Drove a Challenger SRT-8

[overst33r]

Last Thursday I was about to get off work when I got a call from a buddy of mine. He told me he wanted to talk to me so I should meet him outside.
I said ok and wait for him outside in the parking lot. As soon as I saw a black Challenger pulling around the corner I knew who it was. My jaw dropped. He's a chrysler guy and I knew right away it was him. He pulls into the parking lot while I pick my tongue off the floor.

Here comes the good part. He was heading towards my house and asked if he could drive my car. 😱 So I got to drive home this brand new car.
While he puttered away in my Miata I went and got my stuff to get ready to leave.

When it was time to take off I had some trouble. I coudn't figure out how to start the damn car. After about 5 minutes of trial and error, it turns out you have to hold down the brake and push the start button for the car to turn on. :banghead: I hadn't driven an automatic in so long...

I hear the beast fire up with its 6.1 liters of V8 fury. First thing I notice is how quiet it is inside. So I pull out of the parking lot and can instantly feel the torque as the car started out in 2nd gear in automatic mode. I think at one point it might have even started out in 3rd.

Anyway, so I changed the transmission into manual mode and was on my way. While I let the car warm up and do its thing, I noticed how the steering changed weight at low speeds. At higher speeds it was very light and at low speeds it firmed up. The 4 piston Brembos in the front were very progressive in feel and not grabby at all. They stopped the car like an anchor. With the traction control on, the car's acceleration to 60 isn't as fast as you would expect 425hp to be. After you get to about 30mph though, it pulls like one should. I got it up to 90 on accident when merging, didn't even notice it.

Overall the car is very nice, you can definitely feel the weight, but the car will take corners with no drama when you ask it to. Here's a vid of it leaving that I took.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKq6IHihsmQ

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/8633/dsc04345ij0.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4315/dsc04347zy6.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/822/dsc04348ck7.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/346/dsc04350sv0.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5056/dsc04349ke9.jpg

 

[Kadarin]

Looks good, and sounds great in the video as it pulls away.

Any pics of the interior?

Oh, and pfft...

<--- '05 GTO owner 😛

 

[BassBomb]

rofl automatic gto

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Kadarin
Looks good, and sounds great in the video as it pulls away.

Any pics of the interior?

Oh, and pfft...

<--- '05 GTO owner 😛

Clean launch, that you driving?

 

[shabby]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/822/dsc04348ck7.jpg

What was chrysler thinking... 245 tires? How do they expect this thing to hook up?
Awesome car though, but with a poor power to weight ratio.

 

[AdamK47]

245 in the front and 255 in the back. Still pretty small. I suppose the 4200 lbs will keep it planted though. The Camaro will have 245 in the front and 275 in the back on 20s as well for the SS.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Something tells me that you don't buy a Challenger because it "makes sense".

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Something tells me that you don't buy a Challenger because it "makes sense".

Oh, so they're going strictly for the collector crowd then? Because that makes even less sense financially quite honestly. I mean, this isn't exactly a Ferrari. They need to sell these things in quantity to make it profitable.

I think Ford got in on the last end of the retro muscle car money maker a few years ago.

 

[MBentz]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Something tells me that you don't buy a Challenger because it "makes sense".

Oh, so they're going strictly for the collector crowd then? Because that makes even less sense financially quite honestly. I mean, this isn't exactly a Ferrari. They need to sell these things in quantity to make it profitable.

I think Ford got in on the last end of the retro muscle car money maker a few years ago.

WTF? Pull the stick out of your ass dude. Some people buy cars like Camaros, Mustangs, GTOs and Challengers because they LIKE muscle cars. Why do you care so much about other peoples money?

 

[dawp]

Originally posted by: MBentz

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Something tells me that you don't buy a Challenger because it "makes sense".

Oh, so they're going strictly for the collector crowd then? Because that makes even less sense financially quite honestly. I mean, this isn't exactly a Ferrari. They need to sell these things in quantity to make it profitable.

I think Ford got in on the last end of the retro muscle car money maker a few years ago.

WTF? Pull the stick out of your ass dude. Some people buy cars like Camaros, Mustangs, GTOs and Challengers because they LIKE muscle cars. Why do you care so much about other peoples money?

That may be the case, but it'll never be a money maker with the way gas prices are now, and the current lower prices are only temperary, they will go back up.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Kadarin
Looks good, and sounds great in the video as it pulls away.

Any pics of the interior?

Oh, and pfft...

<--- '05 GTO owner 😛

Clean launch, that you driving?

Nah... It's a random video I pulled off youtube. It, however, looks representative of what the cars can do in stock form.

 

[AMCRambler]

I can't watch the vid till I get home but damn that car looks sweet. Is the SRT version supercharged? Like Kadarin I'm a GTO owner and it's kind of interesting the specs of that motor in the Challenger SRT8. It looks like Chrysler said to it's engineers "There's the GTO, now one up them."

Displacement
Challenger 6.1 liters
GTO 6.0 liters

Horsepower
Challenger 425
GTO 400

Torque
Challenger 420 ft.-lbs.
GTO 400 ft.-lbs.

Lol. It's like Pontiac set the bar and now Chrysler is kicking it up a notch. Also Dennifloss should be happy. The Challengers are built in Canada!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: MBentz

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Something tells me that you don't buy a Challenger because it "makes sense".

