For my entire adult life, I’ve been preoccupied by old cars: buying them, fixing them, driving them, drawing pictures of them, taking naps in them on warm summer days, etc. Ergo, my daily driver/commuter/sacrifice to the gods of calcium chloride has been an afterthought, a penalty box. No more. A couple weeks ago, I decided to buy something that would allow me to better enjoy the drudgeries of new car life, which unfortunately take up a fair chunk of my time. Here it is, and nothing could suit me better.
My sister texted my wife last week because my brother-in-law couldn’t believe I bought this car. My wife’s response was appropriate: “Aaron had a list of four cars he was considering, and this wasn’t on the list. That’s not surprising.”
(I’m not particularly flashy or anything, I just like lime green; why else would someone willingly drive a car this obnoxious? I almost bought a Grabber Lime 2020 Mustang four years ago, but I missed the order window and Ford cancelled the color for 2021. My parents allowed me to choose the color of my bedroom when I was four: I chose lime green. When Skittles switched from lime to green apple, I wrote them a sour email; from then on, they would alert me when lime returned. They have since realized their error and have permanently pivoted back to lime. My Challenger is “Sublime,” by the way, one of a slew of popular-over-the-last-15-years-of-production hues Dodge marched out for the final year of Challenger production.)
Anyway, I didn’t need a new car, but my Focus was a year or two from being fairly labeled a rusty car, and more importantly, I simply wanted something new after 12+ years. My finalists were as follows: a Ford Maverick XLT, a Honda Civic EX, a Mazda 3, and an Ecoboost Mustang.
A couple weeks ago, however, my wife and I were out on a day trip and we stopped for a late lunch. Parallel parked across the street was a newer Challenger, which reminded me of something our own Jim Klein pointed out in a comment recently: there are thousands of new 2023 Challengers remaining on Dodge lots around the country. So when I got home, I decided to pop online and have a look.
And there it was, near the top of the search page, priced very reasonably, wearing one of my favorite colors. Was it 400 miles away? Yes. Did the round trip take 13+ hours on a Saturday? Also yes. Does my lovely bride like the color? Not a bit.
Still, it was worth the effort, and the process was surprisingly smooth. The Challenger drives great and scored 28 mpg on the drive home on a breezy day. It has heated seats and a heated wheel along with Sirius XM radio, so I’m spoiled as I never have been.
In case you were wondering, yes, it’s only got a V6, so I am prepared to field comments that tacitly question my virility for the entire length and breadth of my ownership. Challengers have a certain image, as do their owners, but I’m an old car guy and this is basically an old car that I bought new. Plus, anyone who says that 303 horsepower is not enough is not of my mind. I try not to drive too fast anyway – I have too many cars to insure.
The only downside to choosing a car I actually like as my daily driver is that it IS going to be subjected to adverse road conditions, road salt, rock chips, and other things that transform a commute into a guilt trip. I’ll have to get over that. I have an appointment in June with a family-owned local rustproofer who has been around for decades. People I know and (mostly) trust swear by them, saying that their 20-year-old cars are still rust free. We’ll see, but if I can still be driving my Challenger when it’s actually an old car, that would befit my quirks.
It’s funny how circumstances have been pointing in one direction all along, but it takes the right nudge for a person to notice. Occasionally, someone on my commute will be driving a burly Challenger in the midst of a snow squall, those wide taillights illuminating the way before me, and I’ll think, “That person is doing something right.” They too must have decided that life’s too short to worry about saving your car for the future.
Because of all this, I was vaguely dispirited when I heard that Challenger production would end in December 2023, because I’ve clearly liked them from a distance for years (2017 red T/A on the local lot, I’m looking at you). Therefore, this decision was almost bound to happen. Although I hate spending money on a new car, the Challenger cost no more, and perhaps even less, than those alternatives I had been considering. Long live lime!
P.S. When did sporty cars get so tall? I’m OK with it because the Challenger’s trunk is surprisingly roomy, but I had to chuckle when I stood behind this pair.
P.P.S. Does this make me a Mopar man?
“Does my lovely bride like the color? Not a bit.”
Good for you! All too often you read about persons who sold their toy car / classic, favorite because of the wife, or family matters, or some other not important reason.
Of course, most of these reason are important reasons but then you did not put your car hobby high enough on the What-You-Need list.
I am not a fan of the car or color but can understand, and approve you buying it. One of the last American cars.
Seems there is very little chrome or stainless steel on the car. They cannot do without some in the headlamps and the interior door handles. But that’s it? Nothing on the dash, steering wheel or anywhere else?
“life’s too short to worry about saving your car for the future”
Excellent! Many take far too much effort in keeping a car in 100% tip top condition, where’s the fun in that? Or maybe that IS their fun in the auto hobby.
My Challenger has the “Blacktop Edition” package, which basically means that all bright trim is blacked out and it has larger 20″ black wheels. The cars without that package have more bright trim. If nothing else, the larger tires make the package worth it, and I kind of like the blacked-out look. We’ll see next winter if I’ll get a set of snow tires/wheels for it; I grew up driving rear-wheel-drive cars with questionable tires, so I’ll probably be fine, but the snow tires on my wife’s Mustang have made me a believer.
