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View Full Version : 2009 Challenger R/T - What people are saying


Evil95GT
09-11-2008, 03:13 AM
Due to an overwhelming response, I've decided to present this teaser/supplement to the upcoming complete Challenger review. If I attempted to cram this into one story, the readers would likely find themselves sitting here at least until the unveiling of the 2010 model year.

For the five days that I have had the 2009 Challenger R/T, I've literally lost count of how many times people have gawked, yelled "nice car", mouthed the words "Oh my God", or asked me to pull into a parking lot so they could thoroughly inspect this car. At first, it was like a fun little game for me. I spent a couple of days driving through crowded areas, parking lots, and restaurants. It finally occured to me that bringing my camera along for the ride would be an excellent idea, as I could begin to document the reaction of random people. Thankfully, most people were more than willing to assist me. I'd trade them the opportunity to sit in the driver's seat in exchange for a quick snapshot and a few words about their feelings on the car. I plan on gathering more tomorrow, on our final day with this car. In the meantime, here's the reaction on the streets of Amherst and Lorain, Ohio.

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David, 34, food service worker - "I really like it alot. I'd buy one in a heartbeat. It just looks so fast!"

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Heidi, 18, High School Student - "I wanted a new Mustang, but after seeing the way this thing looks, and especially the interior, I'd take one of these instead".

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Jerry, 36, automotive aficionado - "Being born in '72, I'm sure the original Challengers were burning up the streets then, but I was just a little guy. I always envied people who lived through the muscle car era. The first time I drove down the street in the new Challenger, it felt like I was driving my own little time machine. Thank you Chrysler!!!!!!!"

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Nelson, 43, county dog warden - "This is the baddest car on the planet. I mean really, it's the best looking car on the market! If I had my choice between this and the 'Vette, I'd take the Challenger, no ifs, ands, or buts."

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J.J., 74, retired air traffic controller - "It's not often that I find a car that I really go crazy for, but this is one of those cars. I'm not sure what in the hell a 74-year-old man would do with one, but I'd sure like to find out. This thing is sharp!"

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Rich, 57, retired Ford assembly tech, NOT a car person - "Man! I'd sell everything I own and then some to have one of these. How much are they again? I want one of these in my driveway. Nicest car I've ever seen!".

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Scott, 48, construction worker, Mustang owner - "Don't get me wrong. I love my Mustangs and all, but I see something like this, and it makes me want to sell them all. It has classic styling met with new technology, and is definitely the nicest car I've seen. Hell, I'd drive the V6 version around if I had to, just to have the look. Beautiful car!".

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Sydney, 10, middle-schooler - "I like all the attention that comes with the car. When it was by my school, all the kids started going crazy. That made me feel cool, and I sure wish I had one".

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Shelby, 6, car-crazy first grader - "I like this car. I like it when you step on the gas hard. You can buy one, but don't even think about selling my Mustang".

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Christina, 30, college student - "I'm not saying this is a GOOD idea, but honestly..........how far do you think we could get before Dodge notices the car is gone? Are you up for a trip to Mexico? Because if I ride in this car, we are NOT coming back!"

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Rick, 45, PolyOne technician - "You realize this car is grounds for divorce. You know why? Because I *will* have one. And I'm going to sell the old lady's car to get one. Saying no to a Mustang and a Corvette was one thing, but this time, damn it, I'll have one of these cars".

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Ryan, 30, steelworker - "I think it's a heavy pig, but I love the way that it looks"

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John, 66, retired air traffic controller - "Very gorgeous car. Love it"

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Tom, 63, retired Ford Motor Company assembler - "I think it's beautiful. It's a very nice car. Looks VERY expensive to me."

And there you have it...........at least until I can track down my elusive neighbors. :)
Lurker
09-11-2008, 09:46 PM
:thumbsup:




:party:




:yup:




:yay:
Evil95GT
09-12-2008, 01:13 AM
:thumbsup:




:party:




:yup:




:yay:

Lurkdaddy, it's an amazing car. I feel horrible that my week with the car is over (they're retrieving it in the morning). I have more commentaries to post, but I've got to wait till tomorrow. I need to track down the neighbors who went out of their way to come over and see the car. Strangely enough, the one that lives across the street never as much as waved at us in the 2.5 years we've been here. Now that he saw the car, he's quite friendly, LOL.

