2009 Dodge Challenger R/T: Longing for Open Road

Few cars on the road can match this thing's straight-line swagger. That said, it doesn't do much else exceptionally well...If it were my $35 grand, I'd fly to BMW Welt to pick up a bare-bones 328.

I would think the brother in law would have something to do with the transmision feeling brittle. As for the interior, I have spoke to a lot of challenger owners and none have said they have trim pieces missing or much wear at all. I would chalk that up to having a lot of people driving a car that is not theirs.

This car has had the hell beaten out of it (like every other IL car) and has done quite well.....much to the dismay of the MOPAR haters out there. I would venture to bet that any new MOPAR would be the same.

Anyone who questions the appeal of this car or the Camaro need only make a long drive through the desert. I imagine the Camaro would be even sportier if a decent back road should present itself as an option.

Since I live in a place where hills jump up in front of the horizon and even the expressway is relatively curvy, I would have zero need to pump dollars into on overweight car just to hear the engine.

I'd much rather feel myself pulled to one side or the other while briskly threading through a few bends.

Maybe it'd be different if I drove in a place where the lands were flat and the roads were straight...

I think the younger generations of today seemed more focused on turning ability then straight line power or cruising of course you have your fortresses of Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, and Challenger fans and their families but beyond them not many want to roar down the straights.

I being one of the younger generations I can say in fact that I want a big V8 a straight road with some really wide sweeping turns thrown in for the hell of it.

Well with the exception of the Challenger all the cars Hybris mentioned can turn too.

"I think the younger generations of today seemed more focused on turning ability then straight line power or cruising of course you have your fortresses of Mustang, Camaro, Corvette, and Challenger fans and their families but beyond them not many want to roar down the straights."

You're really putting the Corvette in that list? The Corvette handles curves with aplomb. It's definitely not just a 1/4 mile car.

I personally would choose Ortega Highway, Trabuco Canyon, or Mulholland Drive to a long stretch of nothing. Driving the 15 Fwy from OC to Utah and back in one weekend, I found that good speakers, 4,000 songs on an iPod with a good interface, and 33 mpg are good substitutes to a V8 rumble (although if I could have all those things, PLUS the V8, who would I be to complain...)

Whomever (whoever?) messed up the clutch most prob also did a number on the gear box...

You flat out can't beat a V8 and rear wheel drive....

I am young and I did buy a Challenger and I do love it. I think it is unfortunately priced out of competition with some of the other cars listed. But I was willing to pay for the quality and looks.

Nice post, Paul. I practically grew up on I-40 between L.A. and Albuquerque, but my family never had a cruiser like this. So, yeah -- the Challenger calls to me, and it's annoyed that I'm so "responsible" (and broke).

I know the "brother-in-law" burned out the clutch but it's highly presumptuous to assume that he ground gears and/or otherwise damaged the gearbox. The second-gear synchro especially should be built to handle a major beating in a car like this.

Maybe it's where I live in the Appalachians, but I very seldom see anyone blasting through the corners. They are usually in my way even when I drive my Subaru. I think there are more posers driving great handling cars than we want to admit. Most roads are so overcrowded, driving a real drivers' car is more frustrating than fun. I think a V8 muscle car, though seldom fully exercised, at least gives you the opportunity to sound fast.

I have read many posts regarding the challenger, camaro, and mustang.

Many have made the comment they prefer a stripped bmw or something else, blah blah blah.

You obviously do not get the whole muscle car persona, american muscle cars are in a league all their own. It has to do with presence and character, iconic american symbols that represent power, beauty, style.
You can compare performance stats all you want, but seriously, do you set up cones on you lunch break and run slalom times? The challenger's handling is more then adequate in any situation, has that V-8 pushrod torque that never stops, and that one-of-akind muscle car look.

If you don't "get it" you probably never will. Your loss.

I'm (three weeks into being) 22 and certainly I want a V8 and an obnoxiously loud cammed engine, but then again I was brought up around my dad heavily modifying Camaros and Mustangs...

Hey slickersdrip,

Jump on over to youtube and pull up van halens hot for teacher. The drum intro is the sound you seek.

Funny how we both related this car to the Boss' inspirational tunes! http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2009/10/2009-dodge-challenger-rt-some-cars-and-songs-are-just-made-for-each-other.html
Like peanut butter and jelly...

@ hybris,

I hear there's a disturbing trend that the younger-than--younger generation are not even that into cars. They will drool over some cell phone more.

Seems like cars like the S5 are a reasonable combo of V8 music, handling prowess, and cruise-ability...

After reading all of this endless Chrysler bashing on every Challenger thread, I just had to comment.

I have had my Challenger R/T 6-speed since October 2008. It is equipped almost identical to Edmunds' long-termer, with the exception that mine came with 20s instead of the 18s. I now have 21,000 miles on it, and it is, without a doubt, my favorite car I have ever owned (and I have had 40 over the last 24 years). The swicthgear is still holding up well, the shifter still works like new, and my clutch hasn't even thought of slipping, and I drive it the way it was meant to be driven. I thought the car sat too high, so I put the Mopar/KW coilover suspension on it, and the handling was VASTLY improved. So as far as the twisties, I am more than happy to pitch it into any curve that comes my way, having done so at Road Atlanta myself and with professional driver Randy Pobst at the wheel, and found it would do a lot more than I personally wanted to.

I have a wife and three kids now, so my days of Camaros and Mustangs (of which I have had several) are over for a while. The Challenger is so much larger than either of those two (both of which I like very much, by the way, with a slight preferential nod to the new 5.0 GT coming soon) that it shouldn't even be compared.

I understand that Chrysler has earned some grief because of their automotive misses (what manufacturer hasn't), but the fact of the matter is that this car has held up as well or better than any Honda I have had. I would recommend it to anyone looking for what I was--a muscle car with room for five real people. In fact, I'd be more than happy togive a full writeup (with photos) to the fine editors at Inside Line for a parallel of what their own experience has been.