2009 Dodge Challenger: Open Thread

If you had to spend your hard earned dollars on this Challenger or the Camaro SS, which would it be?

I have a 2009 R/T (Hemi Orange) since 1/09 and I have to say the dark gray interior is pretty bland and it sucks up a lot of light. The flat part of the dash to the window in particular seems to be a vast acreage of unrelieved dark gray plastic. The sunroof helps brighten the interior during the day. I added on some interior brushed stainless steel dash appliques to vent surrounds, glove box latch, doors, console, and door handle / window control surrounds, and this helped mitigate the boredom of the interior.

I feel jealous for anyone that can devote time and energy to go out to the dealers just to kick the tires of interesting cars on a whim. Especially now since the vultures will pounce on anyone that rolls up to the dealer for anything and try to sell them something.

beemer--For an armchair decision, I'd buy a Mustang. It has adequate performance (plus lots of aftermarket support), decent street presence, and classic styling inside and out. I think it represents both the most bang for your buck and the most style for your dollar. (Yeah, I know I've been touting the Camaro, but when it's my money on the table, I guess I changed my mind.)

Both the Camaro and Challenger are nice to look at, but both have faults that would bother me after a while. I think the Mustang would be the one I would be happy to own day after day.

Can you guys comment on how the water based paint is holding up?

I know a few GM cars are having it peel off, and bubble.

I picked up my black Challenger R/T on April 27, 2009. Today marks six months of living with this car.

The Challenger is not my daily driver but I do try to get in it as often as I can. I'm currently at 3180 miles. The car has been back to the dealer once, for my first oil change. My Challenger has been absolutely flawless.

My first drive in a Challenger was when I drove it off the dealer's lot. Never even test drove one. It was like just give me this car already! And it didn't disappoint. Ride is super smooth, no squeaks or rattles, it's screwed together tight, the HEMI goes when you want it to, cabin is spacious and comfortable, love the way the gauges light up at nite, and I will say that this is one well built, well engineered automobile. Complaints? Yeah I got a couple, but they're so minor I don't think about them.

Probably the thing that was hardest to adjust to are the looks and attention this car gets. If you do not like attention then don't buy this car. Around here I can go weeks without seeing another Challenger on the road. I guess that makes it kinda like a novelty when people do see one driving along. Or maybe it's the presence the vehicle has. Oh well I'm kinda used to it now.

Would I purchase this car again? Absolutely! There is just something about owning and driving a Challenger. Don't know what it is, but it's definitely there.

This is the finest car I've ever owned.

altimadude00 -- Thanks, and yes I should have mentioned the Mustang. Though it will have to be a big improvement over the previous generation which I was not to impressed with. The poor ride quality, cheap interior were killers for me.

Can you answer me, why is the top trim level of this car so expensive?

It's way more that the Camaro and Mustang.

It's just expensive period.

Can you answer me, why is the top trim level of this car so expensive?

It's way more that the Camaro and Mustang.

It's just expensive period.

I own a 2009 Challenger R/T Classic and a 71 Challenger R/T. The new one feels just like the old one. The interior is plain, with plastic mixed in with leather. The dashes' were nothing special most of the time. The new ones are easy to read and have a nice look to them. While not the "stupid" retro like the new Camaro's lower console gauges.

I love it though, the car handles well, has 375 horsepower, which unless you are drag racing the car every day is more then enough for me to get around Chicago and the Suburbs. I got the automatic for ease of city driving though, I wish I had gotten the stick.

I'm 350ish lbs at 6'2" and I fit in the car great. Plenty of head room and leg room all the way around. I don't have the sunroof, but that was personal taste. I've driven New Challengers with sunroofs and still fit fine.

I had 4 other larger people in the car this weekend and we drove 150 miles and everyone was comfortable. There is no way we would have fit in the Camaro.

Sure the car is a little on the heavy side, but I like it that way. Makes it feel solid.

My 09 Challenger is my daily driver. I ordered her in February and received her in July (because of the bankruptcy) and have driven 6000 care free miles with not a single issue. None.

I own a 2009 Challenger R/T Classic and a 71 Challenger R/T. The new one feels just like the old one. The interior is plain, with plastic mixed in with leather. The dashes' were nothing special most of the time. The new ones are easy to read and have a nice look to them. While not the "stupid" retro like the new Camaro's lower console gauges.

I love it though, the car handles well, has 375 horsepower, which unless you are drag racing the car every day is more then enough for me to get around Chicago and the Suburbs. I got the automatic for ease of city driving though, I wish I had gotten the stick.

I'm 350ish lbs at 6'2" and I fit in the car great. Plenty of head room and leg room all the way around. I don't have the sunroof, but that was personal taste. I've driven New Challengers with sunroofs and still fit fine.

I had 4 other larger people in the car this weekend and we drove 150 miles and everyone was comfortable. There is no way we would have fit in the Camaro.

Sure the car is a little on the heavy side, but I like it that way. Makes it feel solid.

My 09 Challenger is my daily driver. I ordered her in February and received her in July (because of the bankruptcy) and have driven 6000 care free miles with not a single issue. None.

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Ah ha! I knew the Stig was here! He's trying to communicate!

While I have not driven one, I have seen quite a few and even sat in one. The weird part is that, as much as I like this car, to me it looses something in person...especially when it is a V6 model. I don't know what it is, but it tends to look too tall from a few angles.

They look good, until you see them next to a remotely appropriately sized sports car.

I was very distressed just how high that hood and trunk came up next to my lifted Jeep.

Everything that hemipwr70 says about this car is why I hate it. It's like the Disney version of a muscle car: watered down and sanitized, oversized and padded for your protection, but with all that "classic spirit" that sells so well.

...Not to mention overpriced and slow. I'd take it all back if the RT were $10k cheaper or a full second faster to 60.

@kingkhalas: The Challenger SRT8 is several thousand dollars cheaper than the Mustang Shelby GT500, which is its most direct competitor from the Mustang line.

I have seen several but have not driven one. I think they are very good looking, with clean lines, but are just flat out too big for me to consider. I am currently driving an '08 Mustang GT, and it is at the upper size limit that I would drive as my personal car--unless, God forbid, I have to give up driving sporty cars.

The comments by many testers that the Mustang has an advantage over the other new pony cars due to its lighter weight ring true to me.

Beemer 11, I came over to the Mustang after 16 years of BMW's. The interior to me is only marginally cheaper in feel than my old E36s', but I admittedly had lightly equipped ones, because to me it's all about the drive. You may not believe this, but the driving dynamics are actually pretty similar. The Stang doesn't have quite the brilliant ride/handling balance, and the brakes are not nearly as good, but there's gobs more power and a seductive engine note.

Anyway, the Challenger wouldn't be for me, but it definitely turns my head.

Is there any bad angle on the outside of this car?