In a rental this week. Seriously liking the 2011 charger

[HumblePie]

I had a fender bender last week. I have a 2004 Rx8. After years of ownership of this car it's a major love hate relationship. I love it when it performs. I hate the fact everything likes to break on it constantly. Oh and the shitty MPG. I know I made the mistake of buying a first production run model. Still, the original RX8's are horrible.

The car is paid off at least, but I am still dealing with a stuck SSV valve, spark plugs that last maybe a year, and massive payments at the pump. I'm seriously considering dumping this car and getting something else. I still like sports cars as I a really don't like the aesthetics of most sedans.

Problem with sports cars is typically one of room, comfort, shitty gas mileage, and cost for a decent one.

I've only been driving this charger now for a few days but I'm digging it. Cost wise it's about the same as the RX8 from what I see. Gas mileage is better, but not by much. Then again, few sports cars are that much better when it comes to MPGs.

The comfort though is great as well as the room. Just that alone has me looking into a possible purchase of it.

I've done a little reading, but I like true gear head reviews and opinions. 2011+ year model chargers something I should look into? Or maybe an alternative? Like I said I want sporty, roomy, comfortable, and like to stay $25K-$30K ish in cost. All other car concerns such as maintenance, safety, and what not are also still valid concerns.

 

[amdhunter]

Chargers are ugly. What engine is in it?

Call me spoiled, but I could not deal with anything less than the SRT8 engine in a charger. I hate driving my 8 after driving my fathers car.

 

[boomhower]

Spend some time in a 2011 on Monday and I really enjoyed it. They will certainly roll and handle well for what they are. Interior was pretty nice. Overall I really liked.

 

[HumblePie]

Chargers are ugly. What engine is in it?

Call me spoiled, but I could not deal with anything less than the SRT8 engine in a charger. I hate driving my 8 after driving my fathers car.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like the look of chargers. They look mean and ready to roll through the toughest derby race. I don't mind that look in a car at all. Better than the cookie cutter sedan look we've seen for the last several decades, or the super thuggish looking cars with the monster grills and everything in front all chromed out. Now those are fucking ugly vehicles.

 

[Crono]

Had a rental charger a couple months ago while my car was in body shop.

Its a nice car. I like the interior, and it has the feel of an SUV in a lower body.

Much more comfortable than the cramped feeling Camaro, which I also got to try out as a rental.

I prefer my 2012 Mustang, but if I needed a sedan I wouldn't have hesitated to go with the 2011 Charger, which I considered getting at the time.

 

[Don Karnage]

Rx8 is a sports car? Doesn't it do 15s in the 1/4th?

 

[angry hampster]

Those new Chargers have got such an awesome looking rear-end.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Rx8 is a sports car? Doesn't it do 15s in the 1/4th?

there are these things called turns. Rx8's do pretty well in them.

 

[Don Karnage]

there are these things called turns. Rx8's do pretty well in them.

Yawn.......

 

[LTC8K6]

The new charger is the meanest looking police car I've ever seen. Our Sheriff dept has one, and it's mean looking to the point of making you want to get out of it's way.

 

[nerp]

I love my 2012. If you're going with the 6, you need the 8-speed tranny. It's astounding. Makes the car much faster and more responsive. It shaved 2 secs of the 0-60 time, but that's not so important in a family sedan. The 2012 is even nicer and more appointed than the 2011, so if you think the 11 is nice, give a 12 a test drive.

I was going to get a hemi, but the new 8-speed made the 6-cyl charger a no brainer for me. Its performance is great for what I need (safe family car that won't lull me to boredom). And the 30+ highway mpg is great. I actually can do much better if I take it easy. Nothing quite like cruising at 75mph at 1100 rpm, or 45 at 1000 rpm, or 30 at 1000 rpm, or 90 at 1500 rpm, etc. And when you punch it, VROOOOM.

I know, the haters will chime in with the usual stuff. Ignore it. This is the best sedan for the money right now. Period.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

you're in prime hot hatch territory. though I'm not sure how you feel about their looks.

that or a 2013 genesis coupe

 

[vshah]

genesis coupe would be a good choice

or a used CTS-V should be within your price range

 

[homercles337]

I had one of those when i drove from Boston to the MidWest. It was okay, too big for my tastes.

 

[bruceb]

A lot of police are using them. Alaska state troopers, NJ sheriff dept, Wayne, NJ police just ordered them and many other towns around here have them. It seems to be the cruiser of choice to replace the old Fords that are now at end of life.

