First time poster - long time lurker.

So I am getting a challenger... end of story. Loved the car since I saw the concept years ago and always admired it from a distance then a few weeks ago I rented an R/T and knew after less than a mile - I would be buying my own.
(being that I could fit sooo comfortably and I am 6'11 was the deal breaker)

So here I sit - car shopping.

I've been reading and shopping and reading and shopping.

I have found a few "deals" and wanted some outside input. I am torn between a hard loaded orange (silver stripe) SRT 2011 - brand new and a solid white bone stock R/T. (both auto)

SRT @ 42k
R/T @ 26K

Those are pre-negotiations prices. I am wondering how good a deal those are at first pass and how much wiggle room I could get.

Also - why would I NOT want the SRT over the R/T? I really feel like they will both (maybe the SRT more) hold their value really well for a few years as well.


So what do you guys think??

I am also intrested...im sitting in the same boat

Im looking for a 2011 toxic and been seeing ~40k, so I think you have a good bit of wiggle room on the srt

If the price difference is not a big deal, go with the SRT8. There are lots of us that went the R/T to SRT8 route and at least I can say that I am very pleased with the SRT8, well worth the extra money.

If the price difference is not a big deal, go with the SRT8. There are lots of us that went the R/T to SRT8 route and at least I can say that I am very pleased with the SRT8, well worth the extra money.

I agree, I bought an R/T first even though I wanted an SRT. Five months later I traded the R/T for my SRT. If you want the SRT, do it from the beginning, far less painful to the wallet!!! lol

Only buy the car once. Get what you want.

if you can afford the srt,buy it. no one ever wishes they had a "lesser" version later. enjoy your new car

If the car is a daily driver, I'd get the R/T.

If it's a garage queen, which you take out here and there, get the SRT8.

Both are great cars, but the SRT8 has a huge edge on performance. I consider the R/T to be the more practical of the two especially if you drive your car in the snow/winter.

If you have to ask the SRT8 is not for you.

For me, I went to the dealer sat in both, looked at all the options, all the packages and I knew then what was going in my Garage. I didn't need anyone to convince me to make this decision.

Now, having said that, if your budget doesn't allow for extra expense, you'll kick yourself in the arse for spending the extra cash. On the flip side, if it does, you'll kick yourself in the arse if you don't.

Tough decision? Yes it is. All I can say is, I'm glad I made the leap. Way too many +'s on the SRT.

I'm on my 2nd SRT (Jeep, now Challenger) so I'm biased :)

As it's been said, if you can afford the SRT, go for it.

So here's the thing -- I don't know if it can go lower. If you can get the VIN or MSRP, I can check. There's usually some factory $$ on 2011's to clear them from inventory yet not all models are treated the same. Also, at some point, the pay off has been made that's going to be made and the number gets solid. Also at this point, I bet the dealer has outright bought the car so they're in it for a specific number. It's not "losing money" on the lot anymore (ie, paying interest).

I am in Texas so weather isn't an issue.

It will live in the garage and on days I don't care for the weather - or the location I am driving - I can hop in the 04 Ram.

I want the SRT if at all possible.

I made an offer on the one mentioned - 36.5K. No reply yet. If they take it I am all in!

get the SRT, go price what it would cost you to swap the 5.7 for a 6.4, brembo brakes, suspension, interior. you can't upgrade a 5.7 for what you would pay in difference for the SRT.

If you can afford an SRT8 then get that. If not go with the R/T. It's not a bad second choice...especially at $16,000 less.

if you can afford it get the SRT...otherwise you'll always wish you did.

your 2 prices arent apples to apples...your comparing a base RT to a SRT which comes loaded

I am in Texas so weather isn't an issue.

It will live in the garage and on days I don't care for the weather - or the location I am driving - I can hop in the 04 Ram.

I want the SRT if at all possible.

I made an offer on the one mentioned - 36.5K. No reply yet. If they take it I am all in!

36.5k for a NEW 2011 SRT? Pretty sure that wont happen. The 42k is a pretty good deal. You might be able to get it to 40k if you are lucky and wait til the last day of the month.

36.5k for a NEW 2011 SRT? Pretty sure that wont happen. The 42k is a pretty good deal. You might be able to get it to 40k if you are lucky and wait til the last day of the month.

I agree, I bought mine in April for $43,100 and I thought i did well...

Buy the SRT, you will thank yourself later.

Be careful once you drive a SRT you will not be able to go back... Hands down the most addicting thing I can say that I have ever done.

