Transmission Thoughts.
 

After my previous remarks about coupling the 4.7 liter V8 to a 6-speed manual transmission, I'm actually doubtful that DCX will couple a 6.1 liter Hemi to a 6-speed manual and let the public drive it. The Viper is the only car they offer with a big engine and a manual transmission.

The current Chargers and Magnums don't even offer a manual transmission with any engine except the Magnum with a V6.

I think they look at this this way: "Imagine the carnage if someone's foot slipped off the clutch while gunning a Hemi." That's a decent concern. I mean, if you can afford the $90,000 Viper price tag, you can likely afford to pay to fix your damage; but with a $35,000 price tag, the Challenger is offering everyone the chance wreak carnage.

So, I wouldn't be suprised if we're denied a manual transmission in the production car.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

one of the biggest gripes with the charger is not that it is a sedan, but that it is ATX only. i am pretty sure, from having worked at dodge, that none of the LXs are available with a manual.

dodge knows that if they make this car, it has to be a manual....and if they have gone through the trouble to make this "modified viper spec 6 speed", theyre going to use it in something....theyre goal is to compete with the GTO and stang, and they know that most of them are sold with a manual...so, we can only hope that they ignore driver errors, and take into FULL consideration market trends, finally.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

Yeah, without the manual tranny they will lose too many sales to the competition. And you know Chevy will put a manual in the Camaro.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

If I may. For sure a major concern is insurance. Rates for this light weight, high performance car, and the market Dodge has elected to target, will be through the roof with a manual. Insurance companies have higher rates for a manual because they see it as a possible race vehicle and with a Hemi under the hood, it's got race me written all over it. Now if the insurance rates are through the roof, and Dodge will know what they are, it will have a negative impact on sales.

Not that I like Fords, because I don't but, I stopped at a Ford dealer one day and asked him why I see so many V6 Mustangs and so few V8's? His response "insurance rates"! The younger group of the target market can not afford the insurance rates and the car payments so, they go V6.

Any thoughts on this.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

true, but if youre charging 28-35 grand for a car with no real winter or family function, its going to be considered a performance car, no matter what...hell, my Stratus RT coupe is an autostick, and its listed as a sports car...and it cant get out of its own way.[:@]

dodge has to see that with this reception, that if they offer any Hemi model for the suggested 28 grand, or any price comparable to the stang/GTO, it will sell so fast that they wont know what to do...dealerships stock V6 stangs, but the GTs are available, and have a much bigger take rate than the V6s.

i will buy it if its an atx, as it will still be fast as hell, and with the atx, it will be a bracket killer..;)

but the atx will lose some "fun to drive" aspect...i really think that if dcx notices the need for a pony car, they notice the need to an mtx.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

I'd love to get one with the manual trans, no doubt. BUT, where I live, there is only road system where I'll get decent use of it. The rest of time, my left leg be aching from 1st-Neutral-1st-Neutral-1st-Neutral-1st-Neutral-1st-Neutral.

So, while I'm hopeful that we'll get the manual transmission, I'm also hoping that we get the beefed up 5-speed Automatic. I'm torn.

But... I'm hoping the option is there.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

well, i blew my knee out, and had it rebuilt, so i am happy to be able to drive a stick..and i will still have my other cars, and my truck, which are autos, for when the knee gets sore.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

I doubt this will happen but I think it would be cool if they offered the 68RE for the automatic option so then they could have a 6-speed. Is it just me, or do you guys think that the EPA ratings will be better than 14/20 with a Viper spec 6-speed. The overdrive in the A580 ATX is a .83 vs. the top overdrive in the Viper's 6-speed the T-56 Tremec is a .50. The reason why I think it would be better is that the base model Corvette ATX vs. manual has a .7 vs. .50 and the manual is rated at getting 2 mpg better than the automatic. When they say "a Viper spec 6-speed" do they mean it would have the T-56 Tremec from the Viper?

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

well, that i know of, DCX only has two current 6 speed mtx...the viper tranny, and the cummins tranny. when they say "viper spec"...typically spec stands for specification, right? so i would assume that the tranny is indeed a viper tranny altered to fit in the challenger and against the hemi

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

RE: EPA ratings.

If they stick to the 6.1 liter Hemi, or bump up to the 6.4 liter Hemi, I think we'll see 14/20. Maybe a bump to 21 on the highway rating. Those engines eat gasoline. And if the Challenger stays above 3,900 pounds in curb weight, the transmission will only help so much.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

What about the one used in the Crossfire? It is neither tranny.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

thats a good point, but im not sure if the mercedes tranny is a 6 speed, and even if it is, there is a big difference in the torque and hp of the hemi to the base model crossfire, so i dont know if it would hold up very well.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

I definately think there will be a manual tranny... It is what all the Mopar fans want and part of what most were complaining about on the Charger... I know I wouldn't buy an auto... I would definately need a manual...

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

I was reading in think in a Road and Track Magazine and they mentioned a possible 6-speed automatic. Anythoughts? If they would, I'd bet it would be a 68RE.

BadStratRT, I looked it up and it is a 6-speed. If I'm not mistaken the auto tranny used in the Crossefire is the same automatic as what the LX car line uses. So maybe it is heavy duty enough, but that doesn't matter because I read that they will use the T-56 Tremec for the manual option.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

somewhere on DF it was posted (i believe from one of th magazines) that it is a t56 tremac

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

Yeah the T-56 Tremec is offical.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

oh..ok..we were probably reading the same thing...:D

when i worked for dodge, we got something from DCX saying that there was some intention to go with all 5 speed autos and all 6 speed manuals, but that was about a year ago...

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

The 6-speed manual part I believe is accurate. I read at allpar.com that they were planning on making all manuals 6-speeds, the Jeep Liberty and Wrangler are a sign of that happening, but as for the all 5-speed autos, I don't think so. The 41TE is supposed to be changed into the 62TE very soon making it a 6-speed and the 48RE is supposed to be changed into the 68RE which also makes it a 6-speed instead of a 5-speed. So I doubt that one. If the 5-speed was supposed to be true, it would only apply to Chrysler group vehicles and not Mercedes since they have a 7-speed automatic. Don't take what I have said the wrong way. I'm not saying your wrong but it doesn't appear that what they told you is accurate as far as the automatics are concerned or maybe they changed their minds.

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

Supposedly, the designers of the Challenger were taking learnings from the Charger and applying them...

#1 - Must be two door.
#2 - Must visually emulate the original.
#3 - 6 Speed manual transmission.

So, maybe I shouldn't have started this thread. ;)

Here's hoping we get the 6.4 liter Hemi with MDS coupled to a 6-Speed manual transmission!

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

well, i wouldnt put it past chrysler to change their minds about something...look at the 99 charger concept...;)

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

Well MacAnguish, I wouldn't hold my breath. Based on what I heard, the 5.7L is the only model that is supposed to get MDS and I doubt they would spend the extra money to do that modifcation to a lower production engine, that we are not positive they will release in the car. I'd like it, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.

Isn't that the truth, BadStratRT. I like the way the '06 Charger looks, but I liked the '99 Charger concept better (I used to nickname it "The Intrepid on Steroids").;)

RE: Transmission Thoughts.
 

I want one:)