The Pentastar V6 is a better engine than the Hemi.
This is a luxury car in the model of the original T-Bird.
I commend thee
Thanks! I’ve heard bad things about both engines, but I keep up on maintenance, so we’ll see. I usually tell anyone who asks about cars not to buy a Chrysler, so I’ve pretty much broken all my personal rules, but that’s OK.
The “Pentastart tick” is the only significant issue. It’s caused by poor metallurgy of the pin the rocker arm pivots on, and sometimes the lifters themselves. It’s a random issue; at the Promaster forum there’s been a healthy number that have gone 200, 300, 400 and even 500k miles without it rearing its ugly head.
If it does appear (usually around 100k or so miles) it can be fixed fairly easily if caught soon, before the camshaft gets damaged.
The other issue is the plastic oil cooler/oil filter housing that Jim did a detailed how-to post on fixing it. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/repair-and-maintenance/curbside-tech-replacing-the-oil-cooler-on-the-pentastar-3-6l-v6-taming-the-trail-of-tears/
Our 2017 Promaster has been perfect so far (65k miles) and has never seen a dealer or mechanic since I bought it.
That’s right! I read that article thinking I’d never have to do that, but I probably will. Another reason to thank Jim today. 🙂
I’ll be here all week for you. 🙂 Order the Dorman replacement today so it’s not backordered when the time comes. Actually, if you have it you’ll never need it, so an even better reason to get it now…
My company van just had the lifters/rockers changed due to the tick. But it was at 185k mile and after the oil cooler failed spectacularly last year (after which the tick started). My assumption is they might have gone longer except they ran dry for a few minutes when the cooler failed.
Congratulations on your purchase! I’m a fan of anything green as well, so I definitely understand the appeal of the Grabber Lime. My wife and I recently put several hundred miles on rented a Challenger GT AWD while on vacation. Since it was “only” the 3.6L V-6, I was prepared to be underwhelmed in comparison to my daily driver 2014 Charger R/T with the 5.7 Hemi. I was very pleasantly surprised. While it obviously lacks the low-end torque of the Hemis, the 3.6 can still move the heavy Challenger with alacrity. It was comfortable, quiet, and surprisingly fuel efficient. While subjective, I’d also say it gave the impression of being well screwed together as well…which is not something I can say about some of my other recent rental experiences. I understand why Dodge sold a bucket load of these.
My Charger has provided zero problems in 8+ years of ownership, and hopefully your 2023 model continues that trend…since Mopar had a further 9 years of production expertise under their belt since mine.
Best of luck, and please keep us all posted on your future experiences with the Challenger!
Thanks! It’s good to hear about your car’s reliability; I figured that these have been coming off the line almost unchanged for 15 years, so I’d hope they’d have the bugs worked out. With that being said, the windows froze the other day (ice) and I couldn’t shut the door all the way (they roll down a crack when you open the door). Without the door closed, the car won’t go into drive. So that will be a not-so-minor annoyance in the winter.
My experience so far with the 3.6 mirrors yours exactly. Off the line, there’s a second where it needs to catch up with the weight of the car, so to speak. But when it comes “on cam,” it’s got plenty of power; I can’t imagine a situation where I will wish I had one of the V8s, unless I’m in a car chase for some reason.
Glad someone mentioned the Challenger GT. Although the Chrysler V6 has something of an Achilles Heel (look up ‘Pentastar Tick’), the addition of AWD seems like the pinnacle of the four-season, daily-driver ponycar. It doesn’t hurt that an automatic is standard.
I would have went for a color a little less ‘high impact’ (do they still call that one Sublime?), but a recent V6 Challenger, whether AWD or not, is still a good choice for a CC enthusiast.
At least you can see out of it, unlike the last Camaro.
Ah, I didn’t realize the V-6s had that issue. The 5.7s also have their own “Hemi tick”. My Charger has it, but my wife’s 5.7 Grand Cherokee does not. I’ve heard various theories as to what causes it – everything from valvetrain chatter to MDS solenoids to fuel injector pulses. Several friends have had various 5.7-powered vehicles are run up well over 100k+ miles with the ticking sound and no issues. Hopefully mine falls into that same category!
The most ironic thing about the ‘Chrysler tick’ is there was actually a version of it way back in the day. There was a flap on one of the exhaust manifolds that was held by a spring. IIRC, it routed heat up via a tube to the air cleaner to heat the carburetor.
Well, the system was engineered poorly with a rather weak spring which would break in due course. With nothing to hold the flap (open or closed), it would bang (‘tick’) incessantly at idle.
My 300C with the 5.7 of the same vintage as your Charger, also has given me zero headaches over 9 years of service.
They seem to have been doing something right at the Brampton assembly plant, then and now.
Aaron, enjoy your Challenger!
