2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Gurkha · #1 02-15-2008, 11:57 AM

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rickg · #2 02-15-2008, 02:02 PM

Wow! Already up to $66,500!

TheDon · #3 02-15-2008, 02:55 PM

pass

djugurba · #4 02-15-2008, 04:10 PM

It's funny- I've seen a lot of mid 30s men have very strong positive reactions to this car... we had the opportunity to grow up in high school with the "cool kids" wearing denim jackets and driving old camaros and firebirds, smoking, surrounded by girls in tight jeans and big hair, etc. I think it's a subtle desire for a return to the days when macho gruffness was acceptable and desired. I think a lot of guys who buy these really want an old Duster or Chevelle. I was the drum major of the marching band - and drove an 85 Maxima and an 86 BMW, so I wasn't part of the burnout culture. (though I did have an 82 Ford Granada for a while...)

The funny part is that the Challenger's "SRT8" badging is awfully close to, and easily mistakable for "STR8," which, I'm guessing will comprise pretty close to 100% of the target market for the car... unless the Village People make a comeback. "Macho, macho man..."

Botnst · #5 02-15-2008, 04:13 PM

^^^ Wow! Great analysis, djugurba.

B

rickg · #6 02-15-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djugurba

It's funny- I've seen a lot of mid 30s men have very strong positive reactions to this car... we had the opportunity to grow up in high school with the "cool kids" wearing denim jackets and driving old camaros and firebirds, smoking, surrounded by girls in tight jeans and big hair, etc. I think it's a subtle desire for a return to the days when macho gruffness was acceptable and desired. I think a lot of guys who buy these really want an old Duster or Chevelle.

Is this a bad thing? Or just an observation? (can't tell from the way you've worded it)
I've always been torn between the 2 worlds, that of wanting a Chevelle, AND wanting the Benz. I see it as just being a car guy, not any "class" of dude, or demographic catagorization(I can't spell, either). I grew up, for the early years, in L.A., during the hot-rod 60's, so I like those cars. But my folks drove Caddies, so I like that type of car too.

djugurba · #7 02-15-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickg

Is this a bad thing? Or just an observation? (can't tell from the way you've worded it)
I've always been torn between the 2 worlds, that of wanting a Chevelle, AND wanting the Benz. I see it as just being a car guy, not any "class" of dude, or demographic catagorization(I can't spell, either). I grew up, for the early years, in L.A., during the hot-rod 60's, so I like those cars. But my folks drove Caddies, so I like that type of car too.

I think it's smart marketing, frankly. It plays on what lots of guys grew up thinking was cool - now that they've got some $$ of their own, they can have the cool car. Very smart. I also catch myself looking from time to time at old american steel- generally el caminos/rancheros or Grand Wagoneers or IH Scouts (not sure if they count).

I don't think there is anything wrong with giving people what they want! But I think that someone at Dodge is smart enough to know that SRT8 looks an awful lot like STR8. If that is the case, and they decided to market it that way on purpose, I think it's not appropriate. Will they next offer a new Mercur model... not the XR4Ti, but the GLBTQ... which looks like a new beetle? There are lots of letters available for useless branding. I think with all of the testing they do on marketing they could have chosen a less questionable name.

rickg · #8 02-15-2008, 06:40 PM

Ah, gotcha. I see what ya mean.

Botnst · #9 02-15-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djugurba

... If that is the case, and they decided to market it that way on purpose, I think it's not appropriate. Will they next offer a new Mercur model... not the XR4Ti, but the GLBTQ... which looks like a new beetle? There are lots of letters available for useless branding. I think with all of the testing they do on marketing they could have chosen a less questionable name.

Shoot, for exactly the reason you mentioned, marketing, I don't see how they could have done that by accident. There's just too much money at stake to let it be another "Nova" moment in marketing. If it's an attempt at segmenting that's not a problem for me. Why is that a problem for you -- to segment and target along gender preference lines?

B

raymr · #10 02-15-2008, 07:41 PM

Gq

catmandoo62 · #11 02-15-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djugurba

so I wasn't part of the burnout culture. (though I did have an 82 Ford Granada for a while...)

.."

what do you mean by burnout culture.those that could do flaming burnouts for blocks or those that smoked pot til the bag was empty??i lived thru both,and still have my 66ss chevelle!!

Botnst · #12 02-15-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

what do you mean by burnout culture.those that could do flaming burnouts for blocks or those that smoked pot til the bag was empty??i lived thru both,and still have my 66ss chevelle!!

And the bong? What happened to it?

rwthomas1 · #13 02-15-2008, 10:50 PM

I was a bit disappointed by the Challenger. It weighs 4200lbs and is quite a bit bigger than the original. It is loaded with unnecessary creature comforts. I guess all the "hot rod" guys got fat and wealthy to cough up $40K for that thing. It should have been a bit smaller, weighed 3200lbs, decent soundproofing, AC, PS, CC, ABS and $25K. Then I would be drooling. Musclecars are supposed to be raw and Detroit has forgotten that since the 1960's RT

rickg · #14 02-15-2008, 11:24 PM

I think the days of a bare-bones hot rod are long gone. Except maybe an Ariel Atom, or something like that.

TylerH860 · #15 02-16-2008, 02:06 AM

saw one in person at barrett jackson. Very cool