The R/T 5.7 is definitely the best bang for the buck.

The 3.5 V6 is a POS. I had a nearly new Charger 3.5 rental and it was so cheap feeling, not to mention SLOW with floppy handling. At the $22k price a Civic Si, Mazdaspeed3, VW GTi and various others are way better cars for the money.

OH, let's not forget about the new Hyundai 2.0L turbo coupe.

It's really hard to say how this car is going to sell. I mean the Mustang is really a chick car now, and the Camaro (I live in the South, so I believe I'm allowed to say this...) seems to be more popular with the redneck/grease monkey crowd. (Not that I don't see plenty of highly tuned 5.0's rolling around, but on a proportional basis, the Camaro still has the Stang beat). But this? I know it's been a while for the Camaro, but Dodge hasn't had a serious muscle car out for a while. I do think the 5.7 is a good bang per buck, but why not go with a Camaro or Mustang? (Yeah cause I'm a Mopar guy......)

Something tells me in the end it's not the sales of the hotrod model that keep the series alive, it's the sales of the base model. And I don't see that selling well here. Maybe it they took the old 2.4 turbo engine from the Neon SRT4 and made that the base, maybe, maybe it would sell.

hahaha man that car is ugly .with gas going to soar past $5 maybe even $6 this summer and they arent going down, the v8 is only going to be for the rich and the v6 for the well off. 4 bangers FWD compacts are going to take over America. Man i wanted to buy a GT500 stang so bad, but now im happy getting 30 MPG highway in my Cobalt SS.

The writing is already on the wall for this car. It is going to bomb BIG TIME. It's too late, too ugly, and did I mention it's too late ?

I LOVE WHINING !

.

I kinda wish the V-6 would have come with a 5-speed auto instead.

lol @ a gas guzzler that could be beaten by other cars that burn less gas.

lol @ the people who buy it to compensate for their deficiencies elsewhere.

Definitely a unique style. Tuner car for the baby boomers. It was a good attempt at bringing a retro design back. Just a little late. Sure to become a rare collectors car in the future.

lol @ Dan for being an asshat with the l33t one!!!!!!!1! pwnt n00b!1!

If this car (the SE) weighed 2900lbs, It would probably be decent. Despite the cheapy interior, that could be overlooked if the performance were worth it, especially for $22k.

I guess in like 20 years, manufacturers will realize that a lighter car improves efficiency, performance, and handling, while costing less to build. Although Dodge may take 30 years to realize this....

The 250hp/250tq isn't bad on the v6, but why no 5 speed manual? I wasn't impressed with the look of the new mustang, and the new camaro looks like cheap junk, but I actually like the looks of the Challenger. If the base model had a stick I'd actually consider it. If it gets 18/25 mpg with a 4 speed auto, I bet it would get like 21/28 with a stick. Oh well.

I'm actually pleased with most of those numbers. For the money, you'll get a car that turns heads, that's whether you like it or not, you've got to admit, it's not a common looking car, and the performance should be quite fun, even if it's not glue-you-to-the-seat acceleration. I think most all manufacturers realize that weight is the enemy of both speed and handling, the only problem is: regulatory agencies don't care, and in fact, would probably rather have the car go slower. Required airbags, exhaust systems, cages, and all the other safety and environmental equipment is heavy. And lame. And added cost. But regardless, for the money, this should be a fun car, and will sell. And after all, the old maxim holds:

Cheap - Fast - Right : pick two.

As long as I do not see an imatation of Duke of Hazzards on the streets of D.C.!!

The cops here all have Dodge Chargers....

Watch out Boss Hog!

Turn heads? Yeah, I'll turn my head when i see one, turn my head and puke. what a hideous looking car - guess I cant really expect much especially considering its a Dodge.

Vlad,
I do not know what your defect is but you need to understand some people actually like the older generation cars that the Americans made. Come to think of it, what Honda made in the 70s was nothing to look at and the people that drove the early Hondas did not have much to write home about...

Your comments about "it's a Dodge" just shows that you are one of those people that cannot leave the past in the past. Do you still think Hyundais are a peice of crap? If so, go drive one from the 80's then go drive a new one...

