Dodge chargers
Discussion
I'm looking to swap out the 997 for something newer and with four doors. Trying to find a gcc M3 E90 without intergalactic miles and a silly price seems impossible and while theres a number of c63s on dubbizle they mostly look like they have all had very hard lives.
I'm still to scratch the v8 itch here so was thinking of a dodge charger as an alternative. The latest shape srt 392 looks like a lot of bang for the buck. Anyone own or driven one a fair bit and able to give a view? I'm not expecting m3 levels of chassis control, but the spec seems to include adjustable dampers, brembos etc. I'm guessing it's going to be a heavy old hector, track use is important but not sure if it's going to be viable? Any views?
I'm still to scratch the v8 itch here so was thinking of a dodge charger as an alternative. The latest shape srt 392 looks like a lot of bang for the buck. Anyone own or driven one a fair bit and able to give a view? I'm not expecting m3 levels of chassis control, but the spec seems to include adjustable dampers, brembos etc. I'm guessing it's going to be a heavy old hector, track use is important but not sure if it's going to be viable? Any views?
Matt_Knowles 
TNW - Look here, Matt has the slightly older shape SRT8 which he bought new. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
TNW - Look here, Matt has the slightly older shape SRT8 which he bought new. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Rich_AR on Monday 1st February 07:36
Thanks Rich - and Matt 
Great write up, love the car. Sounds like it might be a good option, but at 2 tonnes it might be a bit overweight for the track. My GTR was 1700kg, and despite all the best efforts of the Nissan professors to hide it you could still feel the heft.
I had it in my mind that it was sort of 3-series size, it I guess it's more like a 5 series. I'll head down to the dealers and try one out, love the look of them and intergalactic powerplant is going to be very addictive, should be a fun test-drive!
Great write up, love the car. Sounds like it might be a good option, but at 2 tonnes it might be a bit overweight for the track. My GTR was 1700kg, and despite all the best efforts of the Nissan professors to hide it you could still feel the heft.
I had it in my mind that it was sort of 3-series size, it I guess it's more like a 5 series. I'll head down to the dealers and try one out, love the look of them and intergalactic powerplant is going to be very addictive, should be a fun test-drive!
TNW said:
Thanks Rich - and Matt
Great write up, love the car. Sounds like it might be a good option, but at 2 tonnes it might be a bit overweight for the track. My GTR was 1700kg, and despite all the best efforts of the Nissan professors to hide it you could still feel the heft.
I had it in my mind that it was sort of 3-series size, it I guess it's more like a 5 series. I'll head down to the dealers and try one out, love the look of them and intergalactic powerplant is going to be very addictive, should be a fun test-drive!
Hey,Great write up, love the car. Sounds like it might be a good option, but at 2 tonnes it might be a bit overweight for the track. My GTR was 1700kg, and despite all the best efforts of the Nissan professors to hide it you could still feel the heft.
I had it in my mind that it was sort of 3-series size, it I guess it's more like a 5 series. I'll head down to the dealers and try one out, love the look of them and intergalactic powerplant is going to be very addictive, should be a fun test-drive!
Good luck with the hunt. If you're not bothered about the badge, then the charger is a great motor. Its not as polished as the europeans in terms of quality, but my main priority for a motor is how the thing drives. Dubai is full of big old straight roads, and for me it fits the bill perfectly. However if you are thinking of track days and think a GTR isn't in its element then a charger is going to be way way out of its league. I actually think it handles ok for its size & weight but it ain't no track car.
Let me know how you get on with the test drive. The new charger is fitted with a much more modern 8 speed box which I've read makes a massive difference. The 5 speed one in mine is old school but benefits from huge torque.....otherwise it would be pretty poor. I believe it is closely related to the box they fitted in the McMerc SLR and other SL AMG's
Fortunately I attended a company track day about a month back and was lucky enough to drive the RT and SRT chargers plus the Hellcat Challenger on the autodrome.
I will gladly hold my hands up to a bit of pre conceptions that the things wouldn't corner but I will be honest I left the day being very surprised by the capabilities of them overall.
