2009 Dodge Challenger R/T: The Textcast

I have to disagree with Mike. The Challenger is one badass looking car. Go ahead. Try talking about it without saying badass. It might not be the most fleet-footed V8 powered coupe on the market, but it more than makes up for that deficit with sheer presence. If this sounds vain or superficial, I'd argue that choosing a car starts with looks. It's hard to consider a car you'd be ashamed to be seen in. If Chrysler was synonymous with reliability and wasn't bankrupt, this car would be on my short list.

The Challenger is a cool car to look at, not to own. I sure as heck wouldn't. Not my kind of car, and everyone would think I'm trying to hard to be cool.

Hah, Magrath was on fire!

OK, so the Challenger with a 5.7 liter V8 and a stick is about as quick as a 335d--a DIESEL automatic with about the same usable interior space and 2x the mpg.

The Challenger is a handsome car, but I liked it less after I sat in one.

Didn't the long-term Challenger run a 5.5 0-60 time?

That puts it equal to the 0-60 times Edmunds got for the 650i and CL550, which are both closer to the weight and size of the Dodge than the little 1-series.

"OK, so the Challenger with a 5.7 liter V8 and a stick is about as quick as a 335d--a DIESEL automatic with about the same usable interior space and 2x the mpg."

A whole lot cheaper and better looking though.

It also has more street appeal. Everyone notices a Challenger rumble by. No one looks twice at a 3 series anymore.

There's no complaints in there that can't also be levied at the Mustang or Camaro. Although I like the way the Challenger looks, I also see that it is damn silly. I think that's mostly caused by the size. Give me a Challenger at .75 scale and I'd be in love.

As is I'd still take one over a Z. That car just doesn't have soul to me.

So, your biggest problem with this car is that it looks like an american car? You really shouldn't be reviewing cars with that kind of bias. Seriously.

Well done, gentlemen! Funny stuff!!! =Þ

Come on, uncanny, not all American cars have proportions so out of sorts. I'm with Magrath. This car tries a little too hard to be cool. I kind of feel sorry for it.

I'm with Magrath, slightly. I'm not so hardline about it, but I find the Challenger retro for the sake of retro. It has to copy its past because that's all it has. The Camaro and Mustang, on the other hand, nod to their past because they've developed nicely. They're modern, but they stayed true to what they were originally about too.

Also, I can't get on board with the Challenger because the wheels and interior are no different than any other Chrysler. There is no sense of occasion, nothing special once you get past the reproduction kit car exterior.

I agree completely. I was ready to like this car; then I saw how big it is, how unrefined everything about it is, and how bloody expensive it is. It also doesn't post great numbers for handling or acceleration. This thing is a golf club carrier for old fogies re-living missed opportunities. It's kinda pathetic.

In my opinion, this thing is like a powerful cruiser bike instead of a sports bike, and that's perfectly okay. It doesn't try to pretend to be anything other than a dodge challenger, and I can respect that. It is a large, comfortable, powerful, relatively efficient and distinctive coupe, so I don't know why Magrath or anyone else would seemingly loathe it so much. I'll take this over an accord coupe or many other of the more practical sporty cars.

Magrath is bang on. Sadlier is off the reservation. The Mustang, Camaro and even the Genesis Coupe embarrass this thing. Edmunds should have gotten one of those instead of the Challenger.

Hell, I'd wager any Nissan/Infiniti with a 3.X in its name would probably leave it for dead. So what have you got? A dog who's bark is more "badass" than its bite. "Desperate" is very apt.

Chrysis is so far behind the curve it's not funny.

Haha. Funny stuff!

I'd still buy one.

The comment about it being "geared wrong" because it takes two shifts to get to 60 is dumb. 60 mph is arbitrary and irrelevant. It's time to use 0-70 and 0-80 as performance benchmarks. 70-0 braking tests are far more relevant, and catching on in popularity, it's time to do the same with acceleration tests. But in the real world, all I care about re: gear spacing is whether it "feels" right, stays in the power band. This is a cruiser, not an S2000, we won't be going anywhere near the redline in real life. They probably used a very low 1st gear to help that fat pig jump off the line. If that's the case, I wouldn't expect 2nd to take it all the way to 60. And who cares? if I'm going balls-out from a standstill, I probably won't stop at 60 mph.

Anyway, the more I look at it, the more I think it's too tall. Hips are too big. Lowering would help, and bigger wheels perhaps. By the time you get done fixing it with mods, you will have spent enough to just get the SRT in the first place.

It was like watching a mongoose fight a slug. Magrath is a gun slinger, like Roland himself, with those texts. We'll have to start calling him the Devil's paint brush, because he's rapid fire all over the place. Machine gun Mike.

Good stuff, guys. Funny, entertaining. I love these.

I picked-up my ordered black Challenger R/T about 10 days ago. It is strange to be on Edmunds and see pictures of my car.

I have never owned a car with this much presence. Camera phone pics, looks, thumbs up, questions, even buying gas can be a chore.

I'm a member of a forum devoted to the Challenger. This car is being bought by people in all age groups and income brackets. You'd be surprised at the number of girls buying this car. Also lots of military people and police officers.

Some people are using their cars as daily drivers but I'd have to say that most are bringing the car out in nice weather and just go cruising. Because of this and other factors you will never see Challengers on every corner.

The Challenger is a big car. I personally like big cars. I've never bought a small car and never will.

To me my Challenger is a cruiser. And at 25mpg on the highway with a big powerful V-8, it just doesn't get any better than that.

