[Northerner]

Hi guys!
Me and two Norwegian buddies are flying in from Oslo to Miami in the beginning of July. Our plan is to rent a car and go on a road trip for about two weeks in Florida, Tennesse and Alabama. That's the genereal idea so far at least.

I've fallen somewhat in love with the idea of renting a challenger, but my two friends seem to think that it would be too small and uncomfortable for extended drives. I've been trying to find a good description of how spacious it is, but most sites seem to focus on BHP, mileage and so on.

We'll be travelling with three big bags/suitcases and probably 3 smaller backpacks.

Would you guys recommend going on a road trip in a challenger?
Also keep in mind that we are used to small cars here.

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[Blu Chalnger]

If you can fit all that stuff in a Fiat 500 your good to go.

 

[KI4RXM]

Do not worry about the luggage. All of your luggage should be able to be fit in the trunk of a Challenger easily enough. The front seats are very comfortable, the only worry would be the rear seat. Personally, I always thought the rear seats were also comfortable enough, but then again when I had my car I was never in the back while it was running

 

[lcbart]

I'm 6'2", 240 lbs and spent about four hours in the back of my Challenger comfortably. Leg room wasn't what it could be, but I just spread out across the rear seat.

 

[Keavdog]

From edmunds.com

The front seats in most Challengers are wide and flat, which doesn't do much for lateral support, but they're exceptionally comfy for long-distance drives. The SRT8s have better bolstering and are also covered in leather and faux suede. The rear seats are surprisingly roomy for two adults, with good headroom and decent legroom. The backseat also features a 60/40-split-folding back, a fold-down armrest and a middle seat for tiny/good-natured folks. At 16.2 cubic feet, the Challenger's trunk is positively enormous for this segment and is bigger than those of many midsize sedans.

But for three dudes on a road trip, I'd rent a charger.

 

[proximo]

If you want an idea of trunk space, I can put one full tire (245/45R20) in the trunk w/o putting the seats down and still have room for two larger suitcases and most likely put two smaller suitcases on top of the tire ... it's a roomy trunk.

The backseats, my father said is quite nice and surprisingly roomy and comfortable. I drove he and my mother around for a day when I visited them a while back. Personally, I've only been in the back to clean ...

 

[Cuda340]

As everyone has said, there is plenty of room in the front, as well as the trunk. An adult can ride in the back seat but it may not be very enjoyable. The side window provides a very small viewing area and some people report the experience as being in a dark cave.

Also, you will probably only be able to rent a Challenger SE- not an R/T. That, however, may be a good thing for better mileage with the 6 cylinder engine.

 

[Kean]

....I wouldn't want to be stuck in the back of my Challenger for any extended period of time especially with two other full sized males. Even a 4-5 hour trip to Las Vegas would be pushing it for me. Regardless of comfort, there is the fact that rear passenger will have a limited view like Cuda said. ....which is sort of the point on a road trip. If it were just you and 1 buddy, it would be a completely different story.

 

[Lanzz]

I was in the back of mine the other day for about a 30 minute drive... was ok, but not something I'd want to do all the time.

Dark, small and not all that hospitable for a road trip - rent a Charger, so you guys have room to spread out.

 

[Carbon Hog]

Things that fit well in the backseat of a Challenger...

1. a cooler
2. a jacket
3. a camera
4. a map
5. a beach blanket

Things that DO NOT fit well in the backseat of a Challenger...

1. people

:thumbsup:

 

[CaptainZap]

Pros:
Challenger is a blast for a road trip.
You CAN rent an R/T.
Plenty of trunk space.

Cons:
Ingress/Egress for the backseat guy is a real problem.
View from the backseat is poor.

IMO, if all of you are over 6 feet tall I wouldn't do it. I'm 6'2 with long legs and big feet. If there's at least one short person in the front seat so I can have some usable floorboard space, I'm OK. Still, getting in and out is a bear and a sightseeing trip to America would suck if I couldn't see!

PS: If you're sightseeing in Alabama, be sure to visit Wellborn Museum in Alexander City. It's Mopar Heaven!

 

[Justinec101]

If you really want a challenger, I think you could manage alright. There are 3 of you, so none of you would be stuck in the back for more than 1/3 of the trip. Not to mention whoever is in the back could put their legs up on the seat or sit at an angle. The front passenger seat is pretty roomy and could be pushed up far enough to make both the person in it and the person behind it comfortable.