Thank you! That’s good to hear another positive experience.
Congrats Aaron!! I’ve heard a lot of good things about the V6 and the Challenger. I get a new car every 10-13 years once the current ride hits 200k miles; just picked up my long-awaited Maverick hybrid in January and finally got to daily driving it last week. It’s a lot of fun having a new car and utilizing all the new tech/safety features. Many years of happy motoring!
Thank you! You’ll have to let us know how the new Maverick goes. I was waffling between the Hybrid and the Turbo before my plans went off the rails.
What’s not to like? A simple, affordable, practical, great car. People in the near future will wish they had an option like that.
All they will have is a disposable and expensive electric.
Honestly, that played into my decision too; cars like this seem destined to disappear within the next decade. Nothing against those who are going electric, it’s just not for me at this point in my life.
Congratulations!! Very sharp!
And I’m with you. I don’t go speeding around any more either.
Our set of vehicles are: 1976 Mark IV, 1978 Thunderbird Diamond Jubilee, 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis and a 2018 GMC!!
Finally, not sure if the V6 in your car is any relation to the one in my son’s 2013 Ram, but I can tell you he’s had very good service from his. He has 128,000 miles.
It should be the same V6 as your son’s truck. That’s good to hear that it’s been a good engine so far.
Congratulations on the new Challenger Aaron! It looks like a great daily driver to me, certainly a big improvement over the old Focus and better than your final four choices in my eyes. As much as it would be hard for me not to get a V8 (I have pretty much exclusively owned V8s throughout my life), it’s hard to argue with 28 MPG on the highway. That’s not far off what our what my wife’s former Outback used to get with it’s 2.5L 4-cylinder. I do remember shopping pony cars with my brother several years ago, and these Challengers were considerably larger than the Mustang and Camaros. They were closer in size to an old intermediate, making them a lot more practical.
When my wife and I went to Hawaii last year, I had reserved a Corolla for a rental. They were out of small cars I picked up the rental, and so they gave me a Charger R/T with a Hemi for the same price. Even though it used way more gas, that was a very fun car to drive. I had driven Hemi trucks, but these cars are much more enjoyable. I can see the appeal to those who want a muscle car but with modern conveniences and none of the idiosyncrasies on an old car. I have always wanted a sporty car like this for a daily driver, but my climate is considerably more harsh than yours. So I’d be limited to summer only driving. And if that was the case, I might as well get something older. I was considering a 94 Impala SS as a summer driver, which would be fun and family friendly.
Definitely get the rust proofing done if its an oil spray type. It has saved my cars over the years. I too recently went through replacing my daily driver, and the rust proofers was one of the first stops after I took ownership.
Thanks Vince! What did you decide on for your new car?
The local rustproofer uses an oil-based substance that apparently drips from the car for weeks, but they disassemble the interior and get inside the doors, the rockers, and the quarters. Apparently, they ask you to come in every few years to check for touch ups, but aside from the mess, I’ve heard great things.
It was my pickup I replaced and I didn’t stray too far from what I had. At this point, it meets my needs the best. I need to do a few write-ups and this is one on my list. This past year has a been a bit crazy, which is why i haven’t been on here as much, but I do hope to be back more soon.
That rustproofer sounds like they know what they are doing. I usually do my own touch-ups too between applications.
I never did make mention of the colour on your car too. I also joint the “like” camp. I like that is a real colour and not a shade of white/gray/black. That said, colour is usually the last thing on my list when I buy a car. I really don’t care much about the colour. In fact when my wife and I ordered her new Rav4 Hybrid a couple years ago, we both told the dealer we didn’t care on the colour, we will take the first one that was available. We got ours in 5 months, versus 1 year+ that many other’s were waiting on the same car. And of course it came in Metallic Gray!
Congrats on the new car! For so many reasons, this is absolutely a new car that I can approve of. In fact, I almost posited that when I drove one and wrote it up last year (same engine as yours, different color). Catching one of the last “regular” cars made in the US in its last year of production is something special indeed.
Oh, and I love the color. When I visited (frequently) the Dodge site reading about and building samples, and contemplating what it would be like to buy one of these, lime green and that purple color were my favorites.
Thanks! There were something like 15 colors offered in 2023, which is how it should be! There was a B5 Blue GT more local to me, but it was about three grand more and I like Sublime better.
. While I too would prefer 8 vs 6, that doesnt mean the 6 is bad! I had a 2016 Charger SXT V6I bought used with 20K miles and drove for anohter 210K. Maybe I was lucky but the repairs were minimal. When I sold it it was just as fast and smooth and still got ~30 31 MPG at 80 MPH ,and shifted perfectly. It was a little “creaky”/”shaky, but only a little as the suspension bushing were tired. Mine was rated at 292 HP but i never felt wanting power.
That will be a nice ride sir!
Thank you! I’m excited to hear that people have had good experiences and reliability out of these; I can’t imagine anything coming along that I’d like much better for a while (if ever).
