05-25-2010, 11:19 PM
fordmopar70
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Cumming, GA
Posts: 320
Photos: (0)
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Challenger VS 5.0 a first hand look
So, as you may or may not know I work for Ford and our family owns a couple mustangs and a Challenger R/T and a Challenger SRT8.
Well when I arrived back from lunch today the guy who checks in the new cars was sitting in the service drive, I could see he seemed rather antsy the closer I got to him. Finally getting up to the place he was sitting his arm shot out and a key dangled from his grasp. "I have been waiting for you, I thought you might want to pull this one in." My heart nearly jumped a beat since the last word was the 5.0 was on indefinite hold until some QC or whatever issues could be worked out.
"yeah, we got two of them", he said.
I snatched the keys and nearly ran out to the parking deck and there sat two black 5.0 Mustangs; a coupe and a convertible. Becasuse there wasn't a tag on the vehicle and Roswell road in Sandy Springs can be teeming with squad cars I thought it wise to take it easy - I didn't make it out of second gear. I determined the best way to see what the 5.0 was all about and make a legitimate comparison was to, well, buy one. So I did. After getting several angry looks and a few comments from salespersons about buying the car before it even hit the showroom floor, I signed my life away and hopped in the car to drive 25 miles home.
How was it you asked.....UN-BE-LIEV-ABLE!!!
Talk about quick - that engine is a monster! and the ease to bang through all 6 gears was really, really fun. I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning. The vehicle felt very light and agile; my car is equipped with brembo brakes and the electronic stablilization package.
After driving the 5.0 I drove the R/T and SRT8 for a comparison. Sadly, performance wise there isn't much. I knew the Challengers were heavy but the quickness of the 5.0 makes the Challenger feel like it's made of lead. A lead brick - Just my opinion and experience. Seriously, you step on the accelerator on monday and by wednesday the challenger is starting to move - I wish Dodge could do something about that throttle. I have only started playing with the 5.0 but I can see we are going to have a great relationship. Would I trade a Challenger for a 5.0? Well, I still have both Challengers and have no intention of getting rid of them. Dodge did a great job with the styling and just wish they could have done a little more with the powerplants.
Well, my wife cannot drive a stick so she is driving the Challenger R/T now and I followed her out to the Avenues Mall in Cumming,GA. It was fun to watch all the people watch her drive by. The only time the interest was directed from her to me is when the on-lookers noticed the 5.0 badge on the side.
In a nutshell, Ford has a real winner on their hands here!
