Two Guys and a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T
Our demographically appealing duo of car nuts take on a car that is squarely aimed at a completely different age group. Boomer appeal aside, Eric and Joe found a lot to like about the manual-transmission muscle car.
Scale: Fail, Meh, Win, Epic Win
How does it look?
Joe Bruzek: Epic Win — While the Challenger is epically styled, there’s no getting around its massive size. While at my car club’s cruise night with the R/T, anytime I took a buddy for a joy ride, when we got back someone would jokingly guide me into the parking space like an airport runway flagger guiding in a 747. I didn’t mind the big size, though; my only issue was with the wheels. Despite being 18-inchers, the rims looked like 15s when tucked under the massive Challenger; I’ll take the optional 20-inch set, which don’t look unreasonable given the car’s size.
Eric Rossi: Epic Win — The Challenger’s retro style is a perfect reincarnation of the 1970’s shape. Yes, it is on the large side, and those 18-inch wheels looked like they would fit on a Honda Civic, but overall it’s pretty sick. Not only do I think the styling is an Epic Win, so did 90% of the people on the road. This thing was a magnet for attention — people giving thumbs-up, yelling “nice car!” out the window, and the occasional stalking in the parking lot.
How does it perform?
JB: Win — The Challenger is comfortable, extremely smooth and even quiet with the windows up while cruising in sixth gear. It’s not necessarily “fast,” even with the R/T’s 376-hp V-8 — thanks goes to the 4,041 pounds this porker is packing — but the six-speed manual transmission makes this car a blast to drive. I got more kicks in the manual R/T than in the more-powerful SRT8 with its automatic transmission.
ER: Win — At nearly two tons, the Challenger really is a tank. It feels fast and it sounds fast, but the speedometer shows otherwise. The six-speed manual had nice short throws that engaged easily, making the car very easy to drive. The suspension provided a very smooth ride, with decent handling but quite a bit of body roll. The selling point is the exhaust. No matter which gear or at what speed, that thing roared to life.
Damage on the wallet?
JB: Meh — With all of the options on our tester — navigation, colored interior lighting, sunroof, leather — the price reached $37,000, which was way more than I would feel comfortable paying for this car. The entry level price is about $31,000 for the R/T when you add the manual transmission (which runs $995), and that’s more in line with how I would configure the car for my tastes: a blank canvas ready for molding.
ER: Win — I agree with Joe, $37,000 is way too much for this car. But when you subtract the options and add in the rebates — I found a $750 rebate for the Challenger in my area — I think high $20,000s to low $30,000s is a fair price for a muscle car with epic good looks, a comfortable ride and 376 hp.
Overall: Win