Oh, so they're going strictly for the collector crowd then? Because that makes even less sense financially quite honestly. I mean, this isn't exactly a Ferrari. They need to sell these things in quantity to make it profitable.

I think Ford got in on the last end of the retro muscle car money maker a few years ago.

WTF? Pull the stick out of your ass dude. Some people buy cars like Camaros, Mustangs, GTOs and Challengers because they LIKE muscle cars. Why do you care so much about other peoples money?

My post has nothing to do with other people's money or what they like. I'm simply stating that I think investing in these cars was not a financially wise move for Dodge and GM.

You don't have to attack me because you don't agree with what I posted. I didn't attack anyone in this thread with my comments.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Jules, MBentz, let's try to keep this civil and not derail the thread.

ZV - AnandTech Garage Moderator

 

[ViviTheMage]

Those are weird looking cars, I am sure they are powerful, but I hate the look of them.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Heres an idea: don't like it don't buy one! *gasp*

Socialist "I don't like it therefore nobody neeeeeeeeeeds it" comments ftl.

I'm starting to like it but it just seems a bit too thick and stubby compared to the original.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Heres an idea: don't like it don't buy one! *gasp*

Socialist "I don't like it therefore nobody neeeeeeeeeeds it" comments ftl.

I'm starting to like it but it just seems a bit too thick and stubby compared to the original.

Nice assumption. :roll: I actually do like it...well, except for the fake carbon fiber poo poo on the hood. I think the car looks great.

I'm merely questioning the logic of releasing a big heavy RWD car with a huge V8 engine with gas prices at record levels. The V6 isn't going to be much better either because of the weight of the car.

 

[f1r3s1d3]

Absolutely love the look of the car, hate how they crippled it. Automatic? What the hell. Plus, I'm not a big MOPAR fan anyway. FoMoCo for life.

 

[RagingBITCH]

I've seen two so far IRL in Dallas...it's just so badass looking.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Heres an idea: don't like it don't buy one! *gasp*

Socialist "I don't like it therefore nobody neeeeeeeeeeds it" comments ftl.

I'm starting to like it but it just seems a bit too thick and stubby compared to the original.

Nice assumption. :roll: I actually do like it...well, except for the fake carbon fiber poo poo on the hood. I think the car looks great.

I'm merely questioning the logic of releasing a big heavy RWD car with a huge V8 engine with gas prices at record levels. The V6 isn't going to be much better either because of the weight of the car.

The logic is that people who don't care about gas prices will buy them. It's an existing platform with a common engine, so it doesn't cost a whole lot to deviate a little, and they can make as many as they can sell.

It's like asking why make 60" plasma TVs when most people can only afford the 50" and use that to mandate that they do not make 60" models at all.

Translation: If I cannot afford, do not like, or do not want X, then nobody needs X and they shouldn't make it at all.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Heres an idea: don't like it don't buy one! *gasp*

Socialist "I don't like it therefore nobody neeeeeeeeeeds it" comments ftl.

I'm starting to like it but it just seems a bit too thick and stubby compared to the original.

Nice assumption. :roll: I actually do like it...well, except for the fake carbon fiber poo poo on the hood. I think the car looks great.

I'm merely questioning the logic of releasing a big heavy RWD car with a huge V8 engine with gas prices at record levels. The V6 isn't going to be much better either because of the weight of the car.

The logic is that people who don't care about gas prices will buy them. It's an existing platform with a common engine, so it doesn't cost a whole lot to deviate a little, and they can make as many as they can sell.

It's like asking why make 60" plasma TVs when most people can only afford the 50" and use that to mandate that they do not make 60" models at all.

Translation: If I cannot afford, do not like, or do not want X, then nobody needs X and they shouldn't make it at all.

Well, I guess we'll see how they sell in time. Big gas guzzling trucks and SUVs are sitting on dealer lots across the country though and those are actually fairly useful. A smallish 2 door coupe that gets horrible mileage doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: dawp

Originally posted by: MBentz

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Xanis

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Nice fake carbon fiber decal on the hood. :laugh:

Oh, and just in time for $5/gallon gas prices. The Camaro should be an even bigger failure...whenever it manages to hit showroom floors.

Not our fault that you had to move to SD to get $5/gallon gas.

Actually, it's down to $4/gallon for regular unleaded currently.

You'd have to be a complete fool to think that prices at the pump won't hit $5 a gallon or higher in the coming years though.

Armed with that knowledge, cars like this make very little sense.

Something tells me that you don't buy a Challenger because it "makes sense".

Oh, so they're going strictly for the collector crowd then? Because that makes even less sense financially quite honestly. I mean, this isn't exactly a Ferrari. They need to sell these things in quantity to make it profitable.

I think Ford got in on the last end of the retro muscle car money maker a few years ago.

WTF? Pull the stick out of your ass dude. Some people buy cars like Camaros, Mustangs, GTOs and Challengers because they LIKE muscle cars. Why do you care so much about other peoples money?

That may be the case, but it'll never be a money maker with the way gas prices are now, and the current lower prices are only temperary, they will go back up.

Who gives a shit. It's a nice car and I'm jealous of the guy. You people who think everything has to make financial sense and eco sense are a bunch of elitist hypocrites.