2014 Dodge Charger SRT8
Discussion
Having moved to Dubai in late 2012, I have had a few different motors (just see THIS thread for only a couple) but that all slowed down last summer with the impending arrival of my son.
Time to get a bit more serious and get a decent family car or SUV. The VW Golf we had at the time (not listed in the above thread) just wasn't going to cut the mustard, so the search began. This in itself wasn't and easy task ( TO LEASE OR TO BUY)!
I viewed and tested what felt like a million different types of cars / SUV's, including the following;
Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6 & V8)
Ford Explorer
Ford Edge Sport
VW Toureg
Mercedes ML (older model)
Mercedes E300 & E350
Mercedes C200 (new shape)
Mercedes C350 (old shape)
Chrysler 300 SRT
BMW 328 (new shape)
BMW 335 (new shape)
The main thoughts behind the SUV's (which are highly popular here) was primarily when family / friends come over. It would be good to have the additional space offered by an SUV but that was about it. Unless I stretched to silly money to buy an SUV that also goes well (Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, Porsche Cayenne, Q7 with a big engine etc) it wasn't going to happen.
So back to cars then and to one I kept on coming back to. I wanted to get something new, so there would be no worries for a good few years (or at least big cost). This one made good financial sense because of the impended face lift model meant I bagged a great deal. It was a good bit cheaper than my lease options and also meant I had something to show for it at the other end. It offered the space and security required but offered the thrills I wouldn't have been able to afford in an SUV.
Enough rambling, here she is -
So its a 2014 Dodge Charger SRT8 with a tiny 6.4l Hemi. For the non geeky upon us, that's a nice even 470bhp and 470 lb-ft but to be fair it does have a fair old weight to shift!
Its very early days so I will report back on how the car is overall. I have a 1000km bed in period before it has its first service, so still taking it steady!
The interior is very "american" and obviously isn't of the highest quality. Handling isn't its strong point either, but I guess that isn't the point. Its all about the experience, the looks, power and noise (all which I love).
I must admit, I am a big fan of the face-lifted version and prefer the front end of the new model but I just couldn't turn this down. Who knows how long engines of this size will be around, and if they'll be enough fuel (cheap!) to run them!
Thanks for looking!
Time to get a bit more serious and get a decent family car or SUV. The VW Golf we had at the time (not listed in the above thread) just wasn't going to cut the mustard, so the search began. This in itself wasn't and easy task ( TO LEASE OR TO BUY)!
I viewed and tested what felt like a million different types of cars / SUV's, including the following;
Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6 & V8)
Ford Explorer
Ford Edge Sport
VW Toureg
Mercedes ML (older model)
Mercedes E300 & E350
Mercedes C200 (new shape)
Mercedes C350 (old shape)
Chrysler 300 SRT
BMW 328 (new shape)
BMW 335 (new shape)
The main thoughts behind the SUV's (which are highly popular here) was primarily when family / friends come over. It would be good to have the additional space offered by an SUV but that was about it. Unless I stretched to silly money to buy an SUV that also goes well (Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, Porsche Cayenne, Q7 with a big engine etc) it wasn't going to happen.
So back to cars then and to one I kept on coming back to. I wanted to get something new, so there would be no worries for a good few years (or at least big cost). This one made good financial sense because of the impended face lift model meant I bagged a great deal. It was a good bit cheaper than my lease options and also meant I had something to show for it at the other end. It offered the space and security required but offered the thrills I wouldn't have been able to afford in an SUV.
Enough rambling, here she is -
So its a 2014 Dodge Charger SRT8 with a tiny 6.4l Hemi. For the non geeky upon us, that's a nice even 470bhp and 470 lb-ft but to be fair it does have a fair old weight to shift!
Its very early days so I will report back on how the car is overall. I have a 1000km bed in period before it has its first service, so still taking it steady!
The interior is very "american" and obviously isn't of the highest quality. Handling isn't its strong point either, but I guess that isn't the point. Its all about the experience, the looks, power and noise (all which I love).
I must admit, I am a big fan of the face-lifted version and prefer the front end of the new model but I just couldn't turn this down. Who knows how long engines of this size will be around, and if they'll be enough fuel (cheap!) to run them!
Thanks for looking!
Cheers!
That's my thoughts really, I'd struggle to justify running one of these elsewhere so it's a good one to tick off the list.
It has a fairly decent specification with pretty much all the options you'd want. Over here you aren't given much choice other than interior and exterior options. Everything else is typically gcc spec and that's what you have like it or not.
Some of the highlights are:
Remote start
Launch control
Heated and chilled seats (rears also heated)
Heated and chilled cup holders
Heated steering wheel (not that I'll use that)
Alpine stereo
Adjustable everything (even pedals) which also saves to a the programmable key
Performance timers (0-60, G meter, braking distances etc)
With regards to the noise it's hard to say at the moment. I can't open the windows yet because the tints are still fresh. From inside it certainly sounds good, but anything will compared with a 2.0 golf.
I will contemplate an exhaust if it doesn't satisfy needs. As long as I can source a standard looking one that doesn't look out of place.
Matt
That's my thoughts really, I'd struggle to justify running one of these elsewhere so it's a good one to tick off the list.
It has a fairly decent specification with pretty much all the options you'd want. Over here you aren't given much choice other than interior and exterior options. Everything else is typically gcc spec and that's what you have like it or not.
Some of the highlights are:
Remote start
Launch control
Heated and chilled seats (rears also heated)
Heated and chilled cup holders
Heated steering wheel (not that I'll use that)
Alpine stereo
Adjustable everything (even pedals) which also saves to a the programmable key
Performance timers (0-60, G meter, braking distances etc)
With regards to the noise it's hard to say at the moment. I can't open the windows yet because the tints are still fresh. From inside it certainly sounds good, but anything will compared with a 2.0 golf.
I will contemplate an exhaust if it doesn't satisfy needs. As long as I can source a standard looking one that doesn't look out of place.
Matt
S10GTA said:
Thats sub zero
Haha, thanks! I miss the cool wall.The run in period is completed now (only 500km on these), but since i'm on 750km now i'm going to be a bit ocd and wait till the 1000km first service. I'm not sure what they'll actually do on this service (probably minimal), but I do know by then the launch control will be available. So it'll be time to test out the cars timers and see what score I get!
Even with the gentle ish driving, the car is an animal. Its a heavy car, but the torque on offer deals with that no problem. The way it gathers speed only on partial throttle is something I haven't experienced in any car i've had before. In the corners its a bit of a pudding and takes a while to settle after quick direction changes but when in sport mode the bilstein adaptive dampers do a commendable job given the weight.
Will get the go pro hooked up soon for some footage.
Looks beautiful & I bet the sound will get very addictive! Even more so after the 1st service. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff