I was thinking about this when I was out in Florida, and Goaferboy's thread a few days ago reminded me, so here's some thoughts on old cars vs new cars, especially when said cars bear the same name...
When it was launched a year or so ago I saw the photos of the new Charger and was heavily disappointed. It looked like a dumpy saloon. Not a muscle car. But then the last Dodge Charger was a 2.2 litre FWD hatchback in the 1980s...
However last year when I was in the USA I saw lots of them. And they look fantastic in the tin. Its a real muscular looking beast for a 4 door, and stuff like the BMW M5 proves that 4 doors doesn't mean wimpy family slogger...
So of course as its a rental "mine" was the base model 3.7 V6 not the 5.7 Hemi V8. But its enbough to give you a feel for the car, if not the performance of the R/T or SRT-8 editions...
I don't object to modern cars on principal, I'm not a car snob like that. I love the looks of it. And that red looks fan-flippin-tastic in the Florida sun...
I've driven plenty of American cars - tat, classic & muscle era cars, so I have a certain expectation and appreciation of a traditional RWD yank chassis, as well as the look and feel of the interiors, dash, ergonomics, ride, etc.
I've driven a few modern yanks as well (also up to date RWD platforms like the Cadillac SRX and Mustang SN95)
I was disappointed with the Charger. And I'd set myself up to love it too.
Its not that the car drives badly. It doesn't. Its that it doesn't feel like an American car to drive. It feels like a Mercedes or a BMW. The switchgear, especially for stuff like the electic windows was pure BMW. Just like in a new 3 series I was recently in. They feel naff in the BMW and in the Dodge too. The dash is laid out well, its flat black with little fuss, and bright clear white faced dial in proper binacles. But it all feels like some European car would. No weirdness, nothing special.
The ride is great, the handling is good, the steering well weighted. But it feels like a new Mercedes E class or something. Funnily enough Dodge brand partner Mercedes had a hand in the suspension...
And like most modern cars it has big thick A pillars (fitted with airbags no doubt) which I really hate as they obscure my vision too much. My #1 hate on the Ford Focus are those pillars. Same with the Charger.
I'm still keen to try a big hairy V8 version with the 5 speed auto. The final drive on the 4 speed auto V6 models feels a touch too high to me. All to do with a 4200 lb motor car with a mere 6 cylinders to haul it...
Maybe a throaty aftermarket exhaust would make it feel a little more like a "proper" American car. Its just too quiet and antiseptic sounding.
No doubt the v6 Charger knocks spots off the performance of the six pot Dodges of the 60s and 70s, probably whacks a lot of the 318 small block ones too.
So the question has to be old vs. new? definitely the SRT-8 and R/T editions of the Charger kick the ass of the 440 and 383 cars from back in the day - performance wise, handling wise and top speed wise too. Not to mention fuel consumption and low vehicle noise. The V6 I had was driven like a rental should be, was stuck in awful traffic for muych of the time and driven in 90 degree heat. It still knocked down 27.4 MPG average for the time we had it (and thats converted into British MPG and was done by odometer and fuel fillup as theres no on screen computer for this model). Best we had was 31 MPG out of it (312 miles running)
But it just doesn't feel right. It feels like any other car. Maybe with a V8 and some rumble and intake noise to liven it up. It just lacks character to drive, even though in my eyes its one of the best looking modern cars, looks ain't everything.
No doubt that 99% of the Charger's buyers will love it. Being quiet and refined and European-like is all supposed to be good.
The added problem is that haveing a 60s name you automatically compare it to driving a 1960s car. And its noway near as fun as that.
Funny - isn't that what people say about so many of the "new..." cars...
I took this car out with a genuine open mind and this is what I think. Give me a 1960s or 1970s yank over the reincarnation any day.
Although its not always the case with moderns. I drove a Cadillac SRX last time out and loved that car. I'd spend my own money on one. I rented the V6 and I'd buy the V8 off the back of it. Although I'd more likely go for a CTS.
I'd be reluctant to buy a new Charger now. Maybe a V8 one in 20 years time when its in the tat class.
If all this sounds a bit harsh I'd still say its one of the best modern cars I've driven in a long time. Its just that I was disappointed with 97% of the modern cars I'vce driven...
Thats why I like old cars. They drive right and they feel right. Most mdoerns don't. Even the good ones. So far only Cadillac have it "right" from what I've driven.