BTW why are you online, shouldn't you be in line waiting for your new iPhone!

Wow, all that and the dashboard from an '81 Plymouth Horizon!

R/T with the 6speed and unlimited mileage warranty is definitely the way to go. 31k for 375hp that you can abuse every day for the rest of your life. That sounds like a bargain to me.

The tires on the back of the R/T are far too small to put down 400+ torque.

Whats up with charging 1k more for the 6 speed? Isn't that opposite of the norm? Does it come with anything else other than the new trans?

I too had a 6 cyl charger rental car. It's the slowest and crappiest rental I've had in quite a long time. The only thing worse was a mitsubishi eclipse 4cyl. The Sonata is an awesome rental.

"also includes Hill-start Assist, limited-slip differential, bright pedal covers and performance steering." NVM...

I won't buy it because it doesn't have a handbrake.

Dodge

Is installing a handbrake really too much to ask for?!

The V6 -could- be livable. The insurance would be lower I think, with the lower powered engine. Slap on a supercharger on that V6 and it may perform as good as the Hemi and have a whine to boot. Geez, I'd have to wait 2 more years AFTER I bought it for the vendors to catch up haha.

I rented a Charger back in 2006. What the rental companies did not advertise at the time was the fact that their Chargers were "baser than base".

In 2006, the base engine was the 250hp 3.5ltr. The rental agencies actually bought a fleet package that had the 190hp 2.7 ltr engine.

The 2.7 was a slug in a 3700+lb car. At less than 15lbs/hp, the 3.5 might have proved better, but that's not what the agency had.

I didn't crawl beneath, but it drove like they opted for no rear sway bar as well.

Although I've only driven imports all of my life so far, I'm really liking these "new" retro cars--the Challenger, the Camaro, and the Mustang. I still think the imports look better and of course, are more reliable, but American muscle cars are cool too.

With these cars on the road more often, at least it will make the drive more interesting and less boring.

I want a car that looks like it was made this year, not last century....

They' re paying the designers of this car too much, especially the interior..

This car should be a futureistic car with retro elements, not the other way around. The entire backend looks like it was taking off the challenger of the 60s and slapped on the new chasee. I personally think all these sport cars are way to big, isn't a sport car supposed to be light and nimble? Even if the car has a V8, it can still be light, just look at the corvette. Since this car has a v6 version, they should have made it much smaller and lighter. The unions really make the American car manufacturer's inflexible regarding their ability to impliment new ideas but dispite that, when then come out with a new car, it seems like it was put together half asses (4 spd auto, are we in the year 1990??).

JohnBo: To!=Too

Sorry about the grammer/spelling ^^^

Cars are fat pigs because people demand standard features, the man demands safety, and lighter materials and/or efficient engineering cost more money. Up until a year or two ago, light weight wasn't a priority or expected. That will change but it takes time.

The base cars pay the bills, and at $22k - the inevitable incentives Chrysler actually did pretty good there. GM (and it's dealers) will likely choke the Camaro off at birth with pricing, shunning away whatever loyal who can overlook the appalling styling cues they've added and the ridiculously compromised interior, just like they did with the old car. If Chrysler still had the faithful, it would probably do pretty well.

It's really just too bad they put such a turd of a base powertrain in the thing, but it's not like they have nice base choices to work with. 250 Chrysler hp is what, like 150 very sluggish ones at the rear wheels? And while I'm not excited by the 4 speed, the more likely problem will be terrible gearing/spacing, as usual. A properly tuned and spaced 4 speed can do just fine, the benefits of a 5 or even 6 speed are actually rather small if the 4 speed is properly setup.

18/25 mpg ratings really aren't bad, but again you have the Chrysler aura of getting towards the low number more often than not, because people are pedaling the hell out of that turd base engine which is fighting to overcome the flab and a bad trans. 25mpg in a full size vehicle is actually pretty good for right now. That may/should change but anyone who thinks 30mpg is common in a full size car hasn't shopped for full size cars. 25mpg is a real brick wall where you have to start making real sacrifices (size, power, cost). If this thing actually gets 22-25 for regular drivers, that isn't too bad. Unfortunately, it probably won't.

