Dodge Challenger -original post date 4/1/2013

 

Car Du Jour is this Redline 3-coat pearl (a $500 option) 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T (Road & Track) featuring an appearance kit that includes a hood scoop, spoiler, decal, and 20" wheels with performance tires. The picture doesn't really do justice to the paint, which is a glistening, shimmering red that looks great when contrasted with the matte black of the decal -I'd say it's worth the $500 premium. The appearance package upped the car's price displayed on the Monroney sticker (named for Oklahoma senator Mike Monroney, who championed the Automobile Information Disclosure Act back in the late 1950's) by nearly $2000 -I'm not sure you're getting your money's worth there, but it sure looks nice. This is a beautiful car, really, and it stickers for $36,470, but with manufacturer incentives and discounts (this is a 2013 and keep in mind, there are already 2014 models on the lot with this car), this one can be had for right around $31,500.
There are some cost of ownership things to be wary of here, though. For starters, those 20" rims look great, but before you dive into owning a vehicle like this, go and price out a set of 245/45ZR20 tires. If you've not owned a car with z rated (performance) tires, and are used to buying for a car with typical 15-16" wheels, you'll have a bit of a surprise when it comes time for new tires. Double it if you plan on driving in winter and want snow tires also.
While we're on the subject of the wheels and tires, know that going up in rim size reduces the amount of rubber that can comfortably fit around the rim in the wheel well. This means too, that while there's less tire roll as you corner and turn, there's also less padding between the metal bits of your car and the pavement it's rolling over. This translates into a rougher ride.
Gas consumption will be another cost factor -though I don't know who buys a car like this with fuel economy on their mind. It's rated for 16mpg city and 25 highway, but if you're like me, you know you'll be goosing that gas pedal, so you should really count those numbers lower.
The Challenger R/T is powered by a 5.7L Hemi engine that's good for 375HP and 410 lb ft of torque, so, considerably less power than its Mustang and Camaro counterparts, which both crank out over 400 HP from their V8s.
For those of you wondering about that Hemi designation, here goes: The "Hemi" refers to the hemispherical design of the combustion chamber, which lends stability and strength to the structure of the head, and can boost power without skyrocketing compression.
I'll try to help you visualize it. So you know that a V8 is an engine block that has its cylinders arranged in a "V" shape, with four on each side. The cylinders are home to pistons, who live in their snug little bored out homes within the block and pump up and down as the controlled explosions of gas, oxygen, and spark take place in the combustion chambers above each cylinder. This is what makes the engine turn and power the car. Those combustion chambers are built into a chunk of metal that bolts on to the top of each arm of the "V" shape. When you're dealing with a Hemi, imagine that you've got a giant ice cream scoop, and you scoop out four half-globe shapes from each one of the cylinder heads right above where each cylinder's little house is. Think of it as adding half of a Buckminster Fuller type of geodesic dome roof to the top of each piston's house. Place a light source (spark plug) near what would be the pole of this hemispherical roof, and some ventilation (an intake and exhaust port) known as valves across from each other in this dome design for a straight flow through the chamber. These valves allow the engine to inhale and exhale as it sucks in air and mixes it with injected gasoline and a spark to produce a little explosion that pushes the piston back down only to be pushed up again as its neighboring pistons take their turn and crank the engine's internal parts around. The hemispherical combustion chamber is a good, solid design, and has been used in lots of automobiles, and even in cannons. It's proven technology that gives you significant power.
While I didn't drive this particular Challenger, I have driven Challengers in the past, and recall them seeming bulky and not particularly agile in spite of featuring four wheel independent suspension. Retro and cool as these cars look, they are actually quite tall for a sporty muscle car. I found the Challenger to be a little ungainly and kind of oafish, like a big, 'roid-raging brute when it comes to the driving experience. This one, however, features a "Super Track Pak" that includes a sport tuned suspension and of course, those 20" performance tires we talked about earlier, so perhaps it's improved over the ones I've driven.
Don't buy one of these thinking that you're going to smoke every other muscle car you find. Buy one because you love the classic look of its body and the song that its Hemi sings. Buy one because it's a thing of beauty, hulking and lacking grace though it may be. Buy one and use it, but don't use it up. The Challenger will always have aesthetic appeal, and would make a lovely heirloom. It's a car that can make anybody look good sitting in its driver's seat.