A damn tough decision...

[JeffAARy]

Jeff,  Besides price, what did it for you? The handling of the Caliber, or what?

Those of you who have never driven an SRT-4 Neon or Caliber really need to try one.  I realize that not everyone enjoys the same aspects of driving as I do and not everyone will share my enthusiasm for them, but I love them.  They feel like race cars.  My biggest problem with the new Challenger is that despite all the power, it just feels too sedate - like a cruiser.  It doesn't have enough attitude, it certainly does not have the attitude of an E-body.  The SRT-8 Charger I owned felt the same way, as it should since the Charger and Challenger are basically the same car.  For 425 HP it did not sound or feel very tough.  There's another current thread on here where someone asked if they should buy a new Challenger or an old E-body.  The overwhelming response has been to buy an E-body, with the prevailing thought being the sound, raw fuel smell, and in general the rough-around-the-edges feel of an E-body that the new car doesn't have is the difference.  Well, the SRT-4 products do have those characteristics.  In fact, the SRT-4 Neon was intentionally programmed to make snap-crackle-pop backfires on deceleration, kind of a modern day version of a lopey cam and Thrush glasspacks.  By the way, it came from the factory with no mufflers.

Right now, the SRT-4 Neon is the kind of car you cringe at when the driver shows up to pick up your daughter, which is the way I bet a lot of parents felt when board members pulled up to their houses in E-bodies in the 70's and 80's.  When I drive the SRT-4 products I feel like I do when I drive my Cuda.  When I drove the Challenger at the dealership, and then a year later got to drive my friend's new DY Challenger, I was bored.  There's a lot more to musclecars than just 425 HP.  I think they did a nice job of making the new Challenger look like the old Challenger, but they missed on the overall Challenger experience.  Ironically, I feel the SRT-4 products do a better job of capturing the E-body experience than the new Challenger does.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Jeff,

  I have never driven a SRT-4 Neon or Caliber, so thanks for the info.   

[JH27N0B]

I'm sort of a nostalgia type guy I guess, and that is what attracted to me to the new Challenger.  In 2006 I rushed to the Chicago Auto Show to get my first look at the concept (even won a couple T shirts for answering Challenger trivia questions there ), and as it was being developed I told everyone who was listening that as long as it was offered in an R/T version and could be had with a manual, I was buying one!
So I sort of committed myself!
I really do see it as a chance to do something I was too young to do in 1970.  I was able to buy a brand new one right off the showroom floor in the color and with the options I wanted.  And I am able to add performance parts and appearance mods of my choice, just like I would have done if I had been old enough to drive in 1970 and went out and bought me a new Challenger.
And just like 1970 (but actually to a lesser extent today than then) Mopars are the underdogs, the red headed stepchildren.  If I was driving my new 1970 back in the day, I'd be hearing the putdowns and negatives.  It's just that then those taunts would have been coming from GM and Ford guys, and today it seems like I mainly hear the negative comments from a handful of guys on several Mopar boards I frequent. 
So maybe I should just enjoy their badmouthing it instead of getting mad, as it helps create that vintage 1970 "aura". 

[Rare_T_A]

I'm sort of a nostalgia type guy I guess, and that is what attracted to me to the new Challenger.  In 2006 I rushed to the Chicago Auto Show to get my first look at the concept (even won a couple T shirts for answering Challenger trivia questions there ), and as it was being developed I told everyone who was listening that as long as it was offered in an R/T version and could be had with a manual, I was buying one!
So I sort of committed myself!
I really do see it as a chance to do something I was too young to do in 1970.  I was able to buy a brand new one right off the showroom floor in the color and with the options I wanted.  And I am able to add performance parts and appearance mods of my choice, just like I would have done if I had been old enough to drive in 1970 and went out and bought me a new Challenger.
And just like 1970 (but actually to a lesser extent today than then) Mopars are the underdogs, the red headed stepchildren.  If I was driving my new 1970 back in the day, I'd be hearing the putdowns and negatives.  It's just that then those taunts would have been coming from GM and Ford guys, and today it seems like I mainly hear the negative comments from a handful of guys on several Mopar boards I frequent. 
So maybe I should just enjoy their badmouthing it instead of getting mad, as it helps create that vintage 1970 "aura". 

My God this tread is like a car wreck...you cannot look away.   

I know exactly what you are talking about. In the late 60's and on when I was a teenager and driving I got it all the time. Most of my buddys had Cameros, Mustangs, Chevelles and so on. I got ...what are you driving that thing for, get a good car. Anyone driving a Mopar was less then a 3rd class citizen. The only ones worse were the AMC guys. Back Then it came always from the other camps. I belong to most of the new Challenger boards also. I'm just amazed at how some say to be  Mopar followers and hate this car so much. We finally have a decent rear wheel drive car to be proud of but no. It's to fat to big to this or that. At least we stood together back then. There are some of the cars that Ma Mopar put out back then that I didn't like for one reason or the other but if someone else did,  it was great for them. We still stood together as Mopar guys. It just goes to show that things really do change and sometimes not for the better.

[72hemi]

Jeff,

  I have never driven a SRT-4 Neon or Caliber, so thanks for the info.   

