ENGLISHTOWN, New Jersey — Following the official introduction of the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, we conducted our own independent testing of the 425-horsepower coupe, now available with a six-speed manual transmission for the new model year.

This is the very first chance to test the performance of Chrysler's new muscle car with the combination of the SRT 6.1-liter Hemi V8 and the Tremec six-speed manual transmission. The data includes 0-60-mph acceleration, quarter-mile performance, braking distance and slalom speed, as well as insight from IL's test driver.

Chrysler based its introduction of the 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, RT and SE at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, a traditional stop for the NHRA's professional drag-racing championship. Thanks to our portable Racelogic VBOX III testing gear, we were able to use the track for performance testing, although the lack of a suitable plot of pavement precluded skid pad evaluation.

The 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with its 425-hp 6.1-liter V8 and six-speed manual transmission accelerated to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds (5.2 seconds with 1 foot of rollout), then reached the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds at 103.0 mph. This compares to the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with its five-speed automatic that achieved 60 mph in 5.1 seconds (4.8 seconds with 1 foot of rollout) and completed the quarter-mile in 13.2 seconds at 107.5 mph.

We're surprised that the 2008 Challenger SRT8 with its automatic transmission has the edge in speed here, but we were slightly suspicious at the time that it had an unusually healthy engine. In comparison, the engine of this 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with its manual transmission seemed slightly sick during our testing. In the end, we're still left with some questions about the comparative performance of automatic and manual transmissions in this car.



Full performance data is listed below:

Acceleration:
0-30 mph 2.5 seconds
0-45 mph 4.0 seconds
0-60 mph 5.5 seconds
0-75 mph 7.9 seconds
1/4-mile 13.8 seconds at 103.0 mph
0-60 mph with 1 foot of rollout 5.2 seconds

Braking:
30-0 mph 27 feet
60-0 mph 119 feet


Slalom (600 feet) 66.0 mph

Test Driver Comments
Because the power delivery from the 6.1-liter V8 is so linear and the 255/45ZR20 Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar rear tires are so grippy, it's easy to modulate the wheelspin away from the starting line with the throttle. Yet this Challenger SRT8's time to 60 mph and the quarter-mile both lagged behind the performance of the 2008 Challenger SRT8 with its five-speed automatic that we previously tested. This engine didn't seem to have the pop of the other one. Pistol-grip shifter feels robust but is easy to operate and accurate even when rushed. Clutch is neither too heavy nor too light. Ratio of 4th gear feels very, very tall and the car lays down noticeably before crossing the finish line. Amazingly quick turn-in and yaw response in slalom from such a large car, but it's the kind of front-end bite that can be trusted. Good balance right up to the limit where the Challenger SRT8 pushes on-throttle and oversteers with generous on-throttle application.

What this means to you: Dodge finally gives us the manual transmission muscle car we've been waiting for. — Michael Jordan, Executive Editor

 

I'd still like to know what the MPG differences are between the automatic and 6-speed - I doubt the 6-speed will be much better, but I'm curious nonetheless. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

I remember seeing somewhere that it was only 1 or 2 MPG better. But that was enough to cut the Gas Guzzler tax nearly in half!

 

STUPID GAS GUZZLER TAX.