2011 Challenger Specs

The 2011 Dodge Challenger will be adding a little more power to it's SRT8 model. Horsepower and torque are increasing to 475 hp and 460 lb-ft.

Here is a quick rundown of a few changes coming to the R/T and the SRT8.

INSANE Moped Stunt

Big props to the guy for creating a moped on steriods, but I don't know how safe I would feel cruising that down the interstate. Well actually I do, and that would be not safe at all.

2010 Dodge Charger R/T: Ridelust.com Review

2010 Dodge Charger R/T: RideLust Review

Thumbs Up: What’s not to like about a big American sedan with a Hemi V8, especially one with reasonable fuel economy?

Thumbs Down: Interior design hasn’t aged as well as the exterior.

Buy This Car If: You want a RWD American sedan and can find one; Charger R/Ts are now limited to existing dealer inventory and fleet sales until the new model is released.

There are things in life that, as a man, you just inherently understand. Maybe it’s how to use a torque wrench, or hunt with a bow and arrow, or properly grip a Colt Model 1911 to prevent hammer bite. Almost certainly, it’s that the combination of a big motor in a roomy American sedan makes for serious entertainment behind the wheel. While not ideal for strafing canyons or lapping a tight road course, the Charger just feels right when the light goes green and you drop the hammer, accompanied by the primordial growl of an angry Hemi V8. These are the among things that make civilized life worth living for those of us with a Y chromosome.
The current Dodge Charger has been around since 2005, and in a lot of positive ways it seems like even longer than that. Their design is classic, and has managed to stay contemporary when so many other sedans have begun to look dated. Chargers have become a staple of law enforcement and rental car fleets, so you tend to see them everywhere (and not always under the best of circumstances). Based on Chrylser’s LX platform (shared with the Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Challenger), the new Charger replaced the utterly forgettable Dodge Intrepid in Chrysler’s lineup. It’s also a reminder of happier times with then-parent Daimler; the Charger uses suspension components borrowed from earlier Mercedes E and S class sedans, as well as a Mercedes sourced five speed automatic transmission. It’s available in a mind boggling array of versions, including four motor options and two drivetrain options. Let’s make things simple, though: the base and mid level Chargers, equipped with anemic motors producing 178 horsepower (from the 2.7 liter V6) and 250 horsepower (from the 3.5 liter V6), can be overlooked. If you’re shopping for a Charger, it comes down to this: do you want rear wheel drive or all wheel drive, and which Hemi motor do you want? If 368 horsepower in stock trim is good enough for you, then it’s the Charger R/T you need. If you require 425 ponies from your Hemi, then you’ll need to check the box by the Charger SRT8.

The tester I drove was painted in Dodge’s optional TorRed, which is as subtle as lighting your barbecue grill with a napalm-fueled airstrike. It’s bright, really bright, and guaranteed to draw attention to you and your car. In the case of the Charger R/T, this isn’t necessarily a good thing unless you can keep your foot from mashing the fun pedal with too much enthusiasm. The Charger R/T is an easy car to drive fast, especially in a straight line. My tester came with the Customer Preferred Package 29R, which included 20” wheels and tires, the upgraded stereo with Boston Acoustics speakers, R/T badging and trim, performance seating, performance steering and performance suspension. The Super Track Pack option added summer only performance tires, a 3.06 axle ratio, heavy duty four wheel disc brakes (with ABS, of course) and an even stiffer suspension. The tester also had the sunroof, HID headlights and nav system options, so it was very well equipped. The sticker price was five dollars shy of $40,000.

The Charger R/T surprised me in a few areas. First, the suspension was necessarily stiff, but not punishing. Make no mistake about it: you will feel it when you go over a set of railroad tracks or drive a particularly bumpy road. Still, the ride quality was never unpleasant, even after spending a few hours behind the wheel. I wouldn’t call the Charger R/T a good choice for track days (the steering is a bit vague and it’s got quite a bit of mass to accelerate, turn and stop), but it will suffer the occasional high performance driving event in a manner competitive with other cars of its size. Kudos to Dodge for a job well done on both ride comfort and handling, and lets hope the new Charger raises the bar even more (and improves steering feel).

