2009 Dodge Challenger R/T

The original Dodge Challenger R/T was a rather large car, especially compared to Ford's Mustang and Chevy's Camaro. The new R/T is no exception, it is a big car. The Challenger was, and is, the conveyance for a decade that spawns America's obsession with the muscle car.

The 2009 model has 6.4 inches more wheelbase and 6 inches more overall length, making it a full size car by any one's estimates. Because it shares the Chrysler 300/Charger firewall, it is longer than those cars despite being 4 inches shorter in wheelbase.

To be fair, the Challenger R/T has to be long and large to support those classic looks complete with massive blind spot inducing C pillars. If you complained because the Charger was introduced with four doors, the Challenger is your traditionalist ride.

Another reason to celebrate this occasion of retro cool is the introduction of a six speed manual, a Tremec T6060 adapted from the Viper, but with lighter clutch action. The 6 speed is available on the SRT and R/T only, the V-6 SE comes with a four speed automatic. The row your own box comes with a modern adaptation of the original pistol grip shifter.

By now you are familiar with the 6.1 liter, 425 horsepower Hemi. The R/T's 5.7 liter version puts out 370 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque with the five speed automatic, 375 horsepower and 404 lb-ft when equipped with the six speed on premium fuel. Fuel economy drops 1 mpg in the city with the stick, but the manual equipped cars also come with a specially tuned exhaust with a nice burbly sound.

The R/T forgoes the SRT's high-backs in favor of low-back buckets. The popular equipment package gets you such SRT standards as leather interior, Boston Acoustics six-speaker, 276-watt amp, satellite radio, heated front seats and Keyless Go. A "Classic R/T" package adds functional hood scoop, Challenger script badge, body-side stripe, and 20-inch wheels (up from 18s). The R/T shares two color options with the SRT, Hemi Orange and, available "later," B5 Blue. R/Ts get body-colored rear lip spoilers; SRTs have black spoilers.

Starting at just under 30K, the R/T is a bargain compared to it's big brother SRT, and is similarly priced with Mustang GTs, Pontiac G8 GTs, and probably the Camaro SS instead of $40,000-plus BMWs, Audis, and Corvettes. It's also in the same price range as the John Cooper Works Mini.

The R/T has a nicely sorted suspension for highway cruising. But tipping the scales at 4050 pounds, it is by no means meant to take tight curves or be an autocross racer. This is a refined cruiser, much as you would expect from a big and heavy American coupe.

And that's just what Dodge intends it to be. The R/T runs slower to 60 than a similarly priced Mustang GT, around 5.5 seconds. And it's fuel economy won't win you any new tree hugging friends, at around 16 city and 25 highway. The joy in owning a Challenger of any breed is to have a car that is guaranteed to turn heads and cause envy as you tool down the highway.

AmericanMuscle.com is your online stop for 2009 Dodge Challenger Parts.