2009 Rumor
 

Heard Dodge may nix the stick in the Srt8, but keep it in the RT. Didn;t make sense to me but then again with everything else running around one cannot be too sure. Just thought I'ld give a heads up for the people waiting it out, and they may want to be certain before asuuming. Hopefully I'm wrong in what I had heard.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Not necessarily agreeing here, but I heard something similar. Seems the 6 speed breaks the tires loose too easily on the SRT8 and there is an IIHS requirement they have to meet. I understand they are still testing this configuration. I am hoping to hear more news on this too. I have my cousin pinned against a wall until he squeals like a pig. (trying to think of the movie that line came from .... Oh yeah, "Deliverance") Let me change that. I'll apply pressure until he coughs up the truth. Naw, too graphic. Hmm, how about this. I will share what I learn as soon as I am able.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Stick some Viper tires under there, we will be good to go.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Hard to believe that they would nix the stick in the SRT because it transmits torque too aggressively. As stated above, including some extra-wide, sticky tires in the SRT8 versino of "Trak-Pak " should put the problem to rest. Or they could always play with the rear differential gearing so that the gearing is no lower than needed for acceleration. But not to offer a stick shift on your top-performing model is nonsense. For the first year while working the kinks out...sure. But it really should be included at some point. I can't afford the SRT anyway, but still....

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Yet another ridiculous rumor...

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

It better just be a rumor because i was planning on getting an '09 SRT8 manual.:(

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

No worries. Ya gotta wonder who comes up with this kind of stuff and if there is any common sense involved.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

ive never heard of a regulation against tires turning too easily...id be interested in reading about that law.

in theory, all you would have to do to overcome this problem is change the stock gearing in the trans and possibly the rear diff...simply going from a 5 speed to a 6 speed should fix the issue a bit as first gear would likely not be as aggressive.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

In case anyone was wondering about IIHS, I looked it up. It stands for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It is an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation's highways. It rates and publishes insurance loss results by vehicle make and model. The ratings are good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.

For example, the 2006/7 Charger receive "good" ratings on frontal impact tests, "marginal" on side impact tests with optional side air bags, and "poor" on side impact tests without side air bags.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

ummmm.... i would be puttin on some big "o" 12" wide wheels and tires on then.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Let's hope it is just a rumor. I too am planning on getting a 6 speed. If there is something too it though, we will be hearing more about it pretty soon, like in a matter of weeks. Chrysler reported having issues with or about the 6 speed earlier, and that is why it was not in the '08.
If they have worked out the kinks, then this rumor will die quickly. Like I said, I am planning on it.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Trust me I'm not trying to stir stuff up, Just what I heard from a gent who orders cars for fleets, state police, business owners. THe people with the $$$$$. So because of that he sold 2 Srt8s already, and has had a "decent" handle on some of the rumors. THis is what he had heard. And like all rumors it can be subject to change. I just wanted to let people know what may/can happen. Sorry for stirring up stuff, that was not my intention.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

The six speed that is going to be used is being sourced from the Viper with only the necessary changes to adapt it to the Challenger body. The Viper puts out 600hp and 560lb-ft of torque so the statement that the trans won't handle it is incorrect. As far as I know there is no change on plans and the stick is to appear this Fall. Could there be a delay? Anything is possible, but if so it won't be over whether the trans has the capacity to deal with the power. Hopefully there will be some clearer answers by/after model changeover time(first 2 weeks of July).

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

I think it would be tough to substantiate this as one could apply this logic to the 'Vette, the Viper, the Shelby GT 500 etc I mean all of them in manual trans can break loose the tires very easily. Heck I have a 2006 Avalanche with a 8.1 and auto trans and I can turn over the tires any time I please. Guess this means they will recall the auto? May be go to a CVT?

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

After thinking on this I will add that it must be a rumor. In other words... not true. It is after all a Viper unit and tested very thoughly. Its weight and the fact of traction control leaves me little doubt that it would have issues with traction. I'd say a 6-speed is in the future for a 2009 SRT-8 Challenger with no hesitation, the engineers at Dodge are some of the best and they would figure this out, no problem:) So lets look forward to shifting gears in our 6.1s and leaving traces of goodyear rubber like bread crumbs to those who are behind us. Like they said in Gumball Ralley " Whats behind me is not important":D

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Spoke with my cousin and he said they HaD a suspension issue, but, to the best of his knowledge it is all in the past. Not sure why this is resurfacing. Right now it looks like the 2009 R/T and SRT's will have a stick for those who want them. He thinks rumors and news are getting intermingled. There are actually few trueths about the 2009 within the hallow'ed halls of his realm. Cerebus is putting the gag on not only this car but the company. In some ways, he is relying on hear-say before he can verify what is. Only then, he says, does he know where the pulse of the people are. He says the company is leaking more info to the bogs than they are internally. Of course he thinks we are all silly enthusiast, jumping at everything that moves in the bushes, like a bunch of drunken hunters. He says (sic thinks), Chrysler in so doing this, (mixing trueth with near trueth, old news with recent news) keeps the demand for information and product high. He does not endorse or agree with it, but said it is what it is. (I would say he is basically disgusted with the current state of affairs... But I guess you get that way if you work for a company over 35 years (and get a new car every three or so months).

99% certain, put this one to rest. Q. E. D.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

IIHS is not truly independent or non-profit. They are funded only by the insurance companites, and their mission is to reduce losses (claims) that would affect the profit of insurance companies. I'm pretty cynical about the insurance industry, so I regard the IIHS with suspicion, but I'll admit they do some good work on crash testing. This is not meant to start a debate about the insurance industry, pro and con, only to note that the IIHS is the research arm of the insurance industry.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

Thor77,

No problem, I was wrong to assert the IIHS agency. I had had this conversation with my cousin months and months ago and he mentioned several governing authorities (internal as well) that dictate acceptance. Can I use age as an exuse? I get confused easily and writing quickly and thinking less quickly leads to mis-information. Please accept my unreserved apology. [sm=boohoo.gif]

My understanding, and this is at least third hand, the fact was an issue with the (stick) car breaking loose too easily. My understanding, again, was more with using the anti-spin technology (?and suspension?) as with the automatic. They had to change the recipe. It was not the tires as was mentioned here, indicating a engine transfer or transmission issue.

RE: 2009 Rumor
 

No worries!:) Sorry if I seemed like I was jumping on your case.