[Okkay0]

So, I figured I would be honest with myself and dig deep to find what I don't like about my 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T. I'm going to try and cut out all my bias feelings and really think hard about it.


This is in NO WAY a rant about me hating the Dodge Challenger. I absolutely LOVE my challenger. Wash it nearly twice a week, park a mile away from everyone else, and overall treat it like she's my baby. In fact, it's been winterized for almost ONE full month and I feel like a part of me is missing. There have been sunny clear blue sky days and clean roads where it was very tempting to take it out for a drive, but I put so much effort into getting it ready for storage that I'd hate to go through the process again. I just thought it would be interesting to see what negatives I could dig up if I really tried to think about it.




THE NEGATIVES:
- Stock exhaust is a complete letdown. It does a huge injustice to the stock HP. You won't realize it until you get an aftermarket exhaust.
- Interior design is another big letdown. It does not resemble an old 1960s/1970s design and it doesn't resemble a newer 2010+ design. To be honest, it reminds me of my moms old 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. I mean if you're going to go old school, then go old school. It is no argument that they completely overlooked the interior design. And it's sad that it took them 7 years to finally update the interior!
- Horrible blind spots. First purchase I made were attachable blind spot mirrors. I don't know how anyone could drive this car without buying them. I suppose they just guess if someone is in the next lane?
- Bad suspension. You feel almost every bump in the road

 

[walc]

I'm very happy with the STP suspension on my 2014 RT Classic.
The interior suits me fine.
I don't really care about the exhaust sound.
There are blind spots; but, how could they be eliminated without changing the look of the car?
If anything you mentioned had really bothered me, I wouldn't have bought the car.

 

[TikiMan]

Dodge nailed the design in my opinion. Only reason I bought the car.

 

[HDMoparBoy]

View attachment 38906

They look pretty dang close to me!

 

[HDMoparBoy]

Idk what else they could've done

 

[MommaBetty]

As far as the blind spots go, be sure to read up on how to properly adjust your mirrors. Not too much of a problem, if that is done correctly. The biggest problem with blind spots really started when safety came along with those darn headrests. A big help if you are driving by yourself is to just put the passenger seat down in the prone position. Then I don't have any more of a blind spot than you do with other cars.

 

[friendoffur]

So, I figured I would be honest with myself and dig deep to find what I don't like about my 2013 Dodge Challenger R/T. I'm going to try and cut out all my bias feelings and really think hard about it.


This is in NO WAY a rant about me hating the Dodge Challenger. I absolutely LOVE my challenger. Wash it nearly twice a week, park a mile away from everyone else, and overall treat it like she's my baby. In fact, it's been winterized for almost ONE full month and I feel like a part of me is missing. There have been sunny clear blue sky days and clean roads where it was very tempting to take it out for a drive, but I put so much effort into getting it ready for storage that I'd hate to go through the process again. I just thought it would be interesting to see what negatives I could dig up if I really tried to think about it




THE NEGATIVES:
- Stock exhaust is a complete letdown. It does a huge injustice to the stock HP. You won't realize it until you get an aftermarket exhaust.
- Interior design is another big letdown. It does not resemble an old 1960s/1970s design and it doesn't resemble a newer 2010+ design. To be honest, it reminds me of my moms old 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. I mean if you're going to go old school, then go old school. It is no argument that they completely overlooked the interior design. And it's sad that it took them 7 years to finally update the interior!
- Horrible blind spots. First purchase I made were attachable blind spot mirrors. I don't know how anyone could drive this car without buying them. I suppose they just guess if someone is in the next lane?
- Bad suspension. You feel almost every bump in the road

OK...I'll throw down on this one...LOL
Stock exhaust IS really lame sounding from the factory but I'm thinking this is in part due to the fact that many who buy this car want it that way...hey...go figure. Where I have to disagree is when you say there is any kind of big HP increase with any aftermarket system. Too many dyno threads here on the Z that contradict that but man it sure sounds like there are 50 more horses under the hood when you "fix" the stock sound of an RT. If you get the car tuned along with an aftermarket system then yes...there are some pretty good gains....but that is more becouse of the tune than the aftermarket exhaust system.
Interior is again personal preferance....some love it...others like me are glad it has been updated.
Blind spots are REAL!!! Like was said...necessary for the car to look like it does and now addressed with new technology of back-up cameras and lane avoidance stuff if you get those options...still...WAY better than a new Camero!!
The suspension or ride if you will is the one area that I'm not getting you on. IMO...this is one of the best things about this car. If you are running over 35 pounds in your tires...maybe that is why you have this???

