Is the SRT8 worth it?

[Clucky]

It really depends on what you will be doing...the R/T is nice because it has a lifetime warenty on the trans. The SRT is nice because it is THE performance platform. If you are going to keep it stock then go with the RT. You can get the HP from the RT with a few simple mods and a tune so if you are looking for a car to live with for years to come the RT is the choice. I got the SRT because I plan to make it even faster.

[charger250]

Its all about money. If you dont care about speed, then the SE, or possibly R/T is for you. If you have the money, and want a faster car, the SRT-8 is definatly worth it. Factory headers, Brembo Brakes, etc. SRT-8 is the way to go for sure. If the budjet wont allow, then the R/T is a great way go. If you can afford the SRT-8, then go for it. 90% of us would have the SRT-8 we just cannot afford the payments.

[MentallyChallenged]

OP, my philosophy is this: Go big or go home. You do not want to go through with a purchase and have any regrets. I would have bought the SRT8 if I had more in the budget. The car sits lower, has better engine internals, brembo brakes, different exterior styling, badges all over the car, the seats. The dash cluster is different. etc. etc. I love my 6spd R/T, but I have some buddies with a R/Ts as well and we all envy our mutual friend with the SRT8. There is a lot more in that car than you would think. It is much more expensive, but I'd say it is money well spent.

[Quicktime_GT]

A GT500 will outperform an SRT8, ford's dohc supercharged modular platforms are honestly amazing. THey come out of the box with potential to be ran to 1000hp

[charger250]

Originally Posted by Quicktime_GT

A GT500 will outperform an SRT8, ford's dohc supercharged modular platforms are honestly amazing. THey come out of the box with potential to be ran to 1000hp

With all respect to the GT-500 which is a great car, unless they made serious changes to the suspension for 2010 more power isnt going to help. The current GT-500 cannot fully plant the power it has. Now for me it is totally cool to brake loose the tires in mutiple gears and do mutple donuts, but the suspension just isnt there (with all due respect)

I watched a program that did several track tests of a built GT into a roush stage 3 400+ (something like 425 hp) and it beat the Shelby GT-500 on every test. The Shelby built GT was faster than the GT-500 due to its superior suspension.

With that said dump 700-1000 hp into the car and even if the drive shaft, etc. can handel it, you wont see much performance increase due to its suspension.

I mean no disrespect, and for the record, the 2010 Mustang GT is faster and cheaper than the Challenger R/T, and the 2010 Camaro SS is faster and cheaper than the Challenger R/T, and faster than the 2010 Mustang GT. The mustang GT has less power, and is lighter, so it is faster, BUT....

With its lower weight and lower hp, youd think it would get better gas milage? NO, the heavier, higher power, slower Challenger gets better milage city and highway, plus it seates 5, where as the Camaro and Mustang seates 4.

Although the Mustang GT-500 is faster, than the SRT-8, it would need serious upgrades to handel more power than 500. Shelby found out that with the super snake making 700hp it would twist the drive shaft into a pretsel. I wonder how that driver fealt when his drive shaft twisted underneath him or her.

Each have plusses and minuses. The SRT-8 challenger ma be slower a bit, but it also is a full size family car that fits 5 people with a large trunk, that can be a race car on the weekends, and a daily driver family car durring the week, and driven in the winter time with snow and ice if you are carefull.

[MentallyChallenged]

With all respect to the GT-500 which is a great car, unless they made serious changes to the suspension for 2010 more power isnt going to help. The current GT-500 cannot fully plant the power it has. Now for me it is totally cool to brake loose the tires in mutiple gears and do mutple donuts, but the suspension just isnt there (with all due respect)

I watched a program that did several track tests of a built GT into a roush stage 3 400+ (something like 425 hp) and it beat the Shelby GT-500 on every test. The Shelby built GT was faster than the GT-500 due to its superior suspension.

With that said dump 700-1000 hp into the car and even if the drive shaft, etc. can handel it, you wont see much performance increase due to its suspension.

