It's often mentioned around our office that the seating position in our 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T is too high -- that the high-mounted seats force you into a chair-like seating position reminiscent of a crossover.
There's little way Chrysler (er, the company formerly known as Chrysler) could have avoided this without major design changes, of course. The Challenger has the same comically high beltline and short glass area as other LX cars. Mount the front seats any lower and it'd be unsafe to drive.
However, I'm here to tell you that I don't mind this seating position a bit. I'm all legs and no torso, so I jack the seat-bottom cushion all the way up and enjoy the view over the big black hood. It's a fine view, it's relaxing, and yes, it's like sitting in some kind of SUV. This setup isn't the least bit true to the original Challengers, I realize, but in nearly all respects, the reborn Challenger is a modern-day homage to the old car, not an authentic, 1:1 copy.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 4,165 miles
slickersdrip says:
05:57 PM, 04/30/09
I can see liking to sit up high, but for someone like myself (6'4" with a 36 inch inseam) I personally like to sit as low as possible in my 1999 Z28. In my mom's Trailblazer SS it's nice to sit up high, though.
wobbly_ears says:
05:58 PM, 04/30/09
There's nothing wrong with high seating position. It is safer. Would you be safer or cool?
Oh, I forgot. It's Chrysler drivers we're talking about. Nevermind.
mikeolan says:
06:12 PM, 04/30/09
You know, I've come to realize a car doesn't have to make sense to be fun, and my guess is the Dodge Challenger is pretty damn fun.
mikeolan says:
06:13 PM, 04/30/09
Also, it reminds me of my old Subaru Forester. The seating position was super high, and lateral forces were heavily exaggerated under even moderate cornering. But it was insanely fun.
subytrojan says:
06:50 PM, 04/30/09
That's partly how Subarus are engineered, mikeolan.
See pages 22-23 of the PDF hyperlinked below (MY2002 Australia WRX technical description)
http://www.subaru-impreza.org/downloads/02%20tecnical%20description.pdf
1speedbike says:
09:56 PM, 04/30/09
High seating position seems cool in a car like that. I'm used to such low seating positions in sports cars, and I like it; but then I transfer to my old Honda Element and it feels so strange (yet awesome) to have the seats that high. It makes me kinda wonder about raising the seats in my 135 (though I'm tall so my head would hit the roof..boo)
johnnyr3 says:
03:27 AM, 05/ 1/09
Erin, you're all legs, heh? [Cleans eyebrows] Soooo...watcha doin' later??
keith69 says:
05:36 AM, 05/ 1/09
Erin, can we get a picture of you in the drivers seat? That would help us to see what you are really talking about. Thanks.
badblackrt says:
06:28 AM, 05/ 1/09
That high seating is what makes the Challenger a truly livable super car!!!!
Not sitting on the floor!!
dougtheeng says:
06:36 AM, 05/ 1/09
Nothing at all wrong with upright seating. Visibility is not overrated.
sabre52270 says:
08:58 AM, 05/ 1/09
You sit high in the Challenger because you want people to see you driving it!
DCuerpoJr says:
11:46 AM, 05/ 1/09
@badblackrt
The Challenger is far from being a super car. It can barely be called a sports car.
It's simply a modern day Detroit Muscle Car....built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada...at least it's still assembled in North America...
desmolicious says:
01:26 PM, 05/ 1/09
"It's simply a modern day Detroit Muscle Car....built in Brampton, Ontario, Canada...at least it's still assembled in North America.."
Engine and transmission manufactured in Mexico.
GT5000 says:
07:13 PM, 05/ 1/09
Last time I checked, Mexico was part of North America.
chuckg says:
06:08 AM, 05/ 2/09
"Engine and transmission manufactured in Mexico."
This is wrong. The engine is built in Mexico, the transmission is built in Indiana.
Get your facts straight before making positive statements.
chuckg says:
06:13 AM, 05/ 2/09
I should say the automatic transmission is built in Indiana.
Wish we could edit.