42 Comments

1. On Mar 16, 2008 at 6:04PM, OlenAtty posted:

   PRODUCTION vs. CONCEPT INTERIOR

   OMG! What happened? You set clear expectations with the concept dash and shifter, and now they are gone. Will they be options? This is important! If this isn’t fixed in the 2009 models, I may buy the Camaro…..

2. On Feb 22, 2008 at 12:03PM, ratcliff posted:

   This car is fine. But it just seems wrong driving a sports car like this that’s an automatic. Are they going to make them with manual transmissions after they have been on the market for a while? I also think they should make some convertibles!!! Then I would be in love with it!

3. On Feb 16, 2008 at 5:00AM, capitalcarz posted:

   All orders placed are currently in the C-status per the factory. That status means “firm schedule” and that all parts have been assigned for that particular vehicle. However, the first car has yet to roll down the assembly line per the factory as well. So what’s the hold up? Can’t seem to get the answer to that question……

4. On Feb 13, 2008 at 12:16PM, gotmine posted:

   Does anyone have a good idea when these things are supposed to start rolling off the manufacturing line?

   I called a few weeks ago and my order was in c-status. Called again today and it’s still in the same status.

5. On Feb 11, 2008 at 11:59AM, DieselDog posted:

   So true Shawn, it’s not a Charger, it’s a Coronet (with a cheap, hard plastic dash & door panels).

6. On Feb 10, 2008 at 8:50PM, Shawn Mcleod posted:

   Been waiting for this vehicle to come out for what seems like decades now. Very excited to see one in my drive way BUT I do agree that the dashboard is very cheap ‘platsicy’ looking. I mean the vehicle is great and all, but that dash is just cheap cheap cheap. It looks the same as Charger, and that’s one vehicle I hated when it came out and still do, just because there is nothing “Charger” about it.
   Mopar, please make the dash more fun and maybe more sporty. The one in the above pictures reminds me of my mom’s Impala!

7. On Feb 8, 2008 at 10:11PM, von number posted:

   Wow! Name calling because someone has a different opinion. Some of us Like a complete package, Exterior, Interior and Power, some just care about the exterior and some just want power to weight ratio, and others want a combination of the above, it’s no big deal. If you have what you want in this car then good for you, If you don’t have what you want then voicing your opinion, makes you an American. Be proud!
   Now it seems to me that there is a majority who want a better interior in some way or another. I can guarantee that Dodge wants to know that they missed a portion of their intended market. Yes these special editions will sell, and the 2009’s will sell also. But I am betting dodge would like to sell 260,000 challengers a year as opposed to 130,000 challengers a year. As for me, If Dodge would tell me I could purchase a 2009 with all the bells and whistles and have the option to add the concept interior then, I would give up my special edition and order that car. Now that is what I call a win/win.
   Unfortunately until I know for sure that this will happen (I.E. Dodge Announces it) I will hang onto my 08 and ask them to change the interior.

8. On Feb 8, 2008 at 8:16PM, sure thing posted:

   right, right…you were all about to buy until that darn steering wheel got in the way!

   i can see the conversation now explaining to your wives why there’s kia in the driveway instead of that srt you’ve been talking about.

   “but hun, it’s interior is JUST like the concept!”

   haters hate. drivers drive. i’m glad my friends stick with driving.

9. On Feb 8, 2008 at 7:56PM, DieselDog posted:

   The interior appears to be full of more cheap, hard plastic - like everything else they make. As far as not buying it if I don’t like it - isn’t that Chryslers problem? I mean come on, you shouldn’t get tennis elbow from using the arm rest.. and the creaks and groans from the interior after a few thousand miles!! The car is gorgeous, but…..

10. On Feb 8, 2008 at 4:29PM, CudaAAR posted:

    Thanks Dodge! I love the car and will be buying a 2009 SRT.

    I think the problem with the interior was not due to cost but time constraints- because of the short time frame from concept to production. As a result, Dodge was forced to use off-the-shelf parts for the interior to avoid delays caused by additional crash- testing and recertifications.

