2009 Dodge Challenger R/T: Where Does the "Key" Go?

Something about this picture really instills the idea that the interior is poorly put together and cheap. I'm sure Sadlier can give it the 3rd degree and include the ride somewhere in there too.

"It's a small gripe, but it's one I face every single time I get in the car."

This may be the smallest gripe I've ever seen in these blogs.

Que the microscopic violins.

brn-

annoying is annoying... the little things can add up no matter how insignificant they seem on their own...

I think his point was that it's a pain to put the key back in your pocket once you're seated in the car and there's no permanent place to store the now useless key once the vehicle has been started.

This is a legit gripe IMO. Why would you offer push button start but not offer true keyless entry? stupid. Leave store w. key in pocket small child one one hand and bag in the other. Touch door handle.. car unlocks.. sit down.. push button, off you go with no fumbling. That is good. Leave store w. key in pocket/purse small child one one hand and bag in the other. fumble for fob to unlock door.. car unlocks.. put fob back in pocket.. sit down.. push button.. off you go. Sound like they wanted to check off "push button start" on the features list but didn't want to go all the way. This dodge version and the VW version are great examples of why some people hate these systems. Nissan, Toyota, Mazda and many others really figured it out and made the technology convenient and functional.

If we had electronic implants that are similar to keyless entry/start in our hands, we wouldn't need to worry about keys or putting things in our pocket.

This remote has a range of at least 30 feet. You can't slip it back in your pocket within that distance?

I would complain that Dodge uses the same fob for the Challenger as the Caravan. Look at all those blank spots! It's wasted space. It's ugly. The Challenger should have it's own special fob! And it should have a carabeener clip to attach it to a belt loop...because it would be a shame to put the special Challenger fob in a pocket!

cx7lover - I was going to say the same thing. The pic makes it look like the interior is made of hard plastic. Cheap hard plastic. That's kind of disappointing.

If it really that much of a problem,you can take the button off completely and use the ignition with the key. I'm not kidding.

This seems like one of those things that might bother people who drive a different car each day, but wouldn't bother an owner in the slightest.

Link: http://www.autodealertools.com/quickQuote/manuals/2009/Challenger.pdf

Cheap hard plastic..... Yep, it's a Chrysler product.. Just like the $40000 Dodge Caravan they just wrapped up.

Plus that key fob is probably the cheapest thing Chrysler could come up with. I have never seen a key fob with so many unused buttons. It's the same fob they use on the minivans for all the doors and liftgate, but they just blank out those buttons, and you end up with an oversized generic key fob.

Get with it Chrysler these details matter!

Ah, push-button start without a back-up system in place that uses a key.

Let me guess, same B.S. as with the Nissan Altima? Fob gets wet, you drop it too hard, nearby radio signals... and the Fob malfunctions to the point that the push-button starter doesn't work; and so leaves you stranded with an otherwise perfectly functional car. Nice!

I love how nearly every car magazine writer praises this worthless feature. Push-Button start... The answer to a problem that never existed.

A keyfob, btw, that they copied from Mercedes.

Two things: First, frazier500 is right. See my most recent post confirming this: http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/04/2009-dodge-challenger-rt-heres-where-the-key-goes.html

Second, he's got a point that this is a gripe more applicable to those of us who switch cars every day. An owner could learn to adjust simply by removing the button (as I did) or by putting the key back in his or her pocket after unlocking the car. The latter solution, however, seems rather self defeating since keyless start is, after all, a "convenience" feature.

There's an elelment of personal bias here, I'll admit. I'm particular about where I put the keys and I certainly don't want them floating around in the cabin.

I am glad you can take the push-button out, but carguy622 is right. Why does it have so many unused buttons. How hard would it have been to come up with a new fob or challenger fob? If you pay $30 some K for the car, couldn't a few extra dollars get you a better fob/key?

stangmatt66, how, exactly, is it "copied" from Mercedes if they were part of the same parent company when this platform was developed? a platform, I might add, that's a derivative of the old E-class platform?

wtf are those 3 blank buttons used for??

"wtf are those 3 blank buttons used for??"

As others have said, it's the Grand Caravan key, which has a 2 slots to open the sliding doors, and one slot for the liftgate. It's extremely sad that they didn't design a new key fob.

reach into your pocket, locate unlock button (you will become familiar with which button is the unlock button over time), press it. car unlocks. you climb in. press the ignition button, and car goes "vroom".

note: key never leaves pocket.

problem solved. quit whining.

My friend, your not very bright are you?

Remember this is not a tuner car. Its a retro, did the 70 Challenger have a hand brake?

Your the senior editor? Who is the junior editor
a Monkey?

That fob looks like a grenade to me. : )

It looks like a Benz Smartkey only at the very tip where it is inserted. It's MUCH uglier and cheap looking than a Mercedes Smartkey.

HArd plastics and a "cheap" looking keyfob- this car is crap. What could be more important in a V8 powered coupe than plastics and keyfobs? Nothing that I can think of.

I agree with 1487. This car is utter crap. I can't believe they put in such terrible plastic and a keyfob designed for a minivan.
You should return the car to Chrysler headquarters for a refund and a free massage and manicure.

The reviewer should also be sure to note that they will be called upon to perform numerous other menial and unreasonable tasks prior to driving away such as:

-opening door using handle mechanism
-getting into driver's seat
-closing door
-reaching over to fasten the seat belt
-actuating the gear select lever
-looking over the shoulder to ensure nobody/nothing is occupying your path as you unpark

Certainly, Chrysler should have been able to make all of these things happen telekinetically or via some option package involve The Force, but it is what it is. (Alternatively, open the door with your remote, replace remote back into pocket, get in car, stop whining.)

Me thinks, the reviewer has simply run out of interesting things to blog about for this car, and is henceforth scraping the bottom of the barrel to eek out another 1 or 2 mins beyond the original 15 min of fame. Just throw the towel in, and move on to the awaited Camaro blog, I say...

(...or come up with some decent journalism for the Challenger, like how you took it to the twisties so you could describe how well it hugged the road, what's the best mileage you experienced on a long hwy trip, how good is the pickup and passing power while at speed on the hwy, have you noticed much difference in hooking-up at launch between winter temperatures and spring/summer temperatures, how good/bad a match are the oem tires, what pros and cons have you experienced using the autostick, how well does the auto trans keep you in the powerband while in aggressive mode, or if it is a manual- how friendly is the clutch feed-in to aclimate to, how good does the clutch feel after a few thousand miles of spirited driving...you know? interesting stuff about the car?)

Whats wrong with you people going on & on over a fricken key fob????????? WHO CARES!!! The car looks great & if theres ONE person out there whos stupid enough to buy a car because of the FOB i got some ocean front property in Utah for sale!