The Word Around Campbells

2012 Dodge Challenger

2011-12-26T16:48:00.000-08:00

So what, really, isn’t fantastic about the 2012 Challenger? You are all entitled to your opinions, but for this guy, the marriage of classic and contemporary has never been as successfully applied as it is with these new models. Check out what Edmunds.com says:

“The 2012 Dodge Challenger might look and move like a muscle car, but its ability to double as a grand touring coupe confirms its status as the most livable of the reborn muscle cars”.

Now coming to play in three delicious trim packs, the Challenger exudes equal parts comfort and power. Starting with SXT and SXT Plus coming in at $24,995 and $26,995 respectively, your base model Challengers tout a 305-hp Pentastar V6, 5 speed auto tranny, power seats, alloy wheels, and the SXT gets some extra goodies like heated leather seats, and a Boston Acoustics sound system.

Our next plateau on the hill of awesomeness reveals the R/T, R/T Plus, and (my personal fav) the R/T Classic. Our ride starts getting a bit racy with a 375-hp 5.7L HEMI V8 and slick 6 speed manual; and tighter with the addition of performance steering and suspension. Like the SXT Plus, the R/T Plus adds in the little niceties: heated leather seats, Boston Acoustics blah blah blah. Anyway! The R/T Classic! Rocking a functional hood scoop (and check out the big Mopar hood scoop), and the retro Mopar striping. Dodge has achieved the goal that everyone was hoping for with other throwback attempts.

And now (drumroll please), the toy everyone wanted for Christmas, the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8! Murilee Martin, on thetruthaboutcars.com calls it “a manly, tire-smokin’ V8-powered vehicle that ought to make heartland American car freaks… start chanting teary-eyed Pledges of Allegiance to a fiery sky full of imaginary F-111s. That would be the Challenger SRT8, of course, in Vanishing Point white.” I couldn’t agree more : ) The SRT8 stands strong and proud packing a 392-cubic inch, 470-hp SRT® HEMI® V8 engine, SRT® exhaust system, SRT-tuned suspension, and what’s this? The SRT Track Experience? What on Earth could that be? So glad you asked!

Well if you’re like most of us, you haven’t spent the majority of your driving years behind the wheel of a rocket ship and therefore, may not be fully aware of what this vehicle is capable of. Enter the SRT Track Experience. Check out their website: http://drivesrt.com/, where they explain: “The SRT Track Experience is an entire day of full-throttle action for SRT vehicle owners and performance enthusiasts alike. The SRT Track Experience includes guidance by professional instructors from the Richard Petty Driving Experience for each of five modules to ensure fun and top-level instruction in a safe and structured setting.” I bring this up why? Because with the purchase of your new SRT8 vehicle you get free registration.

Looks, power, affordability, comfort; I am not sure what else you could ask for. Maybe a little more leg room in the back, but I am sure you’ll be pleased when comparing to some of the Challengers rivals. So go test drive a new Challenger already! Of course we have some at Campbell Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Centralia, Washington; but if you can’t make it here, I am sure you can find one locally.

Info, specs, and starting prices taken from Dodge.com. Check www.campbellchrysler.com for actual prices.

Campbells Rollling in Winlock Veterans Parade

2011-11-09T17:08:00.000-08:00

Campbell Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Inc. donated a truck for the Veteran's Day Parade in Winlock on 5 November 2011. This truck, a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Express, was a Flame Red, Standard Cab, Regular Bed, 4x4, Hemi-powered monster. It was used as the throne vehicle for Miss Liberty(Samantha Rosbach). Event organizer(April Farey) and the family of Miss Liberty expressed gratitude that Campbell's was able to provide such a great vehicle. Throughout the parade route there were many comments about the truck. People always like seeing the newest vehicles that we can offer here at Campbell's.

Photo and story courtesy of Campbell's Parts Advisor Randy Pennington.

2012 Jeep Wrangler

2011-10-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

O happy day! We got in our first 2012 Jeep Wrangler! This model is sporting a bold “Dozer” orange and a rockin new engine. Jeep is now introducing the 3.6L, 285 hp Pentastar V6, getting 260 lb-ft of torque and bragging 21 mpg. I prefer (I think most would in a Jeep) the 6 speed manual, but there is also a 5 speed auto for those of you non-clutch fans out there.