P.S. Do you still get the double-takes, the thumbs up, and the people asking you to stop the car so they can check it out? :thumbsup:
cadzilla74
09-12-2008, 09:18 AM
P.S. Do you still get the double-takes, the thumbs up, and the people asking you to stop the car so they can check it out? :thumbsup:

Hell, I still get people doing that with my 3 1/2 year old Magnum.
Lurker
09-12-2008, 11:20 AM
Hell, I still get people doing that with my 3 1/2 year old Magnum.

I really like the Magnum.

:yay:
Lurker
09-12-2008, 11:22 AM
Lurkdaddy, it's an amazing car. I feel horrible that my week with the car is over (they're retrieving it in the morning). I have more commentaries to post, but I've got to wait till tomorrow. I need to track down the neighbors who went out of their way to come over and see the car. Strangely enough, the one that lives across the street never as much as waved at us in the 2.5 years we've been here. Now that he saw the car, he's quite friendly, LOL.

P.S. Do you still get the double-takes, the thumbs up, and the people asking you to stop the car so they can check it out? :thumbsup:


Yes, I was at a Labor Day car show surrounded by Mustangs and Corvettes, and the Chally got much love...

:dodge:

Glad you had fun! The silver looks great!

I am wondering how bad ass it would look with blacked out rims...

:yup:
Lurker
09-12-2008, 11:41 AM
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=wsODbjx9Zyc&eurl=http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Challenger-SRT8-2008-Challenger-SRT-8-LTD-Edition-5806-of-6400-SILVER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_

:yay:
SteelSteeds
09-12-2008, 01:40 PM
The GT 500 still gets a ton of double takes. Yesterday I had two large black men, driving a new Cadillac, dressed in suits and smoking cigars (:think:), and they were honking the horn and giving me thumbs up. At the next light, they pulled alongside and the driver said "I just have to show you the respect."

So far, I've only seen one Chally on the street here, a black SRT-8. Of course I gave him the thumbs up, and he returned it for the GT 500.
cadzilla74
09-13-2008, 03:48 AM
The GT 500 still gets a ton of double takes. Yesterday I had two large black men, driving a new Cadillac, dressed in suits and smoking cigars (:think:), and they were honking the horn and giving me thumbs up. At the next light, they pulled alongside and the driver said "I just have to show you the respect."

So far, I've only seen one Chally on the street here, a black SRT-8. Of course I gave him the thumbs up, and he returned it for the GT 500.


I always give "props" to a sweet ride no matter what brand ... nice to see I'm not the only one ...

And thanks Lurker, yeah I love my Mag ... but I admire the heck out of your "stable" ... lotta horses in that corral ... enjoy!

A quickie story but my fav ... right after I got the Magnum and it was still so new there weren't many around ... me and a buddy drop in at the Pate Museum just south of Fort Worth (Google it, they have a web site) ... all kinds of displays from old NASA stuff to WW1 and WW2 aircraft to some really nice old cars inside (including a DeSoto with the ORIGINAL HEMI motor, anybody guess what the CID was?) ...

So we are inside checking out the cars and there were about 10 people in the place with us and then they were all gone ... so we finish looking around and come outside and there's the curator of the museum and all the people from inside standing around the Magnum and trying to peek in through the dark tint ... What an unreal feeling that was ...

My buddy Farmer looks at me with that "here we go again" look (we were coming off a 4 day road trip through the TX Hill Country and he had gotten used to every time we stopped for gas or food we had to do the 'Vanna White' display of open all the doors and the hatch and the hood and take the engine cover off" ...

Needless to say it was pretty amazing to have just visited about $30 million worth of classic cars only to come outside and see everybody inspecting the Mag ... I knew right then this old grocery-getter has a future as a classic along the Nomad line ... Then Chrysler decides to kill it after 3 years ... Sweeeet!

Only problem is, mine will never be a garage queen, I drive it every day, drag it on Sundays and I'm going back next week for the second time to run it on the high-banks at Texas Motor Speedway in the Laps for Charity event ...

2 Years ago, I had my wife, our friend Sandi and a cooler full of Bud tall-boys in the car as me and a Saleen Mustang went through 3 and 4 side by side at 130mph ...

I pulled into the pits at the end of our 3 lap run, cracked a beer and said "Take me now Jesus, I'm already in Redneck Heaven!!!"
Evil95GT
09-15-2008, 01:45 AM
*Edited first post to reflect 3 new commetaries*

And keep those stories coming! I love reading stuff like this! :thumbsup: