I don't doubt your story and that there are 'faster' and 'slower' cars being built. I do know that they have adaptive memory, and driving like a little old lady all week will cause it to 'learn' that type of driving and probably affects Saturday's times.
It seems you went in with rose tinted glasses after reading everything you could about these cars, expecting to be able to hop in and match pro drivers' times and performance. After failing at that, the whole ownership soured to the point where you sold it off. I know that if I were selling new cars, there is no way I'd let a customer take out the inventory and beat on them to select the one he liked best. Don't they have to break in first anyway? I think the only solution is to buy used from a racer.

$9500 hit for 7 mph??? maybe it had a injector problem, maybe it was in the programming? or maybe just all the added weight in all the options you had? I think I would have tried some tuning, and who really cares in a daily driver? I can understand how it would suck to get a "dog" but still a nice car with TONS of potential...

That car that dragrcr97 had was very nice. However, when a manufacturer makes a claim that seems to be backed up by all the magazines that simply doesnt stack up to real world performance with the car that you purchase; the excitement over the car kinda wilts away. I know Ron and believe me, he talked to anyone and everyone that was somebody at the dealers and to people that are in the know on these cars along with many intelligent car guys. Basically with the vehicle not having a driveability problem or check engine light on; the dealer couldnt fix anything just because the car didnt run what the magazines claimed. Another friend of mine ran at the SAME track with his wifes SRT8 300C 108mph and it IS bone stock. Rons Challenger for some reason seamed to be a DOG in performance. I must admit, I was even dissapointed and I am not the one that purchased it. Personally, I would have sold it to being that the manufacturer or dealer couldnt have done anything about it. Why spend extra money on the car to make it run what its supposed to. Dragrcr97s Dad had a new 2007? Vette with an auto when they first came out, they took it to the track and it exceeded our expectations. It was an automatic and it ran high 12s at well over 107 maybe higher, I cant remember because its a CHevy. I simply couldnt deal with having a SRT8 Challenger knowing that it doesnt run what it should only to have some dude in a Mustang GT pull up next to you and go door handle to door handle or worse and beat you. Thats not Representing. The Mopars have to be faster guys. STOCK! Having a slow car that you have to throw tons of money at to make fast is for foreign cars guys. Its an SRT8 CHallenger for cryin out loud, its supposed to be fast and then if you want to throw money at it, its will be REAL fast. Oh well...I would have sold it to. It was seriously one of the nicest looking and driving cars I have ever been in. I would love to have one....only if its fast like the magazines claim however.
On another note, does anyone know if the RT Challengers have aluminum blocks vs. the cast iron block of the SRT8??? ANYONE? ANYONE?

I was just thinking some more about this.

While Dodge may not have guaranteed a specific ET from the car, their specs do claim their engine makes a specific amount of horsepower. Manufacturers have been successfully sued when their engines did not perform up to, or close to spec. It would be deceptive advertising to claim 425HP and only pump out 325...

Thing is, unless I knew others had the same problem and got it taken care of by the factory, I couldn't see plunking down the 40+ grand hoping that the factory would make good. Hell, in their current situation, there may not even be a manufacturer left.

The 101 mph speed you were seeing tells me the motor was really down on power or you were running at a high altitude. My '04 Mach 1 with "only" 310 rated HP ran 13.80 at 101. Lighter car, but still... that 425HP hemi should do better than that.

The RT has Cast iron blocks also.

Maybe someone put too much oil in it?? It's surprising how much power is lost if the motor has too much oil in it.


MB

Sloan has a good point. I was not going to be out there on the street (or the track) and have my butt handed to me by a mustang GT or worse, an import.

When I was at the track, with one of the most BITCHEN cars to come out in a long time, and someone would literally RUN up to me and ask "did you run it yet, what did it run"? (with stars in their eyes!) Then all I could do is slink down in the seat and lie or avoid the question. I decided right then and there, ME and that CAR would never go to the drag strip again. Period.

You also have to realize that I did not have an ADDITIONAL $9500 to spend on the car. I LOST $9500 when I sold it. I did not have that money to spend on mods like has been suggested. Plus I did not want to modify it. Period.
The $9500 included tax and liscense and I did get some use out of the car. I had a lot of fun with it.

The car ran perfect so I could not take it to the dealer, and then again, what would I say?

Also note, I was strictly going by Pure stock MPH. I was not going by ET. I think if I had the air filter in the MPH probably would have been 98 or 99 MPH. And yes it would improve at sea level and yes it would improve with a better launch, but not that much. Some of you are wishful thinkers, but I am realistic.
Thanks, Ron.

The oil level was normal to low. That car burned 2 quarts in the first 5000 miles.

I think I would have tried to sovle the problems beofre eating $9500. It's not a race car you know. It's a mid size coupe with a big motor. The test cars are run under most ideal conditions w/ professional drivers. Maybe you could have tried to launch it differently, shifted at dofferent points. To expect it to run peak numbers after a handful of trails is expecting too much. Especially w/ a 6 speed. a few rpm here a few there can make a big difference in times and mph.

I did not mean to start an oil burning controversy. I checked the oil at every fillup. It was never more than a quart low because I added when necessary. NO dealer I know of would ever do anything about burning a quart of oil in 2500 miles. NONE. ESPECIALLY in a new Engine. So you must be one in a million. Thanks.

Did you run with or without the traction control on? What tire pressure? What launch RPM?

If your not happy with your old challenger most likely you will not be happy with a new one as well. If I was in your shoes I would be looking at the new camaro ss or GT500 and test drive them both compaired to your challenger. Pick the favorite of the 3 cars after you drove them.

Ron, did you ever try to tune it? reprogram? reflash? or even just hook it up to a scanner and see if anything looked suspicious? Im not all that familiar with newer mopars, but I am with newer GM... its amazing what a reprogram can fix...