My next surprise was fuel mileage. I’m a “spirited” driver, who doesn’t hesitate to accelerate briskly when pulling on the highway or leaving a red light. In a reasonable mix of city and highway driving, the Charger R/T got 19.9 miles per gallon; while this isn’t going to garner any praise from the Greens, it did impress me, given how often the accelerator met the firewall. It’s not unreasonable to expect 22 mpg combined if you drive in a more sedate manner. How does the Charger achieve such reasonable mileage? Via Chrysler’s “Multi Displacement System”, which shuts off the fuel to four of eight cylinders when power isn’t needed. The system worked flawlessly, and you could only tell it was active by the “Eco” message on the Charger’s information system display.

The Charger R/T’s interior was comfortable enough, but it isn’t aging gracefully. There’s a huge expanse of plastic up front, due in part to the Charger’s steeply raked windshield. Dash materials that may have looked contemporary in 2005 now just look downscale, especially the hard plastic surrounding the instruments. Brushed aluminum trim helps to add visual appeal, but new materials for the dash and instruments will go a long way towards giving a more contemporary feel. The seats were comfortable and supportive (even for spirited driving), but I’d suggest that Dodge continue the suede inserts to the bottom edge of the seat. The current seat’s leather panel had a nasty tendency to stick to flesh if the driver or passenger was wearing shorts, a common occurrence in Florida. There’s a lot of glass in this car, so if you live in a hot climate, window tinting will be a necessity, not a luxury.

Dodge claims 0 to 60 times of just under 6 seconds for the variable valve timing equipped 5.7 liter Hemi motor, and I see no reason to disagree. Quiet at idle, the V8 emits a satisfying growl if you put your foot to the floorboard. All speed traction control comes standard, but can be disabled if the driver decides to shed some unwanted pounds of tread from the rear tires. You can’t own a car like this without doing the occasional burnout.

How would I spec out a Charger R/T if I was shopping for one? First, it would have to be black (at least until they invent a darker color), because you’d be amazed at how many drivers graciously yield the left lane when a black Charger tucks in behind them. It would have to have the 29R Option Package for the sport seats, steering and suspension alone, and the Super Track Pak option is another must-have for the upgraded brakes and buttoned-down suspension. I’d skip the sunroof, HID lights and nav system, which would put me out the door at a sticker price of $37,185.00, on par with the new Taurus SHO (which has AWD, but only comes in V6 EcoBoost flavor). Given the recent demise of the Pontiac G8, the Charger and Chrysler 300 soldier on as the last remaining full size, RWD American V8 sedan with sporting intentions. Sure, there’s the Cadillac STS, but you can buy two Chargers for the price of the Caddy. If Chrysler addresses the (minor) flaws in the current car, they’re sure to have another winner on their hands when the 2011 Charger hits the road. I can’t wait to drive it.

Impact: Women's Influence on the Future of the Market

"Influence: How Women's Soaring Economic Power Will Change the World for the Better," is a book by Maddy Dychtwald that will hit shelves next month. In the book Dychtwald talks about women's economic emergence and effect they have on the current and future marketplace.



One chapter, that is of great interest to me, is on how women are shaping the automotive industry. Women purchase 52% of automobiles purchased in the United States and influence a staggering 85% of all sales. If that sounds like a huge number that's because it is. Those numbers place women in at least some if not all control over $80 billion dollars in spending on cars. Now that is buying power.



Unfortunately in a male dominated industry many dealers are missing the opportunity to connect with female buyers. Jody DeVere, president and CEO of Ask Patty, a site of women car experts that give automotive advice to other women, said "Men and women communicate differently and can misunderstand cues and signals," adding, "Men need to learn how to listen, and why. It makes women trust you and creates a relationship."

