Test drove a new Challenger R/T yesterday..

[WinterHawk]

In a word... impressive..

So I went into the Ford dealership yesterday morning and got one of my 3 month oil change, got a $17 coupon from Ford in the mail and used that.. only $25 total!!... I don't put on enough mileage on my ride to go the mileage route for oil changes.. my baby is almost 16 months old and the odometer is just 50 miles shy of 5k. Anyway, it was kinda a surreal morning..

Stopped by my credit union and cashed a few rebate checks, no waiting in line what so ever.. took my stang to one of those brushless car washes to give it the once over, and no waiting... pulled in to the dealership and there was literally nobody there except me! Hardly anyone on the road either... it was weird in a SciFi kinda way weird...

Anyway, the Ford dealer I went to this time, not my normal one I go to... is surrounded by Chevy on one side, and Dodge on the other... fun to be able to walk around all 3 and just look while I'm waiting... so I walk over to the Dodge side and check out 4 Challenger R/T's in the lot... nice, the MSRP stickers were anywhere from $31k to $38k. All of'em automatics... Salesman came out, he was about my age or so and we just shot the bull and he took me for a test drive in a nice gray colored challenger R/T and showed off the ESP system, it's sorta like the my Mustangs TCS but the ESP has stability control. The road between the Ford and Dodge dealer is a dead end with a circle at the end of it, and is probably a littler more than a 1/4 long or so... took me down it full throttle.. Really nice ride... but the stock rear-end in the automatics is only a 3.09 or something like that.. lots more room inside and nice dash and interior in general. If I could afford it, I'd get me one in red to match my stang.. but I'd get the 6-speed manual and leather seats.

First impressions, I think we're almost talking apples to oranges here. The Challenger as I mentioned is much larger inside and out than my Mustang GT/CS as well as weighs a little more. Got'a say though the ride was "different" than my GT/CS, can't pinpoint what exactly was different though, though I know the Challenger has a independent rear and my GT/CS has a solid axle. I can say though, my GT/CS sounded better than the stock R/T, of course I have upgraded my exhaust and purely based upon seat of the pants dyno and the road test... my GT/CS would eat up a stock R/T, maybe not on the top end, but my 3.55 stock gears and 5-speed really made a "feel" difference between the R/T's auto and 3.02 gears in a 1/4 run or stop light to stop light check... Not knocking this particular R/T, but I think I'd get the 6-speed version, upgrade the rear end gears to 3.73's or so, and get better, beefier after market exhaust.

And based upon what I saw, I think the wife would like it much better for a daily driver than my stang... with the automatic and the different ride.. it has a lot more creature features than my Mustang.. though I do have the Mustang's Interior Upgraded Package with both front seats 6-way power and heated as well and some other nice things.. Dodge did this one very well.. schweet ride Now only to figure out how to buy one and keep my Mustang too.

[TaylorSF]

The GT/CS is a sweet ride.
Believe it or not though, as slow as the RT launches, it will leave it a few tenths behind in the quarter stock for stock.

[WinterHawk]

Originally Posted by TaylorSF

The GT/CS is a sweet ride.
Believe it or not though, as slow as the RT launches, it will leave it a few tenths behind in the quarter stock for stock.

Thanks, though the CS package is strictly cosmetic as far as an option goes. And I agree with ya, stock vs stock, they'd run real close and would depend a lot on the drivers skills. Though mine is not completely stock as I have a custom 93 octane dyno tune, C&L 95mm CAI, and Pypes Street-Pro mufflers... and she'll do high to mid 13's in the quarter. Don't matter though.. I'm into them because of the retro styling and reliving my youth.. Unfortunately, I still haven't seen one of them on the street yet and would chase it down to just get some pics of a Challenger and my Mustang side by side. Can't say yet though, if I feel the same way about the new Camaro coming out...

[Sugarprobe]

I just sold my 07 GT last night to pay for my 09 chally RT 6 spd with 3.92 rear end. Went for a boot side by side against my stang before I sent it down the road and They are very close. Granted my stang had 94 oct tune , C&L intake with pypes muffler delete and carbon fiber ram air hood. But it gave the new girl a good run. I wouldn't have cared if the stang left me in the dust I just love the chally with the 6 spd. My stang was taking SRT8's light to light but not in top end. Cheers all

[TaylorSF]

yep, the mustangs GTs, even stock, tend to launch better than the Challys. Its physics man, just harder to get going. And the mustangs have a great aftermarket.

"she'll do high to mid 13's in the quarter."

Yep, and thats with mods, tune, etc.

