I joined last month but am just now checking in. Back in May I bought a (leftover) brand new 2022 Frostbite Challenger R/T 6-spd manual. It's a base model R/T in that the only option it has is the Frostbite paint ($95) but R/Ts are already pretty well optioned with everything I like/need. It's the first brand new car I've bought in 25 years (I'm 56 and usually buy low-mileage 1-2 yr-old cars), and only the second Dodge vehicle (also currently own a '98 Dodge Dakota that's been a great truck). I've mostly been a life long GM guy. In fact, prior to the Challenger I had a 2002 6-spd Camaro SS which I loved, but due to my height (6' 5"), I just wanted something that I fit more comfortably in, so I got the Challenger and then sold the Camaro. After owning it for almost 7 months, I couldn't be happier with the "trade". The Camaro was awesome, but the Challenger is even more so and it fits me like a glove...plus it's new and much higher quality. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and I look forward to learning more here. Here's a pic when I first got the Challenger and before selling the Camaro.
Check out the informative interviews of the designers of the 2006 Challenger concept and the 2008 production car. They really give you incredible insight into how the retro-styled Challenger evolved from the drawing board to reality. 2008 Challenger Designer Interview -- Segment 1 - YouTube 2008 Challenger Designer Interview -- Segment 2 - YouTube 2008 Challenger Designer Interview -- Segment 3 - YouTube Designer Interview ; Segment 4 - 2009 Challenger - YouTube Designer Interview; Segment 6 - 2009 Challenger - YouTube Dodge Challenger: Exterior Styling - YouTube Challenger Designers - Castiglione and Barrington, Part 1 - YouTube Challenger Designers - Castiglione and Barrington, Part 2 - YouTube Challenger Designers - Castiglione and Barrington, Part 3 - YouTube Challenger Designers Castiglione and Barrington Pt. 4 - YouTube Challenger Designers Castiglione and Barrington Pt. 5 - YouTube Challenger Designers - Castiglione and Barrington, Part 6 - YouTube Challenger Designers - Castiglione and Barrington, Part 7 - YouTube
Back in the day, in 2002 I was going to purchase a WS6 Trans-AM Ram Air but ran out of time because that was the final year of that model and bodystyle. I ended up with a Corvette for a few dollars more. Anyway the Challenger is a full size muscle car with a lot more space inside interior and a full size trunk. The Camaro is a pony car so you lose out on trunk space as well as interior space. So the Challenger would suit you fine. I wanted more space too so I would have opt for the Challenger over the current Mustang. I don't care for this new and now extinct Camaro body style as you can't see a thing looking out 360 full circle. The Challenger is much more comfortable car to drive over all others with space and luxury. It's a great cruiser on the freeway.
Agreed. I know its size makes it heavier and not handle like a sports car, but man, I sure appreciate the comfort and convenience when I'm daily driving it. I agree about the newest version of the Camaro (although I DID like the 2010-2015 body style...although not quite as much as the LS1 4th gens). There's something aesthetically "off" about it, plus, as you said, it's hard to see out of.
That's the #1 thing I like about the Challenger. Sure it's big and heavy but along with that you get comfort, room, space to carry stuff if needed which makes all good for a daily driver. It's a versatile performance vehicle as well as even more space when putting the rear seats down for skies or fishing poles. This is why I am so upset that they discontinued the current body style of this iconic muscle car. At least Dodge stayed true to the original muscle car classic roots of the 1970 Challenger with a lot of improvements over the old 1970-1973 Challengers such as dash/interior and external lights.
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Thanks! Okay, so things are moving fast here. As much as I liked my 2022 R/T, I had an opportunity to buy an 11k-mile 2021 WB Scat Pack (with Plus package, Driver Convenience group, Carbon/Suede package, NAV, Harman Kardon, and SiriusXM) in the same Frostbite color and 6-spd manual transmission that I love for a price I couldn't pass up, so I bought it. Then, I immediately put the R/T up for sale (priced to sell quickly) on CarGurus. The R/T had 3k miles on it and sold in 7 days. (I lost money on it, of course, but it was still better than had I traded it into a dealer, and the deal on the WB was enough below market that I don't feel too bad about it. The loaded WB 392 was ultimately what I really wanted in the first place.) Anyway, I've now had the new (to me) car for 5 days. Having experience with both a 6-spd 5.7L and a 6-spd 6.4L, I'll have that perspective to share with the forum.