Until more women begin entering the industry, and some manufacturers are trying to promote it, the men need to start taking notice and making changes to how they take care of their female consumers.

With few dealerships and others in the industry slow to change Marti Barletta, president and CEO of The Trendsight Group, put it best, saying "When your starting at zero, doing even a little to appeal ao women in general can make a huge impact. The first 20 percent of your effort will get you 80 percent of your value. Most companies are not even in the beginning of the curve."

Four-door Fiat 500 to Round Out American 500 Family

Fiat is rumored to be working on a new four-door 500 sub-compact. The 500 Multipla will complete Fiat's offerings to the American market. European markets are schedule to get the four-door 500s in 2011. Of course in Europe the Multipla will be classified as a small minivan. I wonder if that would make it a mini-minivan?

Chrysler had recently placed a 500 in front of a Italian Boutique in one Detroit suburb. They then recorded some video as passers by clicked photos of the 500 and took the time to check it out. However the video has been recently removed for view by Chrysler.

The question that will remain unanswered for some time is the reception the 500 line-up will receive here in the states. Will the American public, use to having lager vehicles, embrace the smaller more fuel efficient 500s?

Queensland, Australia PD Plan foiled by Drivers

A facebook group popped up earlier this month by the name, Police Cars, Gotta catch'em all. The Queensland, Australia police department were trying to take covert ops to the level by deploying hidden speed cameras and increasing the amount of unmarked police cruisers with automated enforcement devices.

One thing I found amusing was the fact that the police department or other officials in Queensland were referring to the unmarked cars as "Q-Cars". This is a reference to the the heavily armed merchant ships, "Q-Ships", that were used to lure German U-boats to the surface so they could be destroyed. So are the Q-Cars destroying the bad driving habits of local drivers Queensland?

Members of the facebook group have been taking photos of the unmarked cars as they see them and posting the pictures to the page along with the location they were found in. Police officers have also been spotted by members of the group driving vehicles with bumper stickers and student driver emblems. Law enforcement is getting sneaky.

Here's a link to some of the pictures that have been taken and posted thus far. Unmarked Cars

2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara - Ridelust.com review

2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara: RideLust Review
Posted in: 4x4, Car Buying, Chrysler, General, Jeep, RideLust Review by Kurt · Leave a reply



Thumbs Up: You’ll run out of nerve before the 2010 Jeep Wrangler runs out of capability.

Thumbs Down: Optioned out, they can get expensive quickly.

Buy This Car If: You want to go off-roading top down, you appreciate a ride with personality and you want an SUV that can be uniquely your own.

At first, I just didn’t understand the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara’s appeal. It had too many compromises for my practical sensibility: it’s got four seats, but getting into or out of the back with the hard top on requires some agility. Rear seat in place, you won’t be carrying much luggage in the rear hatch. The venerable 3.8 liter V6 motor is hardly state of the art, and fuel mileage isn’t great partially because it’s mated to a four speed automatic transmission. Supremely capable off-road, it’s on-road ride comfort isn’t what most drivers are used to. The icing on the cake for me was the window sticker; as equipped, this 2010 Sahara Edition Jeep Wrangler had a $31,190.00 price tag. Sure it’s got a good nav system and a decent stereo, but that’s a big check to be writing for a daily driver with more than a few quirks.

After a few days behind the wheel, I began to get it: very few people buy a Jeep Wrangler for its practicality, and most Wrangler buyers could care less about ride comfort. Like Harley Davidson motorcycles (another iconic brand), Jeep Wranglers are generally bought for entertainment, or in recognition of their astonishing heritage. If you need passenger and cargo room with go-anywhere capability, you buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you want top down, off-road fun, you buy a Wrangler. In fact, the Jeep Wrangler is the last of the convertible SUVs, which should make your new car shopping list that much shorter.

