Autoblog

Wow: Dodge Dealer honors disputed eBay Challenger auction and then some

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions

Well, score one for the little guy. Or, as the case may be, the guy that won an eBay auction, getting himself one helluva mondo deal on a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To refresh your memory, a Southern California dealer called Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep had the Challenger in question on eBay. The Buy It Now price was $43,425 and the reserve (according to Glenn E Thomas) was $42,995. Then the dealer lowered the Buy It Now price to $43,425 and suddenly, somehow the reserve disappeared.

That's when Alex (aka Hitman from Challengertalk.com) pounced and won himself a 250-mile SRT8 for the crazy price of $29,100. Only thing is, of course, Glenn E Thomas didn't feel like taking a $14,000 bath and refused to honor the auction. Their argument was that they didn't intend to remove the reserve and, in fact, they may not have removed it. They contend that there may have been a glitch in eBay's software. Glenn Dodge did offer to meet Alex halfway, promising him a great deal on the Challenger of his choice, but Alex hung tough, demanding the car he won. It seemed as if the two sides had reached the kind of impasse that can only be settled by those of the lawyerly persuasion. But that was last week.

Yesterday, Alex updated his original post at Challengertalk.com with a picture of the keys to his new car and the following message:

First of all, "Thank You" to everyone for cheering me on and helping me move forward in a positive way. A lot of message boards picked up this thread and have to thank everyone for passing the word around too. There you have it. Visual of the keys in my possession of the SRT8 deal that Glenn E. Thomas Dodge honored for $29.1K plus tax and license fees of course.

Both parties had plenty to talk about that day but in the end of it all, things worked out for everyone. So there is praise to be made to both sides, especially the dealer who did honor the auction. Would encourage everyone to send them praise and not attack anyone in that establishment as this was not the point of this thread. I'm sure there will be questions on how things went down.

While swallowing a nearly $14,000 loss must be a bitter pill to choke down, we can all agree that in the end Glenn E Thomas did the right thing. Actually, they did better than the right thing, selling Alex a 2010 Challenger SRT8 rather than the 250-mile car he won in the auction. Put another way, in terms of positive publicity, this will turn out to be the best $14,000 they ever spent.

[Source: Challengertalk.com]

Wow: Dodge Dealer honors disputed eBay Challenger auction and then some originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Not so fast, says dealer of Dodge Challenger eBay debacle

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:56:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Dodge

Earlier this week, we shared with you the budding saga of "Hitman" and the fact that he had won a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 from Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep for the amazing low price of $29,100 - about $13,000 less than the car is worth and also $13,000 less than Glenn Thomas wanted to sell it for. However, because eBay auctions are "legally binding" contracts and the dealer failed to put in a reserve, tough turkey, you gotta sell the car at a loss, right? Not quite.

We just got off the phone with John Davis, the general manager of Glenn E Thomas. Here's his side of the story: About two weeks ago, Glenn put the SRT8 up on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $43,425 and a Reserve price of $42,995. Six days into the seven day auction, Davis says that the dealership changed the Buy It Now price to match the lower Reserve price. At that time, the highest bid was about $21,000 (around half of the Reserve) and Glenn was hoping that a lowered Buy it Now price would drum up some bids. It did, in fact - but not for the reasons Glenn wanted.

Here's where the story gets fuzzy... Follow the jump to hear the rest of the dealership's side of the story.

Continue reading Followup: Not so fast, says dealer of Dodge Challenger eBay debacle

Followup: Not so fast, says dealer of Dodge Challenger eBay debacle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yet Again: Dealer accused of failing to honor eBay deal for new car and this time it's a Dodge Challenger

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Dodge

It's like déjà vu all over again. Fact: Dude wins an eBay auction for a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with 250 miles on the odometer. Fact: Usually a new (or in this case, new-ish) SRT8 sells for about $41,000. Fact: Winning bid was $29,100. Opinion: Sweet deal, bro!

Of course there's the small matter of the people selling it not wanting to let it go for that price. The seller, Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Signal Hill, CA near Long Beach, has apparently made the same mistake that Glenn Hyundai of Lexington, KY made with the Genesis Coupe. Meaning that somebody at Glenn E Thomas forgot to set a reserve on the auction, and they just sold a car for much less than they'd planned.

