Dodge Challenger SRT-8 Review: What's Not to Love?

by Martha Hindes

"Got the heavy foot to go with that?" questioned the bubba, with his vehicle window rolled down. "Gorgeous," said another. "Arrest me red!" offered a friend ogling the paint and bright chrome. Soon I stopped explaining its test car status and just enjoyed the attention.
 
Why the passionate interest? It's the new 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8, with monster 6.1-liter, 425-HP engine and enough heavy metal attitude to emulate, say, Hollywood's bad boy Jesse James. 

Anti-guilt comes from fuel deceleration and the hunky Hemi engine that can glide on half of eight cylinders at high speed for 13/19-rated lower cruising fuel use. Thrill is catapulting from a standstill with rumbling roar in legendary muscle car spirit in this $45K retro revival.

Any negatives about this new Dodge? A serious "C pillar" blind spot. (Careful when backing up.) More aggressive low fuel warnings would help, for those in the boom box, power performance moment. I learned that as I ran out of gas on a high-speed parkway -- thinking I had a quarter tank to spare. Guess it's not just bubbas who do that these days, a testament to the Challenger's magnetic hold on sensibility.

For more info on the new 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT-8, click here.

Read all 2010 new car reviews on Road & Travel Magazine.