Drove by brother's SRT 8 Challenger for the first time today

[Tobra]

Black, silver stripes, 6 speed, no nav, no sunroof. Those magic numbers on the fender, 392, yeah, it's a hemi. Huge Brembos, rotors are better than 14" up front, just shy of that in the rear. Shiny, slotted dinner plates wink at you from behind the chunky alloy wheels. Bright red 4 pot calipers at all four corners, serious hardware. Key fob stays in your pocket, push the button on the dash to start and stop the motor. Great seats, well bolstered, very secure. Visibility out the front is good, the back, not so much.

Does not seem as loud as it should be when I thumb it to life. Hand falls to the angled pistol grip naturally, shifter is better than I expect, short positive throws. It ostensibly has that skip shift nonsense, 1st to 4th, but I did not notice it in my time with it. Clutch action is light, seems like that pedal should be harder to push, nothing like that ratty 440 six pack Cuda I test drove back in high school.

The power is, of course impressive. Tickle the throttle a bit, and it lunges forward. Half way to red line in 2nd I nail the throttle, spins the tires, makes a wonderful, angry noise, hooks up and goes, intoxicating V-8 roar, oops, that is faster than I should be going. No wonder the rear tires look like that. How has this thing not gotten him arrested yet? Brakes are awe inspiring, like the first 911 I ever drove. Hauls the prodigious mass down with alacrity, would stick your gum to the windshield.

It is wide, but does not seem as big in the driver's seat as it does standing next to it. Firm ride, but not overly so, feels planted. Amazingly, it corners well, far better than you would expect from a large, American muscle car. I don't push it, but the grip is definitely there, guess they don't call the tires "supercar" for nothing. It corners flat, steering is light, a bit overboosted, but precise, much more to it than going straight.

I have to say, I was impressed. I think I finally have him talked in to autocrossing it next spring. It will be a hoot

[porsche4life]

They look like cool cars... Of all the pony cars, thats what I'd get.


I recall on TG though that the CTSV thoroughly trounced it at Bonneville though.

[dennis in se pa]

It is labeled a "Hemi" for marketing purposes. It does not have hemispherical heads.

[Jim Bremner]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

It is labeled a "Hemi" for marketing purposes. It does not have hemispherical heads.

Shocked! can I sue for damages?

[livi]

Interesting review. Nothing much to beat an American V8 sound wise.

[aigel]

Sounds like fun! But those cars are just so HUGE. The upper lip of the trunk lines up with the roof of my 993. I guess the old muscle cars weren't compact either ...

G

[slow&rusty]

SRT8 anything is great.

[Rednine11]

I love Challengers.
I have a 70 RT with a 426 Hemi ( a true Hemi ) and 4 speed

I woulld like to drive a 392 car

[asphaltgambler]

My opinion: as good as that experience is try the same combination in the SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. All wheel drive = no wasted motion. My current ride after some tuning and parts @480HP at the flywheel + 3:73 gears and Mercedes 5-speed auto makes for one huge grin, stop light to stop light.

For those who know the following reference: My Jeep is like driving a bad-@ss pro street car with slicks 24X7!!

[1990C4S]

The Chrysler 300's are generally decent cars.

[Tobra]

I test drove one of those SRT Jeeps. They seem to defy physics. Just squats and goes. The acceleration was, implausible. Good brakes too.

Brother drove his Dodge to Nebraska last summer, got 25 mpg on the road. He also did the "SRT Experience" last summer. You buy one of those cars and they give a free pass to take a driving school and spend the day wringing out some big V-8s on the track.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I love the Challenger styling but just find them to be HUGE. In my opinion they also drive big. I spent a week with a V6 model in Phoenix, that C pillar makes for a huge blind spot which is scary in traffic.

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

My opinion: as good as that experience is try the same combination in the SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee. All wheel drive = no wasted motion. My current ride after some tuning and parts @480HP at the flywheel + 3:73 gears and Mercedes 5-speed auto makes for one huge grin, stop light to stop light.

For those who know the following reference: My Jeep is like driving a bad-@ss pro street car with slicks 24X7!!

This right here are all the reasons that I dig the SRT8 Jeep. Well...that and I'm a known Jeep fan. So let's see...hauls all the stuff, kind of like a wagon (which I love), it's a JEEP and it goes like stink! Yep, that's pretty much everything I need.

One question though, can you tow anything with it? That would pretty much make it perfect.

angela

[asphaltgambler]

A fellow co-worker: His dad had recently purchased the Challenger and received the SRT track experience. At the track, Dodge had all of the latest SRT vehicles and each person could drive them all if they chose to do so.

He was actually surprised that the fastest one of the group was in fact the Jeep GC. So much so he started having buyers remorse that he hadn't previously driven the Jeep. He was not aware that the Jeep had an SRT8 package. If he had he would have likely bought that instead of the Challenger! BTW - the SRT8 Jeep is least number produced of the SRT line.

[matt711]

We seem to be in another Golden Age of horsepower. The power that can be had with any of the three pony cars is downright impressive for the money. Styling is subjective, seems like most people either love (for example) the Mustang or hate it. Same for Challenger or Camero. I think if I had to choose between the three I would go with the Mustang. I got to drive a 2013 GT last week and It definitley put a smile on my face. A 2-3 year old CPO GT500 would be a blast but in the end I don't think I could love any of the pony cars due to the styling.

I wish Jeep would put a 3rd row in the Cherokee. An SRT Cherokee would be parked in my driveway right now if I could get the 3rd row seating.

[asphaltgambler]

They can tow very light loads. I believe it is @2500lb limit. Jeep actually sells a receiver kit that relocates the center exhaust slightly and make room for the iron hitch

[scottmandue]

[BlueSkyJaunte]

IMHO the Challenger is the nicest-looking American car being made today. Chrysler really seems to be nailing the styling equation in the past 1-2 decades compared to GM (gag) or Ford.

I have frequently entertained thoughts about a Challenger SRT8 after nearly 10 years of driving anemic VW diesels. Unfortunately I would probably end up with a Charger SRT8 as I've got kids and really need the 4 doors. They're not ugly cars, but they're by no means as good-looking as the Challenger.

YMMV.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

IMHO the Challenger is the nicest-looking American car being made today. Chrysler really seems to be nailing the styling equation in the past 1-2 decades compared to GM (gag) or Ford.

I have frequently entertained thoughts about a Challenger SRT8 after nearly 10 years of driving anemic VW diesels. Unfortunately I would probably end up with a Charger SRT8 as I've got kids and really need the 4 doors. They're not ugly cars, but they're by no means as good-looking as the Challenger.

YMMV.

Just to fuel the fire, Challenger back seats are pretty big. Like sedan big, not surprising as it shares the Charger platform. I routinely carried two adults in back when I had a Challenger rental.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

It's a 2-door vs. 4-door thing. Kids are still in kiddie seats, and my back isn't up to the task of climbing in there and buckling them in every time.

On the other hand, in a year or so they'll be buckling themselves.