Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
ORIGINAL: flyingfitz
Hello Folks,
I have been following the development of this car and your forum for a very long time. This is my first post. There will be more posts to follow. My recent experiences in the purchase process of this car have prompted me to break my silence.
I have had an R/T on order since June. I was kind of excited about the auto stick until I test drove the local dealers first arrival. I too was a little disappointed in the performance even using the autostick. I understand that the autostick is kind of a different animal, and given a little experience I may or may not feel differently about it. The car was reasonably "fast," but it didn't really feel that way. I was expecting a little more. It just didn't feel like 370 horsepower.
I understand that this is a big heavy car, and to get that "quick" feel out of the autostick might require less weight or more power. The car had pretty good tone but seemed "too quiet" for the visual character this car projects.
After driving the automatic, I immediately changed my order to the manual transmission. I hope that the manual will give me the feel that I am looking for. Also, I am hopeful that the canister style exhaust will come through with a little more sound.
I have waited a long time for this car. I could care less about the actual zero to 60 times or if the R/T can hold its own against the high end mustangs. I am looking for a retro, muscle car driving experience every time open the garage door. I hope that the manual transmission and canister exhaust will work in concert with the visual character to give me the driving experience that I am looking for.
Fitz
Hello Folks,
I have been following the development of this car and your forum for a very long time. This is my first post. There will be more posts to follow. My recent experiences in the purchase process of this car have prompted me to break my silence.
I have had an R/T on order since June. I was kind of excited about the auto stick until I test drove the local dealers first arrival. I too was a little disappointed in the performance even using the autostick. I understand that the autostick is kind of a different animal, and given a little experience I may or may not feel differently about it. The car was reasonably "fast," but it didn't really feel that way. I was expecting a little more. It just didn't feel like 370 horsepower.
I understand that this is a big heavy car, and to get that "quick" feel out of the autostick might require less weight or more power. The car had pretty good tone but seemed "too quiet" for the visual character this car projects.
After driving the automatic, I immediately changed my order to the manual transmission. I hope that the manual will give me the feel that I am looking for. Also, I am hopeful that the canister style exhaust will come through with a little more sound.
I have waited a long time for this car. I could care less about the actual zero to 60 times or if the R/T can hold its own against the high end mustangs. I am looking for a retro, muscle car driving experience every time open the garage door. I hope that the manual transmission and canister exhaust will work in concert with the visual character to give me the driving experience that I am looking for.
Fitz
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
Hey I agree Dakota... It's so true... but aren't the females the more gentle of our species... so taking it lightly is not really an option...
But I can cook so I def. don't here anything from that train of thought... more like do your laundry.. or hang your clothes up... Man i've got a good one though, specially if she can put up with my S H double hockey stix...
But I can cook so I def. don't here anything from that train of thought... more like do your laundry.. or hang your clothes up... Man i've got a good one though, specially if she can put up with my S H double hockey stix...
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
The Challenger is a better looking car than the camaro. Not many people will argue that point, but the ls3 in the camaro is gonna be a beast in comparison. I know speed and power aren't everything, but with 375 hp you expect a little bit of performance. I know a lot of people are in the same boat as I am as far as liking the affordability of the R/T over the SRT, and I think a lot of people would be very forgiving of less than stellar performance numbers. However, there is a limit. It's sad that an SRT with 425hp is riding next to a 305hp 2002 Z28 Camaro. The camaro may not have the looks of the Challenger, but the ls3 in the new SS is gonna be hard to beat. My vote is to put the ls3 in the R/T. Then you have the best of both worlds.
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
Put a Chevy engine in a Dodge vehicle? Blashphamy! Actually, a big solution would be to get rid of all that weight. I don't buy the whole safety standards are increasing the weight because Ford and Chevy don't have an issue with it. I'm sure it has to do with the platform that they used. The Charger and 300C aren't light cars and that's what this is based off of. I can't blame them for that since that is what they had to work with, unless they wanted to used the Caliber, but it is still a shame that it weighs so much. Great power, heavy car.
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
Definitely agree with Axel. The platform is the culprit. This is the old E-class Mercedes platform. So it is a bit...Mercedes-like. A big heavy tank that rides well and feels very composed. It would be cool if they had a lighter RWD platform that would be suitable, but with Chrysler's financial situation, they would have a hard time making one from the ground up. And if they did, we'd be waiting til at least Camaro time, maybe longer. And likely paying more.
The LS engines are great. Very good aftermarket support, and excellent power. But what made the 02 Camaro faster with less power was the weight. They were only ~3400lbs. The Challenger is only slightly lighter (3260 lbs) in the stripped out, non-street-legal drag package. The new LS3 will be around 400hp in the Camaro. I doubt that a Challenger with an Camaro LS3 would be faster than with a 6.1 Hemi. The LS is not magic, it is just in a lighter car.
The Toyota-sourced 2ZZ-GE engine runs 0-60 in 4.7 and 12.8 in the 1/4 mile with only 190hp and laughable torque. How? It is in a Lotus Exige that weights about 2000lbs.
Edit: pardon my syntax.
The LS engines are great. Very good aftermarket support, and excellent power. But what made the 02 Camaro faster with less power was the weight. They were only ~3400lbs. The Challenger is only slightly lighter (3260 lbs) in the stripped out, non-street-legal drag package. The new LS3 will be around 400hp in the Camaro. I doubt that a Challenger with an Camaro LS3 would be faster than with a 6.1 Hemi. The LS is not magic, it is just in a lighter car.
The Toyota-sourced 2ZZ-GE engine runs 0-60 in 4.7 and 12.8 in the 1/4 mile with only 190hp and laughable torque. How? It is in a Lotus Exige that weights about 2000lbs.
Edit: pardon my syntax.
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
This is coming from a mustang owner but I would love to have a heavy challenger r/t for a daily driver. Wish I could afford to do both. For now I'm going to stick to paying off the furd and get that beotch modded.
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RE: Drove an auto black R/T today! Dissappointed at lack of power.
the ls3 engine is light our engines are heavy.
the camaro still weights alot 3700+ MANNY and 3940 auto.
both suffere from safety standards but that e class tranny and platform is killing us in weight,
the camaro still weights alot 3700+ MANNY and 3940 auto.
both suffere from safety standards but that e class tranny and platform is killing us in weight,
