Buzz of a re-born Challenger was strong even before the concept version was revealed at the Detroit auto show in 2006, so it came as no surprise when Dodge confirmed it would build a modern version of its legendary Woodward cruiser. Since the announcement, the brand even posted a countdown timer on the Internet so that hardcore fans could know exactly how much time they had left to save up cash before the car's introduction. This spring, you too can have a Challenger, assuming you like one of the three colors on offer and don't mind an automatic transmission. But let's not get ahead of ourselves...
You really didn't "Drive" the 2008 Challenger SRT-8 at all. I understand the desire to be first to market with this print, but romping around in a couple pre production mules is not the same as driving the actual car. I'm nitpicking a bit, but a first glance i thought you had got your hands on a production model. Either way, I like the car.
Looks great from the outside... interior isn't as well done but looks quite functional... too bad it's so heavy, though sounds like it doesn't take away from it that much.
How are you supposed to get the power down to get such a heavy car moving? Single spinner FTL!
I shal be comforted in the knowledge that I could take down a Challenger SRT8 at the traffic light drags with ease (with less power... and weight... and an LSD..).
You really didn't "Drive" the 2008 Challenger SRT-8 at all. I understand the desire to be first to market with this print, but romping around in a couple pre production mules is not the same as driving the actual car.
Near-production pilot mules and "pre-production" mules are entirely different things.
"Pre-production" cars are hand-built prototypes using hand-built parts for initial vehicle and component testing. These are assembled with "soft tools" and dies. This is what you're looking at when you see pictures of the Camaro mules with wires hanging everywhere and a "red button of death" to kill the electrics should the car catch fire.
Near-production cars, like the ones driven, are built with production hard dies and tools, with full assembly line fixtures and tooling. They are robot-welded and pass QC checks on the same assembly line that production cars will run down. The interiors are installed by the same workers that will install the production interiors. They have approved paint, applied in the production body shop, cured by the same lamps as production cars. The interiors are final production spec. The manufacturing window of these cars - in this case mere months before production begins - precludes any significant changes between them and the cars that customers will end up with.
The Challengers used, however, were built without serial numbers and will likely be destroyed.
If you read anyone's first drive of the Caliber SRT-4 last year, you were reading a review of a pilot vehicle similar to the Challenger tested. Likewise, any first drive/initial drive reviews of the Ford Edge that took place in San Francisco during the latter half of 2006 were using pilot vehicles. I was driving full production spec (yet preproduction) Toyota Tundras around San Antonio months before that model was introduced at the NAIAS.
Manufacturers giving magazines access to pre-production cars is not an attempt to hoodwink anyone, it's what has to be done to satisfy the exigencies of print publications' lead times.
Wait, so this is heavier than the charger, and 300c SRT-8s? In many ways, this is going to be the poseriest of all vehicles. It's gonna Harley on 4 wheels.
Quote, originally posted by Rukh »
Listen up, buddy, I've had both - I eat plain bagels with cream cheese all the time, and I know people who've brought me onion bagels to try. I've toasted them both. I've even had poppy seed bagels and bagels and lox with capers. I'll pit your onion bagel against my plain bagel with cream cheese any time anywhere, just meet me halfway.
hahahaha this thread rocks, have any of you ever driven a muscle car? Wispy and lithe they are not
Quote, originally posted by kingrukus »
Definitely off my shopping list.
lol your baby boomer parents are target demographic, so don't sweat it
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Audi's much adored S5 (V8 powered, Quattro) coupe weighs in at close to 3900 pounds, produces less horsepower, costs $16K more, and returns similar fuel economy numbers. I guess "PIG" status depends on what badge a car wears??? You guys need to look at other vehicles in any given car's (size, projected competition, or price range) before leveling any criticism. While I don't think that Dodge intends this car to compete with a $60,000.00 luxury coupe, as a similarly sized and powered vehicle, the Challenger seems to be right on par (weight, performance) with the big German coupes.
Quote, originally posted by ::xander:: »
$40k, it's a 4000lb PIG and although 400hp seems like a lot, I've driven a srt8 300c and I wasn't too enthralled.
the outside is outstanding, but I think they missed the boat big time
Quote, originally posted by justanotherusername »
There are plenty of existing technologies that produce emissions free electricity. There isn't one single technology in the world that produces emissions free gasoline.
This is also about 800 pounds heavier than a 1970 small-block Challenger. I'm sure the new one drives tighter than any E-body, but let's not lose perspective.
Even if you only compare it to the Mustang and Camaro, the Challenger seems like all flash, no substance, at a ridiculous price. Those cars have retro style and large V8s, but they're also good cars with appeal that goes beyond the way they look and sound.
Splinter - Team Post-Killing Ninja My decantering is delicate and courageous.
Audi's much adored S5 (V8 powered, Quattro) coupe weighs in at close to 3900 pounds, produces less horsepower, costs $16K more, and returns similar fuel economy numbers. I guess "PIG" status depends on what badge a car wears??? You guys need to look at other vehicles in any given car's (size, projected competition, or price range) before leveling any criticism. While I don't think that Dodge intends this car to compete with a $60,000.00 luxury coupe, as a similarly sized and powered vehicle, the Challenger seems to be right on par (weight, performance) with the big German coupes.
I'm not a badge whore by any means but even I would get the Audi A5 over this. I like muscle cars, but Chrysler really doesn't seem like they're trying right now. It's a heavy car with a large price tag and sub-par & boring interior. At least Chevrolet is giving the Camaro a unique and modern retro look both inside and out. This is nothing more than an SRT-8 Charger with a different body, so excuse me while I wait a couple more years for a car with some actual thought behind it. The ONLY thing this car has going for it is that it looks a lot like the old one.