Get it. 42 is high but you shouldn't have a problem getting it for what you feel is right. Trust me you will not regret it, granted it is the right car for you. Goodluck.

Test drive the SRT8, then you will see for yourself!!!

36.5k for a NEW 2011 SRT? Pretty sure that wont happen. The 42k is a pretty good deal. You might be able to get it to 40k if you are lucky and wait til the last day of the month.

Can't hurt to negotiate. It's a starting point.

I have seen a few used in that price range with less than 8k miles on them.

Looks like we are around 41k. Not bad.

Sticker is 49K.

Starting to get a little excited. Love that toxic orange.

How do you SRT owners feel about resale/residual value of the cars?

From what I have seen they do not nose dive in value like most cars when you drive them off the lot... they seem to keep their value pretty well.

this is my second SRT as well - and in a perfect world, i will ALWAYS have an SRT8 "Something" in my garage.

if you get the R/T, you'll wish you had gotten the SRT after about 2 weeks.

p.s.
where did you find an R/T for $26K !?!?

BONE DRY STOCK R/T:

New 2012 Dodge Challenger R/T For Sale in Orange County & Huntington Beach, CA 2C3CDYBT8CH233121 (http://www.hbchryslerdodgejeepram.com/new/Dodge/2012-Dodge-Challenger-orange-county-a91a8d260a0d048e016cb515c7adc7ec.htm)

I tell ya - i really REALLY like that car too.

A white bone stock R/T seems like a modern day Vanishing Point car.... to me at least.

Test drive the SRT8, then you will see for yourself!!!
good point - if you test drive the R/T and fall in love with it, just buy it.

if you test drive the SRT8 after the R/T, be prepared to pay $15K for the car you want.....

Yea - I rented an R/T. Fell in love. At the time thought it was the top end.

I drove it 2 minutes and decided I had to have one.

Research upon research and I lean to the SRT.

I would totally be 100% happy with even the bone stock R/T, no doubt about it.

But with the SRT I feel like I will be lusting....a little bit less. If that makes any sense.

SRT all the way. You won't regret it.

Saw an SRT8 in the local paper this morning in Central Florida, if you are willing to travel to get one. Seems like a good price.

And no, I do not know this person. nor have I seen the car.

Dodge Challenger SRT-8 11 8 Cyl., Hemi, power seats, windows and locks, air, air bag, passenger air bag, bucket seats, cruise control, navigation, power steering, premium sound, keyless lock, tint, CD, leather, ABS, 3100 mi., 6-speed manual, Green With Envy, $41,900 Call 321-258-7935

Yea - I rented an R/T. Fell in love. At the time thought it was the top end.

I drove it 2 minutes and decided I had to have one.

Research upon research and I lean to the SRT.

I would totally be 100% happy with even the bone stock R/T, no doubt about it.

But with the SRT I feel like I will be lusting....a little bit less. If that makes any sense.
correction - this is my 4th SRT vehicle.

they're amazing.

and if you test drive the SRT, you're screwed lol.

if you want to save a little money and are happy with the R/T, do not EVER test drive an SRT and stop reading about an SRT HAHA !!!!

you'll regret it....

BONE DRY STOCK R/T:

New 2012 Dodge Challenger R/T For Sale in Orange County & Huntington Beach, CA 2C3CDYBT8CH233121 (http://www.hbchryslerdodgejeepram.com/new/Dodge/2012-Dodge-Challenger-orange-county-a91a8d260a0d048e016cb515c7adc7ec.htm)

I tell ya - i really REALLY like that car too.

A white bone stock R/T seems like a modern day Vanishing Point car.... to me at least.
eeeeeek, i wouldn't be able to buy that car.

personally, i'd need AT LEAST leather seats and the NAV unit.

i think if you drive an SRT, all this R/T talk will soon fade away lol.

eeeeeek, i wouldn't be able to buy that car.

personally, i'd need AT LEAST leather seats and the NAV unit.

i think if you drive an SRT, all this R/T talk will soon fade away lol.

yea - its funny/not funny how much those two things raise the price.

In my head - I think - well - radio/sat/nav - a few hundred extra bucks and they can swap out the upgraded unit but no - full 1800.

By the time I added that and upgraded wheels I was at 32 and I can get a pretty well loaded R/T for that to begin with.

But yea... really liking the SRT.