 

[PricklyPete]

If I were getting a Dodge muscle car, it would definitely be the Challenger.

 

[disappoint]

I like the look of the Challenger better than the Charger.

 

[foghorn67]

I love my 2012. If you're going with the 6, you need the 8-speed tranny. It's astounding. Makes the car much faster and more responsive. It shaved 2 secs of the 0-60 time, but that's not so important in a family sedan. The 2012 is even nicer and more appointed than the 2011, so if you think the 11 is nice, give a 12 a test drive.

I was going to get a hemi, but the new 8-speed made the 6-cyl charger a no brainer for me. Its performance is great for what I need (safe family car that won't lull me to boredom). And the 30+ highway mpg is great. I actually can do much better if I take it easy. Nothing quite like cruising at 75mph at 1100 rpm, or 45 at 1000 rpm, or 30 at 1000 rpm, or 90 at 1500 rpm, etc. And when you punch it, VROOOOM.

I know, the haters will chime in with the usual stuff. Ignore it. This is the best sedan for the money right now. Period.

This. New body and new interior, plus that killer powertrain combo. They are fantastic now. I can't believe I would ever say that about a Chrysler sedan.

 

[CraigRT]

If you have an RX-8 and you like the sports car look, the Challenger is more for you me thinks.
I love the Challenger, but the new Charger is nice if you want a sedan for sure.

 

[slag]

I love my 2012. If you're going with the 6, you need the 8-speed tranny. It's astounding. Makes the car much faster and more responsive. It shaved 2 secs of the 0-60 time, but that's not so important in a family sedan. The 2012 is even nicer and more appointed than the 2011, so if you think the 11 is nice, give a 12 a test drive.

I was going to get a hemi, but the new 8-speed made the 6-cyl charger a no brainer for me. Its performance is great for what I need (safe family car that won't lull me to boredom). And the 30+ highway mpg is great. I actually can do much better if I take it easy. Nothing quite like cruising at 75mph at 1100 rpm, or 45 at 1000 rpm, or 30 at 1000 rpm, or 90 at 1500 rpm, etc. And when you punch it, VROOOOM.

I know, the haters will chime in with the usual stuff. Ignore it. This is the best sedan for the money right now. Period.

Except its a dodge. I wouldn't buy a dodge if you paid half for it because I KNOW it will break sooner than any other brand out there.

 

[thomsbrain]

I believe the car you want is called the Volkswagen GTI. It will be faster than your RX-8, have plenty of room, and have worlds better fit and finish than the Charger, which screams rental car. There is a reason you got one as a rental car, you know.

 

[AMCRambler]

I believe the car you want is called the Volkswagen GTI. It will be faster than your RX-8, have plenty of room, and have worlds better fit and finish than the Charger, which screams rental car. There is a reason you got one as a rental car, you know.

LOL at plenty of room. The back seat of that GTI is tiny when compared to the back seat of the Charger. If you're looking for a 4 door sporty sedan, Charger is probably the car to beat. I'm partial to the Pontiac G8 GT's. If I went four doors, I'd probably get one of those. Of course they don't make them new anymore. If you've got the scratch the CTS-V is down right sexy too.

 

[nerp]

This. New body and new interior, plus that killer powertrain combo. They are fantastic now. I can't believe I would ever say that about a Chrysler sedan.

I know. I am a convert. And I don't regret it. I used to shudder to think of buying one. Now I get a big grin every time I walk out the front door and realize I get to drive it.

 

[nerp]

Except its a dodge. I wouldn't buy a dodge if you paid half for it because I KNOW it will break sooner than any other brand out there.

You know, eh? Kind of like my VW that blew a window motor at 40,000 miles and needed about $2,000 of non-warranty repairs by 80,000 miles?

The best part about owning this car is knowing that people like you are still stuck in a few years ago. Wake up. Chrysler is not the same company anymore.

 

[nerp]

I believe the car you want is called the Volkswagen GTI. It will be faster than your RX-8, have plenty of room, and have worlds better fit and finish than the Charger, which screams rental car. There is a reason you got one as a rental car, you know.

GTI fit and finish is not as good as the Charger's anymore. I am a lifelong VW owner. The Golf/GTI is nice, yes. But the charger is better. And it has a much better touchscreen interface.

And good luck getting a forward-facing baby seat and three passengers plus luggage for a vacation in the GTI. And you still get 30-35 mpg on the highway.