:45PM
and no one has seen the interior yet.
Ian @ Nov 30th 2007 11:43PM
It's a dodge. Like all the others is will be bland, cheap poorly fitted plastic, hard angles and bizzare contrasts.
JerryB @ Nov 30th 2007 8:47PM
At either price, it's too expensive.
MemphisNET @ Nov 30th 2007 9:12PM
I don't know how you can call it too expensive when a more powerful Shelby Mustang costs more, a less powerful Mustang GT costs less, and Camaro with 400+ HP will be in and around the same price.
THIS IS A HIGH-END MODEL. They will make 2500 of these cars, and then move on to SXT, RT and SRT8 for 2009 (Starting to sell Summer 2008)
JerryB @ Dec 1st 2007 3:38AM
No matter what "high end" decal you glue to its arse, it's still a Dodge Challenger and as such, imho, it ain't worth 40 grand.
They'll build only a few "SRT8" models. Ooooo. Let's just ignore all the other iterations that will roll off the assembly line SXT, RT, USB whatever. It's a Dodge coupe with a v-8 engine. Since when does that command luxury car money?
tj @ Nov 30th 2007 8:49PM
Should be interesting to see head-to-head comparos betw the Challenger and Mustang. More interesting maybe to see what variant of the Mustang each auto journal uses. Price-wise, it should be the GT500 vs. SRT-8. Base models, however, wont be comparable at all (likely 10k+ price difference). Maybe base model Challenger vs. Shelby GT (Bullet?)?
If such would be the comparisons, I'd take the Mustang in both bouts (with the Shelby GT being the closer competition given lack of IRS). The big nod, however, goes to the exclusivity of the Challenger (read: not in the Hertz lot). That's really the only wave Dodge will be able to ride when it comes to sales. When that runs out, see Cerberus killing it.
Michael @ Nov 30th 2007 8:49PM
Power steering , power brakes , ac , 6 speed , rug on the floor . Keep the rest and cut the price .
Light Speed @ Nov 30th 2007 8:57PM
gt500 starts at less than $100 more than the challenger (41k)
ford wins again
Greek Boy @ Nov 30th 2007 9:09PM
Well, at that price the Mustang will reatain it's superiority. Will this thing be as heavy as all the other SRT8's, making it slower than a base stang GT?
rar @ Dec 1st 2007 9:37AM
Stock Mustang GT runs low 14 to high 13 in the 1/4 mile. Stock R/T Charger runs a low 14. Stock SRT8 Charger runs a low 12 in the 1/4 mile. I would guess the Challenger would do at least that good if not better. A Stock Mustang GT would not out run a SRT8 Challenger. It would be a close run between the Stock R/T Challenger and a stock Mustang GT, maybe slight edge to the GT. We will have to wait and see.