There's a 20+ page "discussion," raging over at Challengertalk.com. Opinions are slightly mixed, but it seems that the overriding sentiment is that the buyer (named Hitman) won the auction fair and square and that once again, a novice dealer has wandered into the minefield that is selling a new car for less than they intended via eBay. Last we heard, Hyundai of America stepped in and helped settle the Genesis Coupe debacle. Good luck to Hitman, that (possibly) lucky SOB.

[Source: Challengertalk]

Yet Again: Dealer accused of failing to honor eBay deal for new car and this time it's a Dodge Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character

Michael Harley — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge, New Car Reviews

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 6-Speed - Click above for high-res image gallery

This isn't our first sampling of the reborn Dodge Challenger. We've driven the SE, R/T and SRT8 variants before. However, this time it's different. We've secured a Challenger SRT-8 with a six-speed manual transmission - and it's a whole different breed of bull.

The six-speed-equipped Dodge Challenger SRT8 drives exactly as it looks. Unlike the countless poseurs promising handling with oversize tires, performance with monstrous exhaust pipes, or luxury with overstuffed cabins, the Challenger SRT8 delivers only what its exterior suggests - a mountain of machismo-infused muscle-car entertainment.

We had a week with Dodge's tribute to testosterone, and it's one we won't soon forget. Contrary to its automatic-equipped siblings, the manual gearbox transforms the SRT8 from merely entertaining to positively supernatural. Make the jump to find out why this husky red coupe had us shaving twice daily.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 6-Speed

Continue reading Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character

Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 six-speed reveals its true character originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Chris Shunk — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Coupe, Chrysler, Dodge

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Dodge Challenger SRT8

Back in September we reviewed the V6-powered Dodge Challenger SE, and our conclusion was that an uninspiring engine and benign handling was trumped by terrific curb appeal and an affordable price tag. The R/T model we reviewed yesterday fared even better, with a near perfect combination of brawn and beauty. It was fun spending time behind the wheel of both the SE and R/T models, but we knew we had to get our hands on a fire-breathing, 425-hp 6.1L HEMI V8 to see how capable the Challenger could be at full tilt. After all, there are few things in life better than classic muscle car looks combined with a brute-force V8. And if there are two available V8 engines, it just makes sense that we'd prefer the Challenger with the most powerful powerplant. Did Dodge hit the mark with its top Challenger? We welcomed the Challenger SRT8 into the Autoblog Garage to find out for ourselves.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA Preview: Duo of Dodge Challengers coming from Hotchkis

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Tuners, Coupe, Dodge

Click above for a high-res image of Hotchkis' 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A

For this year's SEMA show, the crew at Hotchkis will unveil a pair of modified Dodge Challengers highlighting its focus on classic muscle and its modern-day counterpart.

The two matching Challengers - a 1970 T/A 340 Six-Pack and a 2009 SRT8 - will share yellow paint schemes, graphics and wheels, along with a host of parts that should make the T/A stick as well as - if not better - than the 2009 model.

The 1970 Challenger, known as E-MAX, was originally converted to 340 Six-Pack trim by the previous owner, and now features new fabricated steel upper A-arms bolted into relocated pickup points, strut rods with Heim joints, aluminum steering rods and a set of front and rear sway bars, along with a new set of springs that lower the Granddaddy Challenger by two inches. In addition to replacing the aging front suspension, Hotchkis set out to create a well-rounded classic, equipping the T/A with Stoptech brakes, a Flowmaster exhaust and Forgeline wheels wrapped in Yokohama tires.

Hotchkis likes to point out that all its suspension parts can be removed and replaced with the factory units, allowing owners to keep things traditional for shows and swapped out when the time comes to drive.

