When you went shopping for a muscle car did you consider a Charger or a Challenger?

[Dominant1]

When I was looking for my 1st muscle car since I was a teenager, I test drove a Dodge Challenger back in 2010 right after I test drove a 2010 Mustang GT. I must say the size difference between the 2 cars was enormous. Both cars were stick cars. The Challenger's weight was evident during the drive, it seemed slower than the mustang, even with the bigger motor, although it wasn't that bad. They wanted $35k for the Challenger R/t. The mustang was $28k. I once owned a 1970 challenger 440 magnum and a 1972 383 magnum Charger when I was younger. Both were fast cars for that age...Anyway, when you went shopping for muscle cars did you consider a Challenger or Charger?

Sponsored

 

[NoVaGT]

Well...since I didn't want a Muscle Car, I didn't consider either.

Mustangs are Pony cars, a different thing from a Muscle Car.

Muscle cars are 2 or 4 door sedans, much larger cars. Stuffed with the biggest engine the various manufacturers could get under the hood.

Pony cars are much smaller.

And as big (and heavy) as Mustangs are now, they're quite a bit smaller (and lighter) than the Charger & Challenger.

 

[Zooks527]

I considered a Challenger. As I was only interested in it if it had some specific option packages and as it turned out that two of the packages were mutually exclusive, it slid off the list. About 6 weeks after taking delivery of my Mustang, I ended up with one as a rental car on a trip. Turned out that neither my wife nor I enjoyed riding in it.

 

[lazarus870]

My parents had Chryslers in the mid 90's and they were so problematic I remember being a kid and spending time in dealership service centers or dealing with roadside assistance.
A lot has changed since that time surely, but still...

I did briefly consider them, but they were big cars, and I felt that their model lineup was confusing. I didn't know which trim did what and the options were endless.

Couple that with the fact that NO dealerships had ANY. Either they had the highest end trim (1 maybe), the lowest end V6, and the rest a sea of Ram trucks and Jeeps as far as the eye can see.

 

[Spartan1]

I leased a 2017 Challenger R/T for 2 years before I bought the Mustang last fall. Wanted to see if I liked the extra summer car and winter storage needed, or if it was too much of a PITA without a 3 car garage.

It was a fun car, maybe a little more comfortable than the Mustang, but I enjoy the Mustang more, better looking and a little more power.

Not a fan of the Challenger crowd, FCA will sell/lease to anyone these days, unlike Ford/GM.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I like the Scat Pack Challenger, but a Mustang is my car.

 

[djdilliodon]

I still haven’t pulled the trigger on a 2018 GT yet as I’m waiting for the nicer weather to come. A hellcat constantly crosses my mind due to the fact lots of power can be made for investing around $2-$3k (750 hp to the wheels). Thing is though to me the mustang looks way better and I like the fact they rev higher. The mustang is also about $15k sometimes even more cheaper. One could argue the money saved could be put into the mustang and make it comparable or even better. All I’m really looking for is making 5xx to the wheels if I get a mustang which I think shouldn’t be an issue with bolt ons and cams if I fall short. Decisions decisions decisions !

 

[speedfrk]

I've had both... My Mustang was a problem child with the driveline vibration they could never fix. Ford seems to have a lot of warranty problems lately. The Challenger is problem free and is a lot bigger and more comfortable. The seats are noticeably better for long trips. Not a track day car but a way better DD. If you need a back seat at all or a large trunk the Challenger is a far better choice. Also depends on trim level. The Challenger kills the Mustang in features on the base model- V6 vs 4cyl, 7in screen, Uconnect, etc. The Mustang GT is a better deal than the R/T, I think but I'd take a Scat Pack over any of them. Age factors into all of this, too.

I'm pretty agnostic about car manufacturers- its not religion. Pick the car that is best suited for you and try not to wrap up your sense of self-worth and significance in a car.

 

[Idaho2018GTPremium]

In the fall of 2018 when I bought my Mustang (2018 GT Premium PP1 w/ MagneRide, A10, and Safe and smart), I briefly considered a Hellcat Challenger. However, I ruled it out pretty quickly because I wanted a car that could handle well. While I like the look of the Hellcat, I think the Mustang looks a lot better. Additionally, the Hellcat has terrible weight distribution (57% front 43% rear) and a high center of gravity, and weighs over 4,500 lbs. That weight and weight distribution is why they can't put the power down that they have stock, much less a 750 rwhp modified Hellcat. The PP1 GT Mustang is 3,800 lbs on a full tank and 54/46 weight distribution. With the A10, it puts the power down surprisingly well on warm summer tires.

