The lifters go out and eat up the cam. Other than that they are good engines. I don't like the manual transmissions, they just don't have a good feel to them. The automatics are faster and more fun. We had a R/T in the shop recently that spun the pilot bearing and damaged the crankshaft.
You could, it will start out as a ticking noise first. It is an expensive repair, the heads have to come off to replace the lifters.
Dodge has a long history of poor reliability in their auto trannys. Besides, anyone with any sense of performanperformance gets a manual. Do they shift faster? Potentially, but it's not an absolute. Also, what difference does it make if it shifts faster into the wrong gear or can't think ahead to be in the right gear at the right time?
I would recommend https://www.truedelta.com/ to get owner's perspective on maintenance issues. I would say that the information on our two cars (one with 100K miles and the other with 60K miles) is very accurate for the issues we have seen.
A friend of mine has been a GM master mechanic for 16 years. He had a charger, hated the thing. He sold it and got a Mustang. Has nothing but bad things to say about Chevy, GM, etc. When a GM mechanic won't even recommend a GM product...
There are also Dodge mechanics who won't recommend Dodge products, while there are plenty of GM technicians who do recommend (& purchase) GM products.
No, but I had a 1970 'Cuda 440-6 with a Dana 4:11 rear end from the factory as a young man. I'd give my eye teeth to have that one back. I've seen a 'Cuda kit online for the new Challengers. That would be cool.
I used to feel that way. These newer autos have changed my mind, at least for Mopars. I still like a manual, I just don't like the one Dodge is using. The detents are too firm, I like a transmission to slip into gear smoothly.
I had a Challenger about 35 years ago. I'd give my front, back, side and eye teeth for that one again. Bright orange 74. Nemo