2010 Dodge Charger R/T
Discussion
Thought I would share my experiences as I dip my toe into the world of 'Yank Tanks', or 'Muscle cars' if you prefer.
After living in Dublin for a few years and weeping at the weekly fuel bills from the likes of my old Saab Aero and Alpina, it seemed to me that the only right thing to do when fuel is so cheap (more on that later), is to buy a stonking great big V8. I had always promised myself one after all.
After to speaking to people at work about cars in Kuwait, I had told them I was looking at a few cars, Challenger, Charger, Camaro, Caprice etc, people had described to me that they were actually 'scared' of the Chargers. strange thing to say I thought. I know we use this turn a lot but how often do you mean it? Perhaps its because of the unsavory characters who pilot them? I'll be sure to let you know when I find out.
I didnt know much about Chargers before looking at them so let me fill you in what i know so far.
-They are the length of a Q7 and the width of a Q5
-There are three engines, a 3litre something V6, a 5.7 Hemi and the the full fat, national Anthem singing 6.1 SRT.
-Chargers are based on the Crysler 300C.
-Handling is poor. Quite the lack of grip, 225 tyres all round.
-They are alcoholics.
-Large car with a useless boot as the full size spare is bolted on top of the boot floor, not under like every other car I have owned.
-They oversteer almost constantly.
I read an article that Jeremy Clarkson wrote a few years ago about a Corvette that's reminds me an awful lot of this car. (think 3-4 gens ago) that it was so inclined to oversteer, that you would park it outside of a shop, pop in for milk and when you returned it would be facing the other way.
A little about it: 5.7 litre Hemi V8, 372bhp and 395lbs ft/ 535nm. It feels every bit of its 1900kg curb weight, especially under braking where a weighty push is required to properly slow it although I haven't experienced any real fade the ABS does activate quite easily. It sounds lovely at WOT and louder than I imagined especially how quite it is at other times, seldom here it day to day apart from the start up roar. So much torque means swift day to day driving doesnt require any more than 2000rpm.
Grip from a standstill is easily overwhelmed, nearly 400ft ft lbs makes light work of the 225 rubber, incidentally the same width tyre I had on my BMW 316ti and narrower than those on my old Golf GTD! I find it best and rather less embarrassing to get it rolling a fair bit before giving it beans, other wise progress is reduced to fish tailing and plumes of smoke.Pulling out of a Hospital car park for instance into fast moving traffic 3 days ago, I foolishly thought it best to turn the TC off in order to make uninterrupted acceleration across three lanes for a tight exit. What subsequently happened was (after an excessive prod of the 'gas') was a violent burst of tyre and engine noise and the car slewed across the the three lane at a frankly alarming angle. I am not proud to admit it but there were people crossing the road about 200yards ahead who started running. It was all under control, I had just planned for a little less drama and a little more forward propulsion.
I suspect a lot of this is down to the roads, whilst they are bone dry they are covered in sand and dust. Even after the lightest of rain showers the roads are reduced to the lack of grip you would expect from sheet ice.
It is marvelously comfortable, seats are as you would expect from American car stereotypes, 'Flat' and certainly un-supportive but at least they are comfortable with super heaters. The peddles are also electrically adjustable, which is new to me and apart from the novelty cant think why I would need them unless I was some sort of munchkin in which case i wouldn't be able to see over the huge steering wheel!
Fuel: I relocated ahead of my wife i order to set things up whilst she sold everything at hom etc, during that time I had been averaging 8.7mpg mixed and mostly spirited driving. Since my wife has joined me the average rose to 17mpg but seems to have settled around 14.8. Which is not too bad considering my 3.3 Alpina was around 16mpg!
It helps that fuel here is so cheap that it doesn't even factor into budgeting per month. Filling the 72litre tank requires just 9 of your British pounds. Wonderful.
Congratulation if you have read all that, sorry for all of that, I am bored waiting for a flight.
