No manual transmission?

[romac]

I looked on Dodge's site and it doesn't look like there's going to be a manual tranny option for the V6...are they serious? I won't be able to get a Challenger for a couple to four years yet (just traded my Ram in on an 09 Toyota Matrix for the wife and can't afford another brand new car yet) so I have the benefit of browsing a used Chally market etc, but if I buy new I was going to go with the 3.5 SE for the much lower entry level costs.

I love Mustangs as well and was planning on getting an 05+ GT as my next car, but then I saw Dodge finally got their pricing up on the Chally and I'm willing to take the hit in performance for the 3.5 because the Challenger looks so damn good. I seriously have not wanted a car so bad since I turned 16.

Guess I'll wait and see, an auto tranny could be a deal breaker for me. There'll probably be lightly used R/Ts in my price range by then (fingers crossed), but they better be decent on gas or I'll stick with the 3.5. I know the Hemi Chargers are getting similar gas mileage to their V6 counterparts so here's hoping.

[gn300]

Worse still ,the folder i got from the dealer listed the 3.5 with a 4 speed auto!

Does that mean no auto stick as well ...boooo!

[Doctor No]

The buyer's guide says it's an Autostick so I am hopeful...

http://www.dodge.com/en/pdf/buyersgu...enger_2009.pdf

It boggles the mind that the 5 speed manual or the 6 speed Autostick was not made available just for the fuel economy ratings alone.

I'm bringing my Avenger in for service next weekend and will check on the status of my order ('09 Dark Titanium Metallic SE, popular equipment package, sound group, leather and compact spare) as well as if they have any word on dual exhausts.

[romac]

Meh, I don't like the autosticks in cars. If it was the DSG kind that VW etc have I'd be ok with it, but the autostick is still kind of mushy in most cars. Plus nothing replaces clutch feel

I think Dodge is really missing the boat by not offering a manual trans with the 3.5. A stylish coupe with a 250 hp 6, rwd, and a manual transmission is an awesome entry level sports car. I heard once that over 90% of cars in America would be automatics by 20xx year, I guess thats true. The general public just isn't interested in banging gears anymore.

[adaptabl]

The V6 Challenger is going to get its a?? kicked by the V6 Camaro. The camaro looks better, Has a modern high performance V6, better tires and a standard 6 speed manual transmission.

[oilmanpaul]

The entry level Camaro has a 300 hp direct injected V-6 (like the CTS) and a choice of 6 speed manual or auto. So...50 more hp and 2 more gears.....not good for Mopar fans. I am waiting for my R/T to arrive, but drove a Challenger SE V-6 that just arrived at the dealer. I was disappointed with the accelleration. It stickered out at $26 with quite a few options. The R/T with Tremec 6 speed is about $4k above that and alot faster.....Might be worth considering.......Just a thought if you're concerned with performance and want a manual....

[Doctor No]

That's the point....if you are concerned with performance, you are NOT buying an SE. I am looking for a stylish, comfortable ride for the 36,000-40,000 miles per year I commute. MDS works great as long as you can keep your right foot off the gas pedal. If you want and get a HEMI, your foot won't get off the gas pedal.

I owned a 2006 Charger SXT with the 3.5. More than adequate performance, nice highway ride and around 25 MPG highway on mid-grade gas. I also had the opportunity to drive the 5.7 with MDS for a few weeks. Really nice performance and 18 MPG on premium gas. That is why I will have a 2009 dark titanium metallic SE in my driveway (if my June 14 order ever gets past BG status).

[gn300]

I would assume that the transmission that they are using in the rwd Nitro (six speed) would or could,be adapted to, work in the challenger!

It's not like they would have to make a new one or "waste" a viper tranny with a v-6 anyway.

why isn't dodge using the bigger and more hp 4.0 that os in the new pacifica its the same design as the 3.5?

[deserthorizons]

Originally Posted by Doctor No

The buyer's guide says it's an Autostick so I am hopeful...

Ok, so what is the difference between an 'Autostick', and an automatic.?

or is the autostick a new name for 'slapstick'.?

[Doctor No]

It is Dodge's name for an automatic transmission you can place in "manual" mode and upshift/downshift without a clutch (as opposed to PRND2L). Unfortunately, the newer brochures and my order sheet just refer to the 4 speed as an automatic transmission. I fear it will be the same 4 speed automatic that was in the base Magnum....without "autostick".

[gn300]

Auto stick goes waty further than a slapstick.

Spapstick was the shifter only ,there was a spring that held pressure to the locks in the shifter that allowed positive upshifts of the tranny without fear of "missing"a gear!

Push the button and pull back and get positive one at a time downshifts!

slapstick...purely machanical!

Autostick ... electronicly controlls shifting up and down by "activating "autostick mode .

push the lever to th right (i think) controlls upshifts,pull the lever to the right and you downshift!

Also being electronic the "brain" can shift to protect the trany if it over revs'

best of all it firms up the shifts considably.

Autostick ...electronics!

[SRT8500]

Originally Posted by gn300

Auto stick goes waty further than a slapstick.

Spapstick was the shifter only ,there was a spring that held pressure to the locks in the shifter that allowed positive upshifts of the tranny without fear of "missing"a gear!

Push the button and pull back and get positive one at a time downshifts!

slapstick...purely machanical!

Autostick ... electronicly controlls shifting up and down by "activating "autostick mode .

push the lever to th right (i think) controlls upshifts,pull the lever to the right and you downshift!

Also being electronic the "brain" can shift to protect the trany if it over revs'

best of all it firms up the shifts considably.

Autostick ...electronics!

Dead on !! You can of course over ride "the brain", and choose your own time to shift with the predator, by disabling the over rev function.