After a weekend in the Challenger, this is what I remember.
1) That cool looking shifter with the retro slant? Yeah, that sucker gets hot in the sun. It's also a little too "damped" for my tastes. It feels good when you're just cruising around, but when you try to rip it, the gates feel too spongy.
2) The tires are a little soft. They make for a comfortable ride, but they feel a little too wobbly when you're on it.
3) A guy walked by the Challenger parked on the street and said the following to his buddy. "Look at the front end of that thing. Now that's tough looking. I bet a guy driving that car would whoop your ass."
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor @ 3,609 miles
slickersdrip says:
04:45 PM, 04/21/09
The Challenger in black definitely gives off an intimidating air.
I originally replaced the shift knob on my SRT-4 with a stainless steel version of the OEM one, but I got tired of leaving a sock on top of it to rid it of the head int he summer--not to mention that it got really cold in the winter. Replaced it with a MOMO leather knob and it's been a great change. Unlike the OEM one it doesn't pull off on a hard shift, too.
randycat99 says:
06:47 PM, 04/21/09
Good point on the metallic shifter! I know people go ga-ga over its look, but I'll never know why more people don't figure out that it turns into a scalding hot torture device during the days of hot sun. This was definitely apparent to me after a short stint of having to move a lot of stickshift 350Z's around, years ago.
More people should realize that metal + gearshift knob is a no-go, unless you live in England. ;)
altimadude00 says:
07:16 PM, 04/21/09
String-back driving gloves = Solution
Talk about retro!
creeper says:
05:05 AM, 04/22/09
how big a laugh did the guy's buddy let out when he said that?
dougtheeng says:
05:52 AM, 04/22/09
I'm definitely curious to try out the pistol-style shifter.
adantium says:
06:42 AM, 04/22/09
haha Nobody could've said that you made that up. lol
estreka says:
12:49 PM, 04/22/09
As painful as metal shifters are in summer, they're far worse in winter. You know that stinging feeling you get when you touch dry ice? That's what my shifter feels like in winter up here.
Mitlov says:
02:40 PM, 04/22/09
You think a Challenger looks intimidating? Ever seen a State Police Charger tearing by you on the highway with all its lights flashing? Man, if I was a baddie, I'd just up and surrender.
Dodge is having a lot of problems recently, but the styling on the Charger and Challenger isn't one of them...
carfreak8394 says:
06:57 PM, 04/22/09
"Dodge is having a lot of problems recently, but the styling on the Charger and Challenger isn't one of them..."
I completely disagree. I find the Charger atrocious looking, and the Challenger isn't much better. I'll take a Camaro/Mustang/Genesis, please.