Friend trying to talk me into Z trade for Challenger
 

I have always liked muscle cars and have 3 project ones I hope to get to (68Barracuda, 66 Valiant convertible, okay not a muscle car, and 68 Dodge Charger). I have Ia friend that says I need to trade my 09 Z for the new Challenger. It is tempting to some degree because of the back seat problem (I have kids). But the Challenger is old technology to some degree (handling) and think I would miss the handling and cornering ability of the sportscar over the sedan. In addition, I wonder if the Challengers hold their value considering the high inititial cost. For those who will ask, "Well, do you like your Z?" The answer is yes. I may have answered my own question about what I should do. The back seat for the kids is the reason I have thought it over. Is this a bad trade?

If you already have 3 project american cars, what exactly are you gaining by getting a 4th american muscle car?

yes, get a dd. i too have 2 kids. Z stays...infact im looking to get another 2 seater this time a convertible. :D

get a cheap DD, keep the Z...challys are ...meh

Build the Barracuda!!! OMG I love that car!

but keep the Z of course!

the problem with the challenger, doesn't it come with the old 5 speed transmission ?

get another Z.

Let's do this arithmetically:
2 seats + 2 seats = 4 seats

My advice would be to make the trade and transfer the Z emblems to the Challenger :ughdance:

I would downgrade the "friend" to "acquaintance" for even suggesting such a thing.

lol jk.

Keep the Z, get another car. Simple

I suggest...

http://img.skitch.com/20101012-nhp3b...jbep7g2ngr.jpg
:rolleyes:

:iagree: if you're looking to stay in a performance car but want the back seat.

If you even need to think about it... its time to let go of the Z. Make the trade and post some :pics: after.

This topic pops like every other days.:mad: The Z is a two seater sport car! Plus you knew that went you bought it.

Now quit the bitch*ng and buy a damn SUV or a DD for the family. That is what I have done all this years. The old lady has the SUV (family car) and my Z is my Toy, simple!;) Plus I got a small truck "huptie" for DD in the Winter and work around the house.

Please spare me the pain of the excuse of the kids and the two seats! :rolleyes:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but the new Challenger for 2011 is a beast. It has 470hp and 470 torque (or something very close to that) and Dodge finally caught up with everyone else and actually tuned the suspension so the car can actually take a corner. Supposedly runs the 1/4 in 12.4 (traction limited, as it's trap speed indicates faster). Sure it won't corner like the Z as it's still a fat *** but according to first tests it does much better than the previous Challenger.

I'm not saying you should trade the Z but I am saying that they redid the Challenger and it's a lot more impressive that last years model. If looking for a muscle car it should definitely not be dismissed.

Why are you asking us what you should do? Be a man and do what you want, either keep your Z or get the challenger. I really don't get these kinds of threads.

That said, I say keep the Z.

sorry but no way i buy or trade for a dodge of any kind.

I've always loved the Challengers and still consider trading the Z in on one. But I picked the Z over the Challenger because it felt to big, to bulky and slow. (I was looking at an R/T) They are beautiful looking cars and the interior isn't totally awful but you can feel its size. Going from a Z to a Challenger would feel like you're getting into a 18 Wheeler. Its a great car for cruising down main street, but its not a good car when trying go around a turn. Its a tough call though man

Need a family car? Get the challenger. Don't need a family keep the Z

I just got done driving a challenger (10 days) from Enterprise rental. It was a base model no hemi. My opinion, if you like driving a boat that people think is a Camaro that doesn't really go fast then do it. It does drive nice, but it certainly doesn't compare with the feeling of driving my Z. The higher powered versions might be faster, but they're probably just as bulky and still feel like your driving an overstuffed couch.

It suffers from the same, although lesser, problem that the Mustang has. There are too many of them on the road, and they all look the same no matter what's under the hood.

Holy crap, I didn't even read your post.... just the thread title.

I would never... ever... ever... ever... ever ever everrrrr trade my Z in on a Challenger.

If there is any car I hate... it is that. They are ugly, heavy, expensive, slow and made from left over Chrysler parts. I can't believe anyone would literally want to own one of those tanks.

Now, scrolling down to click the quick reply button I noticed a picture of a 5.0 badge. That is the only car I would trade my Z in on... and I'll never do that.