    However, now that the 2008 is out, they should spend time working on the interior- dash, guages and steering wheel. Also, PLEASE get rid of the rams head and the hood-mounted windshield washer nozzles.

11. On Feb 8, 2008 at 2:17PM, gotmine posted:

    I am with Mopar Jim on this.

    All this complaining about the interior is crazy, if you don’t like it, don’t buy it…. no one is making you buy the car.

    If you have one ordered and don’t like it cancel your order. I am sure someone else would love to get on the list.

12. On Feb 8, 2008 at 10:10AM, Chally posted:

    In response to Mopar Jim’s post: I don’t think anyone wants “more detailed”. We like simple, but we also like retro, classic looks that define power and performance. When we get in Challenger, we want to know this thing is a beast even if we hadn’t seen the exterior. I don’t want to get up in the morning when it’s still dark outside, fire up my vehicle and wonder if I’m sitting in my Challenger or my Dodge Ram. For one thing, Challenger is going to cost me twice as much as I paid for my Ram. It had better look twice as good - inside and out.

13. On Feb 7, 2008 at 11:17PM, Mopar Jim posted:

    Does anyone really remember the original Chally interior? It was horrible and now everyone overlooks it for reminiscence sake. This interior is fine, if they had made it more detailed you’d complain about it wasn’t simple enough.

    Wait until you get into it, I think it looks better than the concept. Having a 68 Charger and 68 Barracuda as well as 3 other Mopars I can say this interior is better for it’s time than all those. Simplicity is better especially for an evryday driver. I don’t need satellite radio or GPS. Only a regular radio and iPOD dock.

    That being said, the steering wheel could be done away with.

14. On Feb 7, 2008 at 10:13PM, Mister Deeps posted:

    Daytonakid quote: “Simply wait for the SEMA show and all of your dreams will be answered I’m sure, with super cool after market accessories.”

    Owners shouldn’t have to “wait for SEMA” to fix what Dodge should have done right in the first place. The interior of the Challenger is inexcusable for a $40k+ car, even a 25k car for that matter.

15. On Feb 7, 2008 at 5:25PM, Justin posted:

    I’m ok with the interior except for that steering wheel. That needs to be changed for the 09s desperately. Were there just a bunch of leftover charger steering wheels sitting in storage or something?? Bring back the one from the concept or at least something sportier. It looks like it belongs in a truck. Pistol grip would be nice on the automatics as well.

16. On Feb 7, 2008 at 2:00PM, vonnumber posted:

    Daytona,

    I am sure the Charger interior is very nice and looks very good. But that is just it, it’s a charger and this is a Challenger! After market parts are great which is why the standard editions are set at a lower price, so you can make the changes as you see fit. They are a terrible Idea for a limited edition, you change a limited edition, you reduce the value greatly, which is exactly why they should come out with something that doesn’t have to be radically changed. Back then ribbed seats wer not practicle and they did rip, then again having a computer on board back then was impracticle also, The materials back then were terribly inferior to todays products, and the computers back then were the size of a warehouse. Todays materials are far superior, and would perform the way they wanted it to in the 70’s. We could ignore the negatives and just point out all the positives. But Dodge knows what the positives are, and in fact I believe they knew the interior was a miss before they put it out, just to see if they could float a fart and no one would notice. We have to let them know just how much they missed on this part, or they won’t make changes, and continue right into bankruptcy wondering how it happened.

17. On Feb 7, 2008 at 12:29PM, DK challenger posted:

    You are exactly right chally, alan had the interior right and then they screwed it up. i like you changes also.

18. On Feb 7, 2008 at 11:06AM, daytonakid posted:

    Hey gang, try and let up on the interior bashing!
    Simply wait for the SEMA show and all of your dreams will be answered I’m sure, with super cool after market accessories.
    If you look closer you will see that the interior has many similarities to the original challenger…yes the gauge cluster and leather steering wheel is right off the new charger SRT…but the rest IS different…
    The door panels are nicer, arm rests are padded and the handles are better.
    The ribbed seats are NOT pratical…any one that had them found they were susceptable to tearing!
    Don’t be too quick to judge it until you actually sit in it and drive it!
    My Daytona charger still gets the thumbs up 2 years later…and so will the chally for many years to come!

