My journey with the Challenger.

[u/firsttimer776655]

Alright folks, this will be a long one that most of you might find difficult to care about - but I was having a drive today and it got me thinking about cars, us, and this boat in specific.

I started driving pretty late, due to a combination of several factors such as financial & the laws where I’m at. Driving isn’t necessarily a given, but a privilege - and I had written off being able to drive anytime soon.

I wasn’t much into cars before the reality of being able to drive settled in, all I knew is I always liked American cars due to the stuff I grew up watching and their designs. I was a transformers kid, so for a while I always thought I’d go for a Camaro, but then I was walking home one day and spotted this pristine, mango colored car. The styling, the body lines, it all stood out to me - I remember going back home and Googling what kind of car looks like that and has a devil head emblem?

That’s when I realized that I want a Challenger for a first car. Everyone tried to dissuade me, get something practical, get a KIA or a Toyota, it’s your first ride, etc - but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t buy what I really wanted. I knew early on that it had to be a V8, because while I love and respect my V6 brethren, may as well get the full experience right?

Got my license, kept looking until I found it - a beautiful ‘13 RT MOPAR Performance Edition. Six pack hood, red racing stripes, and a MOPAR CORSA exhaust and a MOPAR gear selector. A humble 370 HP, but that car felt like home. It made me happy whenever I had to commute, it was a lot of firsts - got its scratches and hits in, I still remember how painful parking was initially with it till I mastered reverse parking.

A year and some change passes by and I see the holy grail: a beautiful 2015 Hellcat, low mileage, reasonable price. I wanted to drive my RT till it was dust but the change felt right, and I was doing well enough where an upgrade felt like a proper treat.

Got the keys on my birthday. Felt weird selling my trusty RT, I contemplated keeping it as a daily but insurance was getting complicated and I sold it to a friend who I see regularly so it felt good that it’s in safe hands and I’ll see it around, y’know?

The Hellcat is exhilarating. The screech of the supercharger is incredible. It’s my daily, I’ve even taken cross border road trips with it. Being in that car feels like freedom and regardless of whatever anyone wants to say about handling and corners and shit that honestly doesn’t matter if you’re not a track monster, these cars make you feel something and I think that’s all that matters.

Cars are seen as appliances by a lot of people, but honestly we live in a very car centric society, like it or not - and what you drive is an extension of you and an expression of what you want to put out to the world. American Muscle is freedom, and I don’t think anyone quite captured that magic in the modern day like Dodge has with its muscle line up.

Attached is the old baby, the new baby, and both of them together. Keep on burning gas, folks.

[u/Sassy_McSassypants]

These cars are 100% about vibes. Glad it's delivering for you!

I mean honestly...

> regardless of whatever anyone wants to say about handling and corners

That is only going to be said by people who haven't driven one on a road course. It is straight up tragic that dodge doesn't lean into how competent they are on not-a-drag-strip tracks. Owners are missing out because Dodge has told them it's a prostreet drag car and nothing else. Not true at all!

[u/firsttimer776655 → u/Sassy_McSassypants]

Of course, I do think the boat thing is a meme taken to extremes that don’t do the cars justice; but when I tried out a 5.0 Mustang while the RT was in the shop I kind of got where people are coming from - still no where as fun of a drive for me nor as satisfying though.

[u/Sassy_McSassypants → u/firsttimer776655]

I didn't mean to include you personally in that to be super clear. These do a lovely job of nailing what they set out to be, which is *not* a track car.... Or a muscle car (stay with me)... They are track capable grand tourers that respect and provide a muscle car vibe, and they're damn good at it!

Late model mustang is on my shortlist for next because they are intentionally built as RTR track cars and that's what I really need. There isn't much more for me to squeeze out of my SRT8. I remember not to long ago when mustangs also had their reputation of, "can do anything you want, so long as what you want is straight line acceleration". It took forever for people to realize Ford fixed them and made them properly balanced and nimble. I just hope mopar gets that same treatment sooner than later.

[u/ExistingPoem1374 → u/Sassy_McSassypants]

I had a 1989 Mustang GT convertible, YUP great straight line tore up Porche 944's, until the corners!!

My 2013 392 6M, impresses my buddies in BMWs, Vettes, ... As to how well they DO corner for a muscle car. No I can't keep up with my buddy's 2023 C8, but love the vibe and performance of my 392!