The Wrangler is becoming more and more a fairly comfortable vehicle. I guess with enough buyers who just want to look good in a Jeep and not really take it off road, the addition creature comforts make a for a nice ride. Heated seats, heated mirrors, power windows, locks, leather seats, steering wheel controls, UConnect, and added sound insulation make this year’s Wrangler the best to cruise around town in.

But don’t you for a second think that the engineers at Jeep are gonna let performance slide because of a few niceties. If you’re the one out there in the woods or in the mountains, you don’t get cell service, so who needs UConnect? Who needs power windows? The doors and the top are coming off! The 2012’s are getting the most traction than any other wrangler ever. Check out the Rock-Trac®, Command-Trac®, and Track-Lok® Differential at www.Jeep.com. Driving the Wrangler around it town it performed exactly as I expected it to. The interior feels pretty much like a 2011 as far as seat height, pedals and steering wheel location; the real noticeable difference is stepping on the gas. You can really feel the extra 80+ hp.

The Wrangler is an iconic favorite that will never die. Going anywhere, doing anything, playing in the mud, climbing mountains, and splashing in the water. Thank you Jeep : )

2012 Dodge Journey Crew

2011-09-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

Here at Campbell Chrysler Jeep Dodge, we just started getting in some of the 2012 Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles and there isn’t one so far that I am not happy with. I just got the opportunity a few days ago to drive the 2012 Dodge Journey Crew, which is more and more becoming one of my favorites. The more I am around the Journeys the more I like them. This particular model had the “Bianco White” exterior and a Tan over Black leather interior (which coincidentally also happens to be my favorite color scheme).

Upon entering the driver’s seat I played for a bit with the power seats to get the position just right, which can take some time in any rig that you are unfamiliar with, but I was victorious and sat quite comfortably. I wanted to try the heated seat option, but it was around 85 degrees out, so I just assumed it would be very nice in the winter : ) All of the interior controls seemed to be within normal reach, especially with the steering wheel controls, nothing seemed to be out of place or awkward, unlike a 2009 Journey I had driven where the radio sat at the bottom on an extended center console that ended up close to my knee.

Driving down the road was pleasant, fairly quiet and smooth. The 3.6-Liter V6 24-Valve VVT Engine was pretty peppy, and overall the vehicle handled exactly as I expected it to; there was no surprising over-sensitive brakes or accelerator, but nor were they sluggish. The mpg is rated at 17city/25hwy or 16city/ 24hwy if you opt for the AWD.

This model had the optional 3^rd row seating which folds down in sections, which leads me to my only real discomfort, to get to these seats you would have to manage the middle row first. There are three levers that I didn’t quite understand right away even though there was a small picture imprinted on the plastic. I proceeded to start pulling levers with a push here and a pull there not really knowing what should be happening. Turns out, the middle lever pops the seat bottom up and the seat back forward sandwiching them together. “What’s the purpose of that?” I ask myself. So I continue to fiddle with it and find that in this position the seat slides back and forth, but it took bracing my body in the doorframe, a huge shove, and a grunt to get it to slide. I am hoping that it just needs to be broken in, maybe oiled, because that was a little much.

What I really loved, loved, about the Journey was all the handy, hidden storage spaces! There is one in the back that is quite large, two in front of the middle row seats in the floor, and the real kicker: in the front passenger seat! I mean in-in the seat, there is a small tab that you pull, the seat folds up and BAM! there is a storage box there! Oh, and did I mention the built in booster seats? That’s right, I said booster seat. In the front of the middle row seats there is a tab that when pulled releases the center of the seat move up 5 or 6 inches!

Overall I am really impressed with the new Journey. The Base model starts at $22,245, the crew starts at $28,245 and the Lux which starts at $31,945. Other models are the Express, Mainstreet, and R/T. To find out more check out www.campbellchrysler.com.

Campbells First Blog!

2011-09-15T15:10:00.000-07:00

We'll soon be bringing you news, car reviews, and fun stuff on our Campbell Chrysler Blog! Check back weekly for new reports : )