![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:20 • Filed to: challenger | ![]() | ![]() |
I always love it when we get cars traded in that were customized by old men. They're a special kind of awful. Today's example is a 2011 Dodge Challenger SE, V6 base model, stripped out as they come.
It's a gray car with bright red stripes stuck on, to say it looks awful is putting it lightly. Then there's the obligatory stuck-on chrome fender trim. And... hood pins, because why not? The stripes and chrome will come off easily enough, but to make a proper retail-ready unit out of this car we'll also have to replace the hood.
Detail of the stripes and two of the four Super Bee stickers on the car. I love when people buy graphics kits that loudly shout "I BOUGHT THE CHEAP ONE!" Not that there's anything wrong with buying the cheap model, but it's not exactly something you shout from the rooftops. Also of note here is the stick-on chrome door handle and b-pillar covers, because every modern car needs more chrome.
And on the back end- stick-on chrome taillight surrounds and mismatched spoiler with retro badging stuck on (I do like the retro badging when it's done tastefully).
Surprised this one didn't have mud flaps, actually. The old guys are crazy about the mud flaps.
That's all for now... but next time we get a Pep Boys Chrome Special PT Cruiser or 2WD Dakota 'Murica Edition traded in I'll be sure to share.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:40 |
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Honestly, I don't mind the hood pins, and if the stripe were full-length (and didn't say SE...seriously...why would you advertise that?) I might find it quite attractive as well. Did the Challenger have the Pentastar 3.6 in 2011?
![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:47 |
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Yeah, first year for the 3.6. I so wish they'd offer it with a manual, they do in the Wrangler and it feels like it could be fun in something that has a tendency to not roll over.
The thing that kills me about the hood pins is that they're totally unnecessary and have added a huge amount of cash to our reconditioning bill for that car, plus now it's not going to be 100% factory paint anymore.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:48 |
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This is what aggravates me with companies selling "cheap" models now with cars like this. I don't mind them selling them to make more money (especially since they can fund the fun projects) but it seems that everyone who buys the cheap model then does an extra couple of grand in "extras" that would have been better spent on getting an upgraded model as the designer originally intended it to be. I see too many of these base V6s with 20 inch "dub" wheels, tinted, chromed out, pep boys specials running around and it just ruins the cars appeal and reputation.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:49 |
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Here's my "Should I apply aftermarket chrome trim to my car?" flowchart, in text form:
1. Does your car have chromed steel bumpers?
YES ———> go to step 2
NO ———-> DO NOT APPLY CHROME TRIM TO THIS CAR.
2. Is said trim applied with double-stick tape?
YES ———> DO NOT APPLY THIS CHROME TRIM TO YOUR CAR
NO ———-> go ahead and ruin your car if you want. Proceed to step 3.
3. Does said trim advertise an engine displacement that your car does not have?
YES ———> DO NOT APPLY THIS CHROME TRIM TO YOUR CAR
NO ———-> go ahead and ruin your car if you want.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:57 |
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Why not leave the hood pins? They look OK; you said it yourself - "why not?" I'm no car sales expert, but in my estimation:
(New hood + paint + labour + lost value from mismatched paint) > (reduced value from cheesey hood pins)
![]() 10/14/2014 at 08:58 |
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The fact that Ford and Chevy has a much better V6 than the lump under this hood makes me sad. It's like a pretty good car has been torpedoed by its own mill.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:00 |
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Your point makes very good sense... but during the 6 years I spent on the sales floor I learned that car shoppers often do not make sense. If they love the car they'll overlook things like mismatched paint, but one "oddity" (to people who don't know what hood pins are) like that and they'll turn tail and run like hell. When it comes to used car retailing it's better to have an "ordinary" problem than something most buyers have never encountered before.
Doesn't make sense, I know... but anytime you're dealing in an industry that thrives on buyers' emotions many things don't make sense.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:02 |
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Im glad these cheap base model cars exsist. In 10-15 years, if they hold up, theyll be cheap and plentiful enough to drop the latest and greatest crate motors. That goes for Camaro and Mustang too.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:03 |
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This stick-on trim!
