Will there be problems with early models?

[sniper226]

Ok, I think it is pretty much a given they are going to build it. I am all for lining up to get some of the first built but I do have some real concerns. I had been watching the STR8 Charger forum for a while as I wanted one of those until I saw the Challenger.

Anyway here are some of the issues I saw with the early production models listed in order of what I feel the importance is: (If anyone sees something that is incorrect or wish to add, be my guest)

1) No ESP Option to completely disable traction control. Yes, apparently there was not a way in the early models to completely disengage traction control. Could you live with that??? From what I read it was later corrected so that it could be completely disabled but apparently the early adopters were SOL because it was not something that you just flash an update.

2) Possible transmission issues, leaking transmission seals, noisey transmission. Not sure if this has been worked out yet.

3) Hesitation on WOT shift from 1st to 2nd. Problem almosts sounds like it may have been hitting rev limiter inbetween shift which then spark was retarded. I believe a new flash update may have corrected this.

4) Grooved roters, brake dust, squealing brakes. Sounds like they may be close on a solution. Of course there are those who have lost many miles of the life of their roters because of the grooving.

5) Scratched bumpers due to improper fitting trunk lids. Was a posted workaround because lid pads were installed backwards?


So are you ready to drp $40k and then be left with potentially similiar issues? As for the theory that the bugs in the Charger should then all be worked out in the Challenger, well you would have thought the same thing about the SRT8 300C & the Charger.

I just hope they get it right and I don't end up hating myself for getting the 1st year model after a couple of years down the road.

Can you imagine how all the last year GTO buyers felt when this years model came with hood scoops and an extra 50 hp!!??

[wirewilly]

As with any new model car, there will be issues. A friend of mine works for GM and he told me that there were over 100 things changed from the new C5 2005 Vette to the 2006. He told me that if he had a choice he would easily take a 2006 over a 2005 model.

[Legion681]

Yep, chances are there will be problems and that's normal, it happens for all new cars.
I personally will take my chance to get a first serie Challenger: if it has problems, hopefully some dealership will solve them and if they can't, there is always the lemon law protecting me.
In any case, with my current vehicle, a 2005 Ford Mustang GT, I already took that chance and I can say that it's been troublefree (I know of many others with a plethora of problems...). It was pure luck, I hope I still have some for the new Challenger !

As far as the ESP/Trac.Control is concerned, even though having a button to disable it, it's always good as it's a choice you can make, I suggest you to leave it on, it might save your life one day.

[Mike Penner]

I intend to stall the purchase until at least second and probably third year, both because of the inevidable production defects and also the inevidable package upgrades (ie 392 hemi). *IF* the car gets built the best things will come to those who wait. Unless DCX gets a clue up front in which case the best things come to those that pounce. It all depends on what options show up in that sales brochure, and when.

[ErikM3]

I lost not one but two $20K S54 motors w/ 2K miles in my M. Talk about having bugs haha.

[Legion681]

Originally Posted by ErikM3

I lost not one but two $20K S54 motors w/ 2K miles in my M. Talk about having bugs haha.

Holy S. ...
What happened to them ?
I had two M3s, a E36 (Euro model, so 3.2L 321 hp) and a E46 (3.2L 343 hp), never had whatsoever problem with them. I am curious to know what made those two engines kick the bucket...

[ErikM3]

Originally Posted by Legion681

Holy S. ...
What happened to them ?
I had two M3s, a E36 (Euro model, so 3.2L 321 hp) and a E46 (3.2L 343 hp), never had whatsoever problem with them. I am curious to know what made those two engines kick the bucket...

The now famous cyl #6 rod bearing starvation issue. This was extremely well covered up in late 01 however. My car was picked up and "covered" on the flat bed for its trip to the dealer. Upon arrival it was quickly whisked away so no one would see it. I was going approx 5 MPh in a parking lot when she blew. New engine installed and it did a F1 style flame out at speed the second time at 80 MPH.

Do you live in Europe ? how did your S54 throw out 343 HP ?

[Legion681]

Originally Posted by ErikM3

The now famous cyl #6 rod bearing starvation issue. This was extremely well covered up in late 01 however. My car was picked up and "covered" on the flat bed for its trip to the dealer. Upon arrival it was quickly whisked away so no one would see it. I was going approx 5 MPh in a parking lot when she blew. New engine installed and it did a F1 style flame out at speed the second time at 80 MPH.

Do you live in Europe ? how did your S54 throw out 343 HP ?

I used to live in Europe. I am Swiss and I married my gf (she is American, born and raised in the Boston area) and she absolutely wanted to live near her parents (sad story is that since we got here in MA, her father died of cancer and her mother relocated to Florida !), so I agreed for us to move to the US to make her happier than she was in Europe. And here I am...
But I spent most of my life in Switzerland, excepted for various periods of time when I worked in other countries (including the USA, worked in NYC for a couple of years in the mid 90s).
So basically all my cars were European models (started with a Seat Ibiza GLX 1.5i, then an Opel Kadett GSI16v, Toyota Celica 4wd Turbo 16v, Ford Sierra Cosworth 4wd and two BMW M3s. Most of these cars probably mean nothing to the average American driver...I am sure they are quite unknown...)...and the last two of them, as I wrote in parenthesis, where BMW M3's...I bought my first one in 1997 when I came back from NYC and it was a Tekno-Violett (at least that's the name of the color in the Swiss M3 color palette brochure) M3 Coupe with a 6sp and the 3.2L 321 hp (if I remember well, in those times the M3 for the USA had only 240 hp, am I right ?). Then in January 2001 I had an orrendous crash due to black ice and I completely totalled that M3.
When I got out of the hospital, one of the first thing I did, it was to go back to the BMW dealership for another M3 and I got a Silver w/Cinnamon-colored leather (actually I didn't choose it myself...the waiting period for a new M3 was over a year at that time, but the dealership owner was a buddy of mine and he had ordered this M3 to keep it in the showroom and he graciously agreed on letting me have it the day it arrived, which was a couple of weeks after I payed him a visit.), 6sp as well. And it had 343 hp right out of the box.
Of all cars I had, I only had one modded: it was a Ford Sierra Cosworth 4wd, which I owned before the M3s and I had it brought from 220 to 270 hp (which is not bad for a 2 liter 4 cyl...) and I also had a better exhaust put in and a sporty gearbox that it would go from neutral to gear fully in, in less than an inch of travel of the lever itself.
But as I said, my M3's never gave me any problem AT ALL. TOTALLY troublefree...

Erik, I am not sure about the "cyl#6 rod bearing starvation issue", could you please explain it a bit for me ? Thanks !

[PhantomR/T]

it sure as hell better have the option to turn taction conrtol all the way of...
and since im asming it's a t56 transmission, they have been around forever... there shouldnt be too many problems with it


but first year run new cars alwys have little problems