Car and Driver hates the Challenger

[LarkVille]

Interesting debate, I will say that from a marketing standpoint, the Challenger is marketed to a much smaller market (already mentioned). So it's true, the car is designed for those who REALLY want retro feel, and they're not looking for N-ring agility. Just filthy big muscle with mean horsepower. And it does it's job, the Challenger has serious attitude and reflects 70s muscle perfectly.

But to everyone else, the srt8 is out of reach price wise, chugs gas, and my personal gripe...the interior of the avenger. Actually, that's everyone's complaint.

[Rallysport]

The Challenger represents an American muscle car. That is fact. Thus, Car and Driver will trash it, and ANY American Car. I subscribed to that rag from March 1975 til Jan 2007...I just couldn't take their Euro and Jap bias anymore. To hell with C & D. I could care less what they think.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Even if they liked the Camaro?
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6285

[TheCaptain]

Just another thing with the Chally, it dwarfs my 91 Caprice Classic too! My Caprice is a pinch longer, but has a lower roofline, beltine, hoodline, rear end, and is less wide then the Chally!
I pulled up next to a new R/T in my Caprice and was like, "F@ck is that car huge!" I haven't seen the Camaro in person, but it is reported to be smaller then the ginormas Chally!

[a6pk2go]

I'm not a big dodge car fan but it is a good looking car on the outside. A little heavy though IMHO and pricey.

[MrIcky]

From Car and Driver:

"2009 Dodge Challenger
The Best Reasons to Buy American



2009 Dodge Challenger

We made room for one muscle car on this list, and we use it to celebrate forward thinking as much as lovingly retrospective sheetmetal. The 2009 Dodge Challenger has both.

Built as it is on the same successful LX rear-wheel-drive platform found under the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, the 2009 Challenger is big and heavy, just like the original. But plenty of power can be had to overcome two tons of inertia, including the strong-enough-for-anyone 375-hp Hemi V-8 in the R/T and the SRT8’s 6.1-liter V-8 with 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Better yet, the Challenger is the first car in which we’ll all be able to pair a six-speed manual with Chrysler’s excellent Hemi.

Meanwhile, an independent suspension eliminates axle hop—charming in the ’60s, not so charming now—and enables a surprisingly refined ride. And the retro-styled interior has modern features aplenty, including supportive seats and an available 20-gig hard-drive infotainment system with navigation, something that will make getting around this country we love much easier."

They seem to like the Challenger just fine.

[kevin2323]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

From Car and Driver:

"2009 Dodge Challenger
The Best Reasons to Buy American



2009 Dodge Challenger

We made room for one muscle car on this list, and we use it to celebrate forward thinking as much as lovingly retrospective sheetmetal. The 2009 Dodge Challenger has both.

Built as it is on the same successful LX rear-wheel-drive platform found under the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, the 2009 Challenger is big and heavy, just like the original. But plenty of power can be had to overcome two tons of inertia, including the strong-enough-for-anyone 375-hp Hemi V-8 in the R/T and the SRT8’s 6.1-liter V-8 with 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Better yet, the Challenger is the first car in which we’ll all be able to pair a six-speed manual with Chrysler’s excellent Hemi.

Meanwhile, an independent suspension eliminates axle hop—charming in the ’60s, not so charming now—and enables a surprisingly refined ride. And the retro-styled interior has modern features aplenty, including supportive seats and an available 20-gig hard-drive infotainment system with navigation, something that will make getting around this country we love much easier."

They seem to like the Challenger just fine.

BOOMSHAKALAKKAKAKAKAKAKAK BOOM!

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

From Car and Driver:

"2009 Dodge Challenger
The Best Reasons to Buy American



2009 Dodge Challenger

We made room for one muscle car on this list, and we use it to celebrate forward thinking as much as lovingly retrospective sheetmetal. The 2009 Dodge Challenger has both.

Built as it is on the same successful LX rear-wheel-drive platform found under the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, the 2009 Challenger is big and heavy, just like the original. But plenty of power can be had to overcome two tons of inertia, including the strong-enough-for-anyone 375-hp Hemi V-8 in the R/T and the SRT8’s 6.1-liter V-8 with 425 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Better yet, the Challenger is the first car in which we’ll all be able to pair a six-speed manual with Chrysler’s excellent Hemi.

Meanwhile, an independent suspension eliminates axle hop—charming in the ’60s, not so charming now—and enables a surprisingly refined ride. And the retro-styled interior has modern features aplenty, including supportive seats and an available 20-gig hard-drive infotainment system with navigation, something that will make getting around this country we love much easier."

They seem to like the Challenger just fine.

Thats what happens when you have multiple writers working at a magazine

[MaroMike]

Ok all you Chally hater's , you know who you are , a "boat"!?!?! Compared to the 60's and 70's........."you betcha". I love Sarah Palin!!

However, by today's standard's, read: what people want in an everyday driver, it's spot on. You want to talk about a boat......my 1995 Impala SS. Black of course. THAT, was a boat. A big, 4 door badass boat, w/an LT1 putting out 260 HP/330 lb. ft. stock. But as all Impala SS's from days gone by, was still considered a ..........let's call it a muscle machine. I installed a Callaway intake, redid the exhaust, and got rid of the cat's with GM export pipes right from the GM parts counter.

If memory serves it weighed around 4400 lbs. I put fatter tires all the way around on nicer wheels, and that beast as we called them, would lay rubber with no prob when you stomped on it.

The 9C1 police package was a big step up from stock, that's what the SS was derived from. But even then, most peeps in our club went to Hotchkis springs and sway bars to improve the handling. Still, that didn't make it a track competitor.

My point is, the SRT has 425 hp, it's actually more than that, hauls ass, it's seats are some of the best bar none, 13 speakers sound system blah blah blah.

Like I said before, driving the SRT Track Experience will change a person's mind on what a factory tuned American sport's/muscle car is capable of. Much much more than will ever be needed on the road..........unless someone's an idiot.

Bottom line GM, Dodge, and yes, even Ford have hit home run's with their modern day retro muscle offering's.

Good for us!!

Regards to ALL!!!
Mikey

2008 SRT Chally
2006 Ram 1500 Hemi w/mods
2010 Camaro on deck!!

[Milk 1027]

It's a boat compared to today's standards.
That is my last comment on this thread

[MaroMike]

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

It's a boat compared to today's standards.
That is my last comment on this thread

I respectfully disagree sir, not when cars are sharing platforms. If it was unique unto itself, absolutely a boat. But the Charger and 300 are the same platform.

Regards!!

[Mr. Wyndham]

I can't love the Challenger. I've tried. I even spent an hour on the lot...trying. There's too many things I don't like about it...I can't do it. :(

Luckily, GM built me a Camaro.

[MaroMike]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I can't love the Challenger. I've tried. I even spent an hour on the lot...trying. There's too many things I don't like about it...I can't do it. :(

Luckily, GM built me a Camaro.

Understood budro!! That's what makes the world go 'round. I look inside of a 65k Shelby Mustang, and go.............what's the diff? For that kind of jack........a few badges?!?! But hey, that's just my opinion.


If you spent an hour on the lot, that's more than fair.

C'Mon GM, we're tired of waiting!!!

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by MaroMike

If you spent an hour on the lot, that's more than fair.

...I was staring past the Challenger at a couple of Mustangs for a few minutes....to be brutally honest....then I saw a G8......but the point stands: The Dodge couldn't hold my attention!!