Test drove a Challenger (I need my Camaro)

[maxdmax]

I have never owned a Dodge and probably never will, but I had some extra time while my Wife was shopping so I decided to take a test drive of a Dodge Challenger SRT8 yesterday. I asked for a manual, but they said they did not have any manual cars and due to the shutdowns they would not have any until March or April. The young salesman (which it turned out to be his first day working on his own) that approached me got his boss and we talked about the car for a while. He offered a test drive so he got the car for us. So the Saleskid and I go driving off in the SRT8. The first thing he said was it was great that someone finally came in to look at a real car and not a minivan. He said he was sick of them already. Since I was from out of town I asked him where we should go for the test drive, he immediately responded by saying turn right so we can find a place to turn this baby loose. As soon we got going he said punch it and I looked at the mileage and it said 10 miles, I looked at the temperature gage and the hand had not even moved yet. You can imagine “a lot went through my mind at that point” but I told him let’s let it warm up a bit and get a little further out of town. I was conservative over the next few minutes but I got to know the car a little and really did not like the automatic, it felt heavy and the Camaro that I have on order was the winner so buying the car was not an option. So at that point the overwhelming thought I could not get out of my mind was “this kid was in for the ride of his life”. Since I am rambling on, I will try to be short. Three hole shots later, a couple of donuts and some fairly fast power slides in corners so here are my thoughts. This care will totally smoke the tires off in 1st gear, this car will beat my 05 Mustang in a ¼ mile easily, it is solid in its feel but this car is HEAVY. It feels like you are going 60 at 100mph. The car road like a much bigger car and this thing would be great cruising at on a trip. The fun factor off the line is by far its best attribute. The Mustang beats it hands down in cornering and the overall fun factor. It is certainly a muscle car, but it is a high speed cruiser as well. The stuff in the middle “cornering, agility and quickness” it just does not have. All I have read and thought about the Camaro tells me Chevrolet may have just hit the sweet spot between these cars if so my bet is we are in for the best car yet!

[MrGazinya]

Originally Posted by maxdmax

I have never owned a Dodge and probably never will, but I had some extra time while my Wife was shopping so I decided to take a test drive of a Dodge Challenger SRT8 yesterday. I asked for a manual, but they said they did not have any manual cars and due to the shutdowns they would not have any until March or April. The young salesman (which it turned out to be his first day working on his own) that approached me got his boss and we talked about the car for a while. He offered a test drive so he got the car for us. So the Saleskid and I go driving off in the SRT8. The first thing he said was it was great that someone finally came in to look at a real car and not a minivan. He said he was sick of them already. Since I was from out of town I asked him where we should go for the test drive, he immediately responded by saying turn right so we can find a place to turn this baby loose. As soon we got going he said punch it and I looked at the mileage and it said 10 miles, I looked at the temperature gage and the hand had not even moved yet. You can imagine “a lot went through my mind at that point” but I told him let’s let it warm up a bit and get a little further out of town. I was conservative over the next few minutes but I got to know the car a little and really did not like the automatic, it felt heavy and the Camaro that I have on order was the winner so buying the car was not an option. So at that point the overwhelming thought I could not get out of my mind was “this kid was in for the ride of his life”. Since I am rambling on, I will try to be short. Three hole shots later, a couple of donuts and some fairly fast power slides in corners so here are my thoughts. This care will totally smoke the tires off in 1st gear, this car will beat my 05 Mustang in a ¼ mile easily, it is solid in its feel but this car is HEAVY. It feels like you are going 60 at 100mph. The car road like a much bigger car and this thing would be great cruising at on a trip. The fun factor off the line is by far its best attribute. The Mustang beats it hands down in cornering and the overall fun factor. It is certainly a muscle car, but it is a high speed cruiser as well. The stuff in the middle “cornering, agility and quickness” it just does not have. All I have read and thought about the Camaro tells me Chevrolet may have just hit the sweet spot between these cars if so my bet is we are in for the best car yet!