Sorry for the off topic / hate rant.

Good evening fellas!

Another +1, but the 2011 Chally is looking a lot better, especially the interior.

If you like your Z, I would think you would hate the challenger. It weighs a LOT.

No, I doubt it runs a 12.4. Probably a mid/high 12 with a 110-112 trap. The 425bhp versions didn't run but HIGH 12's and more normally low 13's@108 or so.

you should totally trade it.

don't be so selfish, think of the kids.

wow I didnt know that... that is very impressive ... 12.4 bone stock huh

pfff. IF you are going to trade your Z in for an american muscle car get the 5.0 that is the only american car I would trade it in for.

I watched the vid of the 12.4 run, it was a 110mph pass. Either dodge has worked some suspension magic, or that 12.4 is not going to be replicated very often at all. It reminds me of all the press saying the new Camaro SS runs in the 12's@111mph and then I go out in my stock 150K mile Trans Am and find out they are no faster than I am.

What's wrong with a 12.4 at 110? The new challenger is a beast from a dig. You know, kind of like how my 2003 Mustang GT would rape know-it-alls in their LS1s to 60 mph.

Gobble!

I never lost to a GT that wasn't FI (closest I came was being dead even with an '03 GT with LT's, gears, cams, pullies, CAI and tune. We were dead even. If I hit it 1' before he did, I won, and vice versa), then, I only raced one Cobra from a dig as far as mustangs from a dig go, and they were equal with me until we hit second and they spun and I didn't even sqeak a tire. Ford is completely traction-limited and always has been. I hope the BOSS changes all that.

Nothing at ALL is wrong with his 12.4@110, I personally think that is sick, I am just leery of the average joe doing it. I know it's an auto, it just seems like he would have to have a 1.7-1.8 60' to pull down numbers like that, and I have not see many factory automatic RWD cars in that price-range lay down a 1.7-1.8 bone stock. Who knows? Maybe the track was prepped awesome. I heard NO sqeak on the shifts.

*Back when the '05 GT came out, my dealership was one of the first in town to get one. Of course, we did things with it that we probably shouldn't have (nothing crazy like powerslides or anything, just a bit of a romp). When we hit 2nd gear, it left about 5' of rubber. I was shocked that it was so traction limited. Ford put 235's Pirelli's that were M&S rated. A completely unforgivable mistake in my opinion.

Gobble gobble?

seriously... we're talking about your ws6 again, seriously? :wtf2:

OP, +1 for the new mustang instead. and someone asked about the 5spd manual in the challenger, i believe that is only on the v6 cars, the v8's get 6 spds iirc, at least i know the SRT's do (which is the only one to have right?... right?)

It is currently the fastest car I have owned and I have ran most other cars on the road with it. So yeah, I use it as a measuring stick.

I agree on +1 to the GT as well, it's a great car and unbeatable for the $$ when you look at just the numbers and not style (which is personal and could go either way).

well the ws6 does not really count as a "measuring stick" of anything for most of the people on this forum, fyi :shakes head:

Only in regards to acceleration, but you're right, few others here owned an F-body, my mistake.

After all that, it is still a Dodge :( The Camaro is way better than the Challenger IMO.

I say rebuild the old ones. They are the TRUE American muscle :tup:

i know camaro and mustang are faster, but i think the challenger looks more like an american muscle car.

I like most of the new retro styles of the Challenger and Camaro, the Mustang is the same thing since who now when.

But once I see the cheap inside :shakes head: thats all she wrote! I don't care if it comes with a 1,000HP.

Interesting how so many people are saying goodbye to the Z for various reasons. I suspect more will be following suit!

I think most of them will only keep their new cars for a year and get a different one. Some people are just never happy enough and want something new all the time. oh well, if I had the money I would be doing it too ;)

I'd wait it out for the much leaner 2012 Hemi Challenger shown here. Does the 1/4 in 8.2 bone stock. F*** the trap speed. This is the ultimate WS6 annihilator!!!!!

Mopar. The same people that brought you this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/...ec7f175e03.jpg

If you want to go Dodge, go find a Road Runner and restore it. Nothing says Muscle Car like 440 Cu in. and a 6 pack!