In a recent week with one Dodge Challenger SRT8, I lived and breathed the top-line, two-door, attention-grabbing powerhouse.
The big, grey beast from Michigan saw 7-year-olds stop dead in their tracks, Tim Horton's drive-thru staff congregate at the pickup window, and no fewer than a dozen campers stop in to check it out at my weekend campsite.
The neighbors stopped by, too. All of them. And cruise night at Costco saw a monstrous crowd form -- all with questions and comments. Many more flooded in via Twitter, Facebook and text message. Good thing I like talking cars.
So, forget the standard review. Here are your writer's responses to the most commonly posed questions on the street about the recently revamped 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8.
Q1: How's she ride?
Answer (A): Not bad, but not perfect. Challenger's new dual-mode suspension absorbs even larger bumps well, but on the rougher roads and highways, I found the "standard" suspension setting to be a bit too loose and soft, and the "SPORT" setting to be a bit too tight.
That standard setting is good for cruising on smooth roads and is very comfortable, albeit often too soft for the Challenger SRT8's quick steering. So, sometimes you feel as though you've "startled" the car when steering at speed.
In the SPORT setting, Challenger's body is kept sprung very tightly against its wheels, resulting in a ride similar to an inflatable Bouncy Castle on undulating pavement.
Q2: What's under the hood?
A: Chrysler's new 6.4L HEMI SRT V8. It's got 16 pushrods and an idle like a stock car. It puts the displacement of a 12-pack of tall-boys, six gears, three pedals and 470 horses to work attacking the rear wheels. Rev the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 up, and it torques the whole body to the side as if it's got a sloppy motor mount.
Q3: Can you get an automatic?
A: Yes -- but you'll lose your man card. Using the pistol grip shifter to bang through the gears is an experience unparalleled in its manliness.
Q4: How's she go?
A: Very, very well indeed. You can feel the extra 45 ponies and increased low-end torque from the new, larger SRT engine. The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 isn't small or light, but it rips like nobody's business when you give it the boots. You'll get 0-100 clicks in under 5 seconds, and run the quarter in well under 13.
And, if your radar detector goes off, Brembo brakes with rotors the size of pizzas stop it in a jiff, too.
Note that the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is considerably less fun to drive in reverse, because you can see virtually nothing behind you.
Q5: Is it good on fuel?
A: Compared to a transport freighter, yes -- but romp on it, and it'll burn through its fuel supply faster than an orbit-bound rocket thruster. Mileage on my watch ranged between 12 and 22L / 100km, with the average landing around 16. Drive like you've got a trunkfull of potted pansies, and you'll probably do better. But that's no fun.
Q6: Does the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 emit a lot of carbon dioxide?
A: Who cares.
Q7: Is it easy to live with?
A: Sure -- there's a good sized trunk, plenty of storage inside, very comfortable seats and even room for grown-ups in the back. It's not even hard to get into or out of.
Q8: Will it lay a dirty patch?
A: Obviously. The 20" Eagle F1 Supercar tires hook up remarkably well at full throttle, but the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will vaporize them on command if you dump the clutch on them. Note that your writer doesn't condone deactivating the traction control and engaging sport mode at any time.
Q9: Does it have a full sized spare, in case I get a flat?
A: No, since the spare tire well is full of subwoofers. There is a compact-tire-inflator gizmo, though.
Q10: That front air-dam looks like it'd get easily ripped off by a curb.
A: It would. So, park your 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 carefully unless you want to give it a pricey nose job.
Q11: Big American muscle cars don't handle very well, right?
A: Incorrect. As spiritedly as you could push this machine on a public road, it's got heaps of grip and stays mostly flat and composed. Big suspension revisions this year make the Challenger feel lighter and more nimble than ever before, and it hides its size and weight very well.
It's not what you'd call razor-sharp, however, it'll definitely hold its own when the going gets twisty.
Q12: What does it sound like?
A: Imagine the sound of a NASCAR with roof-mounted chainguns at full throttle, played through a 7,000-watt subwoofer and you're in the right ballpark.
Q13: How much?
A: With an interior upgrade package, manual transmission, high-end infotainment system, big stereo and performance tire add-on, the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 tester stickered around $53 grand.
That's a great deal to spend on obnoxious, all-American velocity -- and access to one of the manliest cars on the road today.
