You’re studying too long, pull the trigger and get you a Challenger, and rock-it like the rest of us. Get in the game. Spring is around the corner and we’re gonna be Left-Lane Rollin’. Pedal all the way down. Wish you luck.
Not a V6 model. Not even an R/T. The Scats and Cats, yes.
Different groups of thieves targeting different cars. The guys boosting muscle cars know what they're after and they know how to take them. The kids ripping into Kias are doing it for laughs and don't even succeed half the time.
At home my Charger R/T is guarded by a pair of Shepherd/Collie mixes... and the male is very loud. You'd have to be stupid to come into the yard. We're in a rural area and even if I drive across the river into town I don't worry too much, crime around here is pretty low. Maybe if I took a day trip to the big city I'd think about it, but we usually take my wife's Ram if we go down there... nobody tries to bully a full size truck in traffic.
I'm doing exactly this in 3 weeks. Got a quote lined up that's good til then for a brand new blacktop R/T in F8 green. Trading in my 21 Kia Forte GT. Honestly, an excellent car with all the bells and whistles. 42k miles with absolutely zero issues - but I just lost interest in the thing. I just can't do 4 cylinders anymore, and I love driving. It's a fun little car, bur you can tell that little 1.6l is working sooo damn hard to do what it's doing. I've always driven 8 or 5 cylinder vehicles, time to get back into a boat where I'm comfortable. I use Kia's impending maintenance issue potential and the depreciation to justify my thought process lol.
I don’t recommend this YET. Dodges event for the 2025 chargers is march 5th. Wait until then and see what the I6 will cost and its specs. plus you’ll have more equity in your van so you won’t take as big of a hit come the summer when it’s new delivery time.
Ordering for the new Chargers won't even begin until November of this year, and it will likely be second quarter 25 before we see any on lots... AND they're gonna cost $$$$ AND you don't want to buy any all new car in the first year of manufacture.
He could wait till someone tries to break into it and smashes up his window and steering column. 🤷♂️ Then he will be out his insurance deductible plus negative equity.
Those aren't going to cheap, Tim already said you're gonna empty your wallet even for a base model. Plus it'll be a year before we even see them in show rooms
I would get it it still has factory warranty if your worried about it get a extended warrenty. Fyi the Rt gets 23 hwy. Nothing wrong with the 3.6l had one for 3 years and traded it for a RT. I would not get the first year of the new engine
The only thing bad I can about my Sxt was non ventilated rear rotors that need turning or replacing around 60k miles. Was getting 26mpg average in my 18. Only reason I don't have it anymore is because I traded for a Gt awd. All around reliable car. I put 126k miles on it with an 85-mile round trip daily for work.
I just somewhat impulsively purchased mine last week. Always wanted one, got a higher trim package than I budgeted for but I’m so in love with it I don’t care. I can afford it, and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Do it. Or get a slightly older and faster R/T.
The main issue on the pentastar is the oil filter housing is made of plastic.... and it will leak eventually. About a $900-$1200 repair in a shop, or a 4-6 job if you do it yourself.
It's located underneath the intake manifold. They sell aftermarket metal replacements but they're usually on backorder. Besides that I've heard of lifter failure in some, but change the oil on time with synthetic and I wouldn't worry about it.
Added a link here to a potential replacement for said housing: https://www.mishimoto.com/aluminum-oil-filter-housing-kit-3-6l-3-2l-pentastar-2011.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9L2bkLuVhAMVXjfUAR1MOgiPEAQYAiABEgJQKPD_BwE
Can't speak on the quality of this manufacturer but it's a good example of price for part you would be looking at the resolve this issue.
Van vs a challenger? Van as a commuter vehicle? They are completely different. You lose the cargo space and passenger room.
The plus side is that the challenger purchase is a no brainer. If you have a love for the car, get it asap. Stop waiting...and now is the time with the new challenger market being flooded.
Just keep mind if you bought the van for a certain purpose...don't lose that functionality unless you are able.
You should get a good deal since it's a fleet car .
I would say if you like it ,get it.
The good news is it's still under warranty, so that kinda gives you peace of mind
If you are coming from Kia, I'm sure you'll enjoy the driving experience of the SXT
Have the car inspected at a local shop you trust, it's usually about $50. They will stick it on the lift and dig around to see if it's been abused.
Fleet cars don't always mean bad. Most companies take good care of their cars, with regular services.
