This R/T is big, fast, and mates a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 to a five-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels. The engine is not the 6.4-liter monster in the SRT8 version, but it still packs a wallop: 370 horsepower and nearly 400 ft.-lbs. of torque.
It looks and drives like a boss, and its all-wheel drive system means you're more likely to be able to put that power down in a controlled manner when the roads become slippery.
Here's a question for the peanut squad: Is the Charger the spiritual successor to our beloved Crown Vic? The Dodge's a giant, (usually) rear-drive car that's (usually) powered by a V8. It even comes in police flavors.
Maybe that is the best way to think about this one. It's a throw-back--a little crude, sorry, but a throw-back nonetheless to an earlier period. This one is for people who fondly recall the land yachts of the '60s and '70s. It's probably not going to steal people from 7 Series BMWs and big Audis.
My opinion? Good or bad, I'm one of those who dig column-shift automatics, bench seats and yards of chrome. In that respect, the Charger does well. It's pretty decent on the highway, too, if a little floaty. Around town, just like its predecessors, it's a tank to wheel around. Clear way, coming through.
Power? Ours isn't going to outrun the Dukes, but it's pretty stout. Maybe even a little surprising.
Negatives? The interior, mostly. While I give bonus points for the giant display, I couldn't get totally comfortable behind the wheel. The seats felt just a little too flat for me, and partway through a 3-hour drive I found myself making adjustments just keep from cramping up. The interior plastics are also a tad on the cheaper side. Buick beats Dodge here, but I guess that's always been the case in this department.
Closing arguments: No, this isn't a BMW fighter, but I think it's aimed at the person who wants a full-size, traditional family car.
Big, and surprisingly fast with that V8. This thing has to be an absolute hoot in a snowy parking lot with winter tires. You could do the best four-wheel drifts. If he can afford the gas by then, I wouldn't be surprised to have my eventual kid brought home in a black-and-white for doing something really stupid with an AWD Charger.
It is really cheap inside, though. Nothing about the interior feels $42,000 rich, and that's a stark contrast with its good looks outside and the nice leather seats. Plastic switchgear, mid-grade gauges. I don't like the Charger's dash and console layout, either; it's just not attractive.
If you want to feel like a million bucks, get a Chrysler 300 instead. At the $32,000 base price, it buys a much more comfortable car with classier looks and just as much street presence. The 300 will get 31 mpg highway with the V6, too.
I'm gonna stick with my 5.7 liter 2006 GOMANGO! Daytona R/T. I love it. After just a few mods the things a monster on the streets and I get about 23-25 mpg's in the city. Its pushing about 500 HP with about 520Ib of torque. Having those specs with any car is outstanding, let alone a tank like the charger. Either way the car is fast enough for a fun ride, has plenty of room, and doesn't require constant stops at the gas station.
This R/T is big, fast, and mates a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 to a five-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels. The engine is not the 6.4-liter monster in the SRT8 version, but it still packs a wallop: 370 horsepower and nearly 400 ft.-lbs. of torque.
It looks and drives like a boss, and its all-wheel drive system means you're more likely to be able to put that power down in a controlled manner when the roads become slippery.
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