The big, grey beast from Michigan saw 7-year-olds stop dead in their tracks, Tim Horton's drive-thru staff congregate at the pickup window, and no fewer than a dozen campers stop in to check it out at my weekend campsite.
The neighbors stopped by, too. All of them. And cruise night at Costco saw a monstrous crowd form -- all with questions and comments. Many more flooded in via Twitter, Facebook and text message. Good thing I like talking cars.
So, forget the standard review. Here are your writer's responses to the most commonly posed questions on the street about the recently revamped 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8.
Q1: How's she ride?
Answer (A): Not bad, but not perfect. Challenger's new dual-mode suspension absorbs even larger bumps well, but on the rougher roads and highways, I found the "standard" suspension setting to be a bit too loose and soft, and the "SPORT" setting to be a bit too tight.
That standard setting is good for cruising on smooth roads and is very comfortable, albeit often too soft for the Challenger SRT8's quick steering. So, sometimes you feel as though you've "startled" the car when steering at speed.
In the SPORT setting, Challenger's body is kept sprung very tightly against its wheels, resulting in a ride similar to an inflatable Bouncy Castle on undulating pavement.
Q2: What's under the hood?
A: Chrysler's new 6.4L HEMI SRT V8. It's got 16 pushrods and an idle like a stock car. It puts the displacement of a 12-pack of tall-boys, six gears, three pedals and 470 horses to work attacking the rear wheels. Rev the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 up, and it torques the whole body to the side as if it's got a sloppy motor mount.
Q3: Can you get an automatic?
A: Yes -- but you'll lose your man card. Using the pistol grip shifter to bang through the gears is an experience unparalleled in its manliness.
Q4: How's she go?
A: Very, very well indeed. You can feel the extra 45 ponies and increased low-end torque from the new, larger SRT engine. The 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 isn't small or light, but it rips like nobody's business when you give it the boots. You'll get 0-100 clicks in under 5 seconds, and run the quarter in well under 13.
And, if your radar detector goes off, Brembo brakes with rotors the size of pizzas stop it in a jiff, too.
Note that the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is considerably less fun to drive in reverse, because you can see virtually nothing behind you.
Q5: Is it good on fuel?
A: Compared to a transport freighter, yes -- but romp on it, and it'll burn through its fuel supply faster than an orbit-bound rocket thruster. Mileage on my watch ranged between 12 and 22L / 100km, with the average landing around 16. Drive like you've got a trunkfull of potted pansies, and you'll probably do better. But that's no fun.
Q6: Does the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 emit a lot of carbon dioxide?
A: Who cares.
Q7: Is it easy to live with?
A: Sure -- there's a good sized trunk, plenty of storage inside, very comfortable seats and even room for grown-ups in the back. It's not even hard to get into or out of.
Q8: Will it lay a dirty patch?
A: Obviously. The 20" Eagle F1 Supercar tires hook up remarkably well at full throttle, but the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will vaporize them on command if you dump the clutch on them. Note that your writer doesn't condone deactivating the traction control and engaging sport mode at any time.
Q9: Does it have a full sized spare, in case I get a flat?
A: No, since the spare tire well is full of subwoofers. There is a compact-tire-inflator gizmo, though.
Q10: That front air-dam looks like it'd get easily ripped off by a curb.
A: It would. So, park your 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 carefully unless you want to give it a pricey nose job.
Q11: Big American muscle cars don't handle very well, right?
A: Incorrect. As spiritedly as you could push this machine on a public road, it's got heaps of grip and stays mostly flat and composed. Big suspension revisions this year make the Challenger feel lighter and more nimble than ever before, and it hides its size and weight very well.
It's not what you'd call razor-sharp, however, it'll definitely hold its own when the going gets twisty.
Q12: What does it sound like?
A: Imagine the sound of a NASCAR with roof-mounted chainguns at full throttle, played through a 7,000-watt subwoofer and you're in the right ballpark.
Q13: How much?
A: With an interior upgrade package, manual transmission, high-end infotainment system, big stereo and performance tire add-on, the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 tester stickered around $53 grand.
That's a great deal to spend on obnoxious, all-American velocity -- and access to one of the manliest cars on the road today.
Road Tests and Reviews
Experts
Consumers
2012 Dodge Challenger
Review Highlights
Article Gallery