What If?

[Cuda340]

For argument sake, let say that the 2008 Challenger will be offered as a 6.1 RT and a 6.4 SRT. You have been searching dealer inventories for months and find a good deal on a 6.1 Hemi.

Question- Would you buy it or wait for a 6.4 and pay a much higher price? In other words, would a 6.1 make you happy knowing that you do not have the top engine (with 75 more hp)

[E-Body]

IMO... It would hurt to have any lesser model

[firstmethod]

Patience is a virtue especially when dealer gouge is concerned.

Once the Barret Jackson crowd has its way there will still be Challengers rolling off the line - including top end SRT8 6.4L models - and the rest of us can have a go at it.

I am slowly considering widening my options to include all 3 major auto manufacturers (Camaro, Boss Mustang and Challenger) after reading up on the engine options coming down the pike. There are some bad azz motors that are very likely going into all three of these cars over the next couple of years (6.4L hemi, Boss 6.2L and LS3 respectively) and there is NO reason at least some of them can't be had for MSRP. My heavy preference is Challenger but if they refine the Camaro and Mustang further I would be proud to put any of them in my garage.

Whichever it winds up being it will be the meatgrinder model you can bet on it.

[RRHemi]

heh heh... He said Meatgrinder

[Mopardude]

Originally Posted by RRHemi

heh heh... He said Meatgrinder

I had to have the first Charger out. Stalked the dealership for 3 weeks waiting for them to come in.....Finally they came in and I bought it then 6 mos later the SRT 8 came out. After the crappy service at the Dodge dealership I bought a 300C SRT 8 from the Chry/ Jeep dealer down the street now that I have both I really like the Charger better.... Sure the 300 faster but perfomance wise the 5.7 is what I prefer.. Had the 300 for 1 yr 3500 miles Charger 2 years this weekend 20000 miles. Unless your heart is set on it not a real differance

[RRHemi]

Why do you prefer the performance of the 5.7 better?

[Mopardude]

Originally Posted by RRHemi

Why do you prefer the performance of the 5.7 better?

The SRT has some issues at low end. Too much hesitation. I think it really in the TCM programming. It seems to be bogged down. For the price difference I'd put mod in the 5.7 to get to 6.1 perfomance. Don't get me wrong i like the SRT 8 but would be more than happy with the 5.7. As for the Challanger I would have to drive both to before the decision to buy. I have learned to be patient and compare the two so you don't wind up buying both LOL....

[Cuda340]

Originally Posted by Mopardude

The SRT has some issues at low end. Too much hesitation. I think it really in the TCM programming. It seems to be bogged down. For the price difference I'd put mod in the 5.7 to get to 6.1 perfomance. Don't get me wrong i like the SRT 8 but would be more than happy with the 5.7. As for the Challanger I would have to drive both to before the decision to buy. I have learned to be patient and compare the two so you don't wind up buying both LOL....

I think that you would spend more in modding the 5.7 engine to try and reach the performance of the 6.1. Also, the SRTs have upgraded suspension and braking. See below details from allpar.com:

"The SRT version produces another 85 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque than the 5.7 liter Hemi, and only some of that comes from the extra .4 liters of displacement. The Hemi produces more power per liter than any past Chrysler V8, including the 1966 Street Hemi, though with the technology available today, that's not surprising. Changes to the 5.7 include:

• The basic, deep-skirted engine block structure was redesigned with reinforced bulkheads to handle higher loads.
• To get more air in and out of the cylinders, SRT engineers bored out the diameter of each cylinder by approximately 3.5 millimeters in order to increase the total displacement from 5.7 liters to 6.1 liters. Cylinders are honed with torque plates to ensure a truer bore, to reduce friction and increase power.
• Oil squirters, aimed at the underside of each piston, are added to aid piston cooling for engine durability. A special oil pump pressure relief valve is added to accommodate the squirter oil flow.
• The oil pan and windage tray are modified to manage oil return to the pan sump at high engine speeds and improve power.
• Larger-diameter, flat-top pistons with high-load capability are specified to handle the SRT 6.1-liter HEMI’s compression ratio, which was increased to 10.3:1 from 9.6:1. Connecting rods are redesigned and make use of higher-strength powder metal material. New floating piston pins are introduced to handle higher loads.
• The SRT 6.1-liter HEMI’s crankshaft is forged from micro-alloy steel and rotates in tri-metal main bearings for high-load capability. The crankshaft damper is retuned for higher engine speeds.
• The SRT 6.1-liter HEMI features cylinder head ports designed with larger cross-sectional area. This allows 11 percent higher flow in the intake ports, and 13 percent higher flow in the exhaust ports.
• A billet steel, high-strength camshaft features more overlap and lift for better performance.
• Intake valves feature hollow stems and 2 mm larger heads compared to the 5.7L engine, allowing more air flow. The hollow exhaust valve stems are filled with sodium to dissipate heat efficiently. Premium valve springs with external dampers enhance the SRT 6.1-liter HEMI’s valvetrain and enable higher engine speed operation to 6,400 rpm. The valvetrain system enhancements allow the peak output engine speed to increase to 6,000 rpm from 5,000 rpm — a 20 percent increase.
• Engine breathing is improved with specially designed intake and exhaust manifolds.
• The cast aluminum intake manifold is designed with shorter, larger-diameter and tapered runners for high-speed tuning. Internal runners are core-dipped to smooth the runner finish and improve air flow.
• Fuel injector flow capacity is also increased by 14 percent over the 5.7-liter engine. Electronic throttle control is shared with the 5.7-liter HEMI, but breathes through a revised high-flow air cleaner box outfitted with a tuned resonator delivering a deep performance sound character (and good for an extra eight horsepower).
• Exhaust headers on the SRT 6.1-liter HEMI are individual tubes encased in a stainless steel shell. Exhaust runners allow increased gas flow while maintaining fast catalyst light-off, while adding 12 horsepower over the 5.7-liter engine’s cast manifolds.
• To control the combustion process, SRT engineers fine-tuned the engine management system using dual knock sensors with premium fuel."

[BANANA2387]

...depends on the differences between the 6.1 & 6.4, and if the price justifies it. Personally, I might be extremely happy with the power the smaller motor puts out. It's wait and see for right now.

[sniper226]

I would be happy with a 6.1 engine. In fact, if they were offered side by side (6.1 vs 6.4) and that was the only real difference, then I would opt for the 6.1. Now if the 6.4 came with alot better suspension, throatier exhaust and maybe some minor appearance packages and kept it reasonable in the price upgrade, I may jump on it.

The problem is though I expect the insurance rate jump from a 6.1 to a 6.4 may be very costly over the years and I am not sure it is worth it for a car that will mostly be driven around on the street and maybe raced here and there. Once you start getting over 400HP, you have to ask yourself, how are you really going to use that on the street and how much will more HP get me in trouble.

I am getting to old (and wise) to take to big of a chance in getting in 100+ MPH races or where I could lose my license. In fact, I am just now considering myself "mature" enough to handle having a 6.1 engine!