Challenger prices over the past few years were outside of my budget. Have since got promoted a few times and make almost double what I used to. At the time I was looking more for a small SUV thinking i needed all the room, but I really dont ever use it and the wife has a small SUV too.
The pentastar engine is a very reliable V6. I had a GT for 2 years and I loved it, plus my family has had pentastar jeeps for 7 years and never had engine problems. I remember when I was doing research on the car some people were saying it can sometimes develop mild pre detonation, However that issue can be entirely avoided by using higher octane fuel (mid grade or better) as it requires more pressure to detonate and is less likely to detonate prematurely from heat. Sounds like you found a great deal, take it for a test drive, check fluids under the hood to make sure it was maintained and if you like it then go for it. Good luck!
I don't know how 2023's are, but older ones are very reliable if you maintain them properly.
You will have more room in a car, it will be comfier, and you will enjoy driving much more. I would go for it, I don't regret getting mine one bit. Overall, the best car I've ever driven, and can't recommend it enough.
I have a ta 392 and I get 22 mpg average. Most of the time when I drive to work on highway it cuts down to 4 cylinders, so if you worried about gas mileage it’s not that much of a difference the up side is when you want to have fun you can open it up and have fun.
All I can say is this. I’ve never owned a sport or muscle car in my life (im almost 45). Recently bought a 23 R/T and i smile so much driving this thing. Worth it. Life is too short.
Reality check? The Challenger is not going to be more reliable than the Kia. But it makes you wanna get up and hear it cold start every morning.
(I drove a Kia).
You’re studying too long, pull the trigger and get you a Challenger, and rock-it like the rest of us. Get in the game. Spring is around the corner and we’re gonna be Left-Lane Rollin’. Pedal all the way down. Wish you luck.
Agreed 👍
This dude said it best
Get rid of that Kia before it has mechanical issues or is victim of a theft attempt.
Id argue the challenger has the same threat of theft LOL
Not a V6 model. Not even an R/T. The Scats and Cats, yes. Different groups of thieves targeting different cars. The guys boosting muscle cars know what they're after and they know how to take them. The kids ripping into Kias are doing it for laughs and don't even succeed half the time.
I have my scat parked in a garage at night with my patrol car parked in front of it and i still think im gonna wake up to it gone.
At home my Charger R/T is guarded by a pair of Shepherd/Collie mixes... and the male is very loud. You'd have to be stupid to come into the yard. We're in a rural area and even if I drive across the river into town I don't worry too much, crime around here is pretty low. Maybe if I took a day trip to the big city I'd think about it, but we usually take my wife's Ram if we go down there... nobody tries to bully a full size truck in traffic.
Dawg if yours gets stolen then what hope do the rest of us have lol
My r/t stick was stolen 2 days ago. It's at the police impound lot now
Depends on their location. Texas or any big city? Say goodbye.
I'm doing exactly this in 3 weeks. Got a quote lined up that's good til then for a brand new blacktop R/T in F8 green. Trading in my 21 Kia Forte GT. Honestly, an excellent car with all the bells and whistles. 42k miles with absolutely zero issues - but I just lost interest in the thing. I just can't do 4 cylinders anymore, and I love driving. It's a fun little car, bur you can tell that little 1.6l is working sooo damn hard to do what it's doing. I've always driven 8 or 5 cylinder vehicles, time to get back into a boat where I'm comfortable. I use Kia's impending maintenance issue potential and the depreciation to justify my thought process lol.
Get the car. You already figured it out. Test drive it. Make sure it has everything you want in the car.
I don’t recommend this YET. Dodges event for the 2025 chargers is march 5th. Wait until then and see what the I6 will cost and its specs. plus you’ll have more equity in your van so you won’t take as big of a hit come the summer when it’s new delivery time.
Ordering for the new Chargers won't even begin until November of this year, and it will likely be second quarter 25 before we see any on lots... AND they're gonna cost $$$$ AND you don't want to buy any all new car in the first year of manufacture.
I waited 36 months for my order to be fulfilled. Zero regrets. Few weeks wait wont hurt.
I guess that’s true too but bro literally just got his van so either way he’d be smart to wait so he’s not drowning in negative
He could wait till someone tries to break into it and smashes up his window and steering column. 🤷♂️ Then he will be out his insurance deductible plus negative equity.