Overall a charger would probably be better though. Just make sure you get the 3.5 (or 3.6) and not the 2.7.

 

[John Matthews]

Rent a mustang or camaro for the first two days then rent the challenger and who ever is in the back seat will be extremely grateful.

 

[ragtop4spto6spd?]

I'm curious why you chose Florida and the South (in summer). A greater number of Europeans choose the American desert west, western national parks, and California for their summer vacations. Nothing wrong with your choice, but just curious.

There is NOTHING in the world like traveling American wide open space in a muscle car. I'm glad you are considering it. There are some things better, and many things worse, but nothing else exactly like it. Which is why I would say to be cautious about what the nervous nellies are telling you here. Go for it is what I say, assuming you have the inclination already. Get the Challenger, a good detailed map, and travel the smaller US routes or the State routes, NOT the INTERSTATES. You will NOT see the US on the interstate. In fact, you will see more of the US in a Challenger on a State route than in a motorhome with a picture window on the Interstate.

I don't argue with the option to get a charger with the 4 door benefits since there are 3 of you, but as someone said, get the more powerful engine to enjoy the experience. Regarding the Challenger, it is a fine choice for healthy young men. Just have the shortest in the front passenger seat and pull the seat up enough to give leg room in the back. Yes it is a 2 door, and the person in back does need to flip the seat up to get out - no big deal. The back seat will be big enough if the person in front shares the space by setting his seat up, and you can spread out in the back in the very wide car. The trunk is very large. Don't forget, you can fold down half of the back seat also to improve storage options. Don't forget to always lock the doors, and hide ALL valuables. There are some jerky crooks over here. Rent a Challenger R/T, and have the time of your lives. Next time, fly to either Denver or LA, rent the muscle car, and put some miles on visiting desert and national parks.

I hope to see Norway and the fjords myself someday.

 

[Northerner]

Thanks a lot for all the replies and good advice. Looks like we might go for a charger instead.
Do you have any tips as to how we could book a charger specifically? Most rental sites seem to operate with the "or similar"-thing, where I guess you can end up with a completely different car.

Ragtop: No reason, really. We just wanted to go to the US, and found cheap tickets to Miami. And I've always been fascinated with the south. The northern states are so excessively depicted in popular culture, while the south feels more mysterious in a way.

 

[Osprey37]

Northerner
I tend to agree with ragtop4spto6spd?, driving the challenger (get a 6 speed if you can) might not give the back seat rider the most comfortable ride, but if you swap around enough (you'll be stoppting at least every 350 miles for gas) it shouldn't be a problem. The weather in the south in June-Aug timeframe is HOT and HUMID, but the AC in the challenger works great. I also agree with ragtop4spto6spd? on the interstates, keep off of them, you could take A1A (I believe that's it) up the eastern coast, or head over to the west coast, the central drive on the Florida turnpike is boooring (I recently drove down to West Palm from the Panhandle), and I10 from Jacksonville to Alabama is also a pretty boring drive (consider Hwy 98 on the Panhandle, you'll see Panama City, Destin, etc). Hell, I live in Gulf Breeze right off of Hwy 98 so if your in the area stop in for a BBQ.

The challenger is a fun car to drive, go for it!

 

[1BAD383]

As everybody said; the trunk is very large.The Challenger is very comfortablen for long rides. If the front seat passenger pulls his seat up and the rear seat passanger isn't too tall, it would be okay. The wife and I just got back from an 8 day vacation, and we travelled about 2800 miles. For the two of us it was a great ride.

 

[jughead42]

No reason, really. We just wanted to go to the US, and found cheap tickets to Miami. And I've always been fascinated with the south. The northern states are so excessively depicted in popular culture, while the south feels more mysterious in a way.

The south gets depicted in popular culture too, just go rent the excellent 70's Burt Reynolds movie "Deliverance" for a sneak preview of the southern USA.

 

[Moper]

...just go rent the excellent 70's Burt Reynolds movie "Deliverance" for a sneak preview of the southern USA.

SQUEAL like a pig! I love the banjo player too.

 

[usaffrank]

The south gets depicted in popular culture too, just go rent the excellent 70's Burt Reynolds movie "Deliverance" for a sneak preview of the southern USA.

And how much time have you spent in the south, to be able to make such an assessment?