[dbotsfordtat]

Originally Posted by maxdmax

I have never owned a Dodge and probably never will, but I had some extra time while my Wife was shopping so I decided to take a test drive of a Dodge Challenger SRT8 yesterday. I asked for a manual, but they said they did not have any manual cars and due to the shutdowns they would not have any until March or April. The young salesman (which it turned out to be his first day working on his own) that approached me got his boss and we talked about the car for a while. He offered a test drive so he got the car for us. So the Saleskid and I go driving off in the SRT8. The first thing he said was it was great that someone finally came in to look at a real car and not a minivan. He said he was sick of them already. Since I was from out of town I asked him where we should go for the test drive, he immediately responded by saying turn right so we can find a place to turn this baby loose. As soon we got going he said punch it and I looked at the mileage and it said 10 miles, I looked at the temperature gage and the hand had not even moved yet. You can imagine “a lot went through my mind at that point” but I told him let’s let it warm up a bit and get a little further out of town. I was conservative over the next few minutes but I got to know the car a little and really did not like the automatic, it felt heavy and the Camaro that I have on order was the winner so buying the car was not an option. So at that point the overwhelming thought I could not get out of my mind was “this kid was in for the ride of his life”. Since I am rambling on, I will try to be short. Three hole shots later, a couple of donuts and some fairly fast power slides in corners so here are my thoughts. This care will totally smoke the tires off in 1st gear, this car will beat my 05 Mustang in a ¼ mile easily, it is solid in its feel but this car is HEAVY. It feels like you are going 60 at 100mph. The car road like a much bigger car and this thing would be great cruising at on a trip. The fun factor off the line is by far its best attribute. The Mustang beats it hands down in cornering and the overall fun factor. It is certainly a muscle car, but it is a high speed cruiser as well. The stuff in the middle “cornering, agility and quickness” it just does not have. All I have read and thought about the Camaro tells me Chevrolet may have just hit the sweet spot between these cars if so my bet is we are in for the best car yet!

This is why I won't buy a new car with test drive miles on it!

[TJ91]

Originally Posted by dbotsfordtat

This is why I won't buy a new car with test drive miles on it!

Thats why i will watch my car come off the truck, no one is malesting my baby

[kanys]

Originally Posted by TJ91

Thats why i will watch my car come off the truck, no one is malesting my baby

Haha yeah same. Thanks for the review, looks like we will be smashing the competition when Camaro's start rolling out of Oshawa!

[SWHCPA]

Thanks for validating my shift from a Challenger to a Camaro.

I had a similar test drive experience with a BMW X3. I'd had an X5 and it was just physically uncomfortable for me to drive. Wanted to check out the new "baby x5" and took one out. The salesguy was a pushy jerk so when he wanted to cruise the freeway, I took a hard left out of the dealership to some back streets that looked and drove like they'd been transplanted from Beirut. I worked that puppy over for about 15 min to really see how it handled and braked compared to the X5. Not a bad ride; but, not worth the $$$, in my opinion.

When the test drive was over, the salesdude asked my lady friend what car she drove. Her response was "a red one."...just to let the guy know she knew he was a jerk also.

Rock on and Merry Christmas to all~!!!!

[SWHCPA]

PS: Watched new Jaguars being loaded on the transport ship at the harbor in Southampton England this August. You heard nothing but squealing tires all the way from the parking structure to inside the ship. Don't worry, your new Camaro will be pampered by everyone that touches the keys.....NOT~!

[MrGazinya]

Originally Posted by SWHCPA

PS: Watched new Jaguars being loaded on the transport ship at the harbor in Southampton England this August. You heard nothing but squealing tires all the way from the parking structure to inside the ship. Don't worry, your new Camaro will be pampered by everyone that touches the keys.....NOT~!

That's great

[BowtieGuy]

Originally Posted by TJ91

Thats why i will watch my car come off the truck, no one is malesting my baby

Except the guy who has to do a PDI and drive the first couple miles.

[fad1]

and you forgot about the interior. you cant tell if you are sitting in a challenger, 300, or charger. Damn, Chrysler has to work on their bland interior.

[RS/SSYellowJacket]

Originally Posted by fad1

and you forgot about the interior. you cant tell if you are sitting in a challenger, 300, or charger. Damn, Chrysler has to work on their bland interior.

I was having some withdrawals myself a while back and went to drive and look at an SRT8. Id say Mad has a fairly accurate description of the Dodge and Mustang both.

Dodge really needs to work on thier interiors I agree. I can not hardly wait to slide into the seatsa of my new baby!!

[franknbeans]

Or the Nitro. . . heck even my 03 srt-4 looked the same as all the rest. . . the biggest turn off from the chally to me was the interior.

[nester7929]

The Challenger is one of the biggest disappointments for me. It's undeniably sexy, but the more info that came out on it the more depressing it became. Too much weight, bland interior, and too expensive. Dodge really dropped the ball on something that should have been completely awesome.

[Rodrunner]

Yeah, that Challenger interior - no thanks. Nice review, Max! I didn't think I was making a mistake picking the Camaro, but hearing your personal opinion of the Challenger is further encouragement I've got it right.