New Car Maybe

[rszappa1]

As you may or may not know I have a 2007 Accord se with the 4. It has 173,000 on it and it is in great shape with now current issues or as a matter of fact none in the past. I have been thinking about a new car.. I am 58 and will probably get another accord or maybe a civic... But I have been interested in the 2012 Dodge Challenger SXT with the 3.6 six in it. I know that it is not a Honda and will not be as trouble free as this car was and is but does anyone out there have any opinions on the Challenger or know someone with one and how they are holding up. It is a sharp car and I did grow up when they were around the first time... but was just a few years to young to get one....actually I would have got the Cuda over the Challenger. Any comments?????

[ElectricFuzz]

I don't have any personal experience with the Challenger or Dodge in general, but I do have a friend who had a 2007 or 2008 Charger (with the old 3.5) with numerous problems. He traded it in for a 2011 Charger (with the new 3.6) and so far it's been problem-free. But it is only a year old.

My only comment is to at least go for the R/T if you're buying a Challenger. The R/T has the 5.7, stickers at $30K, and gets only slightly worse gas mileage than the 3.6. The Challenger is a heavy car (at almost 2 tons) so you would want the extra torque that the R/T has.

You could also think of it as a better deal than the SRT8.

[Mitchell]

My dad actually has a 2012 Challenger SXT (3.6 V6) and I have been driving it for the last week due to my parents being away on vacation. I like the car, but its not like my Accord. One thing everyone almost instantly notices when they drive it is that it has terrible blind spots. The side pillar thing near the back window makes it difficult to check your blind spots.
I tell people that his car itself has 3 'forms' of transmissions even though I know it really only has one - automatic, but it also has the +/- as well as +/- padels on the steering wheel. I myself only put it in drive since I dont know when to downshift (I don't know how to drive manual so I dont know shifting points with the RPM). One thing I've noticed (and the reason I say its not like my Accord) is that it shifts really weird, almost like it hard shifts into gear. Maybe thats just due to the design of the transmission, or maybe cause I'm use to driving my car so much that all other cars feel weird in that sense. Something else I dont exactly care for is that the car is a drivers car, meaning that it can be very tight in the back seat. I went with them from Toronto to Grove City PA and rode in the back seat, getting out was like getting on land after being stranded at sea for months. Fuel, expect to pay 80 dollars a tank.

Enough with the negatives though, time for some positives. The car is painted "Redline" (which will cost extra, or atleast did when he got it). I like all the colors they offer with the exception of silver, because I see a TON of Dodge vehicles in silver. The exhaust sounds deep and its the stock exhaust. It's no R/T or SRT8 but it still has a deep tone for a V6. When it comes to power the V6 puts out 305 stock, which beats my 160 Accord ten fold. Even though it compares to a Camero, I don't see Challenger's nearly as much as I see Camero's (Maybe because I live one town over from the GM plant, where the Camero's are made). The car gets alot of looks, and people always ask me about it - so its nice if you can appreciate that kind of thing. The car has many options, many that my dad upgraded to (paint, rims, push button start - all nice stuff but not a deal breaker for me).

All in all, I would say test drive, weigh out your options and if a 2 door can work for your lifestyle, and you can afford the car then why not? If I were going to but a new car, after driving my dad's car, I wouldn't get a Challenger, but thats purely because I like the import scene vs American muscle (or most domestics for that matter, lol)

[rszappa1]

Thanks for the post. That is the same model that I am looking at. I have seen a lot of talk about the blind spots but as a person who grew up in the muscle era I remember the back and side blind spots of the Cuda and the 1968 Charger that I owned back then. My biggest worry is the quality down the road. Honda has spolied me at 173,000 on mine and all is well. I owned other Mopars in the past and they were good cars but did have issues from time to time. Dont really want to spend a lot of time at the dealer getting stuff fixed. I also have been eying a 2012 red Accord coupe with a 4. That is a nice looking car. I will be going to the Dodge dealer on Tuesday to test drive the Challenger. Thanks again for the post... How old is your dad???

[ikethegreat]

My parents own a '09 Charger with 40k miles and they haven't had any major issues with it. Although the build quality surely isn't the same as my Accord. The doors squeak when you open them and the windows make a horrible scraping sound when you open or close them. While driving it I noticed the V6 lacks power. I was surprised how my Accord's V6 felt noticeably more powerful. The charger isn't a bad car, but it also isn't a car I'd want to own.

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by rszappa1

Thanks for the post. That is the same model that I am looking at. I have seen a lot of talk about the blind spots but as a person who grew up in the muscle era I remember the back and side blind spots of the Cuda and the 1968 Charger that I owned back then. My biggest worry is the quality down the road. Honda has spolied me at 173,000 on mine and all is well. I owned other Mopars in the past and they were good cars but did have issues from time to time. Dont really want to spend a lot of time at the dealer getting stuff fixed. I also have been eying a 2012 red Accord coupe with a 4. That is a nice looking car. I will be going to the Dodge dealer on Tuesday to test drive the Challenger. Thanks again for the post... How old is your dad???

My dad is 56, I keep telling him its a midlife crisses and he tells me "Its just a car, doesnt matter what kind I drive". I really like the Accord coupe but I would probably get it with a V6 if I were to get it. Then again for an EX-L Coupe V6 in Ontario its sticker price is 35,500 on the Honda website

[HADriver06]

Any updates? Have you made a decision yet?

If your Accord has been so trouble-free for you, why not go with the '12 Accord you mentioned?

Personally, I would also consider waiting a bit longer and check out the 9th gen or the upcoming Mazda6. They should be pretty trouble-free like your current car is while giving you the refreshened look you need from a new car!

[rszappa1]

Took out a challenger on Monday and it was ok. The quality is just not there. I love the car style but in the long term it will not be as good as the Honda. In the next few days I am going to look at a 2012 Honda Accord coupe.... Red with a black interior. Looks sharp and it has the same 4 as my 07 Accord.... a very good engine. I only with that Chrysler was a better built car but it is not. They come out with new good looking body styles but underneath they are parts bin technology... They say that buety is skin deep... That is Chrysler and Dodge. I really dont like the 2013 Accords in the pictures I have seen.... But would like to see one in person....

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by rszappa1

Took out a challenger on Monday and it was ok. The quality is just not there. I love the car style but in the long term it will not be as good as the Honda. In the next few days I am going to look at a 2012 Honda Accord coupe.... Red with a black interior. Looks sharp and it has the same 4 as my 07 Accord.... a very good engine. I only with that Chrysler was a better built car but it is not. They come out with new good looking body styles but underneath they are parts bin technology... They say that buety is skin deep... That is Chrysler and Dodge. I really dont like the 2013 Accords in the pictures I have seen.... But would like to see one in person....

You can probably get a 2012 Accord Coupe for cheaper when the 2013's become available. They will want to clear our 'old' inventory.

[Dreamacre]

For the price of a new Challenger, you could probably get a rebuilt original one, and re live your younger years. Plus, you would have a collectors car, to boot!!

[rszappa1]

Looked on some Dodge Challeneger forum sits and they seem to be having a lot of issues with the 3.6 engine and overall quality issues... Nice car but off my list..