Dealer markup on a new Challenger

[Dukeboy01]

We've all heard of or have seen in person ridiculous dealer markups on the new Dodge Challenger. I saw a $20K markup on two Challenger SXTs at Freedom Dodge in Lexington, KY.

Today, however, I was out driving around town and spotted a brand new Challenger SE at Mann Dodge in Richmond, KY. It was the first one I had seen in the wild. It was plain white with absolutely no options on it. It had a cheap cloth interior, cheap wheels, no stripes, and the V-6. The sticker on it was $21,495.

The dealer was trying to chisel out another $1,500. Didn't even do the potential suckers the courtesy of claiming it was for "exclusitivity" or "weatherproofing." Just printed up a little sign that tacked on $1,500. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I've decided to try to notice how long it sits on the lot, but only a total moron would agree to pay one penny over sticker for a stripped out V-6 Challenger.

[eurohazard]

Anyone who pay one cent over MSRP on any car is silly to me. I suppose occasionally it can work out for a rare car that actually appreciates over time. But those cars are extremely rare.

20 grand markup is criminal.

[MrCritical]

Hearing a lot of stories about poor build quality on these cars, rivaling the originals 35 years ago.

[Ttple]

It sure is good looking.

[LAMRONH]

My Automotive Addiction has yet to overpower my feet walking off the lot when I see tack-ons like "paint sealant, $550," "upholstery protectant, $400," "you are an idiot, $1,000."

[chickenkicker]

I was walking thru some dealerships last weekend and I saw an SRT8 for 68k that was in the process of being sold... whoever is paying that much for it is insane.

[Citation84]

IIRC the original Challenger was outsold even by the AMC Javelin. Only the Barracuda sold fewer units in the category.

It's beautiful, but why are they reviving this in the first place? It was never a top seller in 1970.Or 71 or 72,73,74.

Doesn't seem like money well spent when sales are collapsing, your mainstream products [Sebring and Avenger] are going to rental fleets in record numbers and your 1 entry in the small car category has seen sales DROP in the midst of a gas crisis.

These dealers are going to turn off any floor traffic they might have depended on to sell another Mopar product [the " halo" effect], simply by being so frigging greedy. Just the idea that a dealer would do something so asinine would make me leave the lot immediately and never consider that dealer again.

Guess the mark up compensates for the 50% off they're offering on Dodge Rams.......

[Hitman1970]

Had dinner last night with some old friends who are certified car nuts. One told me he has seen $15K markup on Challengers in Huntsville and $20K markup on Challengers near Fort Rucker in southeastern, Alabama. These dealers are smokin' crack.

[johnnyl321]

Since most of these dealerships aren't making anywhere near what they used to, they're trying to find anyway possible to make a profit. You know Rolexes, helicopters and 5 star hotels aren't cheap!!! and then there's always that damned minimum wage the techs keep yelling for....lol

[big swede]

I don't get why these still have markups. I have been to three different dealers and you can get them for MSRP not to mention you can get them shipped to just about anywhere in the country for $1000. People who pay more than MSRP are just foolish since it's very simple to get them for sticker.

The build quality issues with the Challenger are a bunch of b.s. brought on by haters trying to stir it up. The platform has been around for a long time and there are tons of parts sharing on a platform that Chrysler has nailed.

How long will it be before people are screaming the same dealer markup song about the Camaro. The vast majority of the dealership markup scam get's perpetuated by these types of internet forums. Everyone has a buddy that knew someone that was going to get a "insert hot new car" but he wasn't going to get screwed. When in reality that buddy had no intention of buying and never really went in to a real bargaining situation to actually buy the car.

[Shotgun]

Originally Posted by big swede

I don't get why these still have markups. I have been to three different dealers and you can get them for MSRP not to mention you can get them shipped to just about anywhere in the country for $1000. People who pay more than MSRP are just foolish since it's very simple to get them for sticker.

The build quality issues with the Challenger are a bunch of b.s. brought on by haters trying to stir it up. The platform has been around for a long time and there are tons of parts sharing on a platform that Chrysler has nailed.

How long will it be before people are screaming the same dealer markup song about the Camaro. The vast majority of the dealership markup scam get's perpetuated by these types of internet forums. Everyone has a buddy that knew someone that was going to get a "insert hot new car" but he wasn't going to get screwed. When in reality that buddy had no intention of buying and never really went in to a real bargaining situation to actually buy the car.

Exactly. Dealers will do the same for the Camaro as they are doing to the Challenger. Both will be flops in terms of intended sales versus reality if the markups are in place. The GTO was/is a joke, and it started with a hilarious markup that kept them on lots for months.

[1931Chevy]

My neighboard last week was checking out the Challenger SRT8 , he fell in love with the car that he was willing to trade his Mercedes plus 20k upfront but when they told him the grand price of $72000 he told the seller he must be crazy

[Shotgun]

Originally Posted by 1931Chevy

My neighboard last week was checking out the Challenger SRT8 , he fell in love with the car that he was willing to trade his Mercedes plus 20k upfront but when they told him the grand price of $72000 he told the seller he must be crazy

I don't blame him. When the dealer has the same car 6 months from now, your neighbor will probably be able to get it with less than $15k upfront with his Mercedes.

[cc1999]

I have the 09 brochure, there is no mention of any of these cars being a limmited production. Granted the 2008 SRTs were a limitted production car but that had as much to do with sturing the marketing pot, and the 09s are following the 08s within 60 days of the 08s landing on the lots. The Shelby Mustang was a little different, they said pretty much how many were going to be built each year, and each dealer was only allowed 1 or 2 cars a year, for the most part I can see the suply vs demand thing kicking in on the Shelby Mustangs, but so far I see nothing that should warrant paying a special price for any of the Challengers or Camaros for that matter. I bet by the end of the year ADMs will dissapear on the Challengers all together. I love the new Challengers, just not wild about the color choices, there wite is that dull stone white, and there black is some sort of metalic black, that to me also looks dull or dusty on a sunny day. If they offered a true gloss black in the car I wold be looking at ordering one when the hearatage pkg comes availble in the spring. I am going to wait and see if they bring out some other color choices before I get real intersted in getting one.

[johnstarnes]

Originally Posted by Hitman1970

Had dinner last night with some old friends who are certified car nuts. One told me he has seen $15K markup on Challengers in Huntsville and $20K markup on Challengers near Fort Rucker in southeastern, Alabama. These dealers are smokin' crack.

I guess those dealers have to pay for their crack somehow!