Dodge Challenger SRT-8 at Lewis Auto!
For almost a year now, I’ve been itching to get a closer look at the new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8. Why? Well, besides that fact that it is awesome, I’m a big fan of muscle cars… especially the new breed that pays homage to the original design. I’ve been greatly disappointed with the last few revived muscle car brands (I’m looking at you Pontiac GTO. You too Dodge Charger) and the folks at Dodge must’ve gotten the message because the new Challenger is H-O-T, hot!
As I was driving down College Avenue the other day, sipping on some sizzurp a coke, it caught my eyes; a brand-spankin’ new, Dodge Challenger SRT-8 parked right up front at Lewis Chrysler Dodge. It was glorious. Instinct forced me to whip my car around and pull into the parking lot as fast as possible, hop out and admire the beast. Normally, orange cars are pretty repulsive, but not this one. No, no, no… not this one. Orange is perfect. A bland color just wouldn’t do.
I really, really wanted to hop in and take it for a spin, but I knew that doing so would mean that I’d end up wanting to buy it. And for $41k, I’d end up a little over my head in car payments. I can’t tell you how tempting it was to get behind the wheel and mash the pedal down just to get a feel of what a 425 HP 6.1L V8 HEMI engine can do. Despite my need for speed and the urging of the car salesman, I refrained. Thank God.
After a good 10 or 15 minutes of walking around and soaking it all in, I decided it was time to head out or else I was sure I’d give in to the temptation to test drive it. So, I took one last look and a picture of it on my camera phone and hopped back in my own car.
Driving off, I couldn’t help imagine how sweet it would be to be behind the wheel of the limited edition 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT-8. For now, I’ll keep on dreaming.
If you want to get a closer look for yourself, head on out to Lewis Chrysler Dodge and take a look at their showroom.
On a side note: Now that the Challenger is out, when will the new Chevy Camaro show its face? I’ve been itching to see one on the road.
Comments
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pax
August 8, 2008
No offense, Train, but it looks like they pulled the interior from a Grand Caravan. Why is it that American car manufacturers can’t figure out how to make a nice interior? You spend your time driving actually INSIDE the car, not riding on the wheel flares, so why wouldn’t they put some thought into that fact?
I understand that muscle cars are predominantly about the engine, chassis and transmission, not the interior, but the original Challenger interior looks more quality than that. That **** looks like if you sneeze on it it’ll fall apart and the spit marks will live forever on that crappy matte dashboard.
On the point of transmission, from the picture above it looks like you can only select Park, Reverse, Neutral or Drive. How about a man-u-matic gear box? $41 large and I can’t even pick what ****ing gear I want to be in? Bah humbug. For that money, I’d rather find something German.
My 2¢.
JTrain
August 8, 2008
pax – no offense taken. I feel you. The interior lacks, well, a lot. It’s essentially the exact same interior you’ll find in almost every other dodge… which is pretty lame.
And I’m not a fan of an automatic tranny on a muscle car even if they have s “sport shifter” which I believe is an option for the SRT-8.
But, asides from the interior, I freaking love the body design and, of course, the engine. Which is what I’m interested in the most.
It really should have a manual transmission, though. It’s just stupid not to.
pax
August 8, 2008
After building one of these online, I have to say that I’m a bit confused by their marketing of this car. You would think that the SRT/8 model would come fully loaded (being the top of the line model and all), but this is not the case. You have to pay for the SRT/8 Options II package to get all the nice interior trickery. And Train, I looked and it’s an extra 700 bones for that 6 speed manual transmission. Seems a little backwards to me. Most companies make you pay extra for the automatic transmission.
I don’t understand why the “top of the line” model can’t come loaded standard. Try building a Porsche online. Start at the top with the new Turbo model. If you kit it out, you’re paying almost $70 grand on top of the $129000 you’re already paying. Insane. Make the best the best and not the worst of the best. Bull****. But I digress…
All in all, this thing looks ****ing wicked in all black, will probably go like hell and, if keeping with its muscle car roots, will fishtail wildly every time you turn the steering wheel more than 5°.
If it weren’t for the questionable interior, I’d be right behind you in line. But then again, the Corvette C5’s interior build was light years ****tier than this and they still sold the **** out of them. Let’s hope that this idea works out for Dodge.
On an aside, it seems that Dodge is coming out with a Durango Hemi/Hybrid. Looks to post true hybrid-worthy mileage of 14/19. Written truth.