All photos by Brent Romans
On Saturday, our long-term 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T will attend the 4th annual Spring Festival of LXs, a national gathering of owners of all modern-day LX-platform cars (Challenger, Charger, 300 and Magnum) in Irvine, California. Our Challenger R/T and I got a head start on the partying last night, as the SoCal LX Owners Club hosted the out-of-towners at Beach Burgers in Huntington Beach, CA.
The Beach Burgers lot is small, so even though we arrived a half-hour early, the two-ton lugs were already shoulder to shoulder. Notably, one of the Challengers in attendance was a version of the Speedfactory Vortech Supercharged SRT8 we tested in January.
Finally, we settled for a space in the back lot next to a white Challenger R/T (with black hood decaling) with Idaho plates. Its owner, Robert, had just driven it in from Texas, and it was still warm. Like our Challenger, it had the six-speed manual gearbox. Unlike our Challenger, which sits like a crossover on its 18-inch alloys, Robert's R/T had a pretty nice (read: lower) stance.
Robert said he swapped out the stock R/T suspension bits for SRT8 pieces... purchased from a Challenger SRT8 owner who put on the KW coil-overs as on the Speedfactory car.
"This is my daily driver," said Robert, "but I like to drive quickly sometimes, and the standard suspension is too soft."
His car still has the optional 20-inch chrome wheels, but he has his eye toward a 1970-esque replacement, probably Torq Thrust look-alike wheels from Coys.
Robert, who's studying to be an auto machinist, has also fitted his car with a cold air intake, a larger throttle body, SRT8 headers and an upgraded exhaust, including rectangular quad tips like on the '70 Challenger. These additions are mild, though, compared to what he has in mind after the factory warranty expires: "I'm going to put in a bigger motor with a blower."
Robert likes the pistol grip on the stock six-speed's shifter as much as I do. But he wants shorter throws.
"I'm going put in the Hurst short-throw shifter mechanicals but leave the pistol grip," he said.
(I should note that I'm still a fan of our Challenger's six-speed gearbox after a 1-hour, 45-minute slog from Santa Monica to Huntington Beach. In stop-and-go traffic, its long, easy throws and light clutch are your friends.)
Other than its lower stance, my favorite touch on Robert's white R/T was the '70s-script Challenger badge he added to the grille. It's very old-school, and with this car, there's no other way to play it.
And, if you go to Beach Burgers, order the Frisco Burger, medium rare.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 2,780 miles
cruiserhead1 says:
02:29 PM, 03/27/09
that Challenger script emblem looks fantastic. very nice touch. They should offer that OEM
adavis2493 says:
02:37 PM, 03/27/09
Out of all the Muscle Remakes Debuting (Mustang, Camaro, Challanger), I think the Challenger's exterior is the most well-executed to look like the original model.
If only they could do something about that interior.....
huyracing says:
02:45 PM, 03/27/09
thats literally down the street from my house, you need to inform your fans of any appearances you're gonna make... i would've loved an autograph from Erin Riches!
slickersdrip says:
03:49 PM, 03/27/09
huyracing, you could have gotten her to sign your dashboard, Shelby style.
I am always just amazed how good those Challengers look. I am just this close to ordering a faster, cheaper Camaro 1SS 6 speed with no options... but that Challenger just looks so good it's tempting. There's a dark blue one running around north Austin that I see all the time and drool... and it's even just the V6 model.
cruiser, they do offer those emblems OEM:
http://www.dodge.com/en/2009/challenger/buzz_models/
cwmoo740 says:
09:32 AM, 03/28/09
is there any time of day when it doesn't take an hour and 45 minutes to drive 45 miles? Or is that the norm and it gets worse from there?
Most of these pictures look like something you would see in a Need For Speed game, except with Challengers instead of riced imports.
dougtheeng says:
12:07 PM, 03/28/09
Looks like that was a good time. I love car meets! Thought I'm not sure if I'd buy one over the Camaro, I definitely think the Challenger exterior is awesome. Its just the interior that needs some work! I love that pic of the Chargers - they look so menacing!
qualitycontrol says:
06:55 PM, 03/28/09
Stock SRT-8's will do close to 170 mph with 425 hp, so why does that guy really need to stage 3 supercharge it to 600 hp??? It's almost pointless since traction is going to be damn near non-existent with anything but slicks on it....car still looks awesome though
flyusmc says:
12:16 AM, 03/30/09
"compared to what he has in mind after the factory warranty expires: "
Um....Last time I checked the RT had a LIFETIME powertrain warranty. I could just be me but I would think the original owner would get more value and enjoyment of performing engine upgrades while he was still alive.
All joking aside this is the best looker out of the the 3 American muscle cars.