So, 6,200Km update.
I drove the car the 14hrs to Nova Scotia and then the 14hrs back. I have a lot of seat time in it.
Observations:
1. The seats definitely aren't as nice as the M5 seats. The cooling feature is wonderful but for 14hrs in a seat, the M5 seats you were getting out and your butt felt like you were in the seat for 20 minutes. I developed a sore posterior after about 8 hours in the Charger, I had to keep adjusting my position.
HOWEVER
On the drive back I did not have the same issue, so I'm wondering if a lot of it has to do with the seats breaking-in
They seem more comfortable now that they have some miles on them.
2. The transmission programming has adapted nicely to me and the engine has loosened up a bit and is more responsive. I changed the oil at 2,000Km and there was a fair bit of shiny stuff in it (to be expected).
3. The exhaust is just like the M5's, sooty as all get-up on the rear end (something Steve warned me about).
4. Gas mileage on the highway is FANTASTIC! I only had to get gas twice the entire 1500Km drive, once in Cornwall and then again in Edmunston. The tank is not large (first fill-up was 45 dollars, 2nd was 65). I haven't done a hand calc on the mileage yet but it is definitely better than the M5 and better than my wife's 06.
5. The "smart" features of the car really are fantastic. When you use the remote start in the summer, it cools the seats automatically. When you use the remote start when it is cooler out (like it is now) it will automatically heat the wheel and seats so no matter what the ambient is when you get into the car you are immediately comfortable. The back-up camera is also helpful given the large posterior on the car and the small wing affecting visibility a bit.
6. The little "air dams" that are in front of the tires are a pain the rear. I've managed to break one of them off on a parking curb already as they will scrape on a driveway or big dip in the road. They hang down a good 2" lower than the car does and are right at that transition point between the nose and the wheel making them a bit of a nuisance. I re-attached the one that came off with some Loktite super glue but it came back off again the first time it dragged so I'll need to find something stronger. They pull right out of the moulded plastic underbody panel.
7. Oil changes are a breeze, the panel comes off the same way as it does on my wife's car and the filter is readily accessible. It takes the same filter as the Expedition, the FL-820S (PH16). It holds 7L of oil.
8. The trunk under storage is fantastic. I have my big 20ft long jumper cables wrapped up in there along with a litre of oil. It comes with a compressor and spare tire in a can like the M5 did. The compressor is of high quality and is a nice looking unit.
9. The Active Exhaust is superb. Like the M5, it is dead silent at cruise with no hint of engine noise. You hit the loud pedal and well, it gets loud, but not overbearing. The engine note is beautifully throaty.
10. Then 6.4L HEMI has torque everywhere. it is happy lugging along at low revs easily motivating the big car up to speed and is equally happy playing up in the 6K range hammering off traction-destroying shifts and engaging the traction control with the horrible stock tires, LOL!
It is both incredibly civilized/sedate and a complete monster. It is a wonderful replacement for my S62. There is zero measurable oil consumption so far, it is still above the full line after the long trip. If it is anything like my wife's 5.7, it won't use any oil between changes.
All-in-all I am very happy with the car