[Ambalanche]

I was out with a buddy of mine yesterday looking at trucks and when we passed the local Dodge store I told him to pull in since I saw a Challenger SRT and hadn't seen a production one up close yet. To my surprise, there were SEVEN of them on the lot! They all had their window stickers either on the front passenger seat or on the dash and the build sheet was conspicuously stapled to it over the gas milage info. Anyway, they look much better in person, and everything looked like it as put together well. It is a big car, and I personally don't think that's a bad thing. The interior, while the cars were locked so I couldn't get in, didn't look bad like alot of reports, I just think it needs a different steering wheel and it will be fine, but It seemed to be of high quality plastics. Just perception through the window I know, but looked nice. And the Seats! They were very nice! Nice Big Buckets in black with a Orange stripe in the middle with white stitching. I was surprised the Hemi Orange one didn't have the orange stitching though. They had all the colors represented. It is a very sexy car, and I'd definately have one over the Mustang for sure. Will have to see the Camaro in person to compare. Just thought I'd give a first hand prospective on the Camaro's newest competition. I know Big Al couldn't wait!

 

[Titanic]

They sold out of preorders. A certain allotment was reserved for dealer inventory. They're now making the '09s.

 

[big swede]

They sold out pre-orders and then when dealers realized they finally have a hot car they tried to tack on additional "market adjustments" and most people correctly told them to eff off. Now you can go to most dealers and see plenty of them sitting there. You will probably be able to get a steal on these first SRT8's because now everyone knows that the 09's will have a posi. RT is a much better deal but the SRT sure would be fun.

 

[T-Type]

TYou will probably be able to get a steal on these first SRT8's because now everyone knows that the 09's will have a posi. RT is a much better deal but the SRT sure would be fun.

Wait, what? The '08 SRT8's don't have posi?????? Surely you jest.

 

[AndrewGS]

Wait, what? The '08 SRT8's don't have posi?????? Surely you jest.

Nope, it's the truth.

 

[big swede]

Wait, what? The '08 SRT8's don't have posi?????? Surely you jest.

It doesn't have a mechanical posi in the traditional sense. It is electronically controlled. I have no idea why they would do that but certainly that's a much bigger problem than not having navigation that makes 3 people look for something other than a Camaro. I guess they figured that so few of them would be made that they would all be gobbled up reguardless but the gas prices and greedy dealers have put a bigger damper on these types of cars than they ever imagined. The 09's will have a mechanical posi and also an available 6 speed if you wish.

 

[jkennedy293]

It doesn't have a mechanical posi in the traditional sense. It is electronically controlled. I have no idea why they would do that but certainly that's a much bigger problem than not having navigation that makes 3 people look for something other than a Camaro. I guess they figured that so few of them would be made that they would all be gobbled up reguardless but the gas prices and greedy dealers have put a bigger damper on these types of cars than they ever imagined. The 09's will have a mechanical posi and also an available 6 speed if you wish.

The Chargers, Magnums, and 300s use the same setup. Chrysler relies on the DSC and Traction Control to act like a limited slip diff. This is the main reason why the 425bhp Charger SRT-8 can barely keep up with a 361bhp Pontiac G8.

 

[T-Type]

Wow, that just boggles my mind. The SRT8, the superduper performance version of the Challenger muscle car didn't come with a real posi in '08. Well, at least they're fixing it for '09.

And to think of the kittens that some people had because the Camaro (a muscle car) doesn't have navigation right away!

 

[JerryL]

It is weird because Dodge has always been known as a drag-type car back to the days of the Rapid Transit Company.

 

[Titanic]

Well, if you order a Challenger R/T with the 6-speed, it automatically comes with more power and torque, the "Trak Pak," heavy duty brakes, hill-start assist, anti-spin differential, performance steering, fancy pedals, and 3.92 axle ratio (with the 20" wheels).

 

[Ambalanche]

It doesn't have a mechanical posi in the traditional sense. It is electronically controlled. I have no idea why they would do that but certainly that's a much bigger problem than not having navigation that makes 3 people look for something other than a Camaro. I guess they figured that so few of them would be made that they would all be gobbled up reguardless but the gas prices and greedy dealers have put a bigger damper on these types of cars than they ever imagined. The 09's will have a mechanical posi and also an available 6 speed if you wish.

Ok, so please excuse the ignorance, does this mean you cannot spin both rear wheels at the same time? If traction control and stability control kick in, seems like you wouldn't be able to spin just one wheel, or any wheel. No engineer here, just curious. Who would want to spin one wheel? Maybe that's why there are so many still available. 6900 or however many 08's they made arn't very many!

 

[Firebird00]

I saw a orange and a black SRT Challenger at the Dodge dealer on the way home today. I'm really surprised someone hasn't snatched them up yet.

 

[AndrewGS]

I saw a orange and a black SRT Challenger at the Dodge dealer on the way home today. I'm really surprised someone hasn't snatched them up yet.

I've seen about 10 Challengers both on the road and at storage/dealer lots and every single one so far has been orange. That must be the only color they ship down here.

 

[ZHDesign57]

The only ones I've seen have been Orange too...

Still want a Camaro though. The Dodge is cool, but IMO, Camaro's interior looks a lot better.

 

[RamJet502]

I saw a black R/T on the highway yesterday, looked awesome!

 

[Ambalanche]

They do look really good, much better than in pictures, but the LSD thing would keep me from buying a 2008.

 

[big swede]

Ok, so please excuse the ignorance, does this mean you cannot spin both rear wheels at the same time? If traction control and stability control kick in, seems like you wouldn't be able to spin just one wheel, or any wheel. No engineer here, just curious. Who would want to spin one wheel? Maybe that's why there are so many still available. 6900 or however many 08's they made arn't very many!

I'm not exactly sure how Chrysler has it configured since I have never had even the slightest desire to own a Chrysler product until the Challenger came along. Most stability control systems limit power to keep the car from spinning and I'm sure their system is no different. However their traction control and controlling the rear differential seem to be two completely different things.

http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f18/sts-twin-turbo-srt-8-a-2895/

They somehow use electronics to act as a differential which enables the rear to act like it has a posi. I have checked out several video's of 08' Challengers doing burnouts and all of them smoke both rear tires. I will link a video of a Challenger with an STS turbo system because you can see, even more clearly, both tires going up in smoke. Turn up the volume because there's is nothing like the sound of a big V8 + turbo making the tires smoke.

 

[Power6]

We saw one in a Dodge show room while driving by so went in to check it out. To our
surprise they had a total of eight. Four Orange, three Silver, and one Black. Only the
Black one had a sold sticker on it. They had a dealer installed option list next to the
factory sticker. It listed some paint protection Bullcrap for $1,300, and a $10,000
"limited availability" mark up. All this brought the $41 thousand and some change
list price up to $53,000. Like Swede said it's a big car, again not a bad thing. We did
sit in one, and it's big inside as well. I'm 6-ft even and had all kinds on headroom.
Seats feel good, but like most American cars, the interior was very plasticy.

 

[sonjaab]

There are at least 20 of them gathering dust at the local dealers in
the Syracuse NY area. All loaded out SRTs.................
Several dealers are selling at MSRP too! 1 dealer has a used one with
a $27,999 price on the windsheild. A 6 cyl. or factory test mule perhaps?

Ya think the $43,000 MSRP price tag has something to do with it?

I thought these bad boys were all pre sold?????????