SEMA Preview: Duo of Dodge Challengers coming from Hotchkis originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Dodge Challenger will start at $21,995

John Neff — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Chrysler, Dodge

click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Dodge Challenger SE and R/T

Back in April we reported a top Chrysler executive had leaked to The Detroit Free Press that the 2009 Dodge Challenger SE would start at $23,995. Apparently this executive is not very much in the loop, as Dodge officially announced today that the base model Challenger SE would start at just $21,995, which includes $675 for destination charges. Just to refresh your noodle, the Challenger SE is the base model and comes with a 3.5L V6 producing 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. And for comparison's sake, a 2008 Ford Mustang V6 starts at $19,650, though that's excluding destination charges. The next best Challenger is the R/T model, which Dodge says can be had with a 370-hp 5.7L HEMI V8 starting at $29,995. Finally, the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that's already been on sale for a year will get a hefty $2,000 bump in its starting price from $37,995 to $39,995. The only new items on the SRT8 for 2009 are a standard limited-slip differential, High Performance Red and B5 Blue paint colors with black hood stripes, and a "pistol-grip" shifter with the Track Pak. Otherwise, the 425-hp muscle car remains largely the same. Does the $2,000 jump in price matter much, though, if you'll never be able to buy the car without a big dealer markup? Regardless, all three models will be available this fall and dealers are already taking orders.

Gallery: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and SE

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2009 Dodge Challenger will start at $21,995

2009 Dodge Challenger will start at $21,995 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reader Spy: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and 2008 SRT8 show their faces!

Alex Nunez — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:22:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Dodge

Click image for a gallery of more spy shots

We owe much thanks to Autoblog reader Walter, who happened upon a stark naked Dodge Challenger R/T as it was being valet parked and sent us this perfect pic. Not only does it finally reveal the face of the new Challenger, to our knowledge it's also the first time anyone has seen an R/T model. The SRT8 model is the only one scheduled for the Challenger's initial production run in MY 2008, which makes this a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T.

So let's look at that face. The elimination of the crosshair treatment on the concept car's grille gives the Challenger about as retro a look as you could possibly get. As we saw in the teaser photos released earlier by Chrysler, a "Challenger" badge takes up the passenger side while the model designation badge, in this case a red "R/T," sits on the driver's side. The rest of the front end and hood appear to be exactly the same as what we originally saw when the concept was revealed in '06. The only new addition is the black chin spoiler present on this car. (In the new spy photos of the SRT8 model, we can also see a black rear deck spoiler.) Considering the throwback nature of the new Challenger, it would have been cool if Chrysler used the old script lettering for the name and the period-correct logo on the hood as well, but I guess you can't have everything. Musclecar fans, Mopar aficionados, and assorted other power freaks should still like what they see. Lord knows we do. Thanks, Walter!

UPDATE: Reports are coming in that a silver 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is also being spotted all over the place today, so we've acquired some of the best spy shots yet of that vehicle and assembled them in a gallery for you below.

Gallery: Dodge Challenger R/T and SRT8

Reader Spy: 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T and 2008 SRT8 show their faces! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler hates phone cams: 2009 Dodge Challenger revealed

Alex Nunez — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:42:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Dodge

Click image to see all three phonecam shots

Chrysler revealed the production Dodge Challenger to dealers in Vegas last week, and while we're certain it banned all manner of cameras from the event, saying something's banned and enforcing said ban are two entirely different things. Let's just say that they failed on the enforcement part, because OntarioStreetCar.com has phonecam pics of the car, and it is very true to the concept, overall. The main changes are the presence of a b-pillar under the side glass, a small lip spoiler on the trunk of the SRT8, and a slightly extended rear bumper to meet crash test requirements.

OntarioStreetCar reports that the Challenger arrives in March as a 2008 model. That first run of 5500 cars will all be 6.1L SRT8s equipped with automatic transmissions priced at $38,000. Starting in July, the MY09 Challenger will begin production, and the range will expand to include the 3.5L V6, the regular 5.7L HEMI, and of course, the SRT8 with the 6.1 HEMI. And finally, the best news of all: on the '09 Challenger, both HEMI flavors will be available with the T56 6-speed manual transmission. We'll see the car in person at the Chicago Auto Show. Welcome to the 21st century ponycar wars. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Thanks to all who sent tips!

[Source: OntarioStreetCar]

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Challenger Dealer Reveal

Chrysler hates phone cams: 2009 Dodge Challenger revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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