Plenty of cars to choose from in the ol' Inside Line garage last week and I picked the Challenger to make a run from L.A. to Tucson late last week. Why?
Pretty easy actually. For starters, it's a big, comfortable coupe that lets you stretch out behind the wheel. No need to jam anything in, just spread everything out and relax in the nicely bolstered seat. Unlike the Camaro where you feel low in the car, the Challenger's seating position puts you up high which makes the view that much better.
Once on the road, the Challenger is a big cupcake. No stiff ride or twitchy handling and it's dead quiet in sixth gear at 80mph. I did notice a little too much gear whine at some speeds, but it faded in and out so I'm not sure if it's a problem or not.
Solid electronics is another reason the Challenger is such a great road trip car. There was a navigation system to tell me where to go and how long it would take me to get there along with an iPod connector and a strong stereo. Bluetooth is part of the package as well so I never had to reach for my phone.
I've now done a road trip in both the Camaro and the Challenger. Both were enjoyable, but if I had to do another one next week I would pick the Challenger again without hesitation.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 24,678 miles
hybris says:
10:24 AM, 05/17/10
Time to get a 5.0 Mustang and do a full line up comparison!
bodyblue says:
11:12 AM, 05/17/10
I am more of a Mustang fan but I bet the Challenger would be best for a long road trip....and it is a handsome machine in that picture. I saw one in Stone White the other day and it was a knock out with the white paint and black grill.
bankerdanny says:
01:22 PM, 05/17/10
Very Vanishing Point. Every time I see the car though i think it really needs much wider tires.
heartland says:
01:27 PM, 05/17/10
I think you have discovered the secret to the Challenger's success. It drives
like a true GT road machine...well mannered at any speed, powerful when
you want it, quiet when it needs to be, comfortable and completely fun to drive.
The only people that will disagree with your opinions about this car
are people that have never driven it.
wrinklebump says:
01:28 PM, 05/17/10
What a lovely machine. Can it really be overstated? Brilliant American design, completely unlike anything else on the road.
mustangpurist says:
02:57 PM, 05/17/10
That challenger in all black is just beautiful. Ditch those silly fake carbon fiber stripes and its an instant classic.
heartland says:
03:39 PM, 05/17/10
"silly fake carbon fiber stripes"
Huh? The R/T's don't have carbon fiber stripes. You must be thinking about the SRT8.
yellowmiata says:
08:02 PM, 05/17/10
Great GT - the 2 door American coupe lives!
sk8nsanta says:
04:25 AM, 05/18/10
"Road trips in muscle cars, without useless bling, these are a few of my favorite things!"
togonation says:
08:07 AM, 05/18/10
Even my SRT on the highway is comfortable and quiet - the car may not be perfect but it was the perfect one for me.
+1 for it being a wonderful road tripper.