MEK, do yourself a favor and find one (either) on a lot and take it for a test drive. I cannot speak for the Caliber (sorry Jeff , I know you told me to go drive one and I still haven't) but I owned 2 of the SRT Neon's and they are a blast to drive.

[JH27N0B]

There are some of the cars that Ma Mopar put out back then that I didn't like for one reason or the other but if someone else did,  it was great for them. We still stood together as Mopar guys. It just goes to show that things really do change and sometimes not for the better.

Just be thankful there was no internet and message boards 40 years ago, imagine all the people on the Mopar boards ripping on Superbirds and Daytonas, or in '70 when no convertible Swinger was offered, or what they would have said when panther pink came out etc, if there had been!

[Tonefiend]

My buddy and I were hangin at Cruisin Grand in Escondido Ca tonight.  A blue new Chally drove by with it's throaty rumble.  It just looked and sounded badass.  I mentioned I liked it and my buddy was like "blech.." He likes the new Camaro...   A few moments later a new Camaro rolls by <silver> Not as studly looking as the Challenger imho, and no kidding, my Mini Cooper sounds like it has more under the hood.  The camaro had a anemic raspy fart can muffler tone to it.  Granted it was probably a V6 but still... it is a Camaro you would think it would represent.

IMHO my non mopar buddies are pretty much correct when they tell me Mopars are not the best put together cars out there.  Besides the drivetrain and stunningly good looks, everythng else pretty much leaves somthing to be desired.  I have always lusted after them though... 

[JeffAARy]

Drove a couple of the SRT Calibers last year at the SRT driving experience.  Personally, I would not even consider purchasing one.  Just my   And I won't go into specs, pretty, fat, ugly, Chrysler did or didn't do it right, or any of that.  Just didn't like it.

What I did like was the SRT Jeep Grand Cherokee.  Awesome straight line acceleration, I think it might kick the Challenger's butt in a straight line.  My opinion only, no facts, no exhaustive authoritative research, so take it for what it's worth.   

What this tells me is you like big, comfortable, heavy cars with automatic transmissions that go fast in a straight line.  You do not like smaller, agile, manual shift vehicles that feel like race cars.  As I said in my post above there's nothing wrong with that, but I prefer the race car feel.  My wife is on your side.  She liked my Charger much better than either of the SRT-4s.  The Charger to her was more comfortable, and had heated seats.  Those are things that trip her switch.  I like race car seats and no mufflers.

Regarding the Jeep GC SRT-8, it WILL kick the Challenger's butt in a straight line.  The 4-wheel drive gives it an advantage off the starting line over every other SRT-8 product.

[Rare_T_A]

What this tells me is you like big, comfortable, heavy cars with automatic transmissions that go fast in a straight line.  You do not like smaller, agile, manual shift vehicles that feel like race cars.  As I said in my post above there's nothing wrong with that, but I prefer the race car feel.  My wife is on your side.  She liked my Charger much better than either of the SRT-4s.  The Charger to her was more comfortable, and had heated seats.  Those are things that trip her switch.  I like race car seats and no mufflers.

Regarding the Jeep GC SRT-8, it WILL kick the Challenger's butt in a straight line.  The 4-wheel drive gives it an advantage off the starting line over every other SRT-8 product.

Jeff you description hit the nail on the head for me also.  At this stage in my life I'll leave the racing to the younger folks. I'll take the cruiser. I did my fair share of street and strip racing in the 70's. At least back then if you got caught it was a $25.00 fine and come back next weekend. Not quite the same today. Besides I have a whole lot more to loose today then I did when I was 18. That's not to say I'm dead, cause I still like to rip up the road time to time. I just do it out in the country where I'm pretty safe and no chance of hurting anyone else. For those of you folks that still like to street race....God bless you! I'd be a huge hypocrite if I was to condemn street racing cause god knows I did my share 40 years ago. Just please be safe.

[JaxHemi]

OK, after reading all the posts (some good points made on both sides) I decided to chime in. First thing you should do is actually drive both the Challenger and the Camaro. The Camaro will seem faster because it is a smaller and lighter car, but will only be faster than an R/T if it has a manual. On the subject of comfort, room and ride, the Challenger is a slam dunk. The Camaro will handle better mainly because of less weight and better tires. When it comes to build quality, some things will be obvious now such as comparing the actual materials used in the interiors, some things will be realized later such as rattles, squeaks and the like. If the previous generations of Camaro are any indication, lets hope Chevy builds these new ones better or they will end up traded in like the dime-a-dozen door sagging copies of yesterday. The Challenger is a big car, no other way to say it. It weighs over 2 tons, the more options, the more weight you pile on it. It isn't as nimble as the Camaro, and unless you buy the SRT8, it won't come close to the Camaro's ability in handling and braking. Cool factor and looks? Challenger. Bang for the buck? Camaro. I paid nearly 33K for my R/T with some options, I have 1k in performance mods. I can drive to the track with the A/C on and get 25MPG with the MDS engaged, bolt on some drag radials, turn a 12.9, put my street tires back on, and cruise back home in style and comfort.
Ok, reading this post over, I am a little biased towards the Challenger, but my bank told me to pick out any car I wanted, I bought a Challenger. As to why I bought an R/T over the SRT8, that's another story.

Jack