My youngest son heartily approves of the color, it is (and always has been) his favorite hue as well.
And I congratulate you and approve of the car! I was somewhat surprised when I realized how many of these Dodge produced to tide them over this year when I mentioned it a while back, and glad to hear you took note and actually moved on it! I do not think there is a better overall value currently available if the car fits the bill, needs, and desires of a prospective owner.
I have to say I was quite smitten with the Challenger when I drove that Hellcat Redeye version a few years back. But also realized that two days with that particular car was just enough, it’s too overt a machine and engine for me to daily. The basic package is just as good in the regular trims as well though, and yours does go quite some way from just being “regular”, what with that color!
There are plenty of naysayers around in regard to modern MoPar in general, but I’ll say that our orange Jeep has been a marvelous vehicle overall providing more smiles than most other cars even when we subject it to long freeway drives, the PentaStar is a peach of an engine, the Chrysler 300C I had with the same basic chassis as your new car did not fail to deliver the goods, and another more recent offering I had for a while also didn’t fail to generally please. They are good and punch above their weight, especially for the investment. And the Challenger seems a FAR more livable car for day to day use than a Mustang or Camaro would be, in my own opinion of course, not that I particularly dislike those either, but the interior fit, finish, and materials alone are a cut above in the Dodge.
Enjoy it and congratulations again!
Thanks Jim, and thank you for putting the idea in my head. It’s actually a fairly practical car for a “sporty” car.
My kids call me an “influencer” 🙂 Yes, it’s more of a two door sedan really as compared to the others which is a good thing, sort of a modern version of how i considered my ’88 LeSabre T-Type. Plenty of room and presence, and surprisingly livable, sensible and easy to live with to boot. Same engine displacement too…
Best of luck Aaron! Beautiful automobile. Make mine a Hemi in Copper head pearl, making it look like a full size version of my 1970’s Hotwheel Sizzler Challenger I’ve had since new
Thanks! They do have a “Cinnamon” color that looks pretty close. 🙂
I’m a big fan of its exterior – don’t think that such cool cars will be available for long.
But the interior looks a bit sad and uninspired, if you ask me.
Congratulations! It’s funny when I was I high school and the original Challenger (and Cuda restyle) came out I wasn’t a fan. A blatant copy of the ‘69 Camaro. But the new version appeals, and if I still commuted and if I lived in snow country, a V6 AWD Challenger would have been on my short list of cars of interest. And I own three cars in boring muted colors but I love the lime.
Thank you! The AWD is a cool option, but I wanted less complexity (and the lower price). It will be like my younger days driving my dad’s hand me down T-Birds; I usually made it where I had to go, but I have no qualms about buying a set of winter tires for it if it’s a problem.
Love the color! There’s a good reason these have been so popular, including their taller height. Who wants to sit really low anymore?
The Challenger is going away, but it will be effectively replaced by a 2-door coupe version of the new Charger, available in either EV form factor or with two versions of the new Hurricane turbo six. That’s a smart move by Stellantis; pick and choose.
Image didn’t take the first time:
The styling is remarkably like the Australian VH Valiant Chargers/Pacers, and with the mandatory hot 6 as the gas offering I almost wonder if that was intentional.
The lack of V8 I’m not sure will be well received though. Horsepower isn’t everything
It will be interesting to see how the new Charger ages. I’m not the only one to feel that the new Challenger still looks good even after 15 years of continuous production. I think I actually like the four-door version of the new Charger better than the two door.
”window roll down a crack when you open the door” Did they keep the Mercedes over-engineered window gadget?
It’s definitely not a car for the frequent episodes of freezing ice that we have here, biz for a car made in Ontario. Should at least find a way to bypass the interlook with the drive position.
All of the ‘pony’ cars have that feature. I believe the BMW E31 introduced the design.
Love the car and the colour! I have a 21 Challenger SXT+ that I special ordered in Octane Red with the Ruby Red/Black interior. Life’s too short to drive boring, lookalike cars. Happy motoring!
Thanks! I like the red, as well. As I mentioned, there was a red T/A on my local lot for a while, but it was a little pricey. But I couldn’t get it out of my head for a month or two.
You’ve got a great looking car, Aaron! Congratulations on the new machine, and the color is beautiful.
Thank you!
Wow, I did not see this one coming! (Though in that color, it would be hard to miss. 🙂 ). I will confess that I am not a fan of the color, but that doesn’t matter – what matters is that you are, and it is great that so many color choices are being offered.
I had not realized what a bargain these are, if one keeps one’s head in making option choices. I always loved a big 2 door car, and now you have me wondering if something like this might not actually be a reasonable alternative to some other things I have been mulling over.
I could totally see you in one of these. But yes, not in lime. 🙂
There are a bunch for sale in a billion different colors, JP. Might as well go for it! It’s the most fun I’ve had with a not-old car so far.
+1 to both the car and the colour. I would have gone for the manual transmission but that’s just me.
I like the 3.6 in our Caravan, hopefully your transmission is better.