Big surprise in a drag race between and RT and an SRT (this was simulated about 50times throughout the day) up to about 120kph they have virtually no performance difference in a straight line, above this the SRT does pull but still not at the rate the on paper power advantage would suggest, its extra bit of power and slight loss of traction from a standing start does hamper it, im sure from a rolling start it would be more of an obvious performance difference.
The cars are decently comfortable, corner very well and the engines are a lot better than I anticipated, plus they held up to many laps with the brakes (sure the SRT with the better stoppers would come into its own after a few laps though).
However surprise of the day was the 300C, got to say its on a vastly better and more controlled chassis than either the chargers or challengers, they don't hold the value as well used so may be a bit of a bargain used. The 300s to be honest where laughably easy to slide and keep control of, was a good fun car that one.
Hellcats, well that's another story, awful thing to drive on track, literally awful. American shock and awe at its finest, totally over powered with virtually zero control (but that was down to me not the car) still glad they made it though!
I will gladly hold my hands up to a bit of pre conceptions that the things wouldn't corner but I will be honest I left the day being very surprised by the capabilities of them overall.
Big surprise in a drag race between and RT and an SRT (this was simulated about 50times throughout the day) up to about 120kph they have virtually no performance difference in a straight line, above this the SRT does pull but still not at the rate the on paper power advantage would suggest, its extra bit of power and slight loss of traction from a standing start does hamper it, im sure from a rolling start it would be more of an obvious performance difference.
The cars are decently comfortable, corner very well and the engines are a lot better than I anticipated, plus they held up to many laps with the brakes (sure the SRT with the better stoppers would come into its own after a few laps though).
However surprise of the day was the 300C, got to say its on a vastly better and more controlled chassis than either the chargers or challengers, they don't hold the value as well used so may be a bit of a bargain used. The 300s to be honest where laughably easy to slide and keep control of, was a good fun car that one.
Hellcats, well that's another story, awful thing to drive on track, literally awful. American shock and awe at its finest, totally over powered with virtually zero control (but that was down to me not the car) still glad they made it though!
After_Shock said:
Fortunately I attended a company track day about a month back and was lucky enough to drive the RT and SRT chargers plus the Hellcat Challenger on the autodrome.
I will gladly hold my hands up to a bit of pre conceptions that the things wouldn't corner but I will be honest I left the day being very surprised by the capabilities of them overall.
Big surprise in a drag race between and RT and an SRT (this was simulated about 50times throughout the day) up to about 120kph they have virtually no performance difference in a straight line, above this the SRT does pull but still not at the rate the on paper power advantage would suggest, its extra bit of power and slight loss of traction from a standing start does hamper it, im sure from a rolling start it would be more of an obvious performance difference.
The cars are decently comfortable, corner very well and the engines are a lot better than I anticipated, plus they held up to many laps with the brakes (sure the SRT with the better stoppers would come into its own after a few laps though).
However surprise of the day was the 300C, got to say its on a vastly better and more controlled chassis than either the chargers or challengers, they don't hold the value as well used so may be a bit of a bargain used. The 300s to be honest where laughably easy to slide and keep control of, was a good fun car that one.
Hellcats, well that's another story, awful thing to drive on track, literally awful. American shock and awe at its finest, totally over powered with virtually zero control (but that was down to me not the car) still glad they made it though!
It's real-world experience and comments like this which are invaluable, especially from a bang for the buck aspect.I will gladly hold my hands up to a bit of pre conceptions that the things wouldn't corner but I will be honest I left the day being very surprised by the capabilities of them overall.
Big surprise in a drag race between and RT and an SRT (this was simulated about 50times throughout the day) up to about 120kph they have virtually no performance difference in a straight line, above this the SRT does pull but still not at the rate the on paper power advantage would suggest, its extra bit of power and slight loss of traction from a standing start does hamper it, im sure from a rolling start it would be more of an obvious performance difference.
The cars are decently comfortable, corner very well and the engines are a lot better than I anticipated, plus they held up to many laps with the brakes (sure the SRT with the better stoppers would come into its own after a few laps though).
However surprise of the day was the 300C, got to say its on a vastly better and more controlled chassis than either the chargers or challengers, they don't hold the value as well used so may be a bit of a bargain used. The 300s to be honest where laughably easy to slide and keep control of, was a good fun car that one.
