2009 Dodge Challenger R/T

[SuperEd73]

Hello BITOG,

Anybody out there have a chance to see one up close? Maybe a test drive? Impressions?

Dodge Challenger

With all of the crazy deals Dodge is currently pushing (cash back + 0% financing) it practically looks like a good deal. If I was going to get one it would be an R/T with the 6spd manual.

Ed B.

 

[VNTS]

I rode in an 08 SRT8, very fast and very nice. Friend in car club bought it and had a set of headers and bigger catless dual on it His car was the protoype for the shop.

Took for a ride, car was pulling strong at 140sh when he lifted He got 24 mpg driving from PA to VT.

For the money you cant go wrong. I think I will be looking at one this fall once I get enough cash.

 

[addyguy]

I honestly think a base 6-cylinder coupe would make a neat daily driver. not too crazy, and a little more unique (right now, at least) than a Mustang.

 

[IndyIan]

Hmmm, how much do they weigh? Isn't the SRT8 like 4000lbs?
Would a 6 cyl beat a V6 Accord or Camry in the quarter mile? If so then I guess the V6 would be good enough, I'd just hate to have to back down to guys in a family car...
IMO, if you are going to take all the drawbacks of cars like these you might as well get the benefits.
Oh, I just looked up the price for the V8... 8K more is a little steep, maybe I could swallow my pride at the stop light grand prix for 8k, or go buy a track car or a nice sled.
Ian

 

[c3po]

I have heard that the Challenger with the V-6 is not that fast considering the weight of the car.

 

[Schmoe]

That's a lot of weight for a 6 banger to lug.

 

[SuperEd73]

Yes the Challenger does way around 4,000 pounds. Keep in mind that it's based on the same platform used by the Charger/300 series. The main difference with the Challenger is a shorter wheelbase which is 116 inches. It's actually classfied as a "large" car. Overall length is 197.7 inches. 6cyl Challenger has a curb weight of 3,819 pounds. The R/T and SRT8 are listed at 4,041 pounds.

 

[postjeeprcr]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Hmmm, how much do they weigh? Isn't the SRT8 like 4000lbs?
Would a 6 cyl beat a V6 Accord or Camry in the quarter mile? If so then I guess the V6 would be good enough, I'd just hate to have to back down to guys in a family car...
IMO, if you are going to take all the drawbacks of cars like these you might as well get the benefits.
Oh, I just looked up the price for the V8... 8K more is a little steep, maybe I could swallow my pride at the stop light grand prix for 8k, or go buy a track car or a nice sled.
Ian


I have never seen an accord or camry at a quarter mile track so I think if you took a V6 Challenger to one you would be fine.

 

[zulu]

The V6 Challenger runs the 1/4 in 15.3@91, according to MT. Not fast, but respectable considering its heft.

[censored], back in the muscle car era, low 15s would be competitive, even for V8s.

 

[ViragoBry]

It's a shame Chrysler axed the soft top. It would be a sexy convertible.

 

[IndyIan]

Well, I was thinking for more on the street, 0-60 times. I used to borrow my Dad's 1990 miata and it was amazing the number of people that would want to race, I'm sure because they knew they would win.
It was still very fun driving it, but it was kind of annoying to not run against some pretty average cars...

 

[Steve S]

Thak the second d and e from the name and what is left is Dog.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: SuperEd73
Yes the Challenger does way around 4,000 pounds. Keep in mind that it's based on the same platform used by the Charger/300 series.


I drove a rental Dodge Magnum V6. It was plenty ballzy for me and quite fun to drive. It's got to be a horrible chassis to drive in the snow though.

Joel

 

[firemachine69]

IIRC Challenger doesn't qualify for incentives, at least not up north...

 

[xlt4me]

I've seen them at the auto show and I stopped by a dealer that had one last summer. They were asking about $10k over sticker then. Since then I have seen them sitting... and sitting... on other dealer lots. The reality of the sick economy has apparently set in if they are actually selling them with a healthy discount.

I grew up in the 60's and was a big MOPAR fan back then. I had a 67 GTS Dart and a 68 Formula 'S' Barracuda. If I were to buy one, it would also be the RT with a manual trans. I think it would be a fun nostalgic cruiser. That said, for about the $28k that mine would price out at, I could get a nice use c6 vette. From a performance stand point the vette would eat it's lunch. The RT is just plain too heavy.

I'll be heading to the Chicago auto show in a couple of weeks. I hope they will have ones you can actually sit in this year so I can get a feel for the car. ... Maybe I'll change my mind.

 

[VNTS]

You can get the base SE for 19K out the door with the current Employee Pricing ++. guy on other forum bought one, got the employee price, 1000 rebate and 0% for 48 months.

I priced an RT 6pd for 29500 out the door on their web page.

I think next year they want to put the new Direct injected Pheonix 3.6 which will be rated for 280-300 HP to replace the 3.5 in LY and new gen LX platform.

 

[ViragoBry]

I've been in love with this car since the first concepts broke cover. However, once I sat in it at the last car show, my love faded quickly as I gazed around the cabin at all the ugly, cheap Charger-grade plastics and a very uninspired dash design.

So, it is possible and love your car, but not look inside it....ever?

 

[VNTS]

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder

My wifes mother just bought an 09 Corrolla CE. Bless my MIL but she got hosed about 15K out the door with 02 Saturn trade in with 28K miles, they gave her 2900$. So for 17900 basically she paid for the stinkin Corrolla with a 1.8 and 4spd auto.

The Corrolla has about the cheapest POS interior I have ever scene in a car. What is the lovefest on a Toy interior??? All plastic even the movable stuff like the shift know/lever etc

The knobs, controls everything, absolute junk. I guess in 12K kia I could forgive them but not in 18K $ car.

 

[Mr Nice]

Corolla = a basic car = a basic interior

I am shocked that they 'stole' her trade for only $2900

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
..15K out the door with 02 Saturn trade in with 28K miles, they gave her 2900$. So for 17900 basically she paid for the stinkin Corrolla with a 1.8 and 4spd auto.


That is depressing. The cheap interior on my 2007 Cobalt doesn't bother me in the least. Car was $12100+ tax new. ~$18K is exactly why I stayed away from the Corolla in 2007, although I could have gotten one for more like 15K.

Joel