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:12 |
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Might be overkill? Might be Mustang V6 Krytonite? We will never know.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:13 |
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I would have thought the hood pins could be a positive selling point for a certain group of buyers. Think young guys that want can't afford a V8, or guys that are buying the automatic V6 car their wives want, but still want to the car to look fast. But I imagine you know your market better than I do!
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:21 |
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Based on our market around here anyway, the young guys are going to try and buy the V8 anyway even though the can't afford it, and I really haven't encountered many of the other guys you mentioned.
This car? Its next owner is going to be a chainsmoking 40something woman with dyed blonde hair who will deck it out with Betty Boop seat covers and floor mats, I guarantee it.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:25 |
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Base model wheels kills the look of a lot of cars. The Challenger is one of those cars.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:28 |
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At least it doesn't have steelies and hubcaps.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:29 |
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Is it ever worth it to modify the V6 though? The V8s are always just a little bit more and if history tells us anything, take to modifying well.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:37 |
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True, I thought as a culture we'd be over hubcaps by now. But just for the sake of argument ….
(^posted on oppo)
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:38 |
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HA, I don't doubt it.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:41 |
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Well, not right now. But say you find a 67 Camaro,6 cylinder, powerglide trans. In great shape, but shitty powertrain. You can probably get it reasonbly cheap. So you do the typical LS/ T56 swap and end up with a great car.
Thats what I forsee for these cars on the future.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:42 |
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You were saying . . . . .
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:48 |
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I found the car of his youth yesterday.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:49 |
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All right, you got me. I wasn't referring to *styled* steelies.
More like this. This is on a 2015 model year $25,000 vehicle by the way.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:56 |
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Frickin' dope.
I see the number... does he race? I bet that thing would kick ass on the track.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 09:57 |
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Well a '67 Camaro is a completely different story from a '97 Camaro. IMO for the majority of their lives the V6 pony car just isn't worth it your time if you want to go fast.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:01 |
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You think so? Even in 20-30 years?
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:21 |
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Esp. then. Just did a quick search of Camaros from the early 80's around me. There is this V6
with this engine
Or this V8 powered car
with this engine
Granted its double the price … but its already quick and could be made fast, really cheap. Aren't crate motors like $10k?
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:24 |
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Haha. Personaly I rather have the stock V6 to modify as I want and not have to fix anyone's screwups.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:29 |
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What did the guy trade it in on?
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:33 |
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Its horrid. Thats like putting a sticker on the side of you Corolla saying CE EDITION.
BUT, I must say I like the badge of the spoiler.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:38 |
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I guess to each their own.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:47 |
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Seems to be a Mopar thing. I've also seen "SE" stripes of various styles for Avengers and Chargers. Not factory equipment either, there's some aftermarket company out there making them.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 10:48 |
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2015 Challenger, also total base model.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 12:39 |
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Might be a good LeMons car?
![]() 10/14/2014 at 17:13 |
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I'd like it sans chrome
![]() 10/14/2014 at 18:18 |
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Ive also seen Avengers like that. So unnecessary .
![]() 10/14/2014 at 19:51 |
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What's with the chrome? I could see looking at a land yacht like a Town Car and thinking it needs more chrome around the wheel arches - I could see it, but I don't approve of it - but who thinks that has a place on a Challenger?
The retro badge looks good though, actually, Chrysler should consider making that factory. Also, too, bring back the Fratzog.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 20:36 |
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Old men love stick on chrome.
And that badge is factory... on the Challenger R/T Classic, which also includes the dual R/T side stripes and mag style wheels.
![]() 10/14/2014 at 20:42 |
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Oh, awesome. But, still, don't see much wrong with putting it on everything, except for the drop in resale value from customization.
It is really odd that he's that proud of buying the base model, wonder if he had an entry Plymouth Horizon back in the '80s with giant "Miser" graphics down the sides?