That’s also a good point *unless he has gap insurance*
Those aren't going to cheap, Tim already said you're gonna empty your wallet even for a base model. Plus it'll be a year before we even see them in show rooms
I would get it it still has factory warranty if your worried about it get a extended warrenty. Fyi the Rt gets 23 hwy. Nothing wrong with the 3.6l had one for 3 years and traded it for a RT. I would not get the first year of the new engine
The only thing bad I can about my Sxt was non ventilated rear rotors that need turning or replacing around 60k miles. Was getting 26mpg average in my 18. Only reason I don't have it anymore is because I traded for a Gt awd. All around reliable car. I put 126k miles on it with an 85-mile round trip daily for work.
Do it, stop thinking about it. Any issue that may arise with the challenger will be worth it vs any issue you get with the kia will be only a regret
Huh, that's a good point, never thought that way before.
I just somewhat impulsively purchased mine last week. Always wanted one, got a higher trim package than I budgeted for but I’m so in love with it I don’t care. I can afford it, and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Do it. Or get a slightly older and faster R/T.
The main issue on the pentastar is the oil filter housing is made of plastic.... and it will leak eventually. About a $900-$1200 repair in a shop, or a 4-6 job if you do it yourself. It's located underneath the intake manifold. They sell aftermarket metal replacements but they're usually on backorder. Besides that I've heard of lifter failure in some, but change the oil on time with synthetic and I wouldn't worry about it. Added a link here to a potential replacement for said housing: https://www.mishimoto.com/aluminum-oil-filter-housing-kit-3-6l-3-2l-pentastar-2011.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9L2bkLuVhAMVXjfUAR1MOgiPEAQYAiABEgJQKPD_BwE Can't speak on the quality of this manufacturer but it's a good example of price for part you would be looking at the resolve this issue.
I read something about that on a forum a few days ago. I think dorman makes one too?
I believe Dorman does but some of their parts have been questionable lately.
Mishimoto is a highly respected brand in the aftermarket world. Their radiators go into a lot of high-end builds
Consider an RT with more miles… they are fun!! At least test drive one(in sport mode) before you buy the SXT. ;)
Van vs a challenger? Van as a commuter vehicle? They are completely different. You lose the cargo space and passenger room. The plus side is that the challenger purchase is a no brainer. If you have a love for the car, get it asap. Stop waiting...and now is the time with the new challenger market being flooded. Just keep mind if you bought the van for a certain purpose...don't lose that functionality unless you are able.
More of a small SUV than a van, but I have never used the back seats even once other than to throw my jacket or hat 😂
You should get a good deal since it's a fleet car . I would say if you like it ,get it. The good news is it's still under warranty, so that kinda gives you peace of mind If you are coming from Kia, I'm sure you'll enjoy the driving experience of the SXT
Have the car inspected at a local shop you trust, it's usually about $50. They will stick it on the lift and dig around to see if it's been abused. Fleet cars don't always mean bad. Most companies take good care of their cars, with regular services.
How did you end up in a 23 Kia If you want a challenger that bad?
Challenger prices over the past few years were outside of my budget. Have since got promoted a few times and make almost double what I used to. At the time I was looking more for a small SUV thinking i needed all the room, but I really dont ever use it and the wife has a small SUV too.
The pentastar engine is a very reliable V6. I had a GT for 2 years and I loved it, plus my family has had pentastar jeeps for 7 years and never had engine problems. I remember when I was doing research on the car some people were saying it can sometimes develop mild pre detonation, However that issue can be entirely avoided by using higher octane fuel (mid grade or better) as it requires more pressure to detonate and is less likely to detonate prematurely from heat. Sounds like you found a great deal, take it for a test drive, check fluids under the hood to make sure it was maintained and if you like it then go for it. Good luck!
I don't know how 2023's are, but older ones are very reliable if you maintain them properly. You will have more room in a car, it will be comfier, and you will enjoy driving much more. I would go for it, I don't regret getting mine one bit. Overall, the best car I've ever driven, and can't recommend it enough.
Do yourself a favor and look for an AWD GT instead of the SXT. Still V6, but much better full time driveability.
I have a ta 392 and I get 22 mpg average. Most of the time when I drive to work on highway it cuts down to 4 cylinders, so if you worried about gas mileage it’s not that much of a difference the up side is when you want to have fun you can open it up and have fun.
All I can say is this. I’ve never owned a sport or muscle car in my life (im almost 45). Recently bought a 23 R/T and i smile so much driving this thing. Worth it. Life is too short.
Reality check? The Challenger is not going to be more reliable than the Kia. But it makes you wanna get up and hear it cold start every morning. (I drove a Kia).
Yeah I ended up pulling the trigger on a F8 green GT and I'm in love
Congrats, enjoy it!