Hellcats, well that's another story, awful thing to drive on track, literally awful. American shock and awe at its finest, totally over powered with virtually zero control (but that was down to me not the car) still glad they made it though!
After_Shock said:
Fortunately I attended a company track day about a month back and was lucky enough to drive the RT and SRT chargers plus the Hellcat Challenger on the autodrome.
I will gladly hold my hands up to a bit of pre conceptions that the things wouldn't corner but I will be honest I left the day being very surprised by the capabilities of them overall.
Big surprise in a drag race between and RT and an SRT (this was simulated about 50times throughout the day) up to about 120kph they have virtually no performance difference in a straight line, above this the SRT does pull but still not at the rate the on paper power advantage would suggest, its extra bit of power and slight loss of traction from a standing start does hamper it, im sure from a rolling start it would be more of an obvious performance difference.
The cars are decently comfortable, corner very well and the engines are a lot better than I anticipated, plus they held up to many laps with the brakes (sure the SRT with the better stoppers would come into its own after a few laps though).
However surprise of the day was the 300C, got to say its on a vastly better and more controlled chassis than either the chargers or challengers, they don't hold the value as well used so may be a bit of a bargain used. The 300s to be honest where laughably easy to slide and keep control of, was a good fun car that one.
Hellcats, well that's another story, awful thing to drive on track, literally awful. American shock and awe at its finest, totally over powered with virtually zero control (but that was down to me not the car) still glad they made it though!
Very interesting......certainly on the Hellcat. My car is increasing difficult to get off the line to be honest, and I'm probably 1sec + slower on the timer to 100kmh now. I'm putting it down to the tyres....it spins up so easily, then i'm tagged as a hooligan by the Mrs and Friends!I will gladly hold my hands up to a bit of pre conceptions that the things wouldn't corner but I will be honest I left the day being very surprised by the capabilities of them overall.
Big surprise in a drag race between and RT and an SRT (this was simulated about 50times throughout the day) up to about 120kph they have virtually no performance difference in a straight line, above this the SRT does pull but still not at the rate the on paper power advantage would suggest, its extra bit of power and slight loss of traction from a standing start does hamper it, im sure from a rolling start it would be more of an obvious performance difference.
The cars are decently comfortable, corner very well and the engines are a lot better than I anticipated, plus they held up to many laps with the brakes (sure the SRT with the better stoppers would come into its own after a few laps though).
However surprise of the day was the 300C, got to say its on a vastly better and more controlled chassis than either the chargers or challengers, they don't hold the value as well used so may be a bit of a bargain used. The 300s to be honest where laughably easy to slide and keep control of, was a good fun car that one.
Hellcats, well that's another story, awful thing to drive on track, literally awful. American shock and awe at its finest, totally over powered with virtually zero control (but that was down to me not the car) still glad they made it though!
I thought the 300 used the same chassis as the charger/challenger?
matt_knowles said:
Very interesting......certainly on the Hellcat. My car is increasing difficult to get off the line to be honest, and I'm probably 1sec + slower on the timer to 100kmh now. I'm putting it down to the tyres....it spins up so easily, then i'm tagged as a hooligan by the Mrs and Friends!
I thought the 300 used the same chassis as the charger/challenger?
Not 100% sure on the chassis but if it is the same it must be heavily altered, the drive is completely different and much more controlled, especially once sliding, or maybes a similar chassis and a totally different suspension, reason I said chassis is im sure someone on the day said it was a different one.I thought the 300 used the same chassis as the charger/challenger?
Yeah be the tyres, I think the gap as the day went on got smaller and smaller and ultimately the RT would get off the line a fraction quicker, one inspection of the SRT tyres at the end of the day explained why. The Hellcat made it to lunchtime and its were completely gone.
Despite the claims of the technology to make the Hellcat controllable, its not. Even with the traction in nanny mode its still trying to kill you, turn it off as I stupidly did and it happily threw me at the barrier in a straight line, its one wild motor, the noise is ridiculous, I think a Caterham at 100kph would have better NVH ratings, however its fun in a weird way on the edge of your seat way, and without question, stupendously quick in a straight line.
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