Dodge Challenger nearly bumped Camaro last month.

5582 Views 49 Replies 40 Participants Last post by GM4EVA, Dec 6, 2014

guionM

Discussion Starter · Dec 3, 2014

......I just checked..... did anyone notice that not only did Mustang surge ahead of Camaro's sales by two to one......

.....but also that the Dodge Challenger came very, VERY close (just 229 cars to be exact) to outselling the Camaro in sales last month?

Camaro: 4,385

Challenger: 4,157

Mustang: 8,728

I personally favor Dodge Challengers of the bunch, and everytime there's a new Mustang hitting the showrooms, sales jump (in this case, Mustang is up by over 80%) but I'm pretty stunned that Challenger jumped in sales so much (51%) , and Camaro's plunged significantly (14%).

There is one good takeaway from all of this though......the pony car market has more than doubled from this time last year, expanded by 118%. Not bad for a class of car that most of the learned industry marketers and soothsayers said was becoming nothing more than a shrinking niche market only 6-7 years ago.

Even with Camaro's dip, it still sold just a hair under 80,000 units....year to date....Without even counting December, that makes this Camaro's best year since 1997!

I still remember Chrysler's original business case for the Challenger.....basically copying Holden's Monaro playbook (which Pontiac also copied for the GTO), it was initially only going the SRT version, and it was going to run for just 3 years. Then late in development they added the R/T and V6 versions, but still was only going to run it 3 years.........now here we are seven years later, and the thing's come within 3K units of outselling the Chrysler 300 for the year.... Not bad for a car that was created with a fraction of the cash that even the relatively cheap-to-develop Camaro cost, and was supposed to have a lifespan no longer than Plymouth's Prowler.

Reactions: 5

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Neanderthal

· #2 · Dec 3, 2014

If the Chally had had even three or four inches more rear leg room, I'd have probably bought one instead of a Charger.

Would I have had all the trouble with it? I don't know. I just know I find it an incredibly attractive package. Pony with room in it and windows more than 10" tall.

BigAls87Z28

· #3 · Dec 3, 2014

Meh, Camaro is on it's last year while Challenger just picked up a major revision as well as a high profile car while Mustang...well...expected.

Reactions: 5

bballr4567

· #4 · Dec 3, 2014

0% for 84 months helps to sell a lot of cars.

Reactions: 2

fastball

· #5 · Dec 3, 2014

I've never been a MOPAR guy but I love the updated Challenger. The tail lamps are sweet. The retro/modern interior makes the Camaro's look stark and bland. It has an 8 speed transmission. I think it's cool Dodge brought back the TorqueFlight name. They've made it relevant again.

Reactions: 1

steve333

· #6 · Dec 3, 2014

I love the Challenger but the size and the small parking spots here make it a no go for me

Speedjerk

· #7 · Dec 3, 2014

The rise in the pony car market has something to do with smaller families and more single people today. Many young couples are holding off to have kids or even get married. Also, more and more baby boomers are becoming empty nesters and I'm guessing that has more than just a little to do with it....

SierraGS

· #8 · Dec 3, 2014

Shows what happens when you re-connect with your past and offer multiple models that are desirable at reasonable prices to take full advantage of a high profile Halo car.

Chevy has done some good stuff with Camaro but has many "holes" that could be filled with models, trims and engines that have a strong heritage that would attract buyers who can actually afford them. The Challenger's upgraded interior and 8-speed in more applications with a good performance/MPG/MSRP "package" seals the deal.

Personally the Challenger would be my #1 pick with Mustang #2 and Camaro #3.

fastball

· #9 · Dec 3, 2014

Speedjerk said:
The rise in the pony car market has something to do with smaller families and more single people today. Many young couples are holding off to have kids or even get married. Also, more and more baby boomers are becoming empty nesters and I'm guessing that has more than just a little to do with it....

I'm certainly in the group with no kids. I'm 37, my GF is 42, and she was married once and doesn't want to do it again. I'm happy either way, never felt the pressure to get married and have a family. We get along great the way it works and we're both very happy. We can travel, go out with friends, and enjoy life very spontaneously. We both drive stick, we both drive coupes, and neither of us ever wants to own a "family" car. Or heaven forbid a mini van. Shoot me if that happens.

The pony car market is safe!

Reactions: 1

autoplaybook

· #10 · Dec 3, 2014

I'm 31 and single, and I've wanted a Challenger since they came out. I didn't care that the Mustang and Camaro were smaller and handled better. The Chally's styling shot me squarely between the ribs. People called me crazy for wanting one. But sales have grown and grown.

