I took our 2009 Dodge Challenger in for its scheduled 6,000-mile service yesterday. Lithia Dodge of Fresno, Calif., was the dealership of choice for an oil change and a tire rotation. Just as was the case with my previous experience at this dealership (with our now-departed Dodge Caravan), service was friendly and without any sort of annoying up-selling of stuff not required. Lithia Dodge also installed the Challenger's front license plate bracket for us (yes, it's on there straight), so this photo is the last new pic you'll see of our car with a clean-looking front-end. Total cost was $57.30.
Also, Edmunds still has its dealer rating and reviews feature, so remember to tell your friends and family about it if they buy a car or have a car serviced at their local dealerships.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
dougtheeng says:
10:19 AM, 06/ 4/09
front plate ftl :(
slickersdrip says:
10:33 AM, 06/ 4/09
Sadness about the front plate.
On a different note-- is that one of the elusive Caliber SRT-4's sitting to the left of the Challenger? I've only seen two of them in the year they've been out.
carfreak8394 says:
10:40 AM, 06/ 4/09
"On a different note-- is that one of the elusive Caliber SRT-4's sitting to the left of the Challenger? I've only seen two of them in the year they've been out."
Ironically, I just saw a red Caliber SRT4 yesterday. There is no way I would ever by something like that over a MazdaSpeed 3 or a Cooper S.
stovt001 says:
11:09 AM, 06/ 4/09
The Caliber SRT4 is...inexcusable. My wife usually will like anything that's a little different and quirky, and not get too caught up in interior material quality and what not, but she spent about 5 seconds in the Caliber before declaring it the worst car she ever sat in. I'm pulling for the Detroit 3, but cars like the Caliber make that difficult at times. Really, I find myself pulling for GM and Ford.
Anyway, its really telling that the Edmunds guys have to go all the way out to Fresno for a good dealer. That's hours away from Santa Monica, for those unfamiliar with California. The service better be darn good for that kind of effort.\
And yeah, front plate bracket FTL. We really need to get that law overturned. It shouldn't be too hard to convince the California legislature that the manufacture of redundant license plats is harmful to the environment.
jstandefer says:
11:12 AM, 06/ 4/09
"On a different note-- is that one of the elusive Caliber SRT-4's sitting to the left of the Challenger? I've only seen two of them in the year they've been out."
Well, here in San Diego it's because they never left dealer lots. The never seem to sell until the dealers price them under $20k.
bimmerjay says:
12:22 PM, 06/ 4/09
Tire rotation? This rig doesn't have staggered width directional performance tires? Is that left for the SRT8?
clarkma5 says:
01:22 PM, 06/ 4/09
...why go to Fresno to get service done?
Also you can tell by the rims, that's a pretty humdrum Caliber, not an SRT-4.
badblackrt says:
04:08 PM, 06/ 4/09
"NASTY" Front license plate look horrible!!
Thank God I live in Florida!! Where Front License Plates are not required.
roadburner says:
08:39 AM, 06/ 5/09
"Well, here in San Diego it's because they never left dealer lots. The never seem to sell until the dealers price them under $20k."
A co-worker bought one shortly before I retired. He likes it pretty well. I've talked him into bringing it to our September CCA HPDE.
kingkhalas says:
10:06 AM, 06/ 5/09
You should also post how long it took to do the service.
Oil changes at dealerships IMO take way too long compared to jiffy lube or other places like that.
slickersdrip says:
01:23 PM, 06/ 5/09
clark, after further review you can tell that black one is definitely a Caliber SRT-4 due to the thinner five spoke wheels and the larger spoiler in the back.
The Caliber SRT-4 is a dreadful vehicle. I had high hopes of trading in my Neon SRT-4 for one as I far prefer wagons, but the thing is horrible.