Vulture
12-14-2005, 08:37 PM
Sorry for the lengthy posting but its well worth the read :)
First I had a 2005 Magnum RT I purchased in October 2004. Nice car, loved it but then came along the SRT-8 and my joy was somewhat dampened. I had purchased every possible magazine about the SRT and I read and re-read the articles drooling over the pages.
Then no kidding...what does my AWESOME wife decide to give me for this Christmass... Well none other than her blessing to trade my RT in on a new Silver fully loaded SRT she saw at the local Dodge dealer sitting in the showroom.
My wife ROCKS. :rck:
For those of you that purchased an SRT-8 outright I actually feel a little bad for you. You can only truly appreciate it when you go from the RT to the SRT. The difference is amazing and must be experienced to appreciate.
The steering is tighter and much quicker. The ride is harsher, but but gives you more the feeling that you are riding in a sports car. The sound is much like my old RT, but I had a Borla system and the K&N Typhoon kit on the RT, this is still bone stock. The acceleration...well lets just say that I am still looking for a good plastic surgeon to remove the smile off my face.
Now to some technical info I have seen others posting about:
My car has a date of 10/05 as the date of production. I have seen many posting about whether the ESP SYSTEM can be or cannot be deactivated. I don't know about cars produced before mine, but mine can. If the ESP button is held down for about 10 seconds there is a chime. The info center message is "ESP Deactivated" When that goes out, normally the milage is displayed on the bottom line. This is replace by the message "ESP OFF".
Onto the subject of burn outs...When the ESP is off, my only question is whether you want to go thru 1 or 2 zip codes before you finally see the $$$$ going up in smoke in the rear view mirror. These tires aren't cheap you know. My car currently has only 435 miles on it... but had to try it just once. For this reason I have not replicated this party for measurement purposes. Will keep everyone posted. By the way this was with no brake stand in any way, just a sucker punch on the gas.
The pause between shifts. I have not been able to detect any at all. It shifts quick and crisp. Can't wait till she's broken in, to she if she'll chirp second with ESP off. Although who knows maybe when its floored there will be a pause to protect the transmission. I will have to wait the long agonizing 600 miles to update everyone on this.
On the suject of the "quasi" manual shifting. This car is much different than my old RT. When you go into auto stick mode it stays there unless you hold the shifter to the left for at least 5 seconds. If not it only goes up a gear provided you are going fast enough for the car to go up a gear. The numbers as displayed are 1-5. You CAN and I repeat you can take off in second gear from a stop. Not much action though. At least on this car the auto stick works the way we have all been complaining for since the RT was first produced. You can control what gear at what speed provided the system does not forsee a bogging problem.
I will keep everyone posted as to what else I find. I guess there have been some recent updates to the SRT-8's. I have read numerous posting that are in direct contradiction to what I am saying but I can only speak to cars produced 10/05 to now. :rck:
First I had a 2005 Magnum RT I purchased in October 2004. Nice car, loved it but then came along the SRT-8 and my joy was somewhat dampened. I had purchased every possible magazine about the SRT and I read and re-read the articles drooling over the pages.
Then no kidding...what does my AWESOME wife decide to give me for this Christmass... Well none other than her blessing to trade my RT in on a new Silver fully loaded SRT she saw at the local Dodge dealer sitting in the showroom.
My wife ROCKS. :rck:
For those of you that purchased an SRT-8 outright I actually feel a little bad for you. You can only truly appreciate it when you go from the RT to the SRT. The difference is amazing and must be experienced to appreciate.
The steering is tighter and much quicker. The ride is harsher, but but gives you more the feeling that you are riding in a sports car. The sound is much like my old RT, but I had a Borla system and the K&N Typhoon kit on the RT, this is still bone stock. The acceleration...well lets just say that I am still looking for a good plastic surgeon to remove the smile off my face.
Now to some technical info I have seen others posting about:
My car has a date of 10/05 as the date of production. I have seen many posting about whether the ESP SYSTEM can be or cannot be deactivated. I don't know about cars produced before mine, but mine can. If the ESP button is held down for about 10 seconds there is a chime. The info center message is "ESP Deactivated" When that goes out, normally the milage is displayed on the bottom line. This is replace by the message "ESP OFF".
Onto the subject of burn outs...When the ESP is off, my only question is whether you want to go thru 1 or 2 zip codes before you finally see the $$$$ going up in smoke in the rear view mirror. These tires aren't cheap you know. My car currently has only 435 miles on it... but had to try it just once. For this reason I have not replicated this party for measurement purposes. Will keep everyone posted. By the way this was with no brake stand in any way, just a sucker punch on the gas.
The pause between shifts. I have not been able to detect any at all. It shifts quick and crisp. Can't wait till she's broken in, to she if she'll chirp second with ESP off. Although who knows maybe when its floored there will be a pause to protect the transmission. I will have to wait the long agonizing 600 miles to update everyone on this.
On the suject of the "quasi" manual shifting. This car is much different than my old RT. When you go into auto stick mode it stays there unless you hold the shifter to the left for at least 5 seconds. If not it only goes up a gear provided you are going fast enough for the car to go up a gear. The numbers as displayed are 1-5. You CAN and I repeat you can take off in second gear from a stop. Not much action though. At least on this car the auto stick works the way we have all been complaining for since the RT was first produced. You can control what gear at what speed provided the system does not forsee a bogging problem.
I will keep everyone posted as to what else I find. I guess there have been some recent updates to the SRT-8's. I have read numerous posting that are in direct contradiction to what I am saying but I can only speak to cars produced 10/05 to now. :rck: