Parted ways with my SS last night.

[newmoon]

Well I finally pulled the trigger and parted ways with the SS. First let me say the Camaro was a great car and I really enjoyed driving it. My problem is I think I got a bit carried away with modifications and I found myself dropping way too much money into a car that was losing value quickly due to the mods. It was a no win scenario, the car needed upgrades because of the mods. After going through the stock clutch, wasting money on a garbage replacement clutch, I was faced with dropping another 2k in a quality clutch; I still needed axles, and a drive shaft. Then it was how long would the transmission and rear differential last.


I started thinking that I had done all these mods, spent all that money for what, to gain a few tenths at the track. It really didn’t matter because near stock 5.0s were just as fast. It was time to cut my losses.

When looking for a replacement car the Wife had urged me to please get something that our whole family could fit into for a weekend cruise, she missed that experience she had as a kid. Since I have 3 children and needed seating, the only muscle car choices were Challenger and Charger.

I’d been going back and forth on several Challengers only to have one deal not work out after another. First issues was the lack of any reasonable trade in offer on my modified SS, next Challenger I was set to purchase the dealer told me at the last minute that it was a dealer demo with 2800 miles on it, no thank you.

I had been tempted by a school bus yellow 2013 Boss mustang for sale, I never did take the car on the road as the dealer wanted a firm commitment first but it was nice. At that point my Wife reminded me she wanted a car for all of us.

Yesterday I received a call from the original Dodge dealer. They felt badly that our deal fell through on the first Challenger because they failed to disclose the mileage. He said he had another car he wanted me to look at and he would make it worth my while.
Upon getting to the dealership he pulled out a beautiful header orange 2012 Challenger SRT automatic car. It was loaded with just about every option, and had 8-miles on it. Taking the car on the test drive with a very cool salesman, gearhead. I stomped the car from a red light and ran her hard for a 1/8 mile. I said to him this thing will take my modified Camaro down. The car was a beast. The only thing missing was something to offset the Orange, the dealer agreed to stripe the car for me for nothing, flat black rally stripes. My deal was approx. 4k below MSRP, which I thought was very good. The trade on my SS was 26.5k but there is another $700.00 in tax savings vs. a private sale. Since I purchased the Camaro new for 28k I was essentially out my mod money.

Driving the car home was a joy; it doesn’t have the sport feeling of a Camaro or Mustang but runs harder, if that makes sense. The pull of the 470hp / 470 tq is fantastic, power and torque band perfect. I have no doubt this car will run 12:50s immediately, and I will widdle it down from there. In a stop light to stop light race this car will be hard to beat, traction and automatic transmission get this car off the line quickly. I would say my cammed Camaro would have it’s hands full with this car.

My only planned mods for this car is a CAI and a stickier larger set of street rear tires, it really doesn’t need anything more.

I’ll miss the thumping crackle of my cammed Camaro for sure, but if you have to have 5-seats in a car how can you wrong in a SRT Orange 392 Hemi car.


The reason for buying.

[Stew]

Congrats! Can't wait to see pictures, header orange is a great color!

[BlwnSS]

congrats on the new car , in for pics.

[SPARTAN sui]

I love the look of the Challenger, if they were more readily available in the area I might have went with an R/T. Can't wait to see some pictures!

[toesuf94]

Sounds like a beautiful car...cannot wait to see it.

[SlowSS]

Well congrats on the new purchase! I almost traded mine in for a 2012 Challenger 392 Inaugural Edition (white w/ blue stripes). Only reason why I didn't is it was used with 1200 miles and they wanted a firm 46K. Those 392's are a beast!

[Camarowguy]

You have a cammed camaro....and it's hands would be full with a 12.50 car? You should take it easily with a couple of minor bolt ons. With a cam, I have no doubt in my mine that my car would run 11's at around 117-118mph. I'm not trying to be negative here, but I feel certain there was something wrong with your combo. It should have run a lot better.

[cbass]

I had been tempted by a school bus yellow 2013 Boss mustang for sale, I never did take the car on the road as the dealer wanted a firm commitment first but it was nice. At that point my Wife reminded me she wanted a car for all of us.

Ya....the mustang is even more cramped than the camaro and less family friendly. The Challenger does have more room, but the charger would be a better family car. Just not as good looking as the Challenger.

[MackMan]

That's awesome, I love the look of the challengers. I heard they're heavy though - but that HP is nice definitely for stock! Can't wait to see some pictures!

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by Camarowguy

You have a cammed camaro....and it's hands would be full with a 12.50 car? You should take it easily with a couple of minor bolt ons. With a cam, I have no doubt in my mine that my car would run 11's at around 117-118mph. I'm not trying to be negative here, but I feel certain there was something wrong with your combo. It should have run a lot better.

I agree my 12:20 best in the car was dissapointing, I am not blaming it on the power the car made, I blame it on me not being able to launch the car correctly at the track. I was running drag radials and after smoking the clutch on the 12:20 pass I was hesitant there after to launch it hard fearing what would break next another clutch or axles. Could it have run an 11 maybe with the right driver and no fear of breaking things..

If you do a little research you will find most cammed combinations LS3 5th gens are running low 12s. A few have gone into the 11s though, the ones who are for the most part are automatic cars.

On the street wearing street tires I think this Challenger takes my Camaro, while my Camaro would be spinning the Challenger would be gone.

[cbass]

On the street wearing street tires I think this Challenger takes my Camaro, while my Camaro would be spinning the Challenger would be gone.

The 392 Challenger is a beast. The motor is pretty amazing.

[DanSS24]

Why not wait for the Chevy SS sedan. V8 RWD 4door. Renderings look nice and you can take your wife and kids in it in comfort. Just not sure if it will have more hp than a Charger, but it will have a LS engine.

[2ndCamaro79]

Originally Posted by DanSS24

Why not wait for the Chevy SS sedan. V8 RWD 4door. Renderings look nice and you can take your wife and kids in it in comfort. Just not sure if it will have more hp than a Charger, but it will have a LS engine.

I am really wanting to take a GOOD look at the Chevy SS (but GM is soo slooow with getting cars to market) but there is really no REAL pics of it or HP ratings. To the OP did you look at the 300 SRT8? I drove a 09 300 SRT8 and it was a beast!

[Blue Menace]

Nice! How's that awesome steering wheel treating you?