(Pics) Challenger SRT8

[1qwikSS]

So last night im coming home and as im walking from the car port to my apt, theres a Dodge Challenger SRT8 parked outside the building next to mine. Orange with carbon fiber stripes. So today as im pulling away he is pulling in so i stopped and talked with him about it. He was a really cool guy from europe who came over here to design cars. He was a design engineer for chrysler and he designs the interiors of the new cars. It was his bosses ride that let him take it for the weekend because he is working on designing a new steering wheel for the challengers. So we bs'ed for a bit and then he took me for a ride in it. It was definately quick but not as quick as you would think. It was an automatic though, so im sure the manuals might throw you back in your seat a lil more. It was very smooth driving down the road, but it was a lil bit "doughey" rolling around corners. Anyways heres some pics of the car and one of me "modeling" the car. Enjoy.

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[1qwikSS]

the cool thing is he is trying to get a viper for next weekend or the weekend after, so he said he would take me for a ride in that cr also if he gets it! so i may have more pics of a viper next week!

[Fbomb]

Feels slower or doughier than it should because it weights 4600 lbs.
Sounds like a fun day though!

Oh yeah, I've also heard that you have to use Mobil 1 in those things or void the warranty because crankcase temps can reach 350'...and they have a plastic oil pan that my dad helped develop.

[MikeM]

The suspension is tuned softer than many performance cars, it's a compromise I wish they had not made, but remember this car is really designed as a retro cruiser, and a lot of 50 somethings are buying them who want the memories without the bumpy ride lol.

I got to drive an SRT-8 also, I know from experience it's quicker than my stock LS1, but most of the magazines say the 2010 SS Camaro is a hair faster . . . not much though. All the SRT-8s are automatics. It's a 6-speed auto, you probably get nearly as much jump from it as you would from a manual since you have less power loss when shifting (makes up for some torque converter loss.) I wish they had gone ahead with the dual-clutch manual they were originally talking about, that would have put it over the top in 0-60 and 1/4 mile vs. any close rival; but it was just too expensive, and Chrysler was in too much trouble by the time this car came to market to take a flyer on advanced technology like that.

[my95z28]

Don't lose too much power if you don't let off the gas when you shift

[ramairusty]

The suspension is tuned softer than many performance cars, it's a compromise I wish they had not made, but remember this car is really designed as a retro cruiser, and a lot of 50 somethings are buying them who want the memories without the bumpy ride lol.

I got to drive an SRT-8 also, I know from experience it's quicker than my stock LS1, but most of the magazines say the 2010 SS Camaro is a hair faster . . . not much though. All the SRT-8s are automatics. It's a 6-speed auto, you probably get nearly as much jump from it as you would from a manual since you have less power loss when shifting (makes up for some torque converter loss.) I wish they had gone ahead with the dual-clutch manual they were originally talking about, that would have put it over the top in 0-60 and 1/4 mile vs. any close rival; but it was just too expensive, and Chrysler was in too much trouble by the time this car came to market to take a flyer on advanced technology like that.

Not all SRT cars are automatics, friend has an '09 with a 6 spd w/392 posi, its pretty darn fast, got to drive, was fun.

[MikeM]

Not all SRT cars are automatics, friend has an '09 with a 6 spd w/392 posi, its pretty darn fast, got to drive, was fun.

Is it an SRT or an R/T? Both are Hemi's

[nascarnate326]

Is it an SRT or an R/T? Both are Hemi's

First year SRT cars got the auto, 2nd year has the manual as an option.

[JoeliusZ28]

First year SRT cars got the auto, 2nd year has the manual as an option.

correct, they WERE all automatics, but now you can get a pistol grip

[MikeM]

I stand corrected! Thank you.

I'd rather have the auto anyway, for reasons stated above. It's probably Chrysler's best automatic, it's the one they got from the Germans. It has autostick if you really want to do a brake stand or burnout (we did it in the one I brought home) or if you want to push it to redline in 1st and 2nd.

[1qwikSS]

not quite positive what an auto stick is but if its what i think it is this srt8 didnt have it. is the auto stick where the car is an automatic but you can bring the stick all the way down and shift left to right to switch up and down gears? My aunts supercharged mercedes has this option but this challenger was just a straight auto....no manually shifting gears at all.

[MikeM]

not quite positive what an auto stick is but if its what i think it is this srt8 didnt have it. is the auto stick where the car is an automatic but you can bring the stick all the way down and shift left to right to switch up and down gears? My aunts supercharged mercedes has this option but this challenger was just a straight auto....no manually shifting gears at all.

you have it correct. on the LX cars, though, you access it from the drive position - there is no lower spot. you just tap it left when in drive and it goes into autostick. so you may not have noticed it. all the automatics used with the hemi have it.

[Curt_irocz]

Is it an SRT or an R/T? Both are Hemi's

Different HEMI's though, R/T has a 5.7 HEMI, SRT has a 6.1 HEMI, SRT is alot faster, IMO New Challenger>>>> New Camaro.

ANd that car was deffinatly a SRT.

[MiT/A'96]

Plain & simple ....Thats a NICE car !!!!

[steddy]

The shop by here was working on the exhaust of one. I'll tell ya, that's a nice set up, they have a small equalizer tube just after the trans shaft, then right after, they have an x-pipe. That's stock. He was in getting a couple flowmasters on and getting rid of the resonators. Very clean looking system though and impressive for stock.