After driving the Audi S5 all weekend, I thought the Dodge Challenger R/T might be a huge letdown. It wasn't.
Even after almost 19,000 miles, the Challenger still feels tight and well built. The doors slam shut with a solid thud and there aren't any noticeable squeaks and rattles.
The smoothness of its drivetrain is especially impressive. Sure, the big ol' Hemi is a pretty crude engine compared to the Audi's V8, but it doesn't feel that way from behind the wheel. It pulls smoothly from right off idle and doesn't get the least bit harsh at higher rpm. Other than the slightly rubbery shifter, the Challenger feels every bit as enjoyable in the drivetrain department.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 18,822 miles
firstwagon says:
04:26 PM, 01/20/10
It's interesting that almost all the Challenger posts are positive where as almost all of the Camaro posts are negative.
When they arrived in the long term fleet I thought it would be the opposite. Complaining about anything Chrysler is really trendy these days and most people saw the new Camaro as the second coming.
That's what's great about long term tests. The truth comes out and numbers and 1st impressions can be wrong.
uncanny_man says:
05:13 PM, 01/20/10
How exactly is the hemi crude compared to the audi's engine? The audi 4.2L dates back to 1991 while the hemi came out in 2003. They produce similar power, yet the hemi gives better fuel economy. Today's hemi is not a crude 60s motor!
corrodesdafilm says:
05:19 PM, 01/20/10
@uncanny_man:
I think a lot of it is a knee-jerk "lol pushrods!" reaction.
mikeolan says:
05:34 PM, 01/20/10
I agree with the knee-jerk anti-pushrod sentiments. Fact is, the best V8's in the world are pushrod.
I still don't know why Chrysler has gotten a bad rap in the past 5 years. People call Chrysler interiors "cheap" and plasticky. Uh hello? Every automotive interior in the same price range is full of plastic. Are Chrysler's "plasticky" because they decided trying to make it look like fake leather was ridiculous and instead tried to introduce new textures? I see people calling the DODGE AVENGER's interior cheap, but it has a heated and cooled cup holder, auto climate control, LED pinpoint map lights, stainproof fabric, a woven headliner, and the best gauges in any car at any price. And it's built rock solid too... how many "high quality Audi interiors" will be exfoliating and peeling within 12 months?
redliner says:
05:41 PM, 01/20/10
I thought I was going to dislike this car. The interior is boring, it weighs the same as my house, its as big as a boat... oh and its a Chrysler.
But after driving one, talking to owners and hearing the IL comments on it, I think i may have misjudged it. It may not be the best car out there, but it never comes off as trying to hard. Just an honest car. I like that. Smooth V8 power is the icing on the cake.
Which leads me to a question: Why do I hate the Charger, but love the Challenger?
cwc1 says:
06:37 PM, 01/20/10
^Because the Charger is ugly. Hideous even.
Both OHC and OHV designs have their pros and cons, but as mentioned, modern pushrod designs sure aren't crude.
fuhteng says:
06:50 PM, 01/20/10
+1 for corrodesdafilm. Now wait for all the import homers chirping on how much fun it is to rev the nuts off a V8. Vroom vroom vrooooooom!
So which engine do you like better Ed? The Chrysler 5.7L or the 6.0L in the departed G8 or whatever it is in the new Z06?
brn says:
07:12 PM, 01/20/10
Chrysler deserves more credit than it gets for some of it's engines. The Hemi is a real standout.
firstwagon, I suspect it has to do with expectations. They expected quite a bit from the Camarao, so it's easy to be disappointed. They assume anything Chrysler is a dud, so it's easy to be impressed.
wrinklebump says:
09:19 PM, 01/20/10
The Charger is offensively ugly. Makes me wonder how they got the Challenger's looks so right.
As for Chrysler interiors: I consider myself something of a Mopar apologist, having owned several Chrysler vehicles of every make (Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Plymouth), but let there be no question: the company's interior design and quality has always lagged behind the domestic competition, let alone the imports. Only now is it even beginning to catch up, with the Ram, 300, Challenger, Charger and Town & Country/Grand Caravan all bringing pretty competitive interiors to the marketplace. Its non-LX platform vehicles – Caliber, Avenger/Sebring, all Jeep models – have lousy interiors. No debate there.
Chrysler has, however, innovated when it comes to exterior design, especially in the early 90s when its sedans and coupes kickstarted the trend toward soft, curvy lines. And its modern portfolio is full of ... adventurous, if not always successful exercises. The fact that the company's sheet metal is so polarizing is a good indication that it's taking risks, which any design enthusiast can appreciate. I personally find the Grand Cherokee one of the most handsome SUVs around.