It didn’t take long for the Wrangler to win me over, once I figured out the secret. Is it crude? Sure it is, but that’s part of the Wrangler’s personality, part of its appeal. You get the sense that, should something break on the Jeep, it could be fixed trail-side with a bit of JB Weld, some Gorilla Tape and a multitool. If you don’t like any one thing about the Wrangler, there’s an aftermarket company that sells just what you’re looking for to address it. In reality, the Jeep is a blank canvas, just waiting for an owner to personalize it. Besides, the Wrangler has more history behind the marque than any other vehicle still in production.

Rear seat in place limits cargo room, but...

Folding the rear seat forward gives you more than 2x the space
So what about the motor? Jeep Wranglers now use a 3.8 liter V6 that’s been in the Chrysler parts bin for a while. In stock form, it makes 205 horsepower and 240 ft-lbs of torque, which is fine for most owners and good enough to get you from zero to sixty in under ten seconds. If you want more grunt from your Jeep, the Wrangler responds really well to intake and exhaust system upgrades, which won’t break the bank. Personally, I’d really like a diesel or turbo diesel motor option, such as the new 2.5 liter Delta motor from Fiat. Hint, hint, Chrysler.

Chrysler's 3.8 liter V6 replaced the old inline six in 2007
I put around two hundred miles on the Wrangler, and it was plenty comfortable for multi-hour driving. The hardtop sealed well and made highway driving more enjoyable; if you live in a cold climate, or regularly park your Jeep outside overnight, the $1,625.00 hard top is a must-have option. Driver and passenger seats are supportive, but would benefit from additional lumbar support and a little more side bolstering. I much prefer cloth seats over leather, especially in a truck that’s going to get dirty, and the Jeep’s were nicely finished in a two tone, stain resistant fabric. The in-dash nav system was fairly intuitive, and the seven speaker Infinity sound system was far better than I expected.

What impressed me the most was the overall improvement in build quality. I’ve driven pre-JK series Jeeps, and was always less than impressed with how well they were put together. Even new ones squeaked and rattled off a dealer’s lot like a chorus of chipmunks on speed. Not so with the new Wranglers; their build quality is rock solid, and the Sahara never had a squeak or rattle, even over rough pavement. The dash and surround is multi-textured hard plastic, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s easy to clean and visually more appealing than acres of solid plastic or cheesy faux woodgrain. Instruments are clear and well laid out, with the space between the speedometer and tach reserved for warning lights. The trip computer in this Sahara version gave me a readout on miles traveled, time elapsed, MPG since reset, direction traveled and outside temperature.

I averaged 20.6 miles per gallon in a mix of city, highway, 2wd and 4wd driving, far better than the EPA estimate of 17 mpg combined. As you would expect from a vehicle with a short wheelbase and a high center of gravity, it can feel twitchy over uneven pavement (or in crosswinds) until you get used to the handling. The ride certainly isn’t car-like, but it’s not unpleasant, either.

On sunny days when you want to drop the top and head for the beach or the trails, there is no substitute for a Jeep Wrangler. The Wrangler will get you anywhere you need to go, limited only by your off-road driving skills and sense of self-preservation. It’s easy to drive in the loose stuff, and even the stock tires give a decent amount of grip in sand. Surprisingly, they weren’t noisy on the highway, either.


This is why people buy Wranglers. You won't get this view from a 911 GT3.
The 2010 Sahara is as luxurious as you can order a Wrangler, and features color matched fenders, two toned seats, height adjustable driver’s seat, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, an alarm system, a seven speaker sound system with subwoofer, Sirius satellite radio, traction control and 18” wheels. All Wranglers now get four wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability control with rollover sensor and hill start assist. They’ve earned a five star rating for frontal impact protection.

So in the end, I came to terms with the 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. I’m not ready to go out and buy one just yet (although my wife is damn close), but I have to say I was more impressed with it than I expected to be. Personally, I’d opt for a less equipped model with the six speed transmission and the hard top, and I’d be ordering parts from the aftermarket as soon as I got back from the dealer (because I can’t stand a blank canvas). If Chrysler drops in a diesel motor, I’d be hard pressed to ignore the Wrangler much longer.