I am having issues attaching pictures, I will do so later
PS: Please don't be dissapionted, this Charger is NOT like the Orange Jumping one from your youth! This is a fire engine red 'sedan'
After living in Dublin for a few years and weeping at the weekly fuel bills from the likes of my old Saab Aero and Alpina, it seemed to me that the only right thing to do when fuel is so cheap (more on that later), is to buy a stonking great big V8. I had always promised myself one after all.
After to speaking to people at work about cars in Kuwait, I had told them I was looking at a few cars, Challenger, Charger, Camaro, Caprice etc, people had described to me that they were actually 'scared' of the Chargers. strange thing to say I thought. I know we use this turn a lot but how often do you mean it? Perhaps its because of the unsavory characters who pilot them? I'll be sure to let you know when I find out.
I didnt know much about Chargers before looking at them so let me fill you in what i know so far.
-They are the length of a Q7 and the width of a Q5
-There are three engines, a 3litre something V6, a 5.7 Hemi and the the full fat, national Anthem singing 6.1 SRT.
-Chargers are based on the Crysler 300C.
-Handling is poor. Quite the lack of grip, 225 tyres all round.
-They are alcoholics.
-Large car with a useless boot as the full size spare is bolted on top of the boot floor, not under like every other car I have owned.
-They oversteer almost constantly.
I read an article that Jeremy Clarkson wrote a few years ago about a Corvette that's reminds me an awful lot of this car. (think 3-4 gens ago) that it was so inclined to oversteer, that you would park it outside of a shop, pop in for milk and when you returned it would be facing the other way.
A little about it: 5.7 litre Hemi V8, 372bhp and 395lbs ft/ 535nm. It feels every bit of its 1900kg curb weight, especially under braking where a weighty push is required to properly slow it although I haven't experienced any real fade the ABS does activate quite easily. It sounds lovely at WOT and louder than I imagined especially how quite it is at other times, seldom here it day to day apart from the start up roar. So much torque means swift day to day driving doesnt require any more than 2000rpm.
Grip from a standstill is easily overwhelmed, nearly 400ft ft lbs makes light work of the 225 rubber, incidentally the same width tyre I had on my BMW 316ti and narrower than those on my old Golf GTD! I find it best and rather less embarrassing to get it rolling a fair bit before giving it beans, other wise progress is reduced to fish tailing and plumes of smoke.Pulling out of a Hospital car park for instance into fast moving traffic 3 days ago, I foolishly thought it best to turn the TC off in order to make uninterrupted acceleration across three lanes for a tight exit. What subsequently happened was (after an excessive prod of the 'gas') was a violent burst of tyre and engine noise and the car slewed across the the three lane at a frankly alarming angle. I am not proud to admit it but there were people crossing the road about 200yards ahead who started running. It was all under control, I had just planned for a little less drama and a little more forward propulsion.
I suspect a lot of this is down to the roads, whilst they are bone dry they are covered in sand and dust. Even after the lightest of rain showers the roads are reduced to the lack of grip you would expect from sheet ice.
It is marvelously comfortable, seats are as you would expect from American car stereotypes, 'Flat' and certainly un-supportive but at least they are comfortable with super heaters. The peddles are also electrically adjustable, which is new to me and apart from the novelty cant think why I would need them unless I was some sort of munchkin in which case i wouldn't be able to see over the huge steering wheel!
Fuel: I relocated ahead of my wife i order to set things up whilst she sold everything at hom etc, during that time I had been averaging 8.7mpg mixed and mostly spirited driving. Since my wife has joined me the average rose to 17mpg but seems to have settled around 14.8. Which is not too bad considering my 3.3 Alpina was around 16mpg!
It helps that fuel here is so cheap that it doesn't even factor into budgeting per month. Filling the 72litre tank requires just 9 of your British pounds. Wonderful.
Congratulation if you have read all that, sorry for all of that, I am bored waiting for a flight.
I am having issues attaching pictures, I will do so later
PS: Please don't be dissapionted, this Charger is NOT like the Orange Jumping one from your youth! This is a fire engine red 'sedan'
Edited by wolfy1988 on Monday 26th January 10:10
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