[1965gp]

This is an interesting thread- I have a 30th Anniv (one of my favorite TA’s) and we are now on our second newer Charger (2007 Daytona, 2012 SRT8) and are about to get our third. We can’t decide if we want to get a new Daytona or a used Hellcat.

A lot of good points made here- I think if you are looking for a fun car to take out on weekends the 30th is hard to beat. Beautiful interior, T tops and a great exhaust note. The car gets attention every where you go in it. It’s just old enough that people really notice them.

But the Hellcat is just amazing. Honestly I haven’t driven one yet but I look forward to it. We haven’t had any issues with our 07 or our 12 Chargers. They get pretty abused by my wife and they seem to hold up well. Much better than our 04 GTO.

I would expect the build quality of the Challenger to be the same. This would be a tough call for me. I guess it might come down to the availability of the Anniversary Car.

[1965gp]

So I just went for a ride in a Hellcat Charger. Very nice....very tame. I mean the car is a beast but driving around town it felt the same as our 6.4 SRT.

Honestly it was so refined it has me wondering if it is worth the extra $$.

[red1975pacer]

back in 1987 I bought a Grand National brand new. I followed the price curve on them all the way until hitting rock bottom in around 199-2000 . You could have bought a good one , with low mileage, for around 12-15k. now the same car is about 30. so whats the point, you ask/,? A 30th is following the same curve, with the momentum towards the upside. Hellcats are still gonna depreciate, and may continue the downward trend for years to come. Buy the 30th, and when Hellcats hit rock bottom, pick up one also

[mgarblik]

Love Pontiac's too, everyone knows that. But if acceleration is your #1 goal, then Mopar is the answer. A 30th anniversary TA is fairly rare and beautiful, but in a different universe performance wise. An option may be to try and find the TA now, if you have always wanted one and look for a Hellcat or Demon in 5-7 years. If it's like most late model Mopars they depreciate like they were driven into the Grand Canyon. Early Vipers all day in the teens. Son in law bought a 2 1/2 year old Charger for 40% of original price and it is in like new condition. Something to consider.

[grandam1979]

RedEye

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

Yep, Dodge is a road course car

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K7S_78IdQY

I find it rather funny that those who say a Challenger cant handle, seem to think the 4th gen T/A can. The same car that has the basic suspension since 1982. The same car with a solid rear axle and strange torque arm setup.

[GTOnly70]

My 15 Challenger RT Plus handles just fine. Oh, and no rattles or squeaks either...

[BDHABT]

Easy answer,for me anyway.

After being an auto tech for the last 26 years,I`ll never have anything Dodge related in my driveway.

Just my opinion.

[T/A addict]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

So I just went for a ride in a Hellcat Charger. Very nice....very tame. I mean the car is a beast but driving around town it felt the same as our 6.4 SRT.

Honestly it was so refined it has me wondering if it is worth the extra $$.

So what are you thinking mow? Has to be a good thing to be so mild mannered town driving... That is unheard of to be able to be so mild while driving but able to awaken the beast at the drop of a foot

[1965gp]

I think I am going to have my wife drive it today and see what she thinks.

High end Mopars seem to hold their value pretty well. Right now we are torn between a used 2015-2016 Hellcat (46-52k) and a new 2018 Daytona 392 (39-45k). Trading / selling our 2012 SRT 392 that should be worth 20-25.

While day to day I don’t know that she would even notice a difference, in 6 years they will all be used cars and I think the Hellcat is going to be worth a lot more than a Daytona even if it’s the 392 version.

As far as comparing it to a 30th I would decide What your priorities are for the car. If I had your collection (and ironically I Kinda do) I would lean towards the 30th. We have all of the Anniv cars and it makes for a really nice collection.

But- it’s also nice to have cars that serve different purposes. For example I have no interest in driving my older cars on long road trips but I would do it in a newer Dodge all day long.

[T/A addict]

Excellent input and the thoughts of their value is likely right, I'd be in the same boat as you- a 2016 at about 50k... you'll have to say what the wife thinks about it.

You have all the Ann. cars? Awesome. That's what I am really trying to build to. I'm going to do a tribute pro-touring build with the 69, I have the 10th, want the 30th.... I'd be happy to stop there. I wouldn't mind adding the 20th if at the right time and place.
So my logical side says buy the 30th as values will only increase and it would complete my Ann. collection list and in a few years when I'm ready to buy something again I could probably buy the Redeye at the current price I was looking to spend.

As far as what I would be looking to use either for is just a great fun car to drive, hard at times depending on the mood. I'm not a drag strip guy, I've been as a spectator but never driven. Not that I wouldn't decide to if I had a Hellcat but it would be rare if I did.
I'd be more inclined to take a car out on a road course given the opportunity.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by T/A addict

Excellent input and the thoughts of their value is likely right, I'd be in the same boat as you- a 2016 at about 50k... you'll have to say what the wife thinks about it.

