Drove a rental Charger today

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d00df00d

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Impressions in brief, and in no particular order:


- 3.5L V6 has good torque at low RPMs but is absolutely gutless above like 2.5k (I went WOT from 40 mph and ran out of patience before it hit 60)

- Transmission shifts smoothly

- Chassis seems fairly well sorted but dampers have no fine control; most bumps caused mild oscillations

- Interior plastics are hilarious (sorry)

- Gauges were either unreadably dim or distractingly bright

- Brake pedal feel was surprisingly good

- A really good driving position was achievable (I am 6'2")

- All six pillars are too thick, sills are too high, sight lines are poor; overall visibility is terrible

- Seats were surprisingly good; crude but decently shaped and padded


Thoughts?
 
I rented a 2.8 liter V6 charger when I flew up to Delaware a few weeks ago. WIMPIEST car I`ve ever driven!!!!!!!! BUT,it drove tight and smooth as glass!!!!!!!!!
 
too bad ya didn't rent one with a Hemi! that bugger MOVES! I think ya got it right: very smooth transmission, good brakes, suspension - no comment. interior?!?!? yeah right. I'm suprised the 3.5 ran outa steam that low - altho its a heavy car and I've only driven the 3.5 in an LH
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I rented a 2.8 liter V6 charger when I flew up to Delaware a few weeks ago. WIMPIEST car I`ve ever driven!!!!!!!! BUT,it drove tight and smooth as glass!!!!!!!!!


Wow, I'm surprised they ever sold any 2.7 Chargers.. The 3.5 I didn't find too bad, but not great. I like the car overall, but I still think Dodge should've released the Charger in what is current SRT trim only, and just called it Charger.. The 6.1 Hemi is really [censored], but not much a fan of the others.
 
I don't think it's the weight, honestly. The thing got up and WENT at low speeds. It just ran out of puff so quickly.
 
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
I still think Dodge should've released the Charger in what is current SRT trim only, and just called it Charger..

I really like this idea.
 
If sight lines are poor for 6'2" driver, then it is not a car for 5'5" or shorter drivers which is the height of many women.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: SLCraig
I still think Dodge should've released the Charger in what is current SRT trim only, and just called it Charger..

I really like this idea.


There goes all the money they made on fleet sales.
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I rented a 2.8 liter V6 charger when I flew up to Delaware a few weeks ago. WIMPIEST car I`ve ever driven!!!!!!!! BUT,it drove tight and smooth as glass!!!!!!!!!


Drive my topaz and THEN you can tell me about gutless.
 
They're adding the 2.7L V6 for the Chrysler 300 line... talk about a joke. Their advertising reads: "Want luxury but want 26 MPG? Then the 2.7L V6 is for you".
 
Originally Posted By: JT1
Drive my topaz and THEN you can tell me about gutless.

See, I would not be bothered in the slightest by gutlessness in a Topaz. A Charger is a different story IMO.
 
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Impressions in brief, and in no particular order:


- 3.5L V6 has good torque at low RPMs but is absolutely gutless above like 2.5k (I went WOT from 40 mph and ran out of patience before it hit 60)


You should drive an LX with the 3.5 and the 5-speed (W5A580) transmission. It's a night and day difference from the 42LE 4-speed.

I just got a 2007 300 with the 3.5. The reason I narrowed my search early on to 2007 models was that was the only year (save a few late build 06 models) that the RWD 3.5 came with the 5-speed. For 2008 and 2009 if you want the 5-speed with the 3.5 you had to also get AWD.
 
There are some Chargers being used in the police force. One advantage is that it will hit about 150 mph where your Crown Vic will only do about 130. I'm curious to see if they will be as durable as the Crown Vic. The Crown Vic could push other cars around. It's not as easy with the Charger.
 
Originally Posted By: Kruse
There are some Chargers being used in the police force. One advantage is that it will hit about 150 mph where your Crown Vic will only do about 130. I'm curious to see if they will be as durable as the Crown Vic. The Crown Vic could push other cars around. It's not as easy with the Charger.


True. But I see no reason for Police to be going 150mph - especially for tax collection purposes...
 
Higher top speed usually means better acceleration at high speeds as well. The speed itself may be useless, but acceleration is never a bad thing for law enforcement IMO.
 
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Let's just say that I refuse to be seen in a Charger, or any LX platform cars.


It's a good thing the windows are so small. If it's ever your only option to get somewhere, you won't have to duck very far!
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: rszappa1
and the challenger is just a challenger body put on a charger frame....


Wrong. The Challenger is a new platform (LY) derived from the LX platform used for the Charger, Magnum, and 300. It has a shorter wheelbase and a few other differences. And FTR, neither has a separate "frame." The LX and LY are unibodies.
 
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