Ah, but then your average Lotus would make virtually any car in the world feel distinctly average whether driven on a British country road or whether driven through town. There will be a significant difference between say, an Elise, and an apparently good-handling Mustang. The difference between the Mustang and the Challenger will be much, much smaller, and therefore, irrelevant in context.
I would be very surprised if even something apparently impressive like the Mustang handles as well as... well, even pretty much
any European Ford like the Mundano.
That's how little handling matters in a muscle car. As long as it isn't genuinely crap, then it's good enough to be a good muscle car.[/quote]
If I buy a car like the Challenger, then I agree that I am not looking for the thing to handle like it's on rails. But I would still expect to get at least a little joy out of turning the wheel. Especially since these are performance machines. I don't really want something that feels like my family's Volvo with a bigger engine.
Jalopnik did a comparo between the three cars. And they did say that the Challenger was
terrible. Unless you enjoy a car as unpredictable and difficult as they say the thing is, then the car is not enjoyable in the corners. And I would imagine that it is also pretty uninspiring while you're just driving around. I don't require race car reflexes, especially in a muscle car, but a performance car that handles terribly still scares me. Especially in modern times when even Toyota Camry's can't be too bad to hustle around corners. They also liked the Mustang's handling a lot better, so there's nothing saying a muscle car can't handle well and still be a great muscle car.
As a bit of a side note, Jalopnik also says that the acceleration was pretty rubbish compared to the other two. So apparently the R/T version can't even do the muscle car bit properly.
Not to get to personal, but for instance - you drive a Golf GTI - a perfectly impressive and decent-handling car, but one which is utterly destroyed in most subjective measures by the average Renault or Ford (or MINI) hatch in Europe. That certainly doesn't mean the GTI is a bad handler, but it certainly doesn't shine against the formidable competition it faces. I strongly suspect the Challenger falls into a similar category - that not of a bad handler, simply one marginally outclassed by it's closest competition.
And therefore, not something to be derided as a significant down-side against the Mustang or Camaro.
Really? Not to be stuck up about the thing or whatever, but I'm kinda surprised to see the GTI getting beat by run of the mill hatchbacks in terms of handling. I'm sure the Renaultsports, JCW MINIs and RS Focuses walk all over the GTI on handling circuits but I thought that a handling oriented hot hatch would run circles around a 1.2 Diesel Clio.
The thing is that the Challenger
is a badly handling car. And that is quite a bit of a downside against the other two, which can hold their own when the road turns, and still outperform the Dodge on straight roads.
Disagree by quite alot. I would enjoy the Challenger much more. Why? Theatre, passion, looks, NOISE and most importantly its just bonkers. The Lotus is boring, cramped, doesn't make a particularly pleasant noise (thanks Toyota) and is more about maths than actual fun. Its designed to get around a track fast--that's the whole point. Yes alot of us might find that fun but not everyday to and from work. I can't enjoy hitting the corner's apex @ 85mph around town. I CAN however enjoy an enthusiastic stomp on the throttle at the lights or to merge on the motorway while making a hell of alot of noise in the process. The Challenger doesn't care about drag coefficient, lateral G's, apexes or being lightweight. It is a big car that looks cool, makes a good noise, smokes its tires and goes quickly in a straight line. EVERYTHING ELSE about the car whether it is good or bad is a moot point as it is just a +/- otherwise. Its a CAR for the sake of BEING a car. You drive it, it puts a smile on your face. If it doesn't check your pulse.
I guess handling vs. big muscle is down to the feelings of the buyer. I can't argue with you that ^^^ is what you want in your car, just like how you wouldn't be able to tell me that my preference for a car that handles well is wrong.
And the funny thing is that I would take an SRT-8 Challenger over the Mustang and Camaro on most days. I would still need another car though, because I wouldn't be able to put up with something that handles sloppily every day. Yet the noise, looks and acceleration are enough to make me want that car quite a bit. But in R/T trim, the Challenger drops from first to last on that list, just because one of it's few great positives isn't a positive anymore.
And you COULD obtain one its just Her Majesty would tax the hell out if it. 
👍
. That is why I put it in the same boat as the others.