The performance versions of the Challenger can show pretty decent skidpad grip with the summer performance tires (i.e., 0.95-0.97 gs), however, that is deceiving because it is a steady state turning condition. Once you start throwing the weight around back and forth it falls apart compared to the Mustang or Camaro.

I also don't like the interior of the Challenger - it doesn't look sporty at all to me. I like the way the 392 and Hellcat variants look from most angles, except to me the look falls apart big time straight on from the rear. It looks like a boxy truck, no matter the trim, and bulky and tall.

 

[lazarus870]

I leased a 2017 Challenger R/T for 2 years before I bought the Mustang last fall. Wanted to see if I liked the extra summer car and winter storage needed, or if it was too much of a PITA without a 3 car garage.

It was a fun car, maybe a little more comfortable than the Mustang, but I enjoy the Mustang more, better looking and a little more power.

Not a fan of the Challenger crowd, FCA will sell/lease to anyone these days, unlike Ford/GM.

How'd you like the 5.7 bottom end power compared to the Coyote?

 

[Balr14]

Back in the 60s and 70s, I owned a number of Mopars. They had more than their share of reliability and build quality issues and were prone to rusting. It left a real bad taste that I never got over. I have been tempted by the Charger, but I could always find something I felt more confident in. I like the looks of the Challenger better than the Mustang or Camaro, but I don't buy two door cars unless the top goes down.

 

[LSchicago]

I didn't consider anything else. My list of must haves included the Kona Blue, A10, 301A mid level, and 3.55 gears. Mine also came with the active exhaust & Black accent package, happy with both.

 

[XS]

I wanted a Charger SCAT Pack with the 392 but the dealership's awful service killed that for me. When I was looking to buy (2015) none of the dealerships here had 392 cars in stock, and all had tons of SRT8s they couldn't move. So every single dealer I went to I got the same two-faced runaround. It started off with them saying they could order me a 392 but they just needed to get their special order manager in there to write up the paperwork - so they promised they would call me next day when that person was available. Well long story short this person, if they existed at all, never called me and after about a week the sales person would call and give me a long story about how special orders take forever to fulfill and really they already had all the SRT8s I could ever want. Then I would ask them, sure that's fine if you're willing to let one go for the $40k price of the 392 special order? And they would balk at that and tell me some bs like "well we could MAYBE let an SRT8 go for around $56k and trust me that's pulling some strings". This went on at four different dealerships I tried to get a scat pack from, until I got fed up and said fine I just won't buy an FCA product again if that's how you do business.

 

[shogun32]

How'd you like the 5.7 bottom end power compared to the Coyote?

the 5.7 can't get out of it's own way. the Mustang V6 is a better powerplant.

For a lounge car with burly engine (6.4l or don't bother) but the agility of a 50ft sailing yacht it's great. You can lay out a 4-course picnic on the front dash with bottle service. The only model worth a damn is the wide-body with the schmancy suspension but it still can't get power down on non-perfect pavement and you'll still need to roll down the window and holler "coming about Captain!" as you saw at the tiller in a vain attempt to change tack to port or starboard.

Cruise the interstate in comfort and with a 'menacing' exhaust burble as you merge into traffic like an angry bull with a prod up it's ass, Aces! Try to negotiate a 4-leaf clover, you'll need to perfect the art of tossing the anchor out.

Both look really, really good IMO. If I had a family of 3+ to haul around the Charger would be no question in the stable even if my teeth grind every time I drive it because it only comes in automatic. Unfortunately I'm not sitting on $45,000 with nothing better to do or yes I would add a Challenger widebody with Tremec to the fleet just for the variety. Like this puppy, or in Mango. https://www.koonsjeep.com/new/Dodge...irfax-VA-bcb9d7c30a0e0ae71467e895e8d07fa5.htm

 

[Five_OhGT]

I did not consider buying a boat when I was buying my car.

Sponsored