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| 2006 Dodge Charger Review | |||
| Whether you're about to spend $40K on a brand new car, or half that on a used car, it is always important to learn as much as you can about the used car. Read these car reviews to learn about all aspects of the vehicle. Each of the usedcar reviews cover interior and exterior features, options, road tests, and more. | |||
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Introduction
| Road Test
| Inside & Out
| Other Thoughts
| Last Word
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| Other Thoughts | |||
Chrysler's three flagships are as diverse within themselves as they are from each other. While the Magnum and 300C have a lineup of four engines with all-wheel-drive optional on the middle two, the Charger ditches the bottom engine and keeps it real with rear-wheel-drive. Their prices collectively range from 22 to 43 grand; the Charger's range is narrower, and better yet, lower.The V6 Charger SE marks the least expensive car on this platform at $22,445 - a double bonus considering how Magnums & 300s with the 3.5-liter V6 start above 26 and 28. Don't write off the V6. It's the most high-tech engine here, an aluminum piece with dual overhead camshafts, 8 more valves (despite 2 fewer cylinders), a higher redline, accepts mid-grade gas, and with the help of some other parts, relieves the Charger of a 360-pound burden (vs. the SRT-8). Its 250 horsepower is already more than Ford, GM, or Hyundai can muster in their big sedans, and Dodge claims a V6 Charger can tow 2,000 pounds while discouraging towing at all on the SRT-8. The step-up V6 model is the $3,850-higher SXT, adding a power seat, leather steering wheel and shift knob, Boston Acoustics stereo, folding rear seats, fog lights, chrome grille, and aluminum wheels. To get the 5.7-liter Hemi (340 HP, 390 torque) takes the Charger R/T at $30,295. This is the only engine that can turn off half its cylinders when cruising, though no one has found it to save much gas. Charger R/Ts get performance brakes, 18x7.5-inch aluminum wheels, dual exhausts, leather seats, tire-pressure monitor, a 160 MPH speedometer (vs. 140), and a 19-gallon tank (vs. 18). A $1,695 Road/Track Performance Group adds 10 horsepower and upgrades to "9-Land" performance steering, performance suspension with load-leveling rear shocks, and P235/55VR18 tires. It also adds suede inserts to the seats, dual-zone automatic A/C, dual power seats, power adjustable pedals, and turns the edges of the R/T's double-spoke wheels to black. A $2,675 Daytona R/T package has all the same stuff but wears the color scheme of a rotten banana. After the gas-guzzler tax, the king of the hill Charger SRT-8 wants $38,095, undercutting the 300C SRT-8 by a good $4,600. Compared to the R/T, it takes the brakes, steering, and suspension a step further and adds a 180 MPH speedometer, forged 20x9-inch aluminum wheels, Goodyear F1 Supercar tires, body-color spoiler, and hood scoop. Our Charger, fully decked out with the stereo, sunroof, curtain air bags, navigation, and a $225 fee to paint the car red, almost banged its head on 44 grand. Hefty sum for a Dodge? Well, let's piece together what the Charger SRT-8 essentially is: a Mercedes E-class stretched to full-size. That sort of makes it an S-class. It also has 8 cylinders, about 250 more horsepower than it needs, and can keep up with the latest sports cars. That sort of makes it a Mercedes S55 AMG, which sort of costs $116,625. Ok, that's simplistic and doesn't account for the chasm in pride and pedigree between the two cars, nor how the Mercedes is leaps and bounds ahead in class and luxury. But what else can be compared? The desire to catapult five humans down the road in a real big hurry may be a strange one, but no other automaker has addressed it for anywhere near the price. |
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