19. On Feb 7, 2008 at 9:53AM, Chally posted:

    Excellent job on Challenger! This is a sweet ride! My 2009 model requests:

    1. relocate the windshield washer squirters off of the hood
    2. add an oil pressure guage
    3. change the shifter knob to a pistol grip - retro style (Alan had it right, why did you screw it up?)
    4. change the steering wheel to a three spoke retro style (again, Alan had it right)
    5. get rid of the Ram heads - everywhere
    6. bring back the ribbed leather seats (broken record - Alan had it right)
    7. offer retro colors (plum crazy, sublime, b5 blue, panther pink, etc.)
    8. offer alternate stripe kits (r/t stripes)
    9. replace the carbon fiber interior accents with stainless accents (Alan . . .)
    10. give us back the toggle switches in the interior (Alan . . .)

    You guys got the exterior so right and it sounds like you have some great performance packages in store for us down the road. Just correct a few cosmetic items and give the whole package!

20. On Feb 7, 2008 at 8:34AM, smrit posted:

    OMG!!! that look awesome but…. But dodge how much I will have to wait till the 5.7L Hemi RT come out???

21. On Feb 7, 2008 at 4:18AM, vonnumber posted:

    Dodge if you are really listening to your customers I would hope you are getting on all the blogs on the net, Your interior is a complete MISS! Where is the Muscle look? to go with the exterior? Bring back the bold Black Ribbed seats with the Bold Hemit orange strip!, give us the 3 spoke steering wheel, and make it look completely different than the Charger or the 300c or even the sebring! This is suppose to be a special edition, not just an upgraded 2009 made 3 months earlier with a number on the dash! Just once get some balls and swing for the fence! I want to drive a muscle car, I don’t want to drive a look alike with a rental car interior?! Hello? anyone from Dodge who can make a difference really listening or is that just Hollywood?

22. On Feb 7, 2008 at 3:17AM, capitalcarz posted:

    Love the new wheels, spoiler,and flip top gas cap. But that’s one ugly steering wheel. The concept car had a better steering wheel and dash pod. But otherwise you Dodge boys hit this one outta the park. Congrats!!!

23. On Feb 7, 2008 at 1:01AM, FRONTYARDRESTOGUY posted:

    ALAN BARRINGTON, YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB ON THE INTERIOR. IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT THAT CHRYSLER KILLED IT. I SINCERLY HOPE THAT THE INTERIOR CHANGES TO YOUR ORIGINAL DESIGN AFTER THE 08 RUN.

24. On Feb 7, 2008 at 12:37AM, BoeingGuy posted:

    Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow! When are the “priced within reach of normal people” versions coming out? Maybe one with the 5.7L Hemi? I have to agree about the steering wheel, but boy is that nit-picking a totally beautiful car. I’m suddenly excited about a new car again! Thank you, Dodge!

25. On Feb 6, 2008 at 10:49PM, Madcapp posted:

    OK, I understand the dashboard is a compromise for cost reasons, but you could have at least come up with a better “Challenger signature” steering wheel. I was hoping for a sportier 3 spoke design like the original. Maybe Chrysler should NOT have been so persistant about keeping the interior a secret until the very end, because you excluded user input about the design from the buyers. The steering wheel is an easy issue to change, hopefully it can be corrected for the ‘09 model year.

26. On Feb 6, 2008 at 10:38PM, Mister Deeps posted:

    EXTERIOR: HOME RUN

    INTERIOR: FOUL BALL

27. On Feb 6, 2008 at 9:59PM, hurst olds racer posted:

    Car is absolutely bitchin’, but where is the oil pressure guage? I hope it isn’t some digital or idiot light. Bring on the 6 speed and convertable. By that time my Ram duallie should be paid for.