It’s a totally different (and better) 8-speed unit from the one in the FWD cars.
A couple reasons for the automatic: 1. My wife doesn’t drive a manual transmission and doesn’t want to learn. 2. The V6 only comes with the 8-speed.
It was always a little dumb that we own 10 cars and my wife didn’t have a backup to drive (she can drive the old automatic cars but gets nervous that something will happen).
Wait just a darn second! Is this #11? Huh? Didn’t you say you had 10 cars a few weeks back with me having 11 and I said catch up? So you caught up? Couldn’t pass up a challenge? However, a V6, which tells me you are a very reasonable and practical fellow at 28 mpg.
Funny as to how lime green doesn’t look the color of a lime. At least not the color of the limes I use to make my margaritas. Looks more like the color of the inside of the lime. As for me I think I would stick with the 1970 Ford color of Grabber Green.
There was another, similar ‘High Impact’ color that is often confused with the (in)famous Sublime/Limelight. It’s a slightly deeper shade of green known as Sassy Grass/Green Go. It’s a bit darker and more ‘green’ where Sublime is a bit more yellow. Typically, the difference between them can only be seen when the two colors are side-by-side.
Vehicle exterior color choice back then sure was a far cry from what it is today.
Ha ha, we’re still at 10 – I got rid of my Focus in exchange for the Challenger. Different strokes, I always preferred Grabber Lime to Grabber Green, although I like that color, too. Come to think of it, I also like Sassy Grass Green/Green Go.
Yeah, in the back of my mind I had a feeling the Focus went away. So for #11 might I suggest the car below. A 6 cylinder with excellent visibility all around. I am also sure it weighs less than the 4950 lb. Challenger. Almost 5000 lbs. you have to be kidding me.
It’s not 5000 lbs. I think the paperwork said it was something like 3700 lbs., probably closer to 3900 as it sits.
My mistake, GVWR.
Wow – completely unexpected! Great buy, and I totally get it, even though I’m not a bright-color guy.
I remember thinking that very same thing when I bought a new Crown Victoria in 2007. It’s satisfying when you can snag a “Last of the Breed” kind of car.
It is! I don’t know about the “Last Call” badge under the hood, but it’s nice that I got in under the wire. Normally, I don’t know if I’d like to buy a car that’s going out of production, but Challengers are different somehow.
You could also get a clear vinyl overlay on the front to protect car from rock chips.
Especially like the comment:
“They too must have decided that life’s too short to worry about saving your car for the future.”
I’m modifying my Mustang and driving autocross for 10+ years. I hear the comments “Oh, aren’t you afraid of damaging your car, that’s going to hurt its value.” No I’m not worried about it, a future owner can complain about it, I’m enjoying it.
I quickly looked into the clear overlay – they are quite expensive around here! I’ll have to do a bit more shopping; do you have one on your car? Does it affect the paint match between the bumper and fenders?
Aaron, I have the clear 3M overlay on both my daily drivers. On the Rav4, I had the dealer put it on when it was new. My truck had it done when it was new by an aftermarket company, they even did the lights and mirrors. Since I live on rural roads and near a major highway, our cars get pelted with sand and salt all winter. It really sandblasts the hood badly and the old bug deflectors didn’t work that great. The clear bra works wonders. The paint on both our vehicles has zero stone chips on the front. It is somewhat noticeable from the line on the hood, but not at all on the bumpers since they cover the them completely. There is no difference in the colour. The 3M stuff is supposed to be very resistant to fading or discolouring. I will be using it on every one of our daily drivers going forward.
Hey, congrats on buying the Challenger. One of my friends runs one in my autocross class, he was nipping at my heels all last season.
As far as the vinyl overlay goes, I would guess minimal difference. I’ve had it done on 3 cars, Vista Blue Mustang, Black GTI and White Cadillac ATS4. The white one is the only one that it was noticeable on. Am going to get it done on my F150 and my Boss 302, both are white.
Congrats on the new car, and on your color choice. It’s such a rare luxury to drive a car in a color that you actually like. We usually have to settle for what’s offered and is available on the lot. It used to be that old car guys would get their cars resprayed in the color of their choice, even if it wasn’t going to be a perfect job. Now repaints are considered to be something that is only worthy, if it costs over 10,000 dollars. A new, or nearly new car, is something that you can enjoy, and can give you that great feeling of freedom. I also believe in using your cars, I rode my beloved Sportster all the time, I’d just keep it repaired and detailed as needed. I had a co worker who was looking to buy a ’70’s Mopar muscle car, and struggled to find something that he could afford. I suggested, “Why don’t you just buy a new one, and start making your OWN memories!” Enjoy!
Thank you, and I totally agree. I barely considered another color as soon as I saw this one online. My daily drivers have mostly been blah colors such as black and silver for the reasons you’ve mentioned. This is so much better (to me).
Very nice! I’m a bit more partial to the darker sassy grass green I’ve seen on a very slight few Challengers but sublime is classic. I’d love a car like this as a daily.
