Getting close to purchasing a new Daily Driver , the wife will get the Saturn Vue, I'll get the new DD. I've been looking at the Charger AWD R/T. Anyone have any experiences with the Dodge Charger?

>mike

I do not. But when I was considering purchasing a used BMW many months ago, I started asking around about other performance oriented family cars. A guy on a sport bike website I hang at told me about his AWD Magnum. He has had good luck with it so far. But I do not remember details.

Sorry.

I am pretty much convinced that my next DD will be AWD. Anything from a big luxo-barge, to ricer boy toy. During the winter, I experience lots of different driving conditions during my commute to and from work, even in a single drive.

If you end up with one, be sure to let us see pix, and give us your impressions!

I like the Charger. Just get the big V6, at least. The 2.7l is a DOG!

I would avoid the AWD. Your weather doesn't justify it, really. With ABS, traction/stability control and a limited slip rear, you will be fine. The added price, insurance, maintenance and MPG costs just don't justify it for me.

The way I figure it, I won't use AWD more than 10% of the time, I am not gonna carry that extra crap around for that 10%! It's the main reason our Jeep Cherokee is 2wd.

Just don't need it...

I was thinking the same thing, but i hope that in 3 years, I'll be using the AWD alot more - as we'll be living up north. I'm looking at the R/T model, which has the Hemi in it. As of now, I really can't think of anything negative about it, except gas mileage (22 -24 HWY) .

>mike

I have a 2007 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T (Plum Crazy # 981 of 1400). I traded in my 01 Z06 on the Charger, when my wife and I decided to adopt a child. 3 people don't fit in the Corvette too well. I have been very impressed with my Daytona R/T. One site I would recommend is www.lxforums.com. You will find a wealth of information there. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. So far, I have just over 8,300 miles on my Daytona. I would highly recommend purchasing a Diablosport Predator for the Charger (if you go with a Hemi, they are still working on a V6 model). It really wakes the car up! You will find the performance mods are limited. Also, a lot of factory options can be added easily. I have added:
Performance: Predator Programmer, Corsa cat-back exhaust, Mopar CAI, DC Sport Strut Brace...best 1/4 mile is 13.88 @ 100.16.
Factory Options added: U-Connect (bluetooth), Navigation, Kicker Stereo Upgrade and some other minor things.

The wife and I are considering a Charger as her next car in the next few months. She has an '06 300 right now that we've put nearly 65K on. Personally I hate the high belt line and short windows on road trips. Is the Charger any different in that regard? The outward appearances of the two cars suggests they are the same platform, but I've never cared enough to investigate.

ninetyfivevette...
Yes, the LX platform consists of the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and the Dodge Charger. The new Challenger rides on the LY platform...a modified LX frame (shortened). Differences between the Chrysler 300 and the Magnum/Charger are the exterior (obviously) and a lot of the interior (dash boards are completely different). For 2008, the Dodge Magnum did get a new front nose to resemble the Charger. Interior on the Magnum and Charger are almost identical, except for the rear (obviously...one is a station wagon, the other a sedan).
As for the windows, the Charger and Magnum do have more "glass". The doors do not go up as high, so you do gain some additional window. (Hope that is clearer than mud). The biggest blind spot I have is amazingly the front driver side A-pillar. It is wide, so when you are making a sweeping left turn, the A-pillar blocks some of your view. More than I would like, at least. But other than that, it is a nice vehicle. Here are some pictures of mine. It is a 2007 (minor changes have been done for 2008 on the interior).

Can't wait to see the new Challenger in person!

Honestly, I liked the concept a lot better than the production model. The rear trunk lid drops down, softening the rear...I liked it higher. Also the tail lights are not as good looking as the ones that went into production. I'll go grab a couple shots of the Challenger off of the other board.

Can you share them here, or in "Other Vehicles" please?

Here you go:

Assuming the sliver car is a production car:

I believe I can see the difference in the rear you are talking about. Still... Pretty darn close from concept to production. I dig it.

Not sure if I would give up my C4 for one. But nice.