 

[vin57]

yup the mirrors adjusted right do help with the blind spot. I'm use to it now, took a bit in the beginning though. I just wish we had tougher paint, seems it doesn't take much to scratch/mark it up no matter how careful you are.

 

[jklotz10]

- I agree the stock exhaust is pitiful for this type of car. Maybe Dodge didn't want to scare away Customers who don't want to wake up their neighbors?

- To me the interior reminds me of the 1st generation Challenger. The inside door panels are a pretty close match and the dash cluster is pretty similar. Maybe on this one Dodge figured a muscle car should have a pretty bare interior and those who want luxury will by a Cadillac?

- The blind spots never bothered me. Ever drive a panel van or truck with a cap? All you have to do is adjust your mirrors properly and life will be good again.

- As for the ride and suspension: revisit my comment regarding the Consumer who buys a Cadillac.

After four years of driving my Challenger (although in summer only ) I really have no complaints about the car except for the 20" wheels it came with. I like the style of the Heritage wheels - they look like Cragars - but until I find an 18" wheel with a different style I really like, I won't spend the money for new ones....

 

[Dodgeguy]

Pretty much agree with all the others having had 3 first generation Challengers, the interior(2014-) reminds me very much of the 1st gen Challengers the door panels, as Jon said are really close. The first generation had the same problems vision wise but that is the nature of a 2 door coupe. The ride is good for a sports coupe I think. The stock exhaust is a little tame but so were the first generations in stock configuration.

 

[MIDNITE RT]

- Total agreement about the stock exhaust.
- Blind spots took about a week to get used to.
- Enjoy the retro interior look.
- Extremely comfortable riding car.

 

[RichR]

...
- Horrible blind spots. First purchase I made were attachable blind spot mirrors. I don't know how anyone could drive this car without buying them. I suppose they just guess if someone is in the next lane?
...

That would be a valid point except, since I learned how to properly adjust the side mirrors, blind spots are non-existent. (Meanwhile, I've heard rather than educate the masses, the Nanny State will mandate blind-spot monitoring systems on all new cars in the near future.)

...
- Bad suspension. You feel almost every bump in the road

I just figure that's the price of the Super Track Pak's slot-car handling (and well worth it, IMHO).

 

[walc]

Stock exhaust IS really lame sounding from the factory but I'm thinking this is in part due to the fact that many who buy this car want it that way...hey...go figure.

That makes sense.
It's much easier to make it louder. if you want. I don't.

 

[landob]

Exhaust - I can agree, but I assume it is made that way because marketing sensed a lot of buyers don't want a loud car. And those that do would be happy to pay for it.

Interior - I like having it not busy and/or loud. I'm a fan of simplicity. Honestly I'm usually too busy looking for cops on the side of the road to care about my interior. However I do kind of hate the shade of green for the lights they use.

Blind spots - took me 10 seconds to get used to working around them.

Suspension - I can sort of agree. Seems fine to me until I actually do get on a bumpy road then its like it amplifies the pits and potholes.

 

[LAGeezer]

A big 10-4 on the blind spots.

 

[HemiMetal]

There's blind spots? Maybe it has something to do with the geometry of the rear fenders, but I feel like I can actually gauge distance better between my rear bumper and cars behind me than with my previous vehicle (2008 Accord).

 

[MommaBetty]

The only time this blind spot thing bothers me is if I am unfortunate enough to have to back out of a parking spot. Like I said before, I keep the passenger seat out of the way of the small side window, so this helps a lot. ALL newer cars have blind spots. My 2009 Impala had the same problem as the Challenger, so I learned on that car how to adjust my driving habits and it really isn't a problem anymore.

 

[JT_392]

Don't get the suspension comment. This is one of the smoothest rides I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

 

[MommaBetty]

Don't get the suspension comment. This is one of the smoothest rides I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

Me too!!! The ride is amazing. Never get tired, even on long trips.

 

[vin57]

Changed mine out to the SRT suspension and found the handling much better, more responsive, the ride is a little stiffer isn't as soft as the stock R/T but still very nice, plus it lowered the car about 1 1/2". If I could say anything I didn't like about the stock R/T suspension was that it sat to high, to much wheel well showing in my opinion, changing it out to the SRT made it sit much nicer...as it should.