Dodge Challenger - Long Road Trip Reliability

[ChallengerIRL]

jonah35 said:

I’ll go against the grain....

Just jump in it and drive it home.

Doubt you will need any prep or anything at all.

It’s a new Ish car and should just take it in it’s stride

I would hope so but side of the road in Iran scratching my head and thinking "I should of posted that thread on Pistonheads" is not the look I am going for.

[ChallengerIRL]

mfp4073 said:

Yes indeed, that was my intention. As with all information on here you can take it into consideration.......or not.

Edited by mfp4073 on Saturday 30th December 22:18

Indeed, 50% of the reason of posting this was to figure out any potential re-sale issues and of course things to look out for before I buy.

[ChallengerIRL]

powerstroke said:

I would guess the engine choice would make the most difference come resale time
best would be a V8 auto in a nice bright colour ... as for reliability I would do a full service and
buy a spare belt full size spare wheel , tyre foam oil and coolant bulb kit decent jack and a few hand tools , good luck it sounds like a great adventure...

I am swaying more towards the V8 auto now. Thanks, fingers crossed I can and will pull the trigger on this. So, far, I am not being scared away from it.

[LuS1fer]

Undoubtedly, it must be the V8 for resale purposes. The V6 Mustangs have always suffered on resale because everyone wants a V8, even when the later V6 produced 305hp.

[Total loss]

Just out of interest, what would be the route home? How do you get past Syria & Iraq? I'm guessing the rest of the journey would be quite straight forward.

[ChallengerIRL]

Total loss said:

Just out of interest, what would be the route home? How do you get past Syria & Iraq? I'm guessing the rest of the journey would be quite straight forward.

It currently looking like this....




Ferry from Sharjah, UAE to Bandar Abbas, Iran which is where the map route starts from above. The ferry is about 12hrs and crosses the Persian Gulf.

I originally looked at going through Saudi, South Iraq, Syria and then into Turkey but I was advised in another thread about the ferry to Iran. I have heard Iran is really cool and the people are great so I think that route is going to be the one.

• Edit - If in the next few months the political climate changes to a point that it would be extremely stupid to do this journey in its current form then I plan on shipping the car to Italy, Greece or Croatia and starting from there but taking in a lot more of Europe on the way home.

Edited by ChallengerIRL on Monday 1st January 20:58

Edited by ChallengerIRL on Monday 1st January 21:00

[rufmeister]

09 Challenger SRT8 owner here, I’d drive it anywhere, it feels really strong and a nice drive. Did the South of France to Milton Keynes in ours, was effortless.

[ChallengerIRL]

rufmeister said:

09 Challenger SRT8 owner here, I’d drive it anywhere, it feels really strong and a nice drive. Did the South of France to Milton Keynes in ours, was effortless.

Is the car comfortable? Some days I will be planning on 1200km split between 2 drivers and I am really hoping for comfortable seats. I have yet to get the chance to sit in a challenger but I my thinking is its a big American tank so it bound to at least be comfy to cruise in.

[rufmeister]

Very comfortable. The seats are lovely and wide and supportive too. I suffer from a herniated disc, so comfort is important.

I’d chooose an auto for that journey if I had to, mines manual and getting stuck in traffic is hard work going through the gears.

Any help needed, feel free to ask.

[ChallengerIRL]

rufmeister said:

Very comfortable. The seats are lovely and wide and supportive too. I suffer from a herniated disc, so comfort is important.

I’d chooose an auto for that journey if I had to, mines manual and getting stuck in traffic is hard work going through the gears.

Any help needed, feel free to ask.

Any pictures of the seats certainly look comfortable but good to get your feed back on that. I am sure as time gets closer I may PM you to ask a few more questions but for now I am just trying to gather as much general info as possible. In regards transmission I was always more auto for this type of journey and car. I've never associated an American car with a manual but I was/am open to be told I am making mistake......yet to hear that though.

[Matt Harper]

ChallengerIRL said:

Any pictures of the seats certainly look comfortable but good to get your feed back on that. I am sure as time gets closer I may PM you to ask a few more questions but for now I am just trying to gather as much general info as possible. In regards transmission I was always more auto for this type of journey and car. I've never associated an American car with a manual but I was/am open to be told I am making mistake......yet to hear that though.

I have a 2015 392 Scat Pack - similarly confirm that the seats are extremely comfy and supportive and are heated/cooled.





I would have chosen 6 speed manual, but the clutch was too heavy for my petite wife, who drives it more than I do.

Autos changed from MB 5G-Tronic to ZF 8 speed in 2015 model year. The ZF is a definite upgrade to the 5 speed Benzo.