Editor Bolig let me drive the SRT-8 press car last night, and I can tell you first hand this thing is a blast.

Every so often Chrysler blesses us with a press vehicle to test, and this week they brought us an SRT 8, Six-speed, 2009 Challenger. I promised editor Bolig that I'd be careful with it, so he let me drive it for the evening.

Now I've heard the complaints, that the new Challenger is too big, too heavy, etc. All I can say is, the complaints are unfounded. The new Challenger is big, and somewhat heavy, but that takes nothing away from the performance of this vehicle. This car accelerates, handles, and stops as well as much more expensive vehicles, and is comfortable and fun to drive.

The engine is powerful, and the six-speed has very close ratio gears that keep the engine in its peak rpm range throughout acceleration. Powershifting is easy and provides solid, tire-chirping (or tire spinning) shifts.

If you'd like to compare it to a '70 Challenger, go ahead. The new Challenger beats it hands down in every category (except maybe the coolness factor of driving an old car). The weight of the new Challenger actually makes it feel solid, and it rides very well. And though power-to-weight ratio might not be as ideal as a '70 Hemi car, close gear ratios and better traction ensure the new Challenger would easily beat the old one on the drag strip.

And if you're driving daily, the new car is much smoother, quieter, and has many more convenience options than the old Challenger.

All I can say, is that I'm glad Mopar finally made a two-door, V-8, rear wheel drive performance car. If you doubt my opinion, drive one.