Miata to Hemi Challenger; talk me out of it

Just like the title says I'm very seriously considering selling my "answer" for a big ole HEMI. I've had a decent number of sports cars; a couple CRX's, three Miatas, an X1/9 and an Elise. I had no interest in Dodge Challengers other than their looks. Lethargic bloated boats that looked cool but little else. Until I drove one. Scat Pack 6.4, 6 speed manual. Wow. Sure it's big, but lethargic? No.

The visceral appeal was undeniable. The car also seemed to just fit me. At 6 foot all my Miatas, CRX's even the Elise seemed a bit "trim". I know I'm not supposed to like this sort of car. After all, this is the type of machine only enjoyed by club wielding neanderthals right? So, now I'm thinking about selling/trading my paid for 2009 Mazda3 that has nothing wrong with it, and my 2002 Miata plus some cash to have the privilege of a $400 payment each month to slog around town in a Hemi dinosaur. My 2 kids will have to get in and out via a flip forward seat instead of having their own nice little doors. Prepaid college? Pffffshaw! Daddy needs his Hemi! Gas mileage? Whatevs.

I know this is totally the wrong choice, but I'm drawn to this car. Maybe it's my mid-life crisis because I'm in my mid 40's. Whatever the reasons, I need GRM to reason with me. Talk me out of it!

P.S. Did I mention it's the obnoxious lime green color?

If you can swing it, I don blame you. They look and sound badass. I'd make sure to try the camaro and mustang out too, you know for science.

Sell Mazda3, keep Miata, buy Charger. All boxes ticked.

no, i can't. we have a charger, it's a nice platform to spend time in. the sale guy started a 6.4 car for me and the sound was glorious.

Up until the point where you mentioned taking on a payment, I was going to condone this foppery. Not so much if it is going to involve debt.

Yeah, I think it's more that the car is different that is drawing you to it, not that it's any good (it's not). If you are going to drop the $ for something like that I highly suggest you check out a comparably equipped Camaro and Mustang first.

In reply to nepa03focus and drdisque:

I actually tried out the other offerings first. I'm more of a Mustang guy since my first car was a '65 Fastback. I test drove a performance pack GT (brembos, pirelli tires, etc.) and came away unimpressed. It had a lot of power but didn't feel buttoned down. Instead it felt rather floaty like I was on a pogo stick or something. The steering felt overboosted and numb. It was a real letdown because I had been anticipating the 6th generation Mustang for a long time.

After hearing rave reviews about the new Camaro I went to test drive one of those next. The driving dynamics were superb but the cabin was absolutely claustrophobic. Camaro drivers must rely on divine guidance for lane changes.

On both the Mustang and Camaro the back seat was laughable for the size of the car. With the driver's seat comfortably adjusted for me there was no way that even my 6 year old daughter was going to sit behind me. The Challenger can at least seat all 4 of us in relative comfort.

Dew eet!

I am sorry. I will not be able to talk you out of it. DO IT!

Are we talking new car here? I dont see how you sell an 09 mazda3, an 02 miata, put all that plus more cash down and still pay $400 a month unless we're talking brand new or very short loan.

Aside from that raised eyebrow i'm all for it. I honestly thought the 6spd challengers ive been in were more entertaining in a straight line than the (last gen) 5.0 mustang and 6.0 camaros i drove. The mustang didn't have enough low end for casual tire shredding the camaro made me notice it's tall gearing too much. I honestly think the Challenger is the pick of the three if you acknowledge that you won't be going past the 8/10s it takes to put real space between their handling/braking/dynamics etc.

My main dig on the Challenger used to be that it was just a Magnum with the vast majority of its usefulness removed and nearly nothing else gained. Now that the Magnum has been gone so long i guess i am softening on the Challenger a good bit.

I've driven a manual equipped hemi Challenger. I came away completely in love with it. I have driven the Camaro and the Challenger wins that comparison hands down. I haven't driven a mustang because berkeley Ford. The Challenger wins that one hands down too.

Two doors, V8, stick shift, RWD. It's a proper car. Anything that doesn't meet those criteria, to me, is not worth owning.

Life is too short to drive a boring car. Go Hemi.

I really thought this thread was going to be about building a Miata with a Hemi.

So sad.

They are awesome, do it.

one thing about the challenger, and i mention this because he said he has kids but the challenger is suppose to have the biggest back seats out of the three muscle cars.

something something...cts-v?

If I were ever to get an American car, then it would be an Australian made one....

Had too much fun with the rebadged Monaro over the C6 Vette and Cobalt SS when Chevy had their performance driving events years back (that one similar to Mazda's Rev it Up...) Nobody was in the line for the 6-speed manual GTO, my brother and I just kept going back to it...weee!

You guys are a bunch of enablers! Which is exactly what I expected. Thanks for the input.

Let me add to enabler's list, they're great cars. I've driven my share of them as well as the Challenger's competitors and the Challenger is a much better all round car. Yes, the Camaro and Mustang edge it out in some respects performance wise, but with compromises in areas of usefulness. I had an '05 Mustang GT until recently and still own an '05 Magnum R/T Performance Pack. While I liked the Mustang, I love the Magnum. If weren't building my next hot rod right now, I'd be at my local Dodge Dealership happily signing the papers for a Challenger T/A or Scat Pack.

There was an article in an issue of GRM recently about upgrading these to handle a bit better.

I drool over a 6 spd Challenger as well, although it'd be very funny if I got one. My next-door neighbor has a new '16 R/T (in black) and the neighbor on the other side of him has a first-year orange R/T. If I bought one, it'd have to be Plum Crazy Purple.

However, like NOHOME I'm on a bit of an anti-debt slant right now.

The biggest difference in the Challenger compared to the Mustang and Camaro?......you can actually SEE out of the Challenger. Sure, it doesn't sound like a big deal....until you live with the car. The Challenger is a much more useful package for day to day driving than the Ford or Chevy.

They can also handle pretty darn well for such a giant machine. I've autocrossed a 392 Hemi Challenger and it was a hoot!

I say go for it--- you love it, and you only live once!

You want us to talk you out of this foolishness?

Best I can do!

NOHOME wrote: Up until the point where you mentioned taking on a payment, I was going to condone this foppery. Not so much if it is going to involve debt.

This. I'd wait a few years until you can get the Challenger without the payment.

Going to get expensive quick with payment and gas plus insurance I have heard is astronomical. Personally I would have more issue with the kids getting in and out of the back and having room.

The standard Hemi car is really good and you can get it in the Charger with 4 doors.