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Five Oh Brian

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I swear the 5.7 Challenger is roughly equivalent to a 6 cylinder Mustang. It's just sad how slow that car is.
At our local dragstrips, all the stock 5.7L Challengers & Chargers run about even with 2011+ Mustang V6's and the 2015+ EcoBoosts. 6.4L is the Hemi to have (for those of us who can't afford a Hellcat or GT500).
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simonp83

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MRGTX

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When I read this post I get the impression you've never driven a 5.7 Challenger. Maybe you read a few stats and then decided on what to post. Do yourself a favor and test drive one. See what you think and then check back here.

I like to regularly go around and test drive cars. It's fun and it lets you know what the various manufacturer's offerings can do. There's a lot more to a car than the numbers in a magazine or online. Test drives are free.
Which part of my post did you think was wrong?

You and I both know, you'd never call me a liar to my face. ;)

The truth is that I have clocked over 1000 miles in Challenger R/Ts, one 2013 auto (5spd), one 2015 Auto (8spd) and about 50 miles in a manual (T6060). Two of them were rentals (the autos) and the manual belongs to my friend who absolutely loves her car. :shrug:

I wrote up a pretty long review of the 2013 auto after my road trip. I would be happy to PM a link to you. FWIW, the 5spd auto was fine but the more recent drive with the new 8spd "Torqueflight" was vastly better. It's a huge leap up from the 6spd auto in the Mustangs.

EDIT:
I attached a pic of the rental '13 Challenger that I wrote about...that color was just too damn much. What a fun car. :cool:
Yeah, yeah... I left the "EZPass" transponder open. :p


By the way, I have personal friends who sell cars for a living...it's a pretty tough job with long hours. Please reconsider wasting their time.


Ah those magazine racers again
Maybe if you actually read a magazine, you wouldn't have bought the Ecoboost convertible.

:headbonk:
Challenger%20RT%204-10%20through%204-12.jpg
 
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MRGTX

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At our local dragstrips, all the stock 5.7L Challengers & Chargers run about even with 2011+ Mustang V6's and the 2015+ EcoBoosts. 6.4L is the Hemi to have (for those of us who can't afford a Hellcat or GT500).
Agreed... Challenger R/Ts are typically high 13 second cars in my experience. This is well within reach of an Ecoboost coupe or an '11+ V6 Mustang with the 3.15 axle ratio option.

As much as I like the each engine option for the lower end Mustangs, the 5.7L is (in my opinion) a much more satisfying motor. I wouldn't think less of anyone who disagreed with my opinion on that because they're each pretty great in the right situation.

...and as much as I like the 5.7L, it doesn't hold a candle to the 5.0L Coyote.

...
They should retire the 5.7... and beef up the Pentastar. Maybe focus on improving the larger hemi for the more hardcore models.

Problem with the Challenger is the thing weighs as much as an SUV.. And it has a truck engine... Kind of is a truck/SUV really.

I can't wait for the Alfa refresh. Once the Challenger is an actual muscle car (Hellcats not included) rather than a shrunk down SUV I might very well trade the Mustang for one.. They're still the best looking car out of all 3.
You do realize that the Coyote is also a truck engine, right? :D

I think you nailed it with your first point. Rumors are going around that the 5.7L is slated to be discontinued in favor of a twin turbo Pentastar. I think this is sad news but so long as the 392 is still out there, I guess I can live with that.

Yep. Challenger is a really heavy machine and that's the primary buzz killer for these cars. While I found the Challenger R/T and SRT models to be really, really enjoyable, they're just a bit too ponderous. It's hard not to imagine how much more fun they'd be with a big weight loss. Still, reviews universally remark at how they handle and drive better than you'd think (from looking at a stat sheet) but yeah...

I'm a former Miata owner (2x) so even my Mustang feels gigantic. Challenger literally wouldn't fit into my fairly tight garage space that the Mustang fits in just fine. Yes. I measured. :D

FWIW, Chrysler has always been happy to not compete directly with Mustang/Camaro. They just keep plodding along, selling a good enough number every year to very happy buyers. :shrug:

I totally agree about being excited for the refresh! Sadly, it's a few years off based on the latest rumors.
 
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1320'

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Something happened between 2010 and 2011 for the 5.7..