I feel a little sorry for Chrysler. For the target market there are so many things that this car is so close to being right, and if they still had the fanbase, it'd probably be good enough.

I think this car is for guys with a small peckers.

Mr. Dennis,

Why do you have a fascination with the doogan?

Just because people can afford a large powerful car doesn't mean they're compensating. Maybe they're rich a like nice, powerful cars.

Should I assume guys in pink 3 door civic hatches are well hung? Are Prius owners the best lovers?

wtf with the 4spd auto. ford and chevy got it through their heads that they needed a 5 or 6spd, granted its not in every car. but damn. those are the same epa figures as the mustang GT arent they?

need a new engine for the srt, the 360 is nice but in every car that gets made to be a hi-po need a little personality of its own

I like the retro exterior. The dash sucks. The seats are great. Great power. But, 4200lbs = fail.

Heck I'd buy it for the styling. Put a 30 mpg 4 banger under the hood and make it handle and who cares. Sure I want the SRT, but I want a Viper too. Practically speaking I won't spend the money for them. Would be irresponsible for me.

I think that's why this will sell. Plenty of guys with wives and kids that wanted either had one way back when, or never did and still wish.

They go the look right, as did the Mustang, but the new Camaro really doesn't look like the 60's Camaros... so if the Mustang is any indication... 40% of sales will be the SE.

I am a Dodge fan but currently own a 05 Mustang Conv with the V-6 and Automatic. Great car, but as a Mopar fan I have always wanted a Challenger. Now I may be able to get one. As far as all the negative comments. Who cares what you think. It shows you need to get a life. This is the trouble with our world, if someone does not like something, they think it is their duty to make a bad comment about it.

" This is the trouble with our world, if someone does not like something, they think it is their duty to make a bad comment about it. "

Well said Bill . There is way to much crap in the world for no reason . Most of the negative comments are completely baseless . Human being just love to hate .

My wife bought an R/T today. And yes, she is compensating...for what, I have no idea. (Gotta love the adolescent mental midget peanut gallery types!)
Car is solid...dash is plain Jane, rear seat is better than Mustang, Windows are a bit short, kinda like a chopped coupe. Ride is surprisingly comfortable...weight's advantage, methinks...drove the Mustang, and the ride was very close to my nephew's Radio Flyer. And BTW...it SMOKES the Mustang for power and handling.
Kinda quiet, which I like, kinda plain, which I like. Not at all a luxury feel, but certainly outdoes the Mustang for overall comfort. From the side or rear, this car is kinda average-looking. From the front (temporary rearview for you slow-a$$ 4 banger jockeys) this car has a narrowed brow, get the fork outta the way attitude. Say what you will... but wipe the drool from your chin. Stopped to put gas in it, and answered inquiries from awestruck baby-boomers for about thirty minutes. I hope nobody actually buys one, but I know they want one. Then, when she dies, I can sell it at collector's price.
Now maybe I can get my Toyota Tacoma back, and get that vanilla air freshener/perfume girly smell outta there.......

I came back here to revisit all the comments. Won't sell, its a POS, nobody will buy this, maybe it will sell, the interior is bad....

I dropped by my local Dodge dealer last weekend, as they had 5 Challengers, and people were there nearly shoulder to shoulder, and they weren't looking at the Chargers, Rams, or vans.

Got a test drive (after waiting an hour) in a 'Vanishing Point' white S/E. It drove like my 1971 Road Runner; heavy, very forgiving, confident feedback. It ran like a rental car (hey, I'm spinning 3500rpms and, where's the beef?) and rode very nicely. I was about ready to settle, then decided, why do that?

I have an R/T on order, with the 6 speed, an orange and black one. The dealers can't get them fast enough, and those that have them will not 'trade' off any of the Challengers they have with other dealers. Oh, they found one. My dealer offered me the R/T I wanted, they found 350 miles away, for $3000 over list, and I said, in your dreams.

The Challenger seems to have saved Dodge from a fate worse than death (ie, being bought out or dissolved). Now if the banks all don't lock up....