I was just on the Dodge website and apparently the new Challenger SRT8 (which I was very excited for) is only being offered with an automatic transmission which has a "clutchless manual".

This disappoints me a bit because all of the concept pictures showed a manual.

hmph.

 

Well that's lame, but not that surprising.

 

It seems the majority of muscle cars were ordered with A/T's and the old chrysler/dodge 747 torque flight was one of the better ones.

It might be a cafe standards issue-a way to get better mpg from such a powerful engine so that they can make it at all. I wonder if it will have the pistol grip shifter like the old muscle?

 

That is kinda lame, but i'm sure there is one running around at Dodge with a Viper 6-speed.

 

I'd bet it is a warranty issue ..... that they do not want to warranty a clutch for 100k, or the other driveline componets that would see a more severe duty cycle with a manual trans.

 

I wonder if they're going to do like GM and only offer a slush box at first and then offer a stick after a year or 2 of production once bugs have been worked out.

 

I just looked at the site- right at 41K-that seems a bit high- I was thinking this would come in at Mustang pricing or about 10-12k less and only three colors-the orange is cool though.

The interior is a little boring but if they put a different steering wheel-something three spoked like the orginals it would help a lot- and if it's got to be an A/T-put a pistol grip shifter in there!

 

The full-zoot versions will be the first ones to hit the street. There will be de-contented, less powerful versions down the road.

 

The manual probably had to be axed due to fuel economy concerns. The other route would be to have the ECU force a shunting from 1st to 4th like some Corvettes and Camaros have.

 

My bro-in-laws Z06 has that 1-4 shift-kind of wierd at first, I felt like I mis-shifted. It is easily to over ride-just give it more throttle and the 1-4 turns off. That thing has so much torque you could start in 5th and run it out.

 

The future watered-down Challengers are projected to start around $20-24k.

Buuut, I just found out the Bullitt Mustang. I'm startin to like that more than the Challenger. And it's $10k less.

Not like I could afford either for quite a long time, but I can dream.

I'm content with my MINI