There were routine reports of stock 5.7's running low 13's in average air..then in 2011 it jumped up to 14.0 flat.

I know..because I experienced this. My Challenger would bang out average 13.4's. I sold it in Feb of 2011 and then in 2012 I took my friends 2011 Challenger out for a pass on the same drag strip in the same conditions...couldn't do better than 14.15.

All I know is a 2009/2010 Challenger R/T 5.7 A5, with bolt-on's, will give a stock 2015/2016 Mustang GT trouble on a drag strip, easily. A 2011+ Challenger? not so much.
 

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Genxer

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An AWD Hellcat would be great... maybe they could finally get traction and rip some good times. I liked the Challenger when they were reintroduced. The retro thing was cool, but to me the styling has gone a bit stale. I guess there's always a segment of buyers that want the old school look, but of the big three I think the Mustang has the best looks hands down.
 

1320'

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The 2015 refresh on the Challenger was *very* popular. Even though it did not dramatically change the looks it did help a lot. At first the looks didn't appeal to me owing to my loyalty to the 2010 car I had..but 2 years on now? I think they're amazingv.
 

SpeedLu

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9secondko

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I *love* this package/color scheme (from the link above):

slide_0001+%2810%29.webp
I'm digging the wheels and the floor the car is sitting on.

But the car itself just looks like a whale.

It's pretty dated looking too.

I'd like to see the new version downside a ton while keeping the power -or improving it.
 

EcoVert

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Which part of my post did you think was wrong?

You and I both know, you'd never call me a liar to my face. ;)

The truth is that I have clocked over 1000 miles in Challenger R/Ts, one 2013 auto (5spd), one 2015 Auto (8spd) and about 50 miles in a manual (T6060). Two of them were rentals (the autos) and the manual belongs to my friend who absolutely loves her car. :shrug:

I wrote up a pretty long review of the 2013 auto after my road trip. I would be happy to PM a link to you. FWIW, the 5spd auto was fine but the more recent drive with the new 8spd "Torqueflight" was vastly better. It's a huge leap up from the 6spd auto in the Mustangs.

EDIT:
I attached a pic of the rental '13 Challenger that I wrote about...that color was just too damn much. What a fun car. :cool:
Yeah, yeah... I left the "EZPass" transponder open. :p


By the way, I have personal friends who sell cars for a living...it's a pretty tough job with long hours. Please reconsider wasting their time.




Maybe if you actually read a magazine, you wouldn't have bought the Ecoboost convertible.

:headbonk:
the troll is at it again :lol:
 

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MRGTX

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...
But the car itself just looks like a whale.

It's pretty dated looking too.
....
Agreed on both counts but...

I think it would look awesome in an 8/10 scale version! That would alleviate some of the "whaleness."

As for it being dated; it's really one of the last retro cars on the market. I can live with that. The looks are almost unanimously liked, even if the looks aren't quite good enough to sell at Mustang levels.
 

Tm@c1965

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Challenger is what it needs to be

1. Some of us want a BIG muscle car with big power. It's a modern equivalent to the class of cars that included --U pick: Satellite, GTX, Charger, Impala, Chevelle SS, Road Runner, GTO, 442. It's shaped like a "pony" but it's not a "pony." It's a heavy cruiser. We like this.

2. The whole point of "Retro" is to look "Dated." We like this also.

3. I like light MOPARS. An 8/10 scale "Mopar Cuda" on an Alfa "Julietta" frame/chassis will be a nice addition.

There is a market for this car. Making a mustang sized challenger might actually decrease sales. We want a big bruiser cruiser. Lots of fun. Trust me. I have owned my share of light imports. People enjoy diversity and choice.

The reason retro cars revived the muscle market is because they are timeless designs. People never got tired of the old looks.
 

Hack

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Which part of my post did you think was wrong?

You and I both know, you'd never call me a liar to my face. ;)


By the way, I have personal friends who sell cars for a living...it's a pretty tough job with long hours. Please reconsider wasting their time.
:
The part where you said the 5.7 was great. The styling of the Challenger is great but the 5.7 is a boat anchor.

I didn't think I was calling you a liar, just wrong.

I only drive cars that appeal to me. If they are good enough I will buy. Don't worry, I won't ever drive another car with a crap 5.7 in it. I won't waste anyone's time, including my own.
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