My nearly new, 0 owner 2017 Dodge Challenger GT
- Thread starter olds307 and 403
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So, question, if you don't mind.
I'm seriously considering going in and trying to order one. I've picked a blue GT, awd, sunroof, plus pkg with the leather heated/cooled, 8.4" Navi screen, sunroof, Harman Karmon audio, and engine block heater (for who knows what future at $90) as my deal breaker options.
Also went as far as putting a Costco auto-buying request in to ID participating dealers, and, did the no hard pull FCA financing pre-approval because of the 0% they're running right now - came back good of course.
Not sure if I'll go through with it or not, mostly would depend on the deal breaking options. But I'm thinking long and hard about it, and wonder what, if anything, you'd do different.
I'm seriously considering going in and trying to order one. I've picked a blue GT, awd, sunroof, plus pkg with the leather heated/cooled, 8.4" Navi screen, sunroof, Harman Karmon audio, and engine block heater (for who knows what future at $90) as my deal breaker options.
Also went as far as putting a Costco auto-buying request in to ID participating dealers, and, did the no hard pull FCA financing pre-approval because of the 0% they're running right now - came back good of course.
Not sure if I'll go through with it or not, mostly would depend on the deal breaking options. But I'm thinking long and hard about it, and wonder what, if anything, you'd do different.
This car has every available option, I would only go that route again. Our 2010 was missing a few key options, this has everything. Add in the AWD and 3.6 vs 3.5, it is like two different cars. The passenger seat was awful on our 2010, no support. The seats are almost identical on our 2017. These cars still only run just over 50K in Canada with everything. What the hell else can you buy for that price? The Sunroof is a personal preference, we like it. The auto dimming and automatic headlights and are a big upgrade. The adaptive, distance selecting cruise are life savers right now. It keeps you at one of 3 selected distances from car in front of you. As soon you move into an open lane to pass, it accelerates to your selected speed. Both life savers for my current situation. That Harmon Karmon stereo is seriously loud with good sound and thumping bass, especially on something like Sirius radio, free for a year. The amp and Sub go in the compact spare spot so it will be displaced and is now an option, like every new car. The factory, trunk mounted battery is hidden, our 2010 lasted 7 years without fading. This one has heated mirrors, our old one didn't, again, a nice feature. The blind spot sensors and back up camera being standard equipment are both huge upgrades over our 2010. Also things like the paddle shifter, performance page and launch mode are there for fun. The Uconnect is good, it does freeze up, every now and then. Just stop and restart the car or just wait for it to reset. The navigation is a little clunky but you can connect your phone and use Google Maps, which will come throw the speakers. A 2021 should have the new version of Uconnect, I believe. Living here, the command start is nice and key fobs are much more reliable than the older Dodge key fobs, change the battery is all that is needed when issues arise and range is acceptable. Being able to have the doors open just reaching for them and pushing a button for the trunk is nice. Too bad the trunk isn't power opening. The factory Michelin tires lasted quite well, if I wouldn't have missed one 10K rotation, they may have made 100,000 Km, only one was at the wear bars, the rest had plenty of tread. Amazing grip, the first year especially for an all season plus tire. I see 20" tires are now standard equipment, mine has 19" rims. Be aware the AWD rims have a special offset. You can get Charger 18" steel awd wheels for Winter. I tried my 17" steel wheels, they do not fit over the GT's bigger brakes, 18" is the minimum. I personally like the SXT hood styling and smaller splitter over the current GT's styling, so a SXT AWD is also an option for me, for slightly less money. Good luck.
Thanks for the feedback. Really it's the awd that's a selling point. That and a bigger trunk ala gbody resemblance.
We have regals but one just sits - it was my first. We've got the mustangs, but, again, no awd and GTs stink in bad weather. My 87 suburban is turning project so that's one 4x4 out of service, but it's done well since new. And I'm questioning the 496 health for long road trips recently. So something that we can jump in and go, has 4wd/awd, and isn't a pos minivan called modern fake suv/crossover is a plus. Wish I hadn't sold the '18 5.0 f150 in hindsight but the money was right, and, I wouldn't buy another for what they're going for now.
When the challenger first came back I always wanted a b5 blue srt but the early ones had their share of body and electrical gremlins. Biggest reason we went ford. But if they offer 0% that's advertised with a healthy down payment.... not sure I can go wrong.
One reason, foolish I know, for the GT over the SXT is to get the Harmon radio over the Alpine. Some options just don't carry over between the two levels. I'm not sure which hood I like better, they both look good in different ways to me.
Yeah, our 2010 was also starting to get those electrical gremlins. The fuel sender was ******** the bed. Other than the horn not working from new, really no issues on this 17 at nearly 80,000 km. Also don't replace the key fob batteries with Dollar Tree batteries, they lasted only a couple of months. Yeah, a very comparable car to my 88 Cutlass and even more so, my 70 Cutlass S. Similar shape and space inside, along with even more trunk space. I wish the Challenger had roll down back windows like my 70. If GM had a retro styling of my 70S, even with a V6 and AWD, I would own one right away. GM is clueless and doesn't make anything anyone with eyesite wants to own. Yeah, trucks are plain ridiculous, fully loaded gas models are 90K up here! Plus GM made their latest trucks ugly again, Ford and Dodge look better.
Since I have put on so many Kilometers on the Challenger in a short time, it is nearly at 10,000 km again. I used Castrol's Synthetic filter and Mobil 1 5W20 full synthetic last time. I am using a Pure One filter and our company's Sonic full synthetic Dexos approved 5W20 oil next change. I actually sucked in so many bugs into the Fram air filter, I lost 2 mpg. I bought another one and blew out this one later, being almost new for a spare. This car lives up to it's GT name, just awesome on the road, 160 km/hr comes quickly when passing idiots😁. I plan to use this tire rotation pattern as the new tires are at 12,000 km.
I have pushed their limits, made them squeal doing drifts😉. One valve stem developed a slow leak, the tire monitor showed a 2 psi drop. I topped it up, the next morning was down 5 psi, it was repaired for free with my coverage plan. Doing the rotation and oil change after one more trip to Regina, the Queen's city.
REARWARD CROSS
For vehicles that are 4-wheel, all-wheel, or rear-wheel drive, the rearward cross pattern is recommended. Rear tires are moved to the forward axle and kept on the same side of the vehicle while the front tires are moved to opposite sides of the rear axle.
I have pushed their limits, made them squeal doing drifts😉. One valve stem developed a slow leak, the tire monitor showed a 2 psi drop. I topped it up, the next morning was down 5 psi, it was repaired for free with my coverage plan. Doing the rotation and oil change after one more trip to Regina, the Queen's city.
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Tire rotation, oil change and cleaned the throttle body. I really pissed off a Camaro owner, he was really flying, I had to do 190+ km/hr to catch him. I pointed at his car and laughed, gave many thumbs down. I opened the window and him a little wave and he went down to the lake. Pretty sure I pissed him off, mission accomplished😁.
Drove through heavy rain, the AWD is seamless and you don't have slow down at all. The mileage loss is minimal in AWD and car feels more responsive with the intake tract cleaned out.
So owning this car has been great, over 80,000 Km now, nearly no issues. Doing 70 mph in pouring rain was no problem and the rain sensing wipers are another nice feature.
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