28. On Feb 6, 2008 at 8:03PM, Moparman posted:

    I must say the exterior is a killer! You have hit a home run with it, however I must protest in great disappointment that you seem to have taken a stock interior out of the charger and stuck it in this awesome throwback! Why is it that you have these great vehicles but some of the worst, bland interior with no color or creative liscense. Look at the Ford Mustang it has an interior that speaks of a custom one-off sports car. One other issue how can you justify a stick-shift that appears to have been in the intrepid? This car had a legacy this will not help you keep that mind set. Please if you want to convince your target market that you are for real about not just this car but all of them make haste and fix all the interior now!

    Moparman

29. On Feb 6, 2008 at 4:58PM, Mopar Jim posted:

    Cool, you should make up a batch and sell them on eBay and your site.

    Good news to go along with the new Challie, AAA is reporting that gasoline prices could fall by .50 cents a gallon by spring!

30. On Feb 6, 2008 at 4:50PM, whatifmopars posted:

    My prototype for the pistol grip should be back from CNC this week. I have one on my Charger which has the same A580 transmission. Solved the clearance problem. Will post photos to the website. R/ Butch

    whtifmopar.com

    P.S. my VON for myChallenggr is 21267793
    Should have mine by1 April. Woot!

31. On Feb 6, 2008 at 4:21PM, Mopar Jim posted:

    They had to ditch the pistol grip on the auto stick as the angle of the shifter would hit the radio.

    I’m sure they wouldn’t leave something as iconic as that off of the 6-speed version. The shifter would be further back from the console on the manual. Look at the concept to see what I mean. Yes, you’ll need to lose the cupholders, oh well, the price of coolness, besides, no one eats OR drinks in MY car, even me.

32. On Feb 6, 2008 at 3:49PM, MarkMopar posted:

    Finally Chrysler got it right! This Challenger is great and replicates the original, but with just the right mix of old and new touches. Unlike what they did with the Charger, this production unit is very much like the concept car. Great job, Dodge! Now, if you could just give me a better steering wheel and a pistol grip shifter.

33. On Feb 6, 2008 at 3:28PM, awsure posted:

    Where is the pistol grip shifter?

34. On Feb 6, 2008 at 2:06PM, ChallengeHER posted:

    There’s tons more at dodge.com/challenger. The site looks HOT…and the HEMI sounds tough!

35. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:54PM, KingRam posted:

    Whoa! The steering wheel is fine! BTW, back in 70, the automatic would outrun the manual for 99% of druvers…only the quickest shifters could beat the automatic 0-100!!!

36. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:53PM, browndawgdude posted:

    This car is unbelievable!!! All I can say is WOW!!! dodge.com/challenger has all the good info to go with these images too.

37. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:22PM, lmruybal posted:

    It’s magnificant. I can hardly wait for mine.

38. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:19PM, BigBadJav posted:

    yay, a musclecar with cupholders! I agree it needs the six speed.

39. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:17PM, BigBadJav posted:

    Everything is so perfect! Beautiful! except that parts bin reject steering wheel!! The wheel is what you have to look at the most in a car and I hate it, please put the concept steering wheel on for 09. The car gets a pass because everything else is so stellar, thank you!the T/A spoiler, flip cap, and perfect tail! Great job guys! I hope the steering wheel was like the cap on the concept, you guys just ran out time!

40. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:16PM, TheBulldog posted:

    This car is awesome, I can’t wait until we get ours. Yellow or B5, it is gonna be awesome.

41. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:15PM, Clo posted:

    Unbelieveable… A homerun. You guys delivered!!! can’t wait for the 6 speed manual trans. This is the DODGE I remember. You guys will be selling a ton of these. GREAT work.

42. On Feb 6, 2008 at 1:13PM, Mopar Jim posted:

    Aww Yeah, 2009, 6-speed hmm, Hemi Orange or B-5 Blue.
    Guess I got some time to think about it.

    AWESOME.