Thanks! I haven’t seen many Sassy Grass Challengers either; they must be out there somewhere. I have a diecast ’70 T/A in that color that I like. 🙂
Funny enough I have a diecast AAR ‘Cuda in sublime!
Congratulations. other than the color I like it! I would not have been enthusiastic with your choice prior to renting a base Charger on vacation with two friends in Arkansas last summer – what a pleasant surprise. Even with the base 3.6 V6 performance was fine; the flawless 9-speed automatic shifted quickly and quietly. Gas mileage and handling were impressive for a large sedan. The ride quality was great and the car was tight and quiet with no rattles or squeaks. I hope your Challenger proves to be an excellent car as well.
Thank you! I knew the color would be polarizing, but I’m super happy with it.
My jaw dropped when I saw this post. A sublimely (heh) relevant contribution, especially to me.
My 68th birthday is this week, and I hope to be alive and kicking for a while yet. But I have some health problems that mean I can no longer look after older cars properly or do the physical tasks I used to.
Having given up my lovely Crown Vic wagon last year, I’m now considering parting with my faithful, long-serving Ford Transit Connect van. I still love its styling, visibility, headroom (!) and practicality, but I know my moving days are over, and the Transit is underpowered and not really fun to drive. And for a different kind of practicality, I have a Chevy Bolt I bought used last year. Great locally, but not really exciting, especially since it’s white (barf).
So a new or new-ish car for road trips was on my mind. I considered a Mazda CX-5 as the best-driving jacked-up wagon, but eventually realized that especially since this could be my last car purchase, I don’t want to go out driving a compromise mommy-mobile. Instead, rear-wheel drive would be nice. Something that can be fixed anywhere. No turbo. Preferably a 6. (I’ve owned 2-, 4-, and 8-cylinder cars, but never a 6.) Big enough to drive without fear, unlike my much-missed NA Miata and Fiat 500.
Add to this that I’ve always wanted a yellow or bright green car. Despite the factors I’ve already listed, I still didn’t realize that a Challenger or Charger might be the answer until I did an “all models” search on CarGurus specifying those two colors. When the Dodges came up, and were seemingly being discounted, I was hooked and have been thinking about one for weeks, despite the fact that insurance is steep, the image of these cars (or rather their drivers) is poor, and my wife would hate it. (None of these factors will stop me!)
I’m thinking Charger rather than Challenger because I’m still just practical enough to want easier access to the back seat for carrying stuff, and because I’m guessing that the blind spots are smaller. (The Challenger sure has the best styling, though.) Also, where I live sublime Chargers are easier to find than Challengers. With luck, I’ll be testing one in the next couple of days!
Good luck! One thing I noticed about the Challenger is that the blind spots are TERRIBLE, and there are no blind spot monitors in any way. I had to go back to the old time-honored trick of adjusting the side mirrors (which are HUGE) way out to the sides so I can see the lanes next to me.
Thanks! If I’m not mistaken Chargers and Challengers ARE available with blind-spot monitors, but only with high-end option suites that also include fripperies like alcantara seats and adaptive cruise that I have no intention of shelling out for.
I’d like a sunroof if it doesn’t steal too much headroom, but no other options.
It’s a shame, especially given that my $18K Bolt has blind spot monitors as well as a 360-degree camera, but c’est la vie!
I do recall that the blind spot monitoring package was available (something to consider adding as a retrofit some years down the road?). It would require parts and software activation. But that’s do-able and par for the course with modern cars (even those that look like retro cars 😉 ).
Nevertheless, I think that time-honored/old school trick of adjusting the mirrors is actually perfect for this car.
Looks a great CC choice, and if you like the colour (I guess you realise not everyone will) then even better. I’ve met people who don’t like Rosso Alfa, so there’s clearly no fixed rules.
I love the idea that the there were 4 very different answers (or at least 3) to the question “What car shall I buy next?” I’ve been there but next time I’m likely to be at The Decision Point I suspect I will not find 4 candidates and might be hard pushed to find one I really want. There is no compact Alfa hatchback anymore, just SUVs, and seemingly SUVs everywhere else too. The other compact hatches do not grab, with the possible exception of the Mazda3.
I totally understand…none of the other cars on my list really excited me all that much (aside from maybe the Mustang). I did sit in a Mazda 3 sedan, and I wasn’t that impressed with the headroom, although it did have a moonroof. The interior materials, on the other hand, seemed very nice. My brother-in-law has a Mazda CX-5 (I think the have the alphanumeric order right), and he really likes it.
What a pleasant surprise from one of CC’s certified old car guys! Your car equipped with the V6 is exactly as I would have it, except mine would be in electric blue rather than sublime…to each their own! I have rented many Challengers, Chargers and Chrysler 300s over the years and found the six to be a nearly perfect blend of strong performance, good mileage and balance. Yes, I’ve also driven (lower-powered) versions of the Hemi and it can be thrilling, but, like you, I am at that stage of life where the six is ideal for me.
