Ok, according the the in-dash EVIC diagnostics 0 to 60 timer, for whatever accuracy it provides, I have personally done 5.29 seconds 0 to 60 and I think there is more there in the R/T manual trans car. (if you need a picture of the display as proof, just ask. I'll take one). I only had the car for 3 weeks at that time and there was a lot of rain during that time so I had not gotten a good feel for the car yet. And my car is just about fully loaded. A stripper R/T without all of the bells and whistles and a few less pounds could even be a tad quicker.
But I do agree that a stock Mustang GT (2005 and up 4.6 L 3 valve) can possibly give these R/Ts a run for the money from a dead stop. It could be a driver's race. But I think the R/T would have the edge if going from a roll.
A Mustang with a simple CAI and tune would be a bigger problem for a stock R/T. The R/T gives up quite a bit of a weight disadvantage and the stock throttle mapping is poor with a nod toward stability control and warantee longevity, even with 75 more HP.
ORIGINAL: Albeeno
Hey Thor,
I respectfully disagree with your assessment about a Stock vs Stock match up of the R/T and a Mustang GT. You may have noticed in the article that it takes two shifts of that pistol grip to the get the R/T to 60mph. My little chick-car Mustang equipped with a wimpy 4.6 liter 3 valve V8 arrives at 60mph at the top end of 2nd gear. Even Kowalski himself wouldn't be able to beat a Mustang GT in a stock 6-speed R/T. Anybody claiming 5.0 - 5.3 seconds 0-60 in a STOCK R/T is absolutely full of it. The best I've ever seen is 5.5.
ORIGINAL: Thor77
I read that article too, and was quite surprised. Given that Dodge promised sub-6 sec 0-60, and we have examples here on the forums of 0-60 and 1/4 mile times better than Road & Track reports, I think they either got a car that wasn't quite running right, or just did not have a good test. Road and Track often seems to record competitive 0-60 times out there, but how to explain Motor Trend going 5.1 to 60, a Full Second faster????
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...lenger_rt.html
Albeeno, maybe we can find someone in your area with an R/T who would be willing to defend the honor of the Challenger at the strip. I really do not think the Mustang GT would pull on the Challenger R/T in a straight up, stock vs stock race. I would figure it as a winnable race for either driver that would be decided by launch and shifting.
On whether the R/T or the SRT is the enthusiast choice, I think any enthusiast with the bankroll would take the SRT. An enthusiast on a budget would do well with the R/T Track Pak and a couple of other options if needed. If you are going to buy an R/T with all the bells and whistles, and run the sticker up to 38-39K, there is no reason not to get the SRT, unless you really just don't want the extra power.