Chicago 2008: It's here - 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8

[rcaponong]

Well the day has finally arrived! After seeing the original spy photos way back in November '05, The Challenger has evolved from concept to reality. My initial reaction has never swayed in all those months. I vowed to have one in my garage and I will!

Realistically I knew production wouldn't be exactly like concept but who cares?! I don't think I could have asked for anything more. The weight. The side mirrors. The rear spoiler. I love it all! A true red-blooded American musclecar. Let the games begin!

The only agonizing part now is waiting for the '09's and the 6 speed manual. Road trips will never be the same!

[digman1]

After living with a Charger SRT8 for 2 years, I have a deposit on a Challenger, and it will be a fantastic car. It has to weigh a little less than my 4 door on the same frame. I have had the Charger on a road coarse, and it performed well. Flat cornering, and great Brembo brakes, with amazing power in the straights. One car magazine had the SRT8 Charger doing a 12.8 quarter, and a 4.7 0-60, so the Challenger should be right there too. I'm sure Dodge wants to give ultra conservative numbers for variations in cars and for Insurance purposes also. The car has great sounds, and the seats are better than any car I have had to date, including Recaro's. They will sell a ton of these cars, and as long as the dealer doesn't try to rob me blind, I hope to have one in late spring. I was hoping the interior would be more different from the Charger than it is, but I can live with that.

[Cuda340]

autospies.com has 15 great photos of the three 2008 Challenger SRTs (Hemi-Orange, Black and Silver) from the Chicago Auto Show.

See: http://shows.autospies.com/gallery/2...how-70/page21/

(Pages 21 & 22)

[Ragamuffin]

Originally Posted by Challenger_Nut

Don't worry I may finish the main course while waiting for you at the end of the line.... But I will save you a slice of humble pie! P.S. Just having a little Sarcastic fun.... Peace!

Sooo, then the "Loser" has to spend '30 Days in the Hole" !!! P.S. Wonder how that sounds with the Kicker stereo & 13 speakers { How did they find/fit all those inside ???} !!

[TBONE24]

Any pics of how big the trunk is? My GTO's trunk is almost useless.

[Kelly Austin]

Is there any "new" information on this car? Many reports has it supposedly debuting in Feb of 08. So I went to Detroit to see it in the end of Jan. Low and Behold no Challenger! What, MOTORCITY and no Challenger. So I asked the blow-dried models where's the best car Chrysler has, They said we only have a few and it's going to be in Chicago. Production should be on the street in April. If it's really going to be out in April you would think Chrysler would have more than 2 of these cars. Does anyone have better info? I'm real excited to buy one but real tired of spy photos and concept cars. THX

[Cuda340]

autoblog has 47 photos from the Chicago Auto Show. See:

Autoblog

[MoparG]

Originally Posted by plumcrazydaytona

what the hell, 4,140 that's way to heavy you blew it dodge.I got screwed when I bought my 07 daytona that no one would let me drive. slow heavy and way to much. Dreams of mine are shattered 0-60 in 5+ years 1/4 times in just under 14 decades. Interior what happen shifter hell dodge were you smokin crack when you did this?

As far as I am concerned. This car is king. I don't mind the 4100lbs. I have a 1994 Chevrolet Impala SS and it's 4200lbs. I know it's a bad example as it's a full-size car vs. a pony car, however, I am happy knowing that there is some extra protection of metal around me becuase for the way I would drive the new Challenger, I really would like the extra safety margin incase I toss it into something tall and stationary. Although this is not likely to happen (as the only car's I have ever owned (four) are powerful rear-wheel drive V8s and have been fishtailing them regularly since I started to drive in 1987) I see way too many Mustangs (and previous generation Camaros/Firebirds) in bad (and some fatal) accidents. Stuff happens when you engage into spirited driving sessions. The extra stuff might be just what the doctor ordered especially when one is trying out the top speed of this mother on a wide long lonely open road. At this rate of speed, the difference between go cart or Boeing 747 may be what is needed to feel safe while you break the speed barriers especially with the upcoming limited slip differential. Mind you I've never had a problem with a locking diff at maxed out speed, even in the rain. Just don't be stupid with the pedal and make any abrupt input changes. Smooth transitions at this rate of high speed will yield rewarding results. The limited slip will grab the road with the trained foot. Otherwise, life-threatening results may occur if you are too random with inputs. Mind you this applies to classic muscle (including my Impala which has no trac control but only the limited slip diff-with 260hp/330lbs-ft torque). The new Challenger will have trac control and stability programs for better or for worse. Better for safety but worse for how much fun one can have tossing this babalu around. I personally like a car with no trac control and stability programs and just a limited slip but it is 2008 after all. Defeating the trac control should be easy, the esp, I am not so sure of.

All the best Challenger Kings and Queens.

Let that Back Bone Slide!

For you beginners, practice on wet empty parking lots with no people after hours. Don't stay in one lot for more than 8 minutes as the fuzz may come around eventually. Rainy nights around city corners are good too as long as there is no cars/people. Another trick, if your city uses street flushers in the summer hot nights, take advantage and tap the throttle with trac control off and then steer into the opposite direction with just enough steer to not lose it into a 180 degree spin (although even if you do, hopefuly you gave it enough steering input to never hit the curb when you do the 180). You might have to shift the direction of the steering (a bit to the left and a bit to the right) when in the middle of the slide and press and/or depress the throttle during all this to maintain a one-sided slide. One sided slides are better as doing an actual fishtail (back end out one way then the other then back the other way) can be fun but may result in a mess of a situation. I suppose drifting is the better word but I used to believe drifting meant all four wheels were sliding. I don't use the word "drift " because of that. Otherwise I would prefer the term "power-on oversteer".

For the non-limited slip cars out there. Slides are definitely still possible but you will have to battle the fact that there is an open non-locking axle back there. If the trac control is off, you will pull it off, however, if you can get a shift kit installed on the automatic providing what would otherwise be a chirp on 1-2, 2-3 shifts in the dry, trying to obtain such a positive shift (by downshifting into 2nd or 1st) in the dry (careful in the rain) while engaging a turn will result in a locking-type situation. If you get the shift on the fly in the turn, your back end will slide silly. I used to do this in my 1978 Chevrolet Malibu Classic 2dr with an open 2.29:1 axle (non-locking) and a Stage II Shift Kit. I would downshift into first (trans had a 2.4:1 planetary first-gear set) after engaging the corner and whoop, out the back end would fly. I don't know how positive the shift algorithms are in the new Challenger. It is possible that reprogramming the shift maps may need to be in order. Be careful though, after such a re-program, someone not knowing (like another driver who doesn't regularly drive the car) how to handle this beast may wind up wraping it around a pole.

MoparG