For an unexplained reason (probably a computer snafu) our Autotrader ad was rejected without our knowledge and we lost some valuable time selling the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. When it finally posted a few days ago we got two calls immediately but neither one was very serious. Still, it's a positive sign that indicates we are in the ballpark with our asking price of $29,900. In our experience, if the price isn't close, the phone doesn't ring.
Meanwhile, the Challenger has been doing a lot of highway driving and logging some respectable fuel economy for a muscle car. On a road trip in May it set a personal best for 401 miles on one tank and got 23.8 mpg. The lifetime average is 17.5 mpg and the EPA says the combined figure is 19 mpg. Given that we tend to be enthusiastic drivers, and that we spend a lot of time on clogged Los Angeles freeways, that's pretty close.
Philip Reed, Edmunds.com Consumer Advice Editor @26,490 miles
old_volvo says:
01:35 PM, 06/11/10
maybe it will sell better after this ad airs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St2FCxtlV7w
desmolicious says:
05:18 PM, 06/11/10
That commercial is perfectly timed for the USA vs England World Cup soccer game.
For some reason it also reminds me of the Dukes of Hazzard..
blueguydotcom says:
05:19 PM, 06/11/10
Why again would someone pay 30k for a used car w/26k miles on it (driven by you guys) when they can get a new one for...34k and get 1.9% for 60 months and 2k in mopar accessories?
pat1usmc says:
07:12 PM, 06/11/10
^^I was thinking the same thing. I would be extremely surprised if it goes for anything close to $29,900. The buyer would have to be completely out of touch with what a new one costs or just purposely wants to buy a former Edmunds.com vehicle.
e90_m3 says:
07:14 PM, 06/11/10
re: desmolicious
Kind of OT, but:
Starting England striker: Wayne Rooney, flagbearer of the world-famous Manchester United
Starting US striker: Jozy Altidore, benchwarmer of the relegated Hull City
God save the US team, for no one else will
s197gt says:
07:19 PM, 06/11/10
bluguydotcom,
not everyone has great credit like you. my best friend paid an apr of 12% on his first new car after college because he had bad credit.
besides, anyone looking to buy a car would do well to remember the truism "the price on the window means nothing!"
it's not even a starting point. i don't care what the asking price is, i go in with my offer price.
and from the seller's viewpoint, in this particular case they are in no rush, so, why not?
blueguydotcom says:
10:29 PM, 06/11/10
s197, if someone has bad credit, he wouldn't be using a loan on a used car at 30k either. You'll get your rates much easier from a manu's bank than from an outside lender and always better rates on new cars (random exceptions apply to CPO using a manu's credit system).
I mentioned MSRP. It's not like people pay MSRP for cars - even Edmunds shows the RT going for about 500 bucks over invoice. So really that 34k Dodge is more like 33, plus the decent 1.9 APR and 2k Mopar cash. The whole idea anyone would be willing to drop 30k for an Edmunds abused car can only be termed unfathomable.
atl35 says:
07:53 AM, 06/12/10
I really dont understand your editorial guidelines. If you have a product called TMV, and your TMV states it should be sold at a certain price - for the purposes of showing faith in your own product, shouldnt you at least price it at what your product states? Then use that opporunity to critique your own product?
ampeg500 says:
08:32 AM, 06/12/10
Good luck! There are plenty of low mileage '09 Challengers right around $30,000. Well done on the ad, that should help your case.
revmarc says:
02:01 PM, 06/12/10
Just drove from SC to Florida in our 6-speed R/T running with the flow of traffic, got 24.8. So there. :D
Also, the new Challenger commercial is awesome. I always new George Washington was a bad man, but this...
desmolicious says:
04:26 PM, 06/12/10
re. e90_m3
Final Score:
USA 1 England 1....
I expected England to choke, as they always do, but so soon?
;p
e90_m3 says:
01:51 PM, 06/13/10
@desmolicious,
Humble pie never tasted better.
toastblows says:
07:29 AM, 06/14/10
couple calls. thats not a good sign. Last time I sold a car i had 15 phone calls the first day. maybe 35mpg and honda had something to do with it.