Finally, as a longtime owner of many Mopars, it's pretty easy to appreciate the company's engines. The other drivetrain components are another thing entirely. But those mills are absolute workhorses, and will go forever. The ancient 3.8L six they throw in the Wrangler will not die, and neither will any Hemi.
stephen987 says:
04:51 AM, 01/21/10
The Challenger got a lot more negative posts before the editors had a Camaro to complain about. Now that they have a clear choice between the two, the Camaro's idiosyncratic interior and ergonomics have made it clear that the Challenger's relatively ordinary accommodations are in fact quite a bit more accommodating.
audisport says:
07:47 AM, 01/21/10
@mikeolan- Ok, AUDI INTERIORS DONT FLAKE AND PEEL ANYMORE. Can we put this to rest? They did for a few years but they don't anymore.
ptcdawg says:
07:58 AM, 01/21/10
What exactly is crude about the Hemi?
That said, I really like the look of the Challenger..it's growing on me for sure....and the Barrett/Jackson auction isn't exactly helping me in my cravings for a Muscle Car.
jeepsrt says:
08:00 AM, 01/21/10
I had the 5.7 Hemi in my '03 Dodge Ram 2500, and towing up the mountains in Colorado that truck would downshift to 3rd and rev at 5000 rpm forever going up a pass. I never had an engine issue in the time I owned it and it was a very smooth engine, I miss that truck now.
bodyblue says:
08:21 AM, 01/21/10
I never really liked MOPARS that much until I got one.......I bought my 98 Stratus from my buddy who got a new Sebring a few years ago. I wanted something cheap to drive on my 40 mile daily commute (to keep the miles off of the Mustang) and he gave it to me for 1K with 80,000 on it. I ended up really liking it to my surprise....it has the MMC 2.5 V6 and Autostick.....I have put some tires on it and have changed the oil every 4K or so and had the tranny flushed and it has been just fine. It gets about 30 MPG on my mostly freeway commute and is comfortable and had plenty of room. It is an ES so it has the better suspension and alloy wheels so it handles pretty well. It does some typical MOPAR things like the dome light that wont go off....the interval wipers that change their interval when they please and the auto down drivers window only works when it is cold outside......oh and everything that needs work done costs twice as much since with cab forward the engine compartment is jammed to the hilt. (even the battery is behind the left front wheel well.) But the damn thing starts every time and just wont quit...wich is the point in a car.
wrinklebump says:
08:46 AM, 01/21/10
Bodyblue, I had a similar experience with my very first car, an '84 LeBaron hardtop. I thought I would hate it, but ended up pretty fond of it even as the interior bits fell off. Thing just never quit.
Actually, that reminds me, my second car was a pretty gangster Plymouth Acclaim, and after I bought it, I just parked the LeBaron behind the garage in my backyard, like true white trash. It sat there all winter (a Michigan winter) and got dumped on, and for kicks I figured I'd try to start it in the spring. Engine came to life without the slightest bit of protest. I was sold on Chrysler mills from that point forward.
DCuerpoJr says:
10:02 AM, 01/21/10
About Chrysler interiors (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Plymouth)
My grandpa is the original owner of a 95' Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and has kept it in really good condition. I visited him over the holidays and was still thoroughly impressed with the interior quality, especially the leather seats.
Meanwhile, my friend has an 05' Grand Cherokee Limited and it's disappointing to see that Jeep/Chrysler has downgraded the interior quality. The center console rattles like hell and the seats aren't nearly as comfortable.
On another hand, I test drove a 09' Challenger R/T a few months ago and was satisfied with the interior. Inside felt a little boring because it shares much of its design with the Charger & 300C, but that isn't to say I'm not happy with it. Ultimately, you don't buy a Challenger for its interior quality. You buy it for its exterior presence and that big HEMI V8.
jeepsrt says:
10:39 AM, 01/21/10
@DCuerpoJr
You are totally right on about the quality, or lack of in the new Grand Cherokee's. I traded a '99 Grand Cherokee limited in on my '06 SRT8 and it is no comparison on quality. I have no rattles and the seatas are nicer in my SRT but the touchpoints are shiny plastic compared to a soft touch dash on the '99. I especially dislike the buttons for the memory seats, looks like they forgot to put them in and then just stuck them on the door. Overall though I love the vehicle, it has been very reliable and still feels very tight, just cheap plastics used on the interior.
charlesb says:
12:40 PM, 01/21/10
The reason the Challenger gets positive posts is it is retro-sexy and the reason the Camaro does NOT is that it is just Transformers-ugly. Given their respective origins, I would guess that the Chevy is actually a better car.
DCuerpoJr says:
01:11 PM, 01/21/10
@jeepsrt
I hope Jeep/Chrysler goes full steam and builds the 2011 Grand Cherokee as was displayed in last year's auto shows. The pre-production model looked fantastic inside & out.
I've always liked the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it's just that I still think the 1st generation was their best in terms of overall build quality. That may all change in 2011.
Back to the Challenger...I heard rumors of a new HEMI in the pipeline for the future generation 300C & Charger to replace the mid-level R/T 5.7 liter. If it's true, it'd make sense to see it in next year's Challenger.
dino6 says:
09:24 PM, 01/21/10
Every V-8 should feel smooth especially since most cars today are 4 bangers or V-6s. There's no reason why a modern pushrod like the Hemi should be expected to be less smooth than an OHC V-8.