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Not so much a debate on which one performs better or which one looks better....
But compare the two side by side.
Old:
New:
Notice how the older one has a longer nose to it, as well as a more slanted rear roof line. Also the older one looks like it has a little bit longer of a deck. I don't have any pics to go by but I've also notice the newer models sit higher and wider than the originals. I guess I'm old school but I still think the looks of the older model trump the newer one.
I've often wondered why the newer Challenger sits higher and wider than the old but appears to have a shorter nose/deck? I know safety standards have improved since 1974...I suppose this is a safety standard of some sort? Or are they just trying to not re-invent the wheel too much?
The new one was done so well and I have accepted it so completely that I have a hard time telling them apart. As opposed to the abortion they call the Charger which should have been the Fury or something like that. Imagine what the retro Charger could have been.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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This is the only car where I think they did a great job keeping true to the original while updating for safety and performance, much better than the mustang and camaro. I still do prefer the old but for one in really good shape the new is more affordable.
They did a great job of modernizing the design while leaving it recognizeable, and having good proportions, which is tough considering modern safety regulations, and the restrictions of using the existing LH chassis used under the Charger/300.
I like the looks of the Challenger a lot better than the Camaro or the Mustang. It seems more authentic to what the original was. I don't dislike the Mustang either, but see it as more of a progression of it's usual styling, with some throwback queues. The Camaro to me seems more of a characature of itself. The Challenger just seems more pure, clean, and what a muscle car should be.
I don't dislike the Mustang either, but see it as more of a progression of it's usual styling, with some throwback queues.
This is why I like the Mustang, especially the '05-09 version (which I own), as it looks like a continuation of the '65-70 progression, just with modern safety, lighting, and performance.
And I love the Challenger. As I've said before, had I had the money, there would be a Plum Crazy Challenger R/T Classic in my driveway now (and there may be in the future)
I thnk the old versin is much nicer looking. However the new one is still nearly the best looking car made today IMO. In appearance it kills the Mustang and Camaro. The performance is not equal to either, but it is close enough for me. However as a valiue for the money Challenger falls on its face. At $10,000 to $11,000 more for an SRT8 over a Mustang GT, you are paying a lot for better looks, a bit more space, and slightly lower performance.
If I was going to pay $40,000 for a new SRT8, I suspect that I could get a phenomenal 1960s or 1970s challenger for that amount (or maybe a barrcuda).
If I was going to pay $40,000 for a new SRT8, I suspect that I could get a phenomenal 1960s or 1970s challenger for that amount (or maybe a barrcuda).
Then you'd have a 40+ y/o car inferior in every way to the current model, except for being a classic and probably holding it's value better going forward.
I agree that the Challenger is the best of the retro redos. But I like the Mustang too and think it's a pretty good version of a classic. I wish they'd left the taillights more vertical, but no one asked me what I thought!
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