ORIGINAL: Cuda340
Supposedly, someone "well-connected" posted on allpar.com that the SRT Challenger, with the 6-speed manual, will have a 3.92 differential. If this is true, it will cure a weakness many of the Charger SRT guys are complaining about- gears that are too tall. Since the 6.1 is already subject to the gas guzzler tax, I don't see why Dodge would'nt put it in.
Possibly, it depends on which version of the Tremec they use. If they use the same gears as what is used in the Viper, it will in fact be taller all around. If they use the gears used in the GT500, it will be shorter at the beginning and the same at the end. If they make the right decision and use the version wikipeida claims will be used in the Pontiac G8 GT, it will provide both shorter gearing at the beginning and taller at the combined final drive ratio. The reason why we want them to have the last one is the fact that it will provide us with quicker response with acceleration and help remedy the fuel efficiency issue developed by the short relative short gearing found in the W5A580, which is a factor with our current fuel prices. Who knows with the right gearing, perhaps Chrysler might even be able to get the 6.1L out of the gas guzzler tax category.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremec_...0_transmission
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-56
If what they said is accurate, I'm glad they are planning on using the Chrysler built 42RLE VLP with the 3.5L. I have driven a Charger with the W5A580 and I can tell you it yields no real advantages, and the numbers run by the magazines indicate the same thing. Despite the taller gearing, the fuel economy is the same and if my memory serves me correctly, they still ran at about the same RPM. Considering that the W5A580 costs more and yields no real advantage over the Chrysler built 42RLE VLP, this should help to keep the V6 model more price competitive.
Challenger wheel sizes should run from 17" to 20", with no spare tires on any models (and no run-flats), tire service kits will be included
Why how intelligent of Chrysler? Why bother wasting such valuable space that could be used up with so much more valuable necessities such as subwoofers when we all know that tires NEVER explode to the point that a patching kit is about as useful as buying fuel without having an engine to run in it?
And why bother offering a spare when EVERYONE has a cell phone and can call road side assistance which is offered in EVERY insurance plan, considering that cell phones ALWAYS have a full service no matter how far you are from civilization and that they never have problems with not successfully calling the number you typed in for the tenth time for no apparent reason?![:@]
Car companies in general, stop using ideas that the White Star Line would have came up with. There are customer entitlements, one of those is a spare tire when tires explode. A doughnut does not cost that much money and it does not weigh that much either. If customers are really that concerned about that minute amount of weight, then they should work on losing weight because that is about the difference a doughnut weighs. When I get mine, I'll be sure to get a full-sized spare.