The new one is even better. I just wish they'd do what GM and Ford do and offer a manual transmission with the V6. I don't need all that power. But if I'm going to go without the extra power, I don't want to be bored to death by a slushbox! At this rate, I'll have to wait a little while longer until the V8/MT models come down in price on the used market.

And again, I'm just amazed at how a car going into its 8th season with only 2 soft trim updates is selling so well.

Reactions: 2

63GrandSport001

· #11 · Dec 3, 2014

Speedjerk said:
The rise in the pony car market has something to do with smaller families and more single people today. Many young couples are holding off to have kids or even get married. Also, more and more baby boomers are becoming empty nesters and I'm guessing that has more than just a little to do with it....

baby boomers are pretty old and the bulk of them had empty nest for a while, we are actually seeing a decline in the purchasing power of the baby boomers as many retire and move on to fixed incomes. Part of the gain in this segment has to do with the auto industry recovering as a whole, but I suspect that people having fewer babies and getting married older may play a role.

Actually I think the single biggest factor is that the cars in this segment are probably better then they have ever been.

Brand new Mustang so sales surge is to be expected, the Dodge got some serious work done and probably has good incentives. Though out of the 3 overall the Dodge is my least favorite.

paul8488

· #12 · Dec 3, 2014

fastball said:
...I'm 37, my GF is 42...!

You just poster her age on the internet, I'm guessing you can ad EX before GF by the end of the day...

Reactions: 1

JBsZ06

· #13 · Dec 3, 2014 (Edited)

Wow big shifts in pumping these ponies out...

Dodge did a great job creating a new halo for the entire brand....out doing even the viper as the halo vehicle....

The hellcats made the entire challenger lineup relevant..

Yearly sales for the camaro is impressive...especially considering the sixth generation is right around the corner...

Kudos for fords recent release of its new mustang. They look even better in person. Truly an American icon.

Reactions: 1

bmwboy2007

· #14 · Dec 3, 2014

My hunch is that with Camaro on the cusp of a brand new model, many potential buyers are standing pat until the new one bows. I expect Camaro Alpha sales numbers to surge.

paul8488 said:
You just poster her age on the internet, I'm guessing you can ad EX before GF by the end of the day...

Cute, but seriously.. an anonymous online mention isn't exactly the same as standing on a table and making a major announcement about it at a ****tail party.

Reactions: 2

paul8488

· #15 · Dec 3, 2014

Good news for sports coupes! Proof that market size isn't fixed; excellent cars will create demand, as seen by the current crop of pony cars.

Anyone know if Hyundai has any plans for the Genesis coupe, or are they giving up after a first lukewarm attempt?

AusCalais

· #16 · Dec 3, 2014

paul8488 said:
You just poster her age on the internet, I'm guessing you can ad EX before GF by the end of the day...

Gals don't read GMI

Reactions: 1

JBsZ06

· #17 · Dec 3, 2014

bmwboy2007 said:
My hunch is that with Camaro on the cusp of a brand new model, many potential buyers are standing pat until the new one bows. I expect Camaro Alpha sales numbers to surge.

Cute, but seriously.. an anonymous online mention isn't exactly the same as standing on a table and making a major announcement about it at a ****tail party.

Fwiw.. I read your earlier post and thought your girl sounded awesome. Congrats on the hottie

richmond2000

· #18 · Dec 3, 2014

I wonder if some of the success ALL the PONY cars are having is a result of every other car/CUV is VERY "practical" in design and AIMED at the FEMALE buyer and if we are seeing MALE buyers buying a "masculine" product and females doing the same to AVAOID the "MOMMY" expected choice

KingElvis

· #19 · Dec 3, 2014

paul8488 said:
Good news for sports coupes! Proof that market size isn't fixed; excellent cars will create demand, as seen by the current crop of pony cars.

Anyone know if Hyundai has any plans for the Genesis coupe, or are they giving up after a first lukewarm attempt?

Challenger is a not an insurance 'red flag' the same way Camaro and Mustang (even base versions) are for insurance rates.

Thank god the 'three-rows-or-go-home-mommy-mobile-mindset' hasn't vacuumed away every last two door.

Reactions: 2

Tone

· #20 · Dec 3, 2014

Wow. Camaro is still selling at an 80k clip at this point in its life cycle, with only a minor restyle. Challenger picking up sales. Clearly the template of a steady cadence of specialty models to keep the car in the mind of the market is working, even as the style change very little.

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