In L.A., there a strip of pavement that runs from Hollywood to the beach called Sunset Boulevard. It's a straight four-lane cruising run as it runs through Hollywood, then turns into a serpentine snake as it climbs up and over Beverly Hills. On an evening dinner run on both sections of Sunset, I learned quite a bit about our big black Challenger.
You don't have to drive like a maniac on the twisty parts of Sunset to get a feel for a car. Turn into a bend just a little late to pitch the car a bit more aggressively and you'll have a good idea of how it'll handle. In the curves, the Challenger feels floaty and the steering is way too light, but it's surprisingly obedient, tracking through the left-rights and ups-downs like a much sportier car. Yes, it can take the curves, but no, I don't enjoy the experience.
Then there's the straight sections of Sunset - Hollywood. Cruising past Mel's Diner and the Whisky-a-go-go, I realized, THIS is what the Challenger does best. It's a got a presence about it that few cars have -- something scary, sinister and foreboding. It even turned the head of a Bugatti Veyon driver! If only Hollywood had a drive-in diner...
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 12,465 miles
carfreak8394 says:
11:49 AM, 10/20/09
Um.. where's the photo of the Bugatti?
:P.
altimadude00 says:
11:50 AM, 10/20/09
Only in California can someone treat their Bugatti like a Corolla. How many of us here have a "no food or drink" policy in their cars?
Personally, I don't care if you eat in mine or not; a vacuum works. But a Veyron?!
rick8365 says:
12:21 PM, 10/20/09
Like the pic - nice.
fuhteng says:
01:07 PM, 10/20/09
What a superb photo! I wonder how much insurance is for a $1.4 million car. I was hit Friday and that is ~$5k to replace the rear bumper, fix the left side exhaust and a small panel underneath. I wonder what happens if a 99 GrandPrix hits a Veyron? Does the GrandPrix driver 'disappear'?
desmolicious says:
01:45 PM, 10/20/09
Looking at those jagged seams in the road tells you about the condition of roads in LA.
Truly horrible.
hansverner says:
02:53 PM, 10/20/09
This car needs to be taken to Bob's Big Boy in Burbank on Friday night. They have a little carshow/dinner every week.
hybris says:
02:56 PM, 10/20/09
The Challenger is a mean looking thing. Now what is Edmunds going to do for halloween I wonder?
wrinklebump says:
03:06 PM, 10/20/09
It's a much more authentic boulevard cruiser than its LX stablemate, the 300. I gawk every time I see one, and black is simply its best color.
The retro touches were perfectly done. Stands out like few cars.
bodyblue says:
03:08 PM, 10/20/09
The Dodge has it all over the new Camaro in street presence, period. The Chevy is dorky and the Dodge looks mean as hell.
Mad_Science says:
05:23 PM, 10/20/09
@bodyblue: Until the light turns green.
DCuerpoJr says:
05:45 PM, 10/20/09
@Mad_Science: The person driving the Challenger would simply pull out a shot-gun and shoot the Camaro's tires...and maybe the Camaro's driver. (Assuming the person driving the Challenger is equally scary, sinister and foreboding as the car it self)
Doesn't that happen all the time in L.A.? j/k
wrinklebump says:
08:00 PM, 10/20/09
You know the Challenger, even in R/T trim, really isn't a performance car. It's more like a gentleman's muscle car, the GTX of today. Lays down stripes when it needs to, gets fast when duty calls, but mostly it's just for cruising and looking cool. If I bought the fellow the last thing I'd be concerned about would be 0-60 times and trap speeds.
coletrickle says:
05:37 AM, 10/21/09
This car is bad-a$$ looking.
If the interior weren't so freakin' "Made-in-good-old-Detroit-chintzy" I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
I like quality inside and out though, so this puppy is ruled out. For now.
bodyblue says:
09:32 AM, 10/21/09
What Wrinklebump said ^^^^^^^^^^^ X2
Remember with just a few computer chips and bolt ons if you want too, that Hemi will be eating Chevys for lunch. Imagine that on the SRT.....
cr_driver says:
10:26 AM, 10/26/09
I dont like it that this cars loses all the comparison tests....no matter how badass looking it might be. And the size.....dont go there LOL.