I have great rates so I am wondering if the deal falls through on this one - how crazy the idea of a slightly used SRT is? My fear is someone bought it and dogged it out for 8k miles and traded it in.

you can find some healthy used SRT's, but at this point, i'd get a brand spankin new one....

well looks like we have a tentative deal on the table. Long as there is no hiccups with the financing I should be driving her home TONIGHT.

Sticker $48,990
Out the Door - $42,700

I think i did pretty well. 2011 Hard Loaded SRT - Toxic Orange.

Literally the nicest car i have ever (as of 7pm) owned!

Still a little in shock I talked myself up from a bone stock Challenger in white for 26k to a 42K BEAST....

Pictures to follow.

Way to go man.. You wont be sorry.

http://cdnedge.vinsolutions.com/AP/4034-2-7308483-62142618-0-0/62142618.jpg
http://cdnedge.vinsolutions.com/AP/4034-2-7308483-62142623-0-0/62142623.jpg
http://cdnedge.vinsolutions.com/AP/4034-2-7308483-62142621-0-0/62142621.jpg

She's a beauty.. Nice job..

Nice looking SRT...Nice color too :icon_cool:

Damn, that was quick. Looks good, congrats!!!

damn, those gunmetal stripes on toxic orange looks tits !!!!

i'm keepin my fingers crossed for you....

go tonight and pretend you don't want it - i'll bet you $1,000 they'll hand you the keys and let you take it home.

they'll let you drive it to work the next day and have you come back that night to sign paperwork...

i'd do that to make 100% sure you're ready to make the leap.

OR, you could let them give you the keys, drive the car 5 miles and then drive straight back to the dealer for paperwork HAHAHA !!!!

Still a little in shock I talked myself up from a bone stock Challenger in white for 26k to a 42K BEAST....

Pictures to follow.



Guarantee, you will never look back and question that decision. Not a chance. Congratulations! You made an excellent choice!!!!!!

Yea... I think my mind was made up the minute I saw it.

I mean as long as there is no huge difference between it and the R/T the Hertz rents out(difference for the worse) then I am not worried!!!

When I started seriously looking at these cars - once i KNEW I could buy - I found this one and used it as a template to walk backwards from. Comparing the ones I liked to this one - all R/T's. By the time you added TTL and what not the price difference - while not small - wasn't so large that I was floored by it. Now if I was pricing out a mid ranged V6 Challenger (and those are a helluva lot nicer than i expected) I kept coming back to the SRT.

And hey - find a new last year model - price is right - love the color/wheels/stripes/package. It has it all. Why not?

You only live one. Enjoy it.

That's just like mine. My wife says I'm never trading it LOl

what.a.car......

Drove it home from the dealer last night. Just wow.

A few observations after a whole 90 minutes of driving:

WOW, this car moves - its way more agile than it feels or looks.

The engine really slows the car down in the city - its going to take come getting used to. Letting off the accelerator and you can feel the engine slowing the car down.

You can go way to fast way to easy. Without looking you can hit 95 and not even feel it.

This thing sips gas on the highway. I can stay at 70mph at or under 2000rpm.

The radio/nav has a LOT for me to learn - and NOT at 70 on the highway. It's the 730n. Any tips?

The GPS is confusing. And the GPS voice is hardly audible. Im sure it's just a setting I have not yet found.

The far feels and looks sleeker than other challengers. It's hard to explain. On the way home we stopped at In-N-Out and there was another challenger there (so I parked close of course). It was an R/T, different shade of orange. It just looked bigger and boxier than my SRT. Hard to explain. Maybe it was the R/T decals. I dunno.

Anyhow. LOVE THIS CAR.

Excited to go to work - so I can drive.

You have made an excellent decision. I say this because I bought my black r/t in November of last year...and I am going tomorrow night to trade it in for my 2011 toxic orange srt with gray stripes! The r/t is a great car, it looks great, feels great, I mean it's a challenger enough said....but I bet if you had gotten the r/t you would be doing the same thing I'm doing. Congrats on the car, can't wait to go pick mine up!

That Toxic Orange with Silver Stripes is sexy eh?

If you had told me that combo sight unseen I would have said NO.

IN person. WOW.

Congratulations, good choice!!!

l do agree .... that NAV voice is quiet! ... so l turned it off!

l also agree with you when you said..... "I LOVE THIS CAR" :thumbsup:

spent a little time in her this AM/.

Got the voice on the NAV turned up so I can hear it. Much better.

Still need to get used to the interface.

spent a little time in her this AM/.

