| Now that we are well into 2009 we finally have all | | | | and road life for a long time. Why? Because the |
| three new muscle cars on the road; the Dodge | | | | youth market clamors for the car; even the basic |
| Challenger, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro. | | | | V6 powered S197 Mustang will find it's road use |
| With the exception of a pony car being available | | | | extended well beyond its normal life expectancy |
| from Chrysler, what we have is a continuing | | | | since the car is so popular among young males |
| muscle car war from the big three manufactures | | | | and females. |
| that has been recurring since 1967. Granted, the | | | | The all new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge |
| GM F-bodies have not been available the last few | | | | Challenger are in a similar position. The Camaro is |
| years, but now that everyone is back in the | | | | the everyman's car; it's popularity will rise and fall, |
| game it has to be called into question; will these | | | | ebb and flow, but since the new Camaro is a well |
| new performance cars stand the test of time | | | | engineered car that delivers better gas mileage |
| better than their predecessors. Also, will these | | | | then it's competitors (in V6 trim) the Camaro will |
| cars hold value better then the generations | | | | also enjoy a very long road life. As for the |
| before? | | | | Challenger, it is the rarest of the new muscle cars |
| The short answer will be, yes. Take the Ford | | | | and very popular among young men and |
| Mustang for example. Even though the car has | | | | journalists. In a sense, it is the 'bad boy' option. |
| been in steady production since 1964, the buzz | | | | The Challenger will always be behind the Mustang |
| surrounding the existing S197 Mustang introduced | | | | and Camaro in sales despite its popularity. Due to |
| in 2005 almost rivals the original design series of | | | | this air of exclusivity, the long term outlook for |
| 1964 to 1970 that most all Mustang aficionados | | | | the Dodge Challenger is that it will retain its value |
| refer to as the 'classic' Mustang. What does this | | | | far better then its competitors and gain classic |
| mean for long term Mustang values? More than | | | | status much sooner. |
| likely, the S197 Mustang will retain both its value | | | | |