I soooooo didn't want to like the new Challenger
I even brought it home and invited some friends over so we could all sit around and mock its gargantuan proportions, completely uncreative and uninspired throwback styling and downright depressing interior. But after a few hours and more than a few cheap tacos, something very unexpected happened.
We all liked it. It's just so honest.
Especially in our car's R/T trim, there's no pretense made by the styling. It's not some over styled street-tough like the Camaro. The interior's nothing special, but it works. Dodge didn't try to trick you into thinking this car is sporty either by leaving that huge steering wheel in your lap. The suspension's soft and the sidewalls are tall, but in return you get a pretty nice ride on ANY surface and side benefit, you get to squeal and spin the tires around slow corners. Did I mention you can hear the tires break loose as you grab third gear? Yeah, that doesn't hurt either.
Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor @ 14,306 miles
GT5000 says:
02:15 PM, 11/25/09
"I soooooo didn't want to like the new Challenger"
So much for getting open-minded and unbiased opinions on this site...
wrinklebump says:
02:19 PM, 11/25/09
I ran into a half comatose retarded armadillo that didn't like the styling either he was a pretty cool dude and everything but I just had to disagree with him since the car's gorgeous and all
firstwagon says:
02:20 PM, 11/25/09
I think it's a great comment and really shows the value of a long term test. Like it or not everyone has pre-existing opinions going in. At least they are honest here.
The only way to really know a car is to drive it for a while. Nice to see the Challenger is a muscle car you can live with.
mercedesfan says:
02:26 PM, 11/25/09
@GT500,
He's a photo-editor, he doesn't write the reviews so he can be as biased as he wants as long as he is honest about it.
Anyway, I'm inclined to agree with him. When I first read about the Challenger I thought it was going to be pathetic, but over time it has really grown on me. It shows that even with limited resources Chrysler's engineers still built a great car.
bodyblue says:
02:41 PM, 11/25/09
Again...the more I see the Challenger the more and more terrible the Camaro looks. Sorry Chevy fans...Kurt nailed it.....HONESTY....the Camaro just tries too hard, inside and out. It is so amazingly good when you realize it was being designed when Daimler was still in control. There was almost open rebellion at Dodge over the Challenger. Take a look at allpar.com for some interesting behind the scenes stuff about the fight to build the Challenger.
jederino says:
02:43 PM, 11/25/09
It does like rather nice in black. I like that it has a relativey large back seat, in case you ever reproduce or have adult friends. I also like that it has larger windows and windscreen than the Camaro. I hate a tiny greenhouse, although I grudgingly admit it looks cool. I like the proportions of the 1968 Barracuda, which looks low and lean, yet has a nice upright greenhouse that suggests comfort and visbility. Yeah, give me more of that.
kingkhalas says:
06:50 PM, 11/25/09
I like honest posts like this.
greenpony says:
06:52 PM, 11/25/09
I would buy one, and it will be on the short list when it comes time to replace the Stang.
huyracing says:
07:39 PM, 11/25/09
it is definitely the best looking of the trio, has decent acceleration on par with the Mustang GT, and trades handling for comfort. the nice exhaust note certainly helps complete the package. its the purest muscle car of the bunch! for about $31k, its a winner in my book. makes perfect sense for a daily driver... if you have big parking spaces and dont mind less than stellar MPG's.
hondacura4 says:
07:56 PM, 11/25/09
Although this isn't my type of car I can gladly understand and respect its appeal as I admit there is something about this car that makes me keep staring at it but it's not enough to fully gain my interest.
hansverner says:
09:51 PM, 11/25/09
When Chrysler upgrades the interior, then I will buy one. Seriously everybody, no matter how good it looks from the outside, you still spend all the time behind the wheel looking at that pathetic excuse for an interior.
cr_driver says:
04:25 PM, 11/26/09
I just dont care about losers, and in the trio of muscle cars, this is the big loser. (comparison tests)
wrinklebump says:
08:45 PM, 11/26/09
Its okay to have an opinion thats not rooted in testing results dudeface
Not everyone drives Bugattis, ya hear
Mitlov says:
12:07 AM, 11/27/09
Seems to me that reviewers often go into Camaro tests really excited and come out of it lukewarm, and reviewers often go into Challenger tests feeling lukewarm and coming out really excited. Despite its flaws (and it certainly has some in the handling and interior department, or so it sounds), the Challenger sounds like a really nice muscle car to live with.
bodyblue says:
03:29 PM, 11/27/09
The interior is a bit plain but at least it is not as horribly over-styled as the Camaro's. I would rather have plain vs garish.
ocramida says:
06:28 PM, 11/27/09
Give me the Camaro's voluptuos figure over the Dodges stodginess. Sure the Camaro's interior is tragically form over function, but that bod makes up for it.
sferrv6 says:
07:33 PM, 12/ 7/09
I think the Challenger RT is going to be one of those cars that a few years from now journalists and people will come to appreciate much more. Right now the road tests are all about performance numbers and the Challenger is always dead last. There is more to driving experience than sheer numbers will tell you...the Challenger shines in so many ways from the comfy ride to the smooth as silk shifter and clutch. Sure at 10/10ths driving the car falls apart, but at 7/10ths it feels pretty solid/stable and corners just fine. This is a car you really can live with as a daily driver and road trip car.