All I wanted was a Charger R/T with the 8HP

"Nibbles" (nibbles) 04/21/2014 at 13:21 • Filed to: Dodge Dart XL, rants

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Now they had to go and pansify the thing. I can finally get that magical transmission mated to a real engine, but I'd have to drive an embiggened Dart. Don't get me wrong; the Dart is a good looking little car, but the embiggification does not do that style justice.

That looks good. Quite good.

That looks cobbled together. Incoherent.

They couldn't have just left well-enough alone and given me the old R/T with the 8HP, could they?

Of course, they had to go and make the Challenger even better than before. It looks more taut, more muscular, more Mopar.

That's attractive!

So I tells the wife, I tells her "hey Mabel, I'm gonna buy a Challenger and there's nothing you can do about it!" She says fine and dandy, but we have to get her knee fixed first. Okie doke, no problem. Wait. Problem.

I wanted the Charger because it was A: Sex, B: Muscular and C: Huge. We regularly pick the in-laws up from the airport and a massive sedan with copious cabin and trunk space would be great. Father in law is a large guy with some health problems. We picked them up in the Focus on Sunday and I quickly noticed that he had a lot of trouble getting in, even though we moved the seat all the way back and did everything we could to make him comfortable. Now I'm thinking the Challenger, as awesome as that would be, would probably not be the best of ideas. If he had trouble getting in and out of the Fucus, he probably wouldn't do well at all getting in and out of a low slung coupe. Not to mention trying to convince the wife and mother in law to sit in the back. So what do I do?

I was looking at the Charger/Challenger because they provided a lot of utility, comfort and speed for just a tick over 30 large. The SS starts at nearly $45k and is boring to look at, so it's not really in the running. The SHO is more expensive than the Charger too. I just want chiseled good looks, a big motor and the ability to drive cross-country without needing a chiropractor afterward, for about $35k. I guess that's too much to ask.

TL;DR thanks Dodge, you ruined it.

JR1 > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:27

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Solution get a used SRT8 to offset the shitty little auto in the Charger.

blinnard > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:27

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The challenger doesn't sit any lower than the charger, and the trunk is just as big. Source: I own both

AthomSfere > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:28

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The Charger is perfect to me (Current gen at least) but no manual means no way!

Cadillac ATS with the 2.0 Turbo might be the best bet. 272hp, manual, rwd and spacious enough.

Nibbles > JR1 04/21/2014 at 13:29

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I'd consider that, but the SRT8 is rated at like 12 MPG. Not too good for road trippin

Nibbles > blinnard 04/21/2014 at 13:31

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How is ingress/egress on the Challenger? I imagined the larger door and different seating position would make it a little harder to do. Also, back seats - are they livable? Could you fit someone behind the passenger seat when it is pushed nearly all the way back?

You may be my only hope for justifying the Challenger again :)

yamahog > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:31

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Obviously personal tastes vary and I happen to like the new Charger better than the previous, but have you seen it in person yet? I wasn't a big fan of the 15 Mustang until I saw it in Triple Yellow at the Detroit auto show.

Nibbles > AthomSfere 04/21/2014 at 13:33

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I am definitely looking at the ATS. I can deal without the manual as long as the automatic is a good enough box (the 8HP is). Since the wife routinely damages her clutch knee, I will never be able to sell her on having a manual-only fleet.

Nibbles > yamahog 04/21/2014 at 13:34

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I haven't seen it yet. I'm doing everything I can to keep an open mind, but with every angle presented I just cannot muster any emotion at all about that front end.

AthomSfere > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:35

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I have notoriously bad knees, about once a month they take turns with a lot of pain... But I won't give up my manual, ever. Spent 4 years driving an auto and hated it every day...

Nibbles > AthomSfere 04/21/2014 at 13:37

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I won't either. The wife has only been driving stick for a few months though, and she will still happily drive an automatic if it means she gets to walk that day. CON: I have agreed to have an automatic in the stable. PRO: Right now she's driving the shitbox Focus and I'm DDing her truck because she doesn't want to clutch.

sony1492 > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:37

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Lexus is350 F

an older one would be in your price range.