When it was launched a year or so ago I saw the photos of the new Charger and was heavily disappointed. It looked like a dumpy saloon. Not a muscle car. But then the last Dodge Charger was a 2.2 litre FWD hatchback in the 1980s...
However last year when I was in the USA I saw lots of them. And they look fantastic in the tin. Its a real muscular looking beast for a 4 door, and stuff like the BMW M5 proves that 4 doors doesn't mean wimpy family slogger...
So of course as its a rental "mine" was the base model 3.7 V6 not the 5.7 Hemi V8. But its enbough to give you a feel for the car, if not the performance of the R/T or SRT-8 editions...
I don't object to modern cars on principal, I'm not a car snob like that. I love the looks of it. And that red looks fan-flippin-tastic in the Florida sun...
I've driven plenty of American cars - tat, classic & muscle era cars, so I have a certain expectation and appreciation of a traditional RWD yank chassis, as well as the look and feel of the interiors, dash, ergonomics, ride, etc.
I've driven a few modern yanks as well (also up to date RWD platforms like the Cadillac SRX and Mustang SN95)
I was disappointed with the Charger. And I'd set myself up to love it too.
Its not that the car drives badly. It doesn't. Its that it doesn't feel like an American car to drive. It feels like a Mercedes or a BMW. The switchgear, especially for stuff like the electic windows was pure BMW. Just like in a new 3 series I was recently in. They feel naff in the BMW and in the Dodge too. The dash is laid out well, its flat black with little fuss, and bright clear white faced dial in proper binacles. But it all feels like some European car would. No weirdness, nothing special.
The ride is great, the handling is good, the steering well weighted. But it feels like a new Mercedes E class or something. Funnily enough Dodge brand partner Mercedes had a hand in the suspension...
And like most modern cars it has big thick A pillars (fitted with airbags no doubt) which I really hate as they obscure my vision too much. My #1 hate on the Ford Focus are those pillars. Same with the Charger.
I'm still keen to try a big hairy V8 version with the 5 speed auto. The final drive on the 4 speed auto V6 models feels a touch too high to me. All to do with a 4200 lb motor car with a mere 6 cylinders to haul it...
Maybe a throaty aftermarket exhaust would make it feel a little more like a "proper" American car. Its just too quiet and antiseptic sounding.
No doubt the v6 Charger knocks spots off the performance of the six pot Dodges of the 60s and 70s, probably whacks a lot of the 318 small block ones too.
So the question has to be old vs. new? definitely the SRT-8 and R/T editions of the Charger kick the ass of the 440 and 383 cars from back in the day - performance wise, handling wise and top speed wise too. Not to mention fuel consumption and low vehicle noise. The V6 I had was driven like a rental should be, was stuck in awful traffic for muych of the time and driven in 90 degree heat. It still knocked down 27.4 MPG average for the time we had it (and thats converted into British MPG and was done by odometer and fuel fillup as theres no on screen computer for this model). Best we had was 31 MPG out of it (312 miles running)
But it just doesn't feel right. It feels like any other car. Maybe with a V8 and some rumble and intake noise to liven it up. It just lacks character to drive, even though in my eyes its one of the best looking modern cars, looks ain't everything.
No doubt that 99% of the Charger's buyers will love it. Being quiet and refined and European-like is all supposed to be good.
The added problem is that haveing a 60s name you automatically compare it to driving a 1960s car. And its noway near as fun as that.
Funny - isn't that what people say about so many of the "new..." cars...
I took this car out with a genuine open mind and this is what I think. Give me a 1960s or 1970s yank over the reincarnation any day.
Although its not always the case with moderns. I drove a Cadillac SRX last time out and loved that car. I'd spend my own money on one. I rented the V6 and I'd buy the V8 off the back of it. Although I'd more likely go for a CTS.
I'd be reluctant to buy a new Charger now. Maybe a V8 one in 20 years time when its in the tat class.
If all this sounds a bit harsh I'd still say its one of the best modern cars I've driven in a long time. Its just that I was disappointed with 97% of the modern cars I'vce driven...
Thats why I like old cars. They drive right and they feel right. Most mdoerns don't. Even the good ones. So far only Cadillac have it "right" from what I've driven.
Mind you I'm not convinced the "traction control off" button was conntected to anything in our rented SRX...