Got the voice on the NAV turned up so I can hear it. Much better.

Still need to get used to the interface.

How did you turn it up? Mine is too quiet as well.

what.a.car......

Drove it home from the dealer last night. Just wow.

A few observations after a whole 90 minutes of driving:

WOW, this car moves - its way more agile than it feels or looks.

The engine really slows the car down in the city - its going to take come getting used to. Letting off the accelerator and you can feel the engine slowing the car down.

You can go way to fast way to easy. Without looking you can hit 95 and not even feel it.

This thing sips gas on the highway. I can stay at 70mph at or under 2000rpm.

The radio/nav has a LOT for me to learn - and NOT at 70 on the highway. It's the 730n. Any tips?

The GPS is confusing. And the GPS voice is hardly audible. Im sure it's just a setting I have not yet found.

The far feels and looks sleeker than other challengers. It's hard to explain. On the way home we stopped at In-N-Out and there was another challenger there (so I parked close of course). It was an R/T, different shade of orange. It just looked bigger and boxier than my SRT. Hard to explain. Maybe it was the R/T decals. I dunno.

Anyhow. LOVE THIS CAR.

Excited to go to work - so I can drive.

My thoughts exactly!

SRT in itself is just an awesome experience....... Congrats on the purchase and enjoy the hell out of it!

Great looking car, congrats.

what.a.car......

Drove it home from the dealer last night. Just wow.

A few observations after a whole 90 minutes of driving:

WOW, this car moves - its way more agile than it feels or looks.

The engine really slows the car down in the city - its going to take come getting used to. Letting off the accelerator and you can feel the engine slowing the car down.

You can go way to fast way to easy. Without looking you can hit 95 and not even feel it.

This thing sips gas on the highway. I can stay at 70mph at or under 2000rpm.

The radio/nav has a LOT for me to learn - and NOT at 70 on the highway. It's the 730n. Any tips?

The GPS is confusing. And the GPS voice is hardly audible. Im sure it's just a setting I have not yet found.

The far feels and looks sleeker than other challengers. It's hard to explain. On the way home we stopped at In-N-Out and there was another challenger there (so I parked close of course). It was an R/T, different shade of orange. It just looked bigger and boxier than my SRT. Hard to explain. Maybe it was the R/T decals. I dunno.

Anyhow. LOVE THIS CAR.

Excited to go to work - so I can drive.


That's because the R/T's without Super Track Pack and prior to 2011 have the ride height/wheel gap of a 1980 AMC Eagle.

How did you turn it up? Mine is too quiet as well.

its in the system setup for the NAV. (730n).

It turns up quite loud.

That's because the R/T's without Super Track Pack and prior to 2011 have the ride height/wheel gap of a 1980 AMC Eagle.

So it's not just my imagination then eh?

I rented an 2012 R/T and in looking back (at pics of my better half enjoying the car) it looked the same - just looked more boxy.

The SRT seems lower and sleeker - guess it is.

Still learning about all I actually got with the SRT (vs the R/T) since I was really only looking at R/Ts till I found this one.

I have been offered a new 2012 SRT Challenger fully loaded automatic car with every option MSRP $51,500 for $45,500.00. I refused this, dealer is still wanting to talk to me.

How did you turn it up? Mine is too quiet as well.

Go into the Menu system and you can change it there. Or while the system is speaking to you telling you what to do, you can turn the volume knob and adjust it that way. You can also force it to talk to you by pressing the RPT icon on the NAV screen while you're in route and while it repeats the turn by turn, you turn the volume knob and that will also set it. It does not effect the stereo volume if you turn the control while she's talking. you can also tell you're changing the NAV volume by way of the color of the volume bars as you turn it, they are a different color.
Hope this helps.

So it's not just my imagination then eh?

I rented an 2012 R/T and in looking back (at pics of my better half enjoying the car) it looked the same - just looked more boxy.

The SRT seems lower and sleeker - guess it is.

Still learning about all I actually got with the SRT (vs the R/T) since I was really only looking at R/Ts till I found this one.

No, it's not your imagination. The SRT has different suspension, actually is lower by design.

...still a little in shock I talked myself up from a bone stock Challenger in white for 26k to a 42K BEAST....



LOL, it is easy to do. Congrats on your new ride.

good job buddy - i knew you'd make the right decision ;)

its in the system setup for the NAV. (730n).

It turns up quite loud.

Thanks, I'll check it out!