2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 : A real throwback!

Say what you will about Ford, but you have to admit that the manufacturer has managed to keep the Mustang, the only model to survive the Muscle Car Era, alive.  With sales still impressive, it is no wonder that Chrysler and GM decided two years ago to bring back their own muscle cars.  While the Camaro is set to arrive in 2010, if GM survives the crisis and still gives this vehicle the green light, Chrysler has beaten its rival to the punch and introduced its Challenger this summer.  Will it have what it takes to win hearts?

Probably at least a few.

Chrysler has decided to use its LX platform for the Challenger, the same one it currently uses for the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 and used in the past for the Magnum. In other words, not only is the vehicle well known, but so are its mechanical components.  Essentially, it is a two-door Charger, but with an old-school look.  As with the Charger, several versions of the Challenger are offered for 2009, different from one another mainly because of their engines.  The SE and SXT versions offer a six-cylinder 3.5-litre 250 horsepower engine, while the Challenger R/T comes with a V8 5.7-litre HEMI and 372 horses.

• Also: SRT4 vs. SRT8: One for the father, the other for the son!

The SRT8 or nothing

However, these are not the versions that are really catching the public’s eye.  Those who really want to relive the Challenger experience will opt for the SRT8 version, which offers a 6.1-litre HEMI and 425 horses under the hood.  In fact, it is not so much the model’s increased power that is making it so attractive, but what the manufacturer has done to the interior and exterior.  And that goes double when the body is painted orange, one of the four colours available for the SRT8.  What’s more, most Challengers on the road are in orange pearl.  My opinion was also confirmed by a neighbour who works at a Chrysler dealership, who admitted that the other versions just can’t seem to find any takers.  In short, buyers don’t seem to want to settle for the base model.  The real question is whether Chrysler will be able to attract another type of buyer to its other versions.  Even with the Challenger’s unique character, it won’t be easy.  In most cases, you either like it, or you don’t.

Unlike the Mustang?

And yet, the V6 Mustang is attracting a lot of buyers.  Why couldn’t the Challenger do likewise?  Likely because the Mustang has evolved over time and because it has been around for many years.  The Challenger is a close replica of the previous mode ant it plays heavily on emotion and nostalgia.

The exterior lines and style are reminiscent of the Challenger from the early 1970s.  Those who are nostalgic for that era are very pleased with the exterior.  The car’s dimensions are immediately striking, particularly the width of the trunk and hood.  The stripes on the hood and dull black rear spoiler of the SRT8 model really recapture the style of the era while the 20-inch rims give the car a more impressive stature.  The body is elevated at the back at the wheel housing, which also accentuates this feature.  We like the “6.1 HEMI” logo along the hood’s air intakes as well as the inverted mud flap under the front bumper.

The evidence that the Challenger is an eye-catcher (as if it were necessary) is in the number of enthusiasts who turn around as we pass and the number of thumbs up we get on the highway.  This car has almost as much effect as an Audi R8!  That is proof positive that the manufacturer’s choice of style is a success.  The Challenger is a hit even with people like me who didn’t live through that era.

Déjà vu interior

Since it’s a coupe, the size of the doors are immediately noticeable.  The SRT seats certainly offer excellent support for sport driving, but their aggressive lateral supports make it harder to get into the driver’s seat.  Moreover, it is still hard to access the back seat on the driver’s side because of the power seat, which does not have a manual adjustment control.  Behind the wheel, it’s like déjà vu all over again, which is no surprise since most of the features are taken from the Charger.  The steering wheel, the diameter of which is too big for my tastes, is taken directly from the 300 SRT8.  Finally, it would have been nice if the interior was as unique as the exterior, rather than a copy of other models.

On the road

On the road, the power and especially the sound of the V8 engine are appreciated.  You catch yourself putting the pedal to the metal just to hear the sound of the engine, which of course, is not good for fuel consumption.  On a long trip done mainly on the highway I used about 13.5L of fuel per 100 km.  This figure could increase significantly if get your kicks accelerating from one light to the next.

On the track, the Challenger’s handling will never be mistaken for that of a BMW M3.  However, the accelerations are powerful and the V8 has stamina even at high speed.  Nonetheless, the vehicle is massive and you’ll notice some very significant weight transfers when weaving.  The tires are wide and low, which will help minimize this effect, but that doesn’t seem sufficient.  The braking turns out to be up to the task, as the Brembo brakes are more than capable of stopping this mass once it gets rolling.  The fact that the larges calipers are also painted red adds to the style.

Purists will appreciate the six-speed standard transmission and its stick shift that is like the legendary “Pistol Grip”.  This transmission uses the range of gears well and it even lets you reach 100 km/h in second gear.  Otherwise, the automatic transmission with standard mode does the trick, although it seemed hesitant several times once when I floored it.

In conclusion, the Challenger comes at a difficult time, specifically because of the price of gas this summer, which also slowed Mustang sales, but also because of the financial crisis that is taking hold.  It’s hard to say if the Challenger will become a collector’s vehicle, that is more likely for the SRT8, but the current situation, how Chrysler deals with the crisis or if it has to merge, could very well place the Challenger among the elite. The cars that made a mark on history are also the ones that were controversial!

As for the rest, the Challenger submerges you in another era, as much with its style as with its handling.  Sometimes it’s nice to drive a car that has a soul!