I mean no disrespect, and for the record, the 2010 Mustang GT is faster and cheaper than the Challenger R/T, and the 2010 Camaro SS is faster and cheaper than the Challenger R/T, and faster than the 2010 Mustang GT. The mustang GT has less power, and is lighter, so it is faster, BUT....

With its lower weight and lower hp, youd think it would get better gas milage? NO, the heavier, higher power, slower Challenger gets better milage city and highway, plus it seates 5, where as the Camaro and Mustang seates 4.

Although the Mustang GT-500 is faster, than the SRT-8, it would need serious upgrades to handel more power than 500. Shelby found out that with the super snake making 700hp it would twist the drive shaft into a pretsel. I wonder how that driver fealt when his drive shaft twisted underneath him or her.

Each have plusses and minuses. The SRT-8 challenger ma be slower a bit, but it also is a full size family car that fits 5 people with a large trunk, that can be a race car on the weekends, and a daily driver family car durring the week, and driven in the winter time with snow and ice if you are carefull.

good post, that was very insightful. I would also like to add that the challenger looks light years better than the mustang. Its a great sports car, but I think it looks a lot less like the muscle car the mustang used to be.

[J_P]

Originally Posted by charger250

and driven in the winter time with snow and ice if you are careful.

Blasphemy!! This car should never be exposed to that kind of abuse!! ;-) Let it keep its toes warm & dry during the snow/ice season.

[charger250]

Originally Posted by J_P

Blasphemy!! This car should never be exposed to that kind of abuse!! ;-) Let it keep its toes warm & dry during the snow/ice season.

So true, but with it being my daily driver my backup is the Caliber R/T AWD. I just grin when my friend parks his mustang GT, drives his v6 4wd truck, and I still get to drive my RWD car durring the winter to work.

[stretch]

Originally Posted by MentallyChallenged

OP, my philosophy is this: Go big or go home. You do not want to go through with a purchase and have any regrets. It is much more expensive, but I'd say it is money well spent.

I have to agree whole-heartedly! I had to give up a few things to get this dream and haven't regretted a moment. Been grinning every since I took delivery, (3 months/3200 miles).
I'm certain the R/T is a blast as well, so I'm not bashing in any way.
I'm not so sure all the extras justifies the price hike, but for me, it was worth it... I'd say if you can swing it, do it and don't look back.
Best of luck on your purchase.

[charger250]

Originally Posted by stretch

I have to agree whole-heartedly! I had to give up a few things to get this dream and haven't regretted a moment. Been grinning every since I took delivery, (3 months/3200 miles).
I'm certain the R/T is a blast as well, so I'm not bashing in any way.
I'm not so sure all the extras justifies the price hike, but for me, it was worth it... I'd say if you can swing it, do it and don't look back.
Best of luck on your purchase.

Well put. Exactly.

[MentallyChallenged]

I have to agree whole-heartedly! I had to give up a few things to get this dream and haven't regretted a moment. Been grinning every since I took delivery, (3 months/3200 miles).
I'm certain the R/T is a blast as well, so I'm not bashing in any way.
I'm not so sure all the extras justifies the price hike, but for me, it was worth it... I'd say if you can swing it, do it and don't look back.
Best of luck on your purchase.

+2 I am still jealous of my buddies SRT8... his car has some serious neck snapping appeal.

[Hemi Rocket]

All I can say is I don't regret my purchasing my SRT8 Chally in any way. It has the retro look I love and have been waiting 35 years for Chrysler to build... As for the talk about the Camaro SS & GT-500 being better at this or that... who gives a crap it's not MOPAR and it ain't packin no Hemi As for power potential being boasted... the Chally with a twin turbo kit is already making over 1000HP. Go on You Tube and check out the Vids from "KRC Performance" and some of the things they have already done with the Challenger. As history is written in this chapter of the pony car wars... 20 years from now... is still going to be the sight and sound of a HEMI Challenger pulling into the car show that raises the hair on the back of your neck and all the brand X'r will still sneak over to take a look at and pretend they are not interested. I know as I have many friends that are Chevy & Ford guys that have told me this! Now to be fair I do like the new Camaro & Ford GT 500... but regardless of what you do to them or how much lighter they are... there not a HEMI Challenger! Nuff Said