Why do I keep looking at these

Its a car I shouldn't like. Two tons, automatic only, domestic...but for some reason I keep searching them out on autotrader, keep reading about making them handle better, keep trying to convince myself I could be OK with a 5spd automatic.

I am more of a manual trans turbo 4cyl kinda guy, but something about that car speaks to me.

Help

I believe someone picked one up and was rather happy with it.

I'm a five speed guy as well, but was perfectly content with my P71. My soul is just not dark enough to get a Mopar.

I think you are sick. I mean ill. Maybe a doctor has a anti-venom he can give you to rid you of this poison.

go drive one and see for sure...

Gearheadotaku wrote: go drive one and see for sure...

I did a couple months ago, but it was sort of snowy out so it wasn't a very good test drive. Might hit the local Dodge dealer tomorrow morning and try again...

I had one as a rental for about a week while my DD was getting some warranty work done at Car Max.

It was a fine ride. Roomy. Fast. Handled well. I liked it. HUGE trunk. For a guy with a family you could do a lot worse. The car I drove at 44k on it and was showing some age. The interior wasn't holding up well. The check engine light was on. It was a rental so I'm sure it wasn't treated well. This was the V6 car btw.

I like these too. Supercharging the R/T and/or tuning with what is called a "Diablo" tune I think seem to be popular mods as well, with supercharging improving on the SRT-8 specs even.

I just picked up an '07 and love it. Already have plans for a modified version down the road based off a retired cop car. Mine has a cat back exhaust and it has a nice throaty growl. I suggest going and test driving one. You will be pleasantly surprised I am sure.

I realize a 2 tonner isn't going to handle like a sportscar but...how is the handling on these? Will I hate myself on that first trip to the mountains here in NC?

I have had a few rental grade cars and for DD cruisers they are very good. The Challenger is in the same camp with two less doors and another pedal on the floor. Something to think about.

Flight Service wrote: I have had a few rental grade cars and for DD cruisers they are very good. The Challenger is in the same camp with two less doors and another pedal on the floor. Something to think about.

Unfortunately with one kid, and a potential for another one the way a coupe is sort of out

Storz wrote: Unfortunately with one kid, and a potential for another one the way a coupe is sort of out

This is what got us looking at the Charger as well. We have a kid on the way and I figured if I was going to have a vehicle for hauling around a little one it should at least be a little on the fun side.

I looked at one of these myself when sopping for the family sedan. I liked it and it would've been a really comfortable cruiser.

The Mazda6 GT we wound up with was about 10k less than the Charger and is way more than 66% effective for what my wife wanted it to do.

Between the Mazda6 and the Forester, we can do anything we want except heavy towing, and that includes rally and autocross.

I'm not a huge fan of the Charger either, a bit too bloated for me, but I definitely understand the attraction. No matter how much I love my Miata and other lightweight agile cars, there's no substitute for V8 tire smoking torque. And the noises they make are pretty sweet too.

Its just the auto trans that really holds me back, I love shifting that much...

Id love to be able to say something to steer you clear....but theres a guy with a white SRT-8 in the parking lot at work and everyday I drool over it, especially when he turns it over. Good luck, Ive had this sickness in my head for a few years....

Storz wrote:

Flight Service wrote: I have had a few rental grade cars and for DD cruisers they are very good. The Challenger is in the same camp with two less doors and another pedal on the floor. Something to think about.

Unfortunately with one kid, and a potential for another one the way a coupe is sort of out

why? they still have a back seat in them and the seats fold forward for access.. people got by just fine with 2 door cars and kids before the trend of making everything a 4 door came along..

novaderrik wrote:

Storz wrote:

Flight Service wrote: I have had a few rental grade cars and for DD cruisers they are very good. The Challenger is in the same camp with two less doors and another pedal on the floor. Something to think about.

Unfortunately with one kid, and a potential for another one the way a coupe is sort of out

why? they still have a back seat in them and the seats fold forward for access.. people got by just fine with 2 door cars and kids before the trend of making everything a 4 door came along..

Sure, anything can be done but I don't like the Challenger enough to sacrifice the use of back doors. An Audi A5/S5/RS5, sure..a Challenger, nope.

novaderrik wrote: why? they still have a back seat in them and the seats fold forward for access.. people got by just fine with 2 door cars and kids before the trend of making everything a 4 door came along..

It's not so much the door count...well..actually it is.

Kid seats are required until the child turns about 16 these days. So, if you have a two door you're hauling a kid in and out of a triangular opening created by the open door and the folded back front seat. That's going to suck from day one.

Also bear in mind most coupes have very little space between the front and rear seat. Some four doors suffer form this as well but at least you have open and ample access to the rear seats with a second door on each side. Factor in a car seat that is now very bulky and large then having a coupe to haul kids around in is going to suck, hard.

This equation changes slightly once a kid is able to sit in a booster seat instead of a full kid seat. Also with an older kid you're away from having to haul a stroller everywhere, double sized stroller if you have two, and a diaper bag that often is the same size as carry-on luggage.

We are pretty minimalist with kid stuff too, our new family car, the one we take on trips is a Kia Soul and we make it work.

I rented one and they are LLLOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG!

Longer than my Explorer. Took up a ton of room in the driveway and other parking areas.

NGTD wrote: I rented one and they are LLLOOOOOOONNNNNGGGG! Longer than my Explorer. Took up a ton of room in the driveway and other parking areas.

They are not THAT big. Heck when we bought ours at one point we had it parked next to the 2006 Taurus we were trading in. The length was nearly the same with the Charger being MAYBE an inch or two longer. It was a bit wider but offered more room inside so even a big guy like me is comfortable.

Storz wrote:

Flight Service wrote: I have had a few rental grade cars and for DD cruisers they are very good. The Challenger is in the same camp with two less doors and another pedal on the floor. Something to think about.

Unfortunately with one kid, and a potential for another one the way a coupe is sort of out

We have a Forester as well. Wife gave me the go ahead on the coupe since we already have a four door. But if you don't like the Challenger than that's that! Mustang?

DirtyBird222 wrote:

Storz wrote:

Flight Service wrote: I have had a few rental grade cars and for DD cruisers they are very good. The Challenger is in the same camp with two less doors and another pedal on the floor. Something to think about.

Unfortunately with one kid, and a potential for another one the way a coupe is sort of out

We have a Forester as well. Wife gave me the go ahead on the coupe since we already have a four door. But if you don't like the Challenger than that's that! Mustang?

The Mustang is a much better car in every sense than the Challenger. Only thing the Challenger has going for it is looks, from a performance standpoint a Mustang will eat one for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I would say to test drive it to see if you like it and if you're up for it, do a manual trans swap, especially if you buy an older model.