Chrysler is really ****ing up right now and this car is further proof of just how bad they are.
We need a TCL Regional Forum so CLICK HERE and vote in favor of it.
Audi's much adored S5 (V8 powered, Quattro) coupe weighs in at close to 3900 pounds, produces less horsepower, costs $16K more, and returns similar fuel economy numbers. I guess "PIG" status depends on what badge a car wears??? You guys need to look at other vehicles in any given car's (size, projected competition, or price range) before leveling any criticism. While I don't think that Dodge intends this car to compete with a $60,000.00 luxury coupe, as a similarly sized and powered vehicle, the Challenger seems to be right on par (weight, performance) with the big German coupes.
The big difference is IT'S NOT a big German coupe. This car needed to be very fast in a straight line, and at 4100lbs the power to weight ratio isn't nearly as good as it should have been. I don't give a rats ass how solid it is, or how much equipment it has, it's too damn heavy for a car with sporting intentions. I was planning on throwing a set of long tubes on the GTO before these things hit the streets, but with that curb weight I'd say the 12.80s my car runs right now are pretty damn safe.
Someone explain to me exactly why this car should cost $40k? It's got an engine that's used in several models, an open diff (which is absurd on a car like this), an interior that certainly isn't high rent, and nothing more than basic gadgetry. I just don't understand what they're thinking with this pricing.
Sure its heavy, lots of power, and the interior is not plush.......It is going for that muscle car feel and it succeeded. The price.......too high. No LSD?? Now that is what really threw me. I still love the look of it.
Someone explain to me exactly why this car should cost $40k? It's got an engine that's used in several models, an open diff (which is absurd on a car like this), an interior that certainly isn't high rent, and nothing more than basic gadgetry. I just don't understand what they're thinking with this pricing.
You sound like an idiot. First, this car uses the same LX chassis as the charger and 300c. In fact, the Challenger is essentially a 2 door Charger. So, with that in mind, it makes complete sense that the two vehicles weigh about the same. And in fact, they do. The Charger weighs 4100 lbs according to the dodge website. So again, what's the problem here? Second, you are getting all blown out by the price of the Challenger? Why is that? You know the Charger srt8 starts at 39k, right? And the Superbee version starts at almost 42k. Why would Dodge charge substantially less for a similar car that's likely similarly equipped as the Charger? Oh, and did you miss the part that an LSD will be coming the next year (2009)? Why are your panties in a bunch?
Now if you said that all the SRT8 cars were overweight and overpriced, that would make a lot more sense. But focusing your efforts on the Challenger SRT8 is like not being able to see the forrest through the trees. Wow.
Tom Current: 94 SLC; 08 XF LTD-6 spd Previous:06 GTI, 99.5 Jetta, 85 jetta coupe (x2), 93 Fox
they need to come down on the price, least with the Mustang you can start them @ 20K...
"I dont wear tight jeans like the white boys"
Quote, originally posted by Fritz27 »
Nah, VW shows have a lot of mean-muggery and douchiness. Everyone is so much cooler than everyone else because they have the OEM Euro Douchenapkin that only comes in the Turkish Golfs made from 97-99.5.
The exterior is very very good looking, so menacing, and really quite effective.
That is about all I have to say though, I am sure it sounds fantastic, and in a straight line, like a highway on-ramp it would be a great time. But for 40k, no LSD, and 4100 pounds of gas guzzling fury, I would not even stop by the Dodge Dealership.
What the hell did the use the Charger steering wheel for?
"Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But we've discovered that owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning. We've learned that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose." - Jimmy Carter, 1978
So wait, you read that the LSD should be available in 2009, right? I'm surprised no one has complained about the lack of manual transmission! But wait, that's supposed to come in 2009 as well!
Tom Current: 94 SLC; 08 XF LTD-6 spd Previous:06 GTI, 99.5 Jetta, 85 jetta coupe (x2), 93 Fox
Late arrival, or even the complete lack of a manual is excusable on a muscle car. A muscle car should have an LSD from job 1, though. That just ain't right.
Splinter - Team Post-Killing Ninja My decantering is delicate and courageous.
Late arrival, or even the complete lack of a manual is excusable on a muscle car. A muscle car should have an LSD from job 1, though. That just ain't right.
So then don't buy it until 2009. I'm not sure what the big deal is? If the car is going to be equipped the way you want it in the future, but not at the current time, for any number of reasons, it's sort of retarded to whine about it. I can see people complaining about something like the GTI not have an LSD, because one will never be offered in this car. Then again, if you are that turned off by it, don't buy one!
As far as 425 hp just to get out of its own way, no one seemed upset that the 300c and Charger have the same weight and engine! And looking at the figures for the SRT8 Charger, it's hardly slow! Barely getting out of it's own way would be putting 160hp in the car. 425hp in the Challenger will be faster than what most people in the CL own.
Tom Current: 94 SLC; 08 XF LTD-6 spd Previous:06 GTI, 99.5 Jetta, 85 jetta coupe (x2), 93 Fox
I dunno, I have 240 pulling 4k pounds and it seems fine enough to me, I would imagine that 425 would be well enough for any mere human*
*carloungers excluded
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The above is an excerpt from the best selling book Band of Boozers, a heroic tale of ordinary alcoholics thrown together in an extraordinary time. Experience this harrowing Wino War II tale as only those that drank it can slurr.