People seem to forget an RT will do mid to LOW 13s stock, even the auto.

I am not sure where all the "GTs are faster" nonsense comes from. Some are claiming their faster than an SRT.

When all is said and done, the challenger looks great, and stock GTs are not even a threat to the RT. Although your GT500s are a totally different animal that our out of the chally leauge.

And,
as someone that likes all three and can be objective,
I think an SRT will be hard pressed, let alone my RT,
when it lines up nest to a 31 thousand dollar base SS camaro.

Things are going to be fun again!

[allhemi]

When I get my challenger I will be one of the guys that will be able to tell you how they compare as I just traded a 2008 mustang GT in on my challenger R/T So when I get it and drive it in the real world I'll let you guys know whats going on! The mustang was a great car but after the test drive in the R/T I think the challenger is as good if not better than the mustang.

[Sugarprobe]

The Stang GT is a very nice car. I will miss it. Best bang for buck. But after the first drive in the chally, well....Here I am and the stang is gone. lol. It won't take much to get the RT to 400 hp. Cold air and tune should pretty much do it. I too like all them (STANG, CAMARO & CHALLY ) But if the camaro gets built come feb and one pulls up next to me to race I don't think I'll bother. Those things should be stupid fast. More hp & lighter and lets face it GM knows how to make their cars launch too. Anyways everyone here seems super great and I am happy for all who got one or are getting. If you haven't driven one and are not sure if it's worth the extra over a stang. Do yourself a favor and go down drive em both I think it will be a no brainer. Unless the big car bothers you.?.? Cheers

[WinterHawk]

Other than the various magazines doing tests and writeups, this is all of course just bench or paper racing as it were and of course we all take it to the track, right

Regardless, all of the new american muscle out and coming out is really nice to see once again... unfortunately the big 3 and the economy are doing really lousy and it may all end even before it gets started once again.

Though my test drive was short, I like the new Challenger, it's a different "ride" than my Mustang... again, almost like apples to oranges to some degree.. but the retro styling of both are right one.. there will always be something or someone faster.. but it don't matter to me, I'm enjoying the eye-candy that these 2 schweet rides bring to the street once again. Only wish I could afford to own one of each.

[TaylorSF]

no paper racing here. half a dozen trips to the track in the RT.

My first couple of trips showed some serious rust, and some embarrasing 14 secondish times.

I have ran 13.6 with the ESP on and just floor it.

I have matched that with ESP off plus some 13.5s and 13.4. And that is with not mods at all. Totally stock.

That was in quite a bit warmer weather. I really think I can hit 13.25 in colder weather.
Totally stock still.

Sure, you can floor it with ESP off and run a 13.9 to 14.5 with lots of wheel hop, bad track prep, hot lapping, etc.

But when all is said and done, you can get 60fts under 2 seconds if you lauch it right, which is what buys you a 13.5 or lower in the RT.

I think exhaust and a CAI are where high 12s will come from in the RT. SRT will do it stock.

Many an 05 and up GT with CAI, tune, etc. have lined up and not beat my ETs.

On the other hand, guys can take a ten year old GT, slap a super charger on there, and have some serious low priced speed.

The fourth gen camaros and firebirds are not slow either, especially with mods. As a chally owner I hate to say it, but I think 41K SRTS are flat out going to get owned by 31K 1SS camaros. And some guys are buying 5 year old vettes and doing some serious runs at the track for less than the cost of an RT.

[WinterHawk]

As I mentioned I haven't seen any on the road or track around her yet. I know the 05 and above 3v 4.6 Mustangs responds well to bolt-ons, as I'm sure the 5.7 hemi will too. And I've seen a few factory freaks totally stock at the gaineville raceway with a good driver get the a few of the factory freaks at the track into the low 13's too.

And like you said, slap a turbo or S/C on them and they'll turn 12's all day. And like you say, 31K 1SS camaros will probably be screamers. But, to me, half of the car is styling, and I don't particular care for the Camaros that much, have not seen one in person yet. Heck, you can take one of those old Chevy Vega's, slap in a big block and run all day in the 11's or 12's, but they are butt ugly, LOL

[TaylorSF]

"But, to me, half of the car is styling, "

damn straight , i love the look of the challengers

"Heck, you can take one of those old Chevy Vega's, slap in a big block and run all day in the 11's or 12's, but they are butt ugly, LOL"

too funny!

[davidstan]

Now that we have a few miles on the r/t's especially the autos they get faster w/ 1000 miles or more. Hard to compare one off the lot to a gt that is broken in.