You have all the Ann. cars? Awesome. That's what I am really trying to build to. I'm going to do a tribute pro-touring build with the 69, I have the 10th, want the 30th.... I'd be happy to stop there. I wouldn't mind adding the 20th if at the right time and place.
So my logical side says buy the 30th as values will only increase and it would complete my Ann. collection list and in a few years when I'm ready to buy something again I could probably buy the Redeye at the current price I was looking to spend.

As far as what I would be looking to use either for is just a great fun car to drive, hard at times depending on the mood. I'm not a drag strip guy, I've been as a spectator but never driven. Not that I wouldn't decide to if I had a Hellcat but it would be rare if I did.
I'd be more inclined to take a car out on a road course given the opportunity.

ILLUSION 690 is going to be one HOT ride! I can’t wait to see that 69 done.

[Fullsize455]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

I find it rather funny that those who say a Challenger cant handle, seem to think the 4th gen T/A can. The same car that has the basic suspension since 1982. The same car with a solid rear axle and strange torque arm setup.

This right here. The fourth generation ugly cheesewedge F-bodies handle pretty terribly, considering how far we've come technology/suspension wise. It takes a lot of modification to get one to really handle well at all.

[1965gp]

We have always loved the Anniv cars and just kind of fell into it....

Always loved Pontiacs, my boss went through a divorce in 2005 and sold me his low mileage 79 TATA (23k) for what I could afford at the time. Then my dad found a clean one owner higher mileage 20th in his area in about 2009. In 2011 I found a 25th locally in Houston that had chickens living in it (literally) so it was my restoration project. 2014 I fell into a 69 Firebird and built a clone out of it. It was an ex race car and came with a monster 455 in it. It didn’t run when I bought it but fortunately it was just bad gas. In 2015 a guy in my neighborhood was selling a really clean high mileage (85k) 30th and I jumped on it. Finally about a year ago we found a one owner 15th Anniv which is still in really good shape. This is the hardest to find because early 3rd gens were beat into the ground and I think the build quality was sub par.

That’s about the time I ran out of room but for some reason cars still follow me home.....

I can’t remember- are you keeping the challenger if you buy the 30th? If so I think I would lean that way.

If not I would drive a Hellcat and see if the performance blows you away or not. My wife said she has no interest in driving a new one if we aren’t going to buy it. There is a black (ugh) 2016 here that we may drive later this week. I would rather wait for a different color since it sits outside and we have a lot of trees

[1969GTO]

Originally Posted by T/A addict

I'm weighing the thought of my next purchase in the near future. I've always wanted a 30th since I saw it previewed coming new and a definite for my wish list but the thought of a Hellcat Challenger is very difficult to overcome. Just throwing this thought out there for opinions

Been there done it and still loving it.
My 69 GTO is gone and the CAT is home.
The trick if you can is to buy a new left over HELLCAT, Much cheaper.
I will always want a 69 GTO JUDGE, but I also wanted performance and be able to take the car cross country if I wanted to.
The Cat is an 8 speed auto and at cruising speed 70/80 mph I get 25 mpg.
For those that pick on the Challenger HELLCAT have either no clue, never owned one or did end up with a lemon.......it happens.
I am going to try and get a 2019 RED EYE in 2020, should be cheaper then too/ trade in the HELLCAT.

[T/A addict]

You know you will be the first to know how she goes too MaryAnn!

Now that is the ultimate collection 1965 Got pics to share? Yes if I go 30th I'm definitely keeping the Challenger

That was a giant move 1969, they are both great looking cars. Has to be such different feelings..... Driving a great classic like that 69 had to be great fun but that Cat has to be a great sensation knowing that at any time you could just shred the hell out of some pavement and go anywhere you want in it too.

[1965gp]

Of course I have pics! I just have to figure out the photobucket situation....

If you are keeping the Challenger then I say get a nice 30th.

[1969GTO]

Originally Posted by T/A addict

You know you will be the first to know how she goes too MaryAnn!

Now that is the ultimate collection 1965 Got pics to share? Yes if I go 30th I'm definitely keeping the Challenger

That was a giant move 1969, they are both great looking cars. Has to be such different feelings..... Driving a great classic like that 69 had to be great fun but that Cat has to be a great sensation knowing that at any time you could just shred the hell out of some pavement and go anywhere you want in it too.

It was a Giant move, I have had 4 GTO's in my time and that last one I had 16 years.
Just a warning to those tempting fate, Once you try that New Modern Muscle you can get hooked real easy.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

lol

There's plenty of vids featuring Hellcats on road courses such as the Nurburgring or Road America, and they're moving! They're definitely a straight line car, but they handle amazing for what they are. Most think because of their weight, they cant turn, but it's simply not the case.

The one I worked on was very loose in the ass. Tire pressures were verified to rule that out. It has 15k miles, so it shouldn't be worn out yet. I was thoroughly unimpressed EXCEPT the power on tap was nice.

[J GLASGO]

700 horsepower tends to make rear feel loose!