Wow....... let me start by saying this is absolutely the BEST group of people on the whole internet. I could never stay away from this site for too long, hell, some of you seem like family to me! I've had 2 days in the Chally so far and the thing I miss most isn't the car as much as it is the awesome people who make up this forum! You guys totally rock!!!
Having said that, I suppose I should explain further why the car change. There's many reasons, I'm sure most of you can identify with at least a few. A lot of the smaller things are made up of those things that sit in the back of your mind and slowly creep up once in a while. The 3 biggest reasons are (in no particular order):
1. Warranty expires in a few hundred miles. Not a big issue for many of you, but mine's a daily driver in Michigan (better roads can be found in Baghdad), and I drive a LOT for my job. I haven't been exactly gentle with my car, but I haven't beat on it either. With the price of parts and service, not to mention that a clutch is probably in the near future, it just seemed like a good idea.
2. I'm absolutely sick and tired of buying wheels for that damn car!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty sure I've had to replace all 4 wheels every year I've had it. That's not tires......... WHEELS! If none of you have ever had the pleasure of driving your car on destroyed roads I suggest you price out a new wheel for your car, much less ALL 4!
3. I suppose after 11 months of dating my girlfriend is getting pretty anxious for some sort of proposal. I really don't see trying to stuff 12, 9, and 7 year old kids in the trunk as a viable option.
Honestly, if it was financially viable, I'd have kept the car in a heartbeat. It truly is the best car I've ever owned! Not too many cars can lay claim to 80,000 miles without ANY type of mechanical problem.....my Crossfire certainly did.
Now on to the new....the Challenger. I ended up with a metallic black R/T with the 5.7l automatic. I can tell you that it certainly moves..... I've only turned traction control off one time...... I turned it right back on! I'll post pictures sometime soon...... I'm still having too much fun driving it.
As far as comparisons go, I'll do my best to try to sum up the differences......
INTERIOR~ For my 6'4" frame, the Challenger is a much better fit. Plenty of leg and head room without the feeling of being cramped, something I always felt in the Cross, just never was particularly concerned about. I think the biggest benefit other than the space is the 2 LIGHTED CUPHOLDERS!
EXTERIOR~ This works out to be a wash. Much like the Crossfire, people either love or hate the Challenger. Personally, I think they are both awesome looking cars.
MECHANICAL~ Here's where things get good. The Crossfire was much more nimble feeling wheras the Chally is more "lumbering" if you get what I mean. On the flip side of that coin the Challenger is wayyyyy more comfortable just cruising down the road... I could feel if I ran over an earthworm in the Crossfire. The brakes take a little longer to stop the car, much to be expected when you're trying to haul to a stop an extra 1000 pounds. They are not bad by any means....... I'm just not going to out-brake a Crossfire. The acceleration...... no comparison! Unlike the Crossfire, the Challenger actually has a useful traction control system. In the Cross, whenever the car felt wheelspin it shut everything off and bogged down bad. In the Chally, you stomp on it and you just GO with the sound of a hundred little wheel "chirps". If you turn off the TCS in the Challenger it just proves that you hate Goodyear's! There's about 100' of Goodyear sitting in the work parking lot right now.
In the end, I got another awesome car, with a warranty, MUCH cheaper parts, and a HUGE aftermarket. Right now I really couldn't be happier. I can only hope that someday I can knock the Crossfire down to the SECOND best car I've ever owned.
JHM2K..... you're right..... I do have a SRT8. I bought that car as a long term investment. It's one of the first 100 serial numbered SRT8 Challengers. It has been sitting in storage up north and DEFINITELY is not a daily driver. There's actually less than 800 miles on it. The way I see it, in 25 years I'll either have a good investment, or a really cool old car with low miles.
Rob........ The car went to Golling on Telegraph @ Square Lake. Definitely let me know when the next track day is! I might be able to convince a buddy with a new Camaro to show up and bring his friend with a new Mustang 5.0.
J-Marc... you are just jealous because I have a more proper machine for going "slideways" in front of the cops!
Besides..... now on drag race days it's an even fight.... automatic vs. automatic!
Again, you guys are the BEST! I promise I won't be a stranger around here. There's no way I could stay away for too long. You'll still see me around. Heck......maybe I'll even find another good avatar to put up on here!
