3.5 Underpowered?

[Repth]

I'll try to make this quick. I'm 17, going to be a senior in high school, and my parents would really like to get me a nice car for my graduation gift. $25,000 is about the max they would be willing to spend, and they'll be paying insurance as well, so we've decided that either the Charger SE Plus or the Challenger SE is a reasonable option. The thing I'm worried about is the 3.5 liter engine being too little for the car. I'm not going to race it, but I really love cars and enjoy learning more about them, as well as driving maybe a little "aggressively". Please don't think I'm an ungrateful kid by asking this question, I truly appreciate the fact that my parents are going to buy me a kick-ass car for my graduation gift, but I still cannot help but wonder if the 3.5 will be puny, as well as if there is something much better for a similar price. I would love the 5.7 liter V8 in the R/T but it's just too expensive, as well as insurance being absurd.

In short, is the 3.5 liter engine under-powering for the car? I know it gets the job done but I'd like it to have a little bit of "get-up-and-go". Thanks for the input.

[Venthos]

Entirely my opinion here, but with the Challenger SE most of your money is going towards aesthetics (the look of the car). The car will look great, but you're not going to have the get-up-and-go of some <= $25,000 alternatives.

You'll have to make a decision. Do you want a muscle/performance appearance or do you want a more traditional looking car that's quicker off the line?

If I were in your shoes, I would probably get the Challenger SE instead of some foreign 4-banger that may be quicker than the SE for the same money. But, in my opinion you have to pick if you want looks or speed.

Perhaps someone can shed more light on it.

[Repth]

Yeah, I guess my main question is, is the 3.5 going to be enough for me to have a little fun with it. I love the look of the car, and I'd be more likely to pick aesthetics than speed, but I just want to know if it will be average or kind of slow.

[RyanNY]

I agree with Vent. At the SE level you get a great looking car that has a great heritage, but it will lack the power of a HEMI obviously. 250HP is not that weak, but the Challenger isn't a lightweight either. It will have no problem getting you from A to B in style. In your position, I would give mommy and daddy a kiss and go for Challenger SE. Good luck.

[Repth]

Haha, alright. I probably will. My dad suckered his mom into buying a '72 GTO while he was in high school for the family car, and then he started upgrading it when he was 18 or so, and eventually she gave it to him. Now it's a 550hp beast that runs about an 8.8 quarter on a good day. I'm not going to BS you, we're I guess what you would call "upper-middle class", so the fact that all of my friends have a car and I don't kind of bugs my dad as it makes him feel like people think we can't afford a car, as well as he feels bad with me not having the experience he had in high school with learning about cars and developing a respect for power, etc.

Anyway, thanks for the input.

[Hal H]

If trying to stay within the $25K limit, go for the "G" package on the SE and you'll get the anti-lock brakes, ESP and brake assyst system.

For a few dollars more, you could add the uprated sound system.

[09 R/T]

I think the SE is 280hp not 250. Its by no means a bad car...

I don't know what is available for the 3.5 but you could always have some fun with bolt ons. Bolt on modifications are a fun way to learn a bit about working with cars and get your hands dirty in your own machine. If you ask lots of questions bolt ons can be pretty hard to mess up.... remember just make sure to ask.

I'm guessing you will need to buy the car in the next year? I think its the '11 model year that will be getting the 4L V6 if its at all possible to hold off.

If you cant hold off... There will always be fun modifications you can do with the SE. Given your age and the fact that you sound responsible I'm sure the SE will have that get up and go you desire and after some work with the engine I'm sure you can be much more than happy with it. I would see no problem at all breaking 300hp with this engine.

[09 R/T]

Another note... I own a Lexus IS 300 which weighs around 3400 lbs. Not quite the weight of the SE but... It has a straight 6 that only puts out about 215hp and it has really conservative gearing given that its a "luxury" car... But that car still has some "zip" to it...

I think the SE would be faster than mine stock to stock and knowing that helps me to feel more comfortable in saying that you will probably be happy with the SE... and after some work you will live it even more.

Good luck with the car and enjoy!

Oh... PLEASE DON'T PUT 24'S ON IT!!!

[Repth]

Originally Posted by 09 R/T

Another note... I own a Lexus IS 300 which weighs around 3400 lbs. Not quite the weight of the SE but... It has a straight 6 that only puts out about 215hp and it has really conservative gearing given that its a "luxury" car... But that car still has some "zip" to it...

I think the SE would be faster than mine stock to stock and knowing that helps me to feel more comfortable in saying that you will probably be happy with the SE... and after some work you will live it even more.

Good luck with the car and enjoy!

Oh... PLEASE DON'T PUT 24'S ON IT!!!

I would never dare. 20's look good on the Chargers but 18's are about as big as I would go. Thanks for the comparison, it makes me feel a lot better about it. Eventually I'll get around to test driving one but I believe you have to be at least 18 to do that. It's not possible to, nor would I want to hold off until '11 for the 4 liter. I'll be going to college about a year from now and I'll need a car for that, and I'm far past ready for something that will get me out of the house. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents, but the aspect of freedom is pretty amazing.

Also, this is probably a question that will make me sound entirely irresponsible, but how would the Challenger SE fair doing burn-outs? Would that be possible at all? I know it's certainly no V8, and it's also an automatic transmission, but would it have enough power to do a small-scale burn-out?

Lastly, what are some moderately cheap and easy (when I say easy, I don't necessarily mean takes 10 minutes, I just mean would not overwhelm me; I'm ready to learn but I don't want the car out of commission for 3 days while I figure out how I messed it up) modifications I can do to gain some extra power, as well as make the engine sound a little better. Again, I know it's just a V6 but surely there's something I can do to give it a little roar.

Thanks again for the help.

[RyanNY]

Originally Posted by Repth

Also, this is probably a question that will make me sound entirely irresponsible, but how would the Challenger SE fair doing burn-outs? Would that be possible at all? I know it's certainly no V8, and it's also an automatic transmission, but would it have enough power to do a small-scale burn-out?

Someone wants to impress the ladies.