AthomSfere > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:39

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I call that a win then!

Nibbles > sony1492 04/21/2014 at 13:39

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I do like thems. Wonder how often they come across the local Carmax...

blinnard > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:40

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Seating position is about the same. And getting in and out isn't bad at all. My 75 year old grandfather handles it just fine. There is a little less legroom in the challenger, but I doubt you'll have the seat all the way back unless you're over 6'8''. I'm 6'5'' and don't have it back that far.

Here's a pic of our two.

Nibbles > blinnard 04/21/2014 at 13:45

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Father in law is somewhere in the mid-six foot range, but mother in law is like 5 foot nothing.

blinnard > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:49

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Then I would say that you wouldn't have much problem at all using the backseat in the challenger.

Cixelsyd > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:54

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As someone who DDs an IS, I can tell you they fail your third element. They are decidedly not huge. I like it, because it feels like the car is wrapped around you when driving, but large guys don't fit well and you won't be picking anyone up at the airport in one. Two good size bags requires some planning before putting them in the trunk and there is only enough space left for maybe a small backpack once they are in.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 13:59

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Buy an old Roadmaster for In-laws. Wait a year or two and buy used new Challenger. WIN/WIN/WIN

Vicente Esteve > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 14:02

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Haven't considered a Grand Cherokee SRT-8? Plenty of space, and though it isn't a sexy coupe, it is pretty special.

Nothing > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 14:21

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If you haven't yet, go test drive one....$100 gift card! I've been glancing at the ATS as well.

Nibbles > Cixelsyd 04/21/2014 at 14:33

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Good to know. The in laws tend to over pack; the Focus' trunk was filled to the brim with luggage this last time. Only reason we were able to fit everything is because my wife is a professional Tetris player ;)

Nibbles > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 04/21/2014 at 14:34

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Wife says no. The Roadmaster would fall into the "project car" category - definition: Cars in the driveway she refuses to drive.

Nibbles > Vicente Esteve 04/21/2014 at 14:37

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Not enough em pee gees to be driven cross country :(

I'll be keeping my eye out for a slightly used diesel model in the near future though. Wife abhors SUVs, but I may be able to talk her into one

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Nibbles 04/21/2014 at 18:07

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It looks like a lot of people don't like the new Charger's looks.. which puts me in the minority, cause I love it, and I think it looks wonderful.
I've been actually looking around for a Charger R/T to test drive (so I can see how it feels on the road and what it's like to drive), but all the dealers that I've visited so far; around 4 out of 6, don't have any Chargers left.

Nibbles > theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil 04/21/2014 at 18:14

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Yeah new 2014s are hard to find. Very little (if at all) changed between 2011-2014, so you could try to find a used R/T to give a test.

They don't feel like the muscle they are. Especially if you drive an AWD version. The AWD R/Ts are composed, smooth and laid back. The RWD models are still smooth, and the 5 gear box is a little restrained, but it lets you know what is sitting under the hood. Either model will get you to speed quicker than you realize :)

I'm still withholding total judgement, as many things translate better when seen in real life, but I just get no emotion from the 2015. I don't feel good about it, I don't feel bad about it, and I'm definitely not enamored with it like I was the'11-'14 model

Long Live the Longdoor > Nibbles 04/22/2014 at 00:26

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Man, those halos on the new Challenger look amazing!

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Nibbles 04/22/2014 at 07:50

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I figure I'll scope out the used car lots and see if I can find one.
The difference mainly being the transmission choices now. I won't be getting an AWD one though. RWD for sure.

Do you own one, Nibbles?

Nibbles > theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil 04/22/2014 at 09:08

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No I don't. I've been holding out for that 8HP because it is awesome and so much better than the old 5 speed box.

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > Nibbles 04/22/2014 at 10:14

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Looks like we're in the same boat!