I think it has to do with the economy / peoples pocket books, combined with the supply chain problems. For a time there were a limited line of supplies like chips. To make money the car companies used what they had to make high dollar cars with high profit. The people who could afford them have bought them and now the remaining population can't afford them.

At least that is my perception.

I agree with CAB

Screw buying a new hot rod when you can build one that is faster and better looking for half their asking prices

faster, maybe, better looking maybe... but more comfortable, quieter, a/c for the summer, radio that works.... for 1/2 the price... i doubt it

Hellcat was a 58K car back in 2015. Its the same car. Covid hit, supply issues - that are no longer. You should still be able to get one for 58,000. Anyone that paid more is a fool and a sucker

When the Hellcats were introduced, I watched them closely thinking I might just pull the trigger on a good used one. After Dodge started building all they could sell, the depreciation on them was averaging over $550 a month. At one point, the original owner of a red one with 8,000 miles offered me the car for $42k. I thought hard about it, but thought why not wait a couple more months and get one for under $40k. So I offered $39.5k. He declined. And at about the same time, they started regaining value.

What will happen to Hellcat values in the near term seems to indicate another round of steep depreciation. How deep, how long? Who knows? And that will vary between certain models and even certain colors.

The moral of this story is typical of all cars. They are a volatile commodity. Just look at our Mopar muscle cars. They went from near worthless to total market value setters. Who knew?

So right now, buying a Hellcat is for those that can afford to risk losing a good amount of their purchase price. At least in the short term. And since miles are such a big deal, the more a buyer would enjoy driving their car, the more dollars that are flying out the window, too. Not a good situation for a lot of buyers.

So, you offered 94% of the original owner's price? $39.5k vs $42k. And, he declined. Wonder what he sold it for?

I'm not buying a new Hellcat worrying about the value. I'm buying new so there's no unknown history that comes along with a used car and I can enjoy driving it, with a full extended warranty.

NEWSFLASH: Buying new is NO guarantee that you can enjoy driving it. You must not have followed the fuel pump debacle along with other issues where buying new only guarantees that you are completely at the manufacturer's mercy on repairs. So as long as you have the money to lose on buying new, go for it. Just remember that the only other thing that you are guaranteed by buying new is that YOU ARE GONNA LOSE THE MOST MONEY POSSIBLE. That is your decision and you are welcome to it. Just not everyone wants to lose the most money possible to drive a particular (overpriced) car.

My advice, next time a good deal falls in your lap, don't insult the owner.

Thank you for that unsolicited (and poor) advice. That particular situation was a good deal. At that moment in time, I offered what the car's value would be in just a few months. Not a low ball offer, just a prudent offer based on the market conditions at the time. For new buyers who are used to and comfortable with getting soaked on each and every car deal, I understand how they wouldn't even consider, let alone understand those parameters.

If you can't afford one, don't try insulting those that can.

Is that offered out of pure ignorance or out of a desperate attempt to insult? Either way, you clearly misunderstand and demonstrate your ignorance of the situation.

FFS, predicting anything has long been a joke.

Tell that to all those invested in the stock market.

Anybidy wanting a hellcat at about ten percent under sticker Google up Dan Cummins in KY.