People that don't "get" the Challenger don't own one and probable couldn't afford one. This car is not cheap. I ordered my car in February at employee pricing and it still cost plenty.

Get this. One member over on the Challenger forum was at the dealership having mods installed. A guy comes over to him and asks if that was his car. He says yes. The guy says he's buying one as well. And what does this guy drive. A Maybach!! And now he has a Challenger to go with it.

I could go on and on about the Challenger. If you get the opportunity to pick one up just do it. The Challenger experience is too good to pass on.

I LOVE my Challenger!!

compliance -- I'd have to contend you comment that the Nissan Z has no soul. Nissan Z-cars have a longer production history and better track record than Dodge Challengers. Just because they don't cruise Woodward Avenue, lay down carpets of rubber, and burble into the nearest sock-hop soda shop doesn't mean the Z-cars aren't without a soul.

I still enjoy this car and I'd still buy one. It has presence, and I don't find it goofy/sad at all.

I don't get how the Camaro would get a pass whereas the Challenger is a no go.

"People that don't "get" the Challenger don't own one and probable couldn't afford one. "

Chuckg, I agree with most of the comments in your post but the above is an idiotic statement.

Dougtheeng- Do you own a Challenger? I hope so. The Challenger is a very special vehicle.

chuckg: no I don't....but I can assure you its not because I can't afford one.

I "get" the challenger - I'm just pointing out that your statement about not "getting" the car because one cannot afford it is ridiculous logic. Its not even logic.

dougtheeng- I was just taking a dig at the haters, that's all. It's all good. :)

"People that don't "get" the Challenger don't own one and probable couldn't afford one."

I don't "get" why anyone would buy a Versa, I can afford one of those, though. I don't "get" facial tattoos, again, I can afford one.

It's about taste, perception and execution, not cost.
-mm

I agree... Magrath should have a video camera keeping a close eye on him at all times. I'm sure we can find a couple of nice, strong, men in white coats to help out with that. :P

Seriously though, the new Challenger is far from embarassing. It's a chick magnet. (Hell, it's a guy magnet too). Everyone is drawn to it, like moths to a flame. It's not sad or outdated. Some things are cool forever. They're timeless. Like a leather jacket, you put on a muscle car; and it gives you instant cool points. Cars don't age like people. There's no such thing as bald muscle cars.

Muscle cars aren't like the sad dude who cruises the high school parking lot years after having graduated. They're like the girls who inhabit the high school parking lot after class lets out for the day... Years go by, but THEY stay the same age. Same with muscle cars... THEY'LL always stay cool.

"People that don't "get" the Challenger don't own one and probable couldn't afford one."

LMAO! What a joke!

The way Chrysis's sh%t is hitting the fan right now I bet by the end of summer I'll be able to afford TWO!

I dunno... Magrath reminds me more of Kevin Ryder -- they'd both be annoying to work with. :P

(Pardon my obscure SoCal reference.)

Wow, that whole thing was pitiful!!!

Obviously your impressions of the Challenger are personal and very much the minority!!

There is no disputing that this car was a Car Show Darling since it first appeared.... Chrysler moved forward with the project because of overwhelming praise of the car. That is indisputable!!

Your weak comments are very disputable!!!

I love my Challenger and so does everybody that sees me around town.

Finally, stop being ignorant about the Chrysler Bankruptcy.. Anyone who understands business knows that the result of the Bankruptcy and Fiat merger Chrysler will emerge stronger than before.

Finally, stop being ignorant about the Chrysler Bankruptcy.. Anyone who understands business knows that the result of the Bankruptcy and Fiat merger Chrysler will emerge stronger than before.

That's a joke right? You're being facetious.

"Anyone who understands business knows that the result of the Bankruptcy and Fiat merger Chrysler will emerge stronger than before."

Now that's wicked funny. So Barney Fife + Olive Oyl = Conan the Barbarian?

@benson2175,

Go back to your porn!!

I undestand this cars strikes a huge chord with muscle car enthusiasts, however given the sticker price I saw on the SRT-8 version ($54K) at my local Dodge dealer I can think of other muscle cars that do EVERYTHING better for much much less money. Id easily choose a Camaro SS or Mustang GT Track Pack over any version of the Challenger.

To me the Challenger exhibits a lot of style but no substance to back it up. Other than the styling what does it have that makes it interesting? This car comes accross as a pure marketing excercise.

I know the Chrysler 300C is virtually the same car but I find it much more appealing and sensable.

I absolutely, totally enjoy my new Challenger R/T. I traded my 2008 Chrysler 300 Touring AWD for it. This car is an experience. You know how some cars out there where never anyone's choice? They had to 'settle' for it, cuz that was all they could get? Not this car. No one is giong to buy it and say, 'Man, sucks to have had to settle fot THAT'.

Buying a car is a matter of taste. I always liked the old Chevy Camaros style, but hated the build quality. After a year of the 300, I knew the build quality was there, and to then trade it for a looker as well. Not that the 300 was a slouch in the looks department.

No car is all things to all people and can't be. I have yet to have anyone say, 'Man, that is sad. What are you trying to prove?' Most comments are 'Great car, how you like it?'

That said, the 2006 SRX is my winter car.

My secret hope is that Chrysler survives somehow, but that the Challenger fails. I don't want everyone driving one. I like having a car that is different and is competent at what I want it to do. Let Mustang and Camaro continue the fight and let my deep water blue R/T be the odd man out. It always was in the day. I can't imagine how they can refresh it, nor the 300, as they are so locked into a look. So it might run as long as the last one, four years.