Considering possibilities

Hello, came across your site while looking into information on Challengers.

To Introduce myself, my name is Tyler and I'm in Denver, CO. I'm finally at a point in life, were I can afford a car at around 33k. I would like to buy new, as I'm tired of fixing someone else's issues, and a warrantee is nice too!

I've been looking at all three of the new gen muscle cars: Challengers, Mustangs & Camaros and I’m at a cross road, I really can't decide which one I like best. (I know this site may-be biased) but I liked what I read on this forum and you all seem like a nice crew. (not too much name brand slandering).

That being said, I tend to consider local car clubs / national forums into my decision. This is based on two things
1st - aftermarket support /friendliness with questions.
2nd - Activity of local car clubs.
the 1st is pretty self-explanatory, but the second is really for my own personal enjoyment, as going on long car cruses and participating on forums is one of my favorite things in the world.

Now onto the nitty-gritty. As you can tell from my price range an SRT8 is completely out of the question, as my budget cannot support it. I'm really liking the PCP R/T, but I’m not seeing a lot of aftermarket support for the 12 and up R/T due to the VVT. Do any of you know if any companies are making any headway with forced induction? I would really like to SC at some point, but if companies start to drop off due to the Cuda refresh in 2015/16. I'd hate to buy this car and be stuck with just the basics: CAI, Header, Exhaust & CAM, with no room to really open the 5.7 up.

Also, were any of you cross shopping the big 3, what was the deciding factor in getting the Challenger instead of XXX car?

Thanks for taking the time to read and any other information you can provide is appreciated!

-Tyler

 

First , welcome to the forum. Now to address your question.

If you are looking for aftermarket support...Mustang all the way. Why? Because there are a billion of them. Everyone and their sister has one. They have become what Corvettes were 5 years ago when the baseline Corvette could be had for $40K(ish).

I like the Camaro. There is a fair amount of support and they perform really well, but I do not like the interior size and feel. I have considered trading in next year for a Z28 but at a possible $70K in price....no thanks.

I have been very happy with the Challenger. There is some support for power adders, but obviously not as much as Mustangs or LX powered Camaros simply because they sell more.

For my choices there was one. I have had Challengers in the past (a 72 and a 74) and both were Plum Crazy. So when the PCP came out in 2010, I didn't consider anything else. Since then I have checked out the other two. It would be nice to have more power, but I don't have the connection to either one enough to change. I will probably build this one down the road.

 

Welcome to the forum! I'm new to the muscle car scene but like you, was in a position where I could finally afford a car like this. Also like you, my budget was 33K. I really liked the power of the Mustang but as jonmandude stated, there are a whole lot of them out there. I also test drove a Camaro but I didn't feel comfortable in it. The R\T Classic gave me the most bang for my buck.

Good luck with your shopping. Keep us posted regardless of what way you decide to go.

 

Thanks for the quick responses. I have to agree on the Mustang, it's very high up on the consideration list, the 5.0 is an amazing engine and Ford fixed all my grips with the front end for the 13/14 year, and that track pack is almost unbeatable for the price.
While I was a HUGE 5th gen Camaro fan at it's launch, I don't like the lack of visibility. and the styling has gotten stale, and the "facelift" doesn't do anything for me. I'd probably reconsider if they brought back a decent color... that IBM was a good looking blue, too bad they discontinued it 6 months after launch.

I have to agree, I still hold reservations due to the amount SS's & 5.0's I see daily... granted I don't see too many 13/14 5.0's as I believe people are holding out until the 2015 is released, or at least the styling is publicly announced.

I find the Challenger to be the best looking of the 3, I just wish the R/T could keep up performance wise as the SRT8 is just too expensive. Another win for the Challenger is I don't feel like I need to make any cosmetic modifications, as everything works really well.. just a small drop and some fancy wheels and she's good to go... ohh and you can't beat that PCP!

I guess it really comes down to the Mustang or Challenger at this point... I've owned a lot of Chrysler's in my life (3 wranglers, 2 Patriots and Ram 1500 SLT) none of them gave me as many issues as my Chevy did (Cobalt SS/SC).

I've never owned a Ford, so I don't have any previous experience with them.

I'll try to test drive both of them this weekend again... just need to figure out a good out, to get out of the dealerships without locking myself into a purchas...

 

It is a tough decision to make. The R/T has plenty of options available. You said you wanted to supercharge. You can have an R/T supercharged and get more HP than an SRT and still be under the sticker price of an SRT. The Challenger is the best looking of the retro muscle cars IMO. Glad you stopped by. I hope your decision puts a Chally in the driveway, either way. Enjoy your new ride.

 

Car purchase

If you plan on going to car cruises people will walk right pass you since there are so many mustangs. Blah Blah. The best bang for your money is a second vehicle. Get a last year C4 vette 95 96 low miles from a vette guy.
First Grundy will insure it for $200 year as long its not a daily driver. Second a good one should be price at $15000 -$18000 with very low miles around 18k-28k and vette owners are very picky like me. You probably could get one on obo around $12k-15k. The 95-96 lt1 engine has 300 hp 340 ft/lbs torque 0-60 5.0 quarter 13.5 and gets 24 mpg highway. It only weighs 3200 lbs. It has dual airbags traction control and stability control and is a bear on a track and auto cross. I have one ( my kid a 392) and both cars gets a lot of looks and questions at cruises. My vette has magnaflows. dark tinted windows, c6 chrome rims and detailed like new. It took a while to get there but when you arrive its wonderful. I have several other vehicles but this one is used spring summer and I track it once a month and autocross it once a week. Its a ball beating cars with 400 hp since the c4 tracks so well. Remember buy what you can afford and maintain. No matter what car you eventually purchase get one low miles one owner who has taken care of it. A dealer for me is no way. They can detail a beater to look like new. Save more money to get what you actually want. Check out cruises at years end to see whats for sale. Many guys dump their cars so they don't have to store it. My next car will be a new cuda with the hemi hellcat. Yes I can afford a $70k car since I worked 41 years 14 hrs a day and saved saved saved. Life is good now.