First two Dodge Challenger SEs delivered to Ohio this week
If you want to sport a Dodge Challenger without the fire-breathing V8 or the hefty price tag, the time to act is now. The first two Dodge Challenger SE models have arrived in Ohio this week, and 500 models are en-route to dealerships in the U.S. and Canada as you read this. The SE Challenger packs Chrysler's ho-hum 3.5L V6 with 250 horsepower and a truly retro four speed automatic, but the news is far from all bad. You still get the Challenger's muscular looks, power flowing through the rear wheels, and a hard to beat entry price of only $21,995. You probably won't win many races, but at least you won't be driving an Avenger. Seriously, though, the Challenger SE charmed us at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show where it debuted with a simple proposition: cheap, rear-wheel-drive fun on four wheels.
[Source: Red Letter Dodge]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MMS 9:05AM (8/13/2008)
Hrm?
They've had a red Challenger SE parked out front at Dave Dennis Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge in Fairborn, Ohio for at least a week now.
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Torrent 4:02PM (8/13/2008)
Some guy took pictures of a red SE on http://www.5thgen.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7394&page=2
WhyNotTheC63? 12:02AM (8/14/2008)
This is sh!t is bananas. A great looking bit of kit like that for $25k? God smiles upon Dodge for now.
P.S. God still hates you Cerberus and Chrysler, he only smiles at the Dodge Challenger.
mike 9:06AM (8/13/2008)
Let's hope that this car is a hit for Dodge. And i think it will be, i saw the car on the autoshow, it looks great.
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JD 10:59AM (8/13/2008)
I hope dodge does ok with this car, but I'm really not impressed compared with the upcoming camaro. The interior on the challenger is really pretty crappy, especially compared to the Camaro, where they've mostly avoided "parts bin syndrome" and have an interior that is upscale. This? Even the SRT-8 looks like every other Dodge/Chrysler out there, which is stupid for a $40k+ car.
And really, a 4 speed auto on the SE? It's 2008, guys. Can we at least get 5?
MikeW 12:10PM (8/13/2008)
5, I want at least a 6 speed auto to go with Chrysler's old engine.
The VW Rabbit has one.
montoym 10:44PM (8/13/2008)
I agree it should at least be a 5spd. I really have no idea why it isn't. Every other LX-based car has a 5spd with the 3.5L only the lowest 2.7L versions have the 4spd.
I've never seen a valid reason for the 4spd vs. the 5spd.
jason.d.geary 9:21AM (8/13/2008)
I thought this post was funny too, my mother-in-law bought one two nights ago, it actually is a pretty nice drive and reminded me a lot of the v6 mustangs as far as driving experience
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mr.ed 10:07AM (8/13/2008)
Too big, too heavy and too late. Mustang (again) got there first. Chances of getting enough volume to pay off the tooling: zero.
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not much needed 10:57AM (8/13/2008)
the challenger, charger and 300 are all built on the same line on the same platform... so it's not like they completely overhauled an assembly plant for this. I would venture to say the re-tooling was not that expensive...
having said that i think the drivetrain package offeresd for the SE falls short of being great, a 4-speed tranny in really heavy car= gas mileage FAIL
Frank 11:05AM (8/13/2008)
NOT TRUE. The car is made on a flex factory line along with the 300 and Charger. It uses many of the same parts underneath. They can build as many or as little as they want without severly impacting factory utilization. And the break even point is 35000 units a model year. That's the business case the car was sold to upper management on. They will make way more than that. And make money on everyone.
mr.ed 7:49PM (8/13/2008)
There are no more Chrysler leases. 35000 actual sales to real civilians is questionable. As usual, overhead isn't in the estimate for breakeven quantities. Truth be told, after the initial rush, making money doing this "straight" without fleet sales and with rebates and cheap money next summer will be tough. The business, especially Chrysler's has changed substantially in the last few months. Now they're talking about dropping the Grand Cherokee for a car-based SUV in two years. Talk about fighting the last battle over.
tke 9:14AM (8/13/2008)
Quite an age of performance. So many different options to have your vehicular fun: Civic Si, GTI, Cooper S, Challenger SE and Genesis Coupe coming.....
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mike 9:21AM (8/13/2008)
Camaro, M3, Mustang, WRX, Lancer...on and on and on, yep those CAFE laws are stopping all the fun.
gotsmart 9:21AM (8/13/2008)
This would be awesome if it were available with a manual transmission. Apply some forced-induction under the hood, and it would be a terrific "sleeper".
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Benfolio 9:25AM (8/13/2008)
Until it blows up.
The 3.5L is not the most reliable of Chrysler's engine offerings.
MemphisNET 9:56AM (8/13/2008)
Umm... according to who? There's nothing wrong with the 3.5.
boneheadotto 10:27AM (8/13/2008)
yeah there is, its a chrysler...
I do wonder how this car will compete once the new camaro v6 arrives with 300hp and better mileage.
Benfolio 11:13AM (8/13/2008)
3.5L were notorious for eating water pumps (timing belt driven), and I remember hearing the Police Intrepid had alot of issues motor-wise, and didn't Paul Teutl Jr. blow the 3.5L in his Prowler up when he tried to add a little Nitrous to it?
Jei 11:16AM (8/13/2008)
The 3.5L HO V6 was a pretty descent engine. I owned a Chrys 300 Touring for 4 years and never had a problem with performance or with quality. I just changed the oil 2-3 times a year and drove it regularly. Having 250hp/250lb-ft torque was more than adequate for the large RWD sedan, but now having 3.5L of displacement should get it near 300hp at least...or it should have better fuel economy which was already good.