Learn me: Modern Dodge Challenger

In reply to jrflying :

Check out Doug DeMuro's YouTube review for the "TrailCat" (the Grand Cherokee with a hellcat engine). He goes over the infotainment system. It has some neat features other brands lack.

The "Plus" package includes the big screen AFAIK

In reply to CarKid1989 :

Is the V6 available with a manual?

In reply to RollinM :

No.  8 spd auto only for the V6.

On the plus side, you CAN get a v6 challenger with AWD now. They're too new to have depreciated much but if you're ok with the substantial acceleration trade-off vs competing base models (AWD 3.6 Challenger will run something like a 15.1 1/4) and need awd, it's a neat option. 

If the new v6 Camaro had an AWD option with a stick i might be obsessively curious and have to go try one. 

I wonder if the only reason the Challenger never got the 5.7/awd option the others did is because they knew the demographic would really test the limits of the system. I haven't heard anything about the reliability of the Charger/Magnum awd but i know that with stock power levels and torque converter they weren't any quicker than RWD ones. 

The SRT8 Cherokee system is unrelated but they SURE found every single weak point of that system!! 4-digit horsepower, wheelie-ing with AWD, etc.

I went and test drove this:

More impressive than its ability to shift it's weight was the ability to actually stop. As I figured though - it was just too big of a car for me personally. It felt like driving a very, very fast Suburban. 

In reply to accordionfolder :

Is that the SRT392?

It was indeed, a 2015 392 Manual 6spd with the 6 piston brembos up front. The torque was intoxicating, but the car was just too big.

Ian F said:

Yeah, it's a bit long in the tooth styling-wise, but at the same time it is the quintessential "retro" car and has never made any apologies for that.  I can imagine maybe one more facelift after the current one (which mimics the '71 grill design, vs. the previous '70 design) where they go to the '72 grill (which remained until the end of the run in '74).  Then Dodge will end the model entirely with no replacement.

Nah. After the facelift that mimics the '72-'74, the plan is to scale the Challenger down and offer it with four cylinder power, more angular styling, and a weird semi-fastback rear window.

Then let that die in obscurity, pretend it never happened, and release another one that looks like the '70 model.

I've driven the Challenger Hellcat Widebody, and IMHO it's the world's most versatile muscle car.   A Demon is faster in a straight line--- but it's not designed to take turns well. (too softly sprung) 

The Hellcat Widebody does everything pretty darn well, and it's a hoot ALL the time.   195mph top end,  under 11 sec. in the 1/4 mile, and huge meats at all four corners for when the road gets twisty.   It would be a blast at a track day, a lot of fun at the drag strip, and totally comfortable, and easy to drive on the street.

Yeah, it's $75K, but with 707hp, within a totally usable package, it's kind of a bargain!   It also looks badass IMHO. 

^Needs to be sitting just a bit lower, but agreed. It looks awesome.

The Challenger is a wee bit slab-sided, so the fender flares do a good job of breaking the flanks up.

I'm just mad that they reduced that T/A to a badge and sticker package. Obviously it never would have been on par with the GT350 or the Z/28 but I wish it would have been lightened, stiffer suspension, gooey tires on staggered wheels (taller in the rear just like the original), T/A-style hoodscoop and side exhaust.