Now you have me looking at the CJD websites to see what is still available out there. There is a lavishly equipped 300 with the V6 nearby that I may just have to go see in the next few days. Not that my wife would approve, but, you know, sometimes you gotta buy what you want.
Why not, William! As my mom said when I mentioned I was thinking of a Challenger (the whole process from looking to buying took about two days) – Do it! Life is short! Of course, she’s always been on my side, as moms should be. 🙂
Congratulations on your new Challenger, enjoy it!
I bought one new in 2010 and still have it. I had never owned a Chrysler product, and was a little wary of Chrysler quality when I bought it, but it has turned out to be one of the best cars I’ve ever had.
Kudos to Dodge for offering so many fun and interesting colors over the years. Refreshing these days. I always liked blue, so I went with what was called Deep Water Blue at the time.
For me, the Challenger is the perfect mix of performance, size, and styling, and I hope to keep mine for many more years. It’s been said Chrysler has been something of an automotive roller coaster, but they got these right. I hated to see production end.
Thank you! I’m glad I posted this; there is plenty of positive owner feedback in the comments.
Too funny. I remember signing on the dotted line for my 2014 Charger and feeling the exact same trepidation about Chrysler quality. My worries were unfounded, for just like your experience my Charger has turned out to be the best car I’ve ever owned. I’ve had zero problems and it’s still tight as a drum. Wish I could say the same for the ’07 Camry I previously owned…which for me did not live up to the hype, despite Toyota’s vaunted reputation for build quality and longevity.
The reality is that there is no other car line / series like the 300/Charger/Challenger that will give their owners as much fun WITH the likelihood of reaching 200k miles without much trouble…far better than any of the German stuff that falls completely apart after 100k, and much more fun than anything from Japan or Korea. I recently rented a Challenger and was surprised at its competence everywhere. Very few compromises, and likely to give a long and fruitful life to its owner.
Well said, Gene!
Aaron, the color is fantastic. You are obviously comfortable in your own skin, which is an admirable trait.
My wife’s brother has an AWD Challenger V6 and absolutely loves it. He also has a 2016-ish Camaro V6. He says the Challenger is a better car in every way, especially visibility.
May you have many years of carefree miles.
Thank you, Jason. I haven’t driven a Gen 6 Camaro, but I have driven a Gen 5. The visibility discussion is real. I thought about a Camaro last year, but I also thought of loading parts for the machine shop into its tiny trunk opening and changed my mind. 🙂
“My wife’s brother has an AWD Challenger V6 and absolutely loves it. He also has a 2016-ish Camaro V6. He says the Challenger is a better car in every way, especially visibility.”
Well, other than in handling and acceleration anyway. 🙂
I made a similar choice in December. It was the end of the line for the Camaro, too. And I got the “small” motor. The 2.0 turbo. Plenty of power. I guess the sporty coupe is a dying breed. But I do think that the change in the market is a bit like it was 50 years ago. When the muscle cars gave way to the malaise era. How often over the decades since have people alive then wished they had a Charger, Challenger, Mustang, Trans Am, etc.
Even now, those vehicles are not objectively better/faster/cleaner than most mainstream vehicles. Still, those who remember them miss them (at times). To be honest, my Camaro won’t be better/faster/cleaner than whatever is next–but for driving fun, it is hard to beat a convertible with a stick. And most people that see my big toy profess more admiration for it than most everything that sells well today.
So, here is to buying and driving something fun, and for people of a certain age, something fun that reminds them of the first cars they loved when coming of age.
Cool Camaro! As I said above, I considered a Camaro about a year ago (several times over the last several years actually), and I would have chosen the turbo. My parents drive an Ecoboost Mustang and it has a ton of power and gets great mileage too. Kind of a no-brainer if you don’t need a V8.
Welcome to the club, Aaron! It took me 50+ years to achieve my goal of owning a new Challenger, starting from that fateful day in 1970 when a budding 5-year-old Mopar fanatic (me) was wandering around the showroom of a Dodge dealership in Aberdeen, Washington while Dad was locked in mortal-saleman-combat buying a 1970 Coronet wagon. I spied a new Challenger on the floor, my jaw dropped, and I vowed that I was going to buy a new Challenger one day. I may have left that Dodge dealership with a Dodge Safety Sherriff badge in 1970, but my lot in life substantially improved in March 2021 (this time from a Dodge dealer in Puyallup, Washington) when I rolled off the lot in a late-2020 production Challenger GT (rwd) in IndiGo Blue.
The dealer was offering quite a discount this Challenger. With the rebates, trad -in of my paid-off Renegade (same color as your Challenger), and some cash down, I drove off the lot with a grin on my face (*luckily, this was about one day before the entire world shut down due to Covid. Talk about coming in under the wire.
Mine has the Blacktop package, also. I think it should’ve been standard. The one advantage the GT (rwd) has over the SXT mechanically is that the GT has a 3:08 rear gear. With the lower gearing ,my Challenger loves to lay a patch without even trying hard. (plus-since the GT has V-rated tires, the top speed limiter of 130 mph does not apply anymore-not that I’ve tried it…..yet). I also enjoy how the Torqueflite 8 bangs off the shifts in Sport Mode!
