Simon's 2008 Challenger

Gas for GOSH · Post by **Gas for GOSH** » Tue May 06, 14 9:32 pm

Bout time I put something on here. If you read the "Plane, Train and Automobile" piece in the last Connected you'll have seen most of these. And it won't be anywhere near as long as the thread on my gold 68 Charger as I haven't got the fun of restoring this one. Anyhow it's a 2008 First Edition SRT8, number 372 of 6400. Factory standard 6.1 hemi with a semi auto box. Got it in February this year but it had spent the first 5 years of its life on the Autobahn being driven by a German doctor. He changed two things....the wheels and the shifter; both of which I like. Some people hate the black wheels, but personally I think the large shiny ones make it look too much a bling Dub city toy. (That's why I like the black pockets on Guy's Chally). And the shifter is a bit more sturdy looking than the standard one.

Then it came over here and the only other UK owner for a year also did two things; both of which I didn't like. He turned it into a total blackout with deep tinted rear windows and blacked out rear lights. Too much gangstery stealth for me. There's only one picture as it was, but they had to go. Firstly I want as much visibility as I can get, especially night time and secondly I didn't want any rubbish from someone whacking me saying couldn't see your bulbs. It was MOT legal but I wanted to see the red strip of lights across the back.

Gas for GOSH · Post by **Gas for GOSH** » Tue May 06, 14 9:42 pm

Love the driving position of it, dials are spot on looking. I haven't messed with all things the onboard computer can do yet but it's a joy to drive and a lot easier to use regularly round here than the mustang was. I've had to use it as a daily driver as my regular work car had major problems and then the wife's car lost its engine so she pinched my Outlander when it came back. Oh dear never mind I'll just have to keep driving the Challenger

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Tue May 06, 14 9:50 pm

Great looking car Simon.....would love to have one of these as a daily!!

Whats the noise like....Muted and stifled or loud and muscular?

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Tue May 06, 14 9:51 pm

Stunning !

BJ Mac · Post by **BJ Mac** » Tue May 06, 14 9:51 pm

That looks great

Gas for GOSH · Post by **Gas for GOSH** » Tue May 06, 14 9:52 pm

We had a German exchange student stay with us so she kindly helped me write a letter to the doctor in Deutschland asking him if he could give me any more history (I have some bits and pieces) or info about the car and its life over there. He's never bothered to reply though so guess that's a dead end.

Took it to brother in law's pit to waxoyl it as it will get plenty of use and I want to give it some decent protection. Coincidently looking underneath there's a few Made in Germany stamps on the transmission and Bilstien shocks. Plus, this might be a bit iffy, but I've been told that when mine was made Chrysler was hooked up with Mercedes and if any fault codes appear that a standard UK OBD handheld cant cure then I should be able to get a Mercedes dealer to interrogate and clear them. Any views on this? You can't waxoyl everything underneath but it still took 4 litres of the stuff to get everywhere I could, including the boot floor.

Gas for GOSH · Post by **Gas for GOSH** » Tue May 06, 14 10:00 pm

Dave - she's very refined on start up which pleases the neighbours. The best noise was the 383 in the Charger, but the Mustang had a Borla and that was meaty just sitting still, so they're not so dismayed when they heard this. So it is blooming quiet on tickover....but put the foot down and she makes a nice roar. The mustang had a nice throaty burble on 2000 revs but hit it and the supercharger whine killed that. At least with this one when you hit it the noise is all engine and my son Josh says it's got a far louder growl than the Mustand under pressure so that's enough for me! I know you can put Mopar Performance exhausts on and such like but I won't even think of that til I have to.

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Tue May 06, 14 11:00 pm

Does it have a tune in it from Diablo ? the diablo will do the codes also

Nice car btw I love mine great cars for sure and just last year they built some 400k units so the one you have is a pretty rare car

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Tue May 06, 14 11:10 pm

Any idea how many were made in 2008 Drew ?

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Tue May 06, 14 11:31 pm

Mossy68 wrote:Any idea how many were made in 2008 Drew ?

Of Simons car

7,209 - SRT8

7,209 Total for 2008

cadboy · Post by **cadboy** » Wed May 07, 14 6:38 am

Love it in BLACk with the black wheels,

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Wed May 07, 14 7:39 am

Car has a nice stance Simon

Of course I'll be over for a test run at some point when the rain stops

Carl · Post by **Carl** » Wed May 07, 14 2:34 pm

Nice looking car Simon I like the black wheels but also don't like the black windows and rear lights, I think your right to get those changed. Other than that its a beaut.

drewcrane · Post by **drewcrane** » Wed May 07, 14 3:23 pm

Just dont buy a six

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100563823

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed May 07, 14 4:18 pm

Superb car, you must be very proud.

I intend Waxoyling the Durango due to the very poor finish from the factory.

Did you use a spray gun from a compressor?