The 3.6/8-speed combo is the modern successor to the old 340. The Pentastar does punch well above its weight class. It seems to have the same upper rpm pull that the 340 had.
As you’ve probably noticed the gas mileage is phenomenal. Mine has hit 32 mpg on a 70 mph cruise on occasion. It is a great combo!
Have fun with yours! Enjoy the hell out of it. I thoroughly enjoy mine! It is my daily driver, too.
Thanks Dave! They must have made an equipment change over the last couple years, because my window sticker says that mine has a 3.07 axle ratio. I did try Sport mode after my drive home – it’s perfect. 🙂
Congratulations on the new ride! I LOVE the color! And don’t worry about it being a V6, that’s still plenty of engine. I had been wanting a Dodge Charger for years, and I’m sure I would have been plenty happy with the V6 version. But, one of my friends would always joke that if I bought one with a V6 he’d say “So Miss Hathaway, how do the other gals in the secretarial pool like it?” (A Beverly Hillbillies reference).
Anyway, in September of last year, I bought one, and sprung for the V8. Not because of my friend’s comment, but I figured hell, I don’t drive that much, at my age the insurance isn’t all that much more, and I’ve only bought two new cars in my life, so it’s not like it’s going to bankrupt me! I was thinking about a green one, but then a B5 Blue one caught my eye.
Good luck with yours; hope it gives you man years of driving pleasure! BTW, here’s a pic, of the oldest and newest in my fleet, face-to-face…
That is a cool picture; as great as the Charger is, I can’t help it that my eye is drawn back to the DeSoto. Try as one might, the “old car guy” part of me remains. The Beverly Hillbillies reference is hilarious. Luckily (or unluckily?), the guys I socialize with are the type who asked what kind of car it is. It takes a little of the fun out of showing everybody, which is why I enjoy sharing here!
Aaron65,
Late to the party but I want to wish you the best of luck and many trouble free miles with your Challenger. I too have a Challenger with the V6. It’s a “Blackout” package 2018 in black that I bought in the fall of 2022. It replaced a 2013 Ford Mustang, also with a V6.
I like to think of the V6 in each car as the spiritual successor of the small block V8s Ford and Chrysler offered in the 1960s/70s, like the 289 or 340. 300 HP is no mean feat given Chrysler “factory” number for a 340 Six Pak in the 1970 Challenger is 290 HP.
I prefer the Challenger to the Mustang as it’s a larger car, which means there’s more room in the interior and a trunk that can hold more than groceries. It’s a more comfortable riding car as well. At least with each car, I scratched the itch to own a classic Mustang or MOPAR.
Again, enjoy your new car and many happy miles.
Thank you! That’s funny, we now have the Challenger and a 2012 Mustang V6 as our daily drivers. From a seat-of-the-pants perspective, I’d say they accelerate similarly; the Challenger is heavier but seems to have better gearing.
Congrats on your new purchase Aaron! While I’ve never been a Mopar guy, I’ve always had a soft spot for these. And yes, while everyone loves that V8 burble, how much power do you really need? As you know, I personally am very happy with only a V6 in my Mustang.
Ford should’ve kept the V6 option, IMHO.
As to the color… I LOVE IT!!! But like you’re wife, my own does not like that color either. When I was shopping for my Civic, one of the Coupe Only colors in 2016 was a lime green similar to this or the Grabber Green from Ford. (Honda’s may’ve been a tad more yellow.) Here exact words as I looked over the Civic on the lot was, “Don’t even think about it!”, when I looked at the window sticker of an “Energy Green” example.
That V6 in your new car is awesome. I rented a Charger back in 2015 with the 292HP example, and more recently a Chrysler 300 with that V6. It was plenty of power for this old man! I found its torque more that acceptable.
For me, if I had a fantasy garage, my own Challenger would be a Plum Crazy example. That color is quite popular here in the Baltimore area because of our NFL team the Baltimore Ravens. Personally though, I think that Plum Crazy looks more like the purple of the Minnesota Vikings than out team’s purple.
Something is out of whack with the edit function here. Let me rephrase that last sentence of the second paragraph regarding my wife’s feelings about that color:
Her exact words as I looked over the Civics on the lot were, “Don’t even think about it!”, when I looked at the window sticker of an “Energy Green” example.
Not sure if this problem is on my end or with Akismet, but it is frustrating when I can’t edit my typos.
Thanks Rick! Having had the opportunity to drive both a 3.7 Mustang (my wife’s) and an Ecoboost Mustang (my parents’), I’d say I actually prefer the turbo. It’s torquier down low (although it doesn’t really like to rev like the V6), and it even seems smoother. Plus, it gets better mileage. Regarding Plum Crazy, that was one of the colors they offered in 2023; I saw a few while I was looking for mine online.