September 22, 2005 -  What were the editors of the buff magazines thinking? Pitting the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T against modern muscle cars like the not-for-sale-in-Canada Pontiac GTO, or Ford’s back-to-its-roots Mustang GT? C’mon, count the doors and do the math. It may move magazines off the racks, but just as McQueen’s Mustang 390 in Bullitt outgunned the bad guys in their hub-cap-loosing Charger, it ain’t a fair fight.

As Dodge’s “family sedan”, the rear-wheel drive Charger comes in five flavours to battle the competition in this broad portion of the market. To compete against the front-drive vee-six Honda Accords ($29,500) and Toyota Camrys ($27,375) out there, the lowliest Charger is the SE ($27,495) carrying the 250 horsepower, 3.5-litre vee-six, plus lots of standard goodies like a CD player, 17-inch tires, ABS, and traction plus stability control. If you want an upgraded sound system, leather on the steering wheel and shift knob, power driver’s seat, and folding rear chairs, the next rung up the Charger ladder is the SXT ($31,395) with the same 3.5 mill. If you even have an ounce of gas pumping through your veins, the Charger to get would be my tester—the R/T. It adds performance brakes and suspension with two-piston calipers, 18-inch aluminum wheels and performance touring tires, dual-bright exhaust tips, power heated/folding mirrors, leather–faced seats with heated front seats, power adjustable pedals, satin silver interior accents and tire pressure monitor, and (ahem, drum roll, please) the multidisplacement 340 horsepower, 5.7 litre HEMI. For $37,550.



Let’s put that last bit in its own paragraph for more emphasis: 340 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 390 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm; rear-wheel drive; and under $40k.

Niiiice…

(Now Chevy fans maybe jumping up and down right now screaming, “Hey, wadda ‘bout the new five-grand-cheaper 2006 Impala SS with its vee-eight?,” to whom I say the power is going to the wrong set of wheels, and the car is 37 horses and one sophisticated Mercedes-Benz chassis short of being considered.



If your wallet is of a certain girth, you can spend more money on a Charger. To my R/T tester, you can add a worthwhile Road and Track Performance Group (just order the R/T with the R&T, got it?). It adds heat to the front seats, load levelling and height control, larger 235/55R18 rubber, a tighter suspension and steering, and excellent performance seats trimmed in grippy suede (the seats alone are worth the $950 cost of the package). Of course, if you want to announce to the authorities that you are driving a “fast car”, the Charger Daytona R/T at $40,605, has all of the “R/T with R&T” equipment, and adds a 747-ish rear spoiler and movie-marquee-sized "HEMI" and "DAYTONA" decals splashed on the flanks of the car. Possibly the biggest bargain in the Charger line-up will be the priciest—the 425 horsepower SRT-8 version at $44,650 coming this fall.



Don’t bother straining your eyes to see any styling DNA from the ‘60s Chargers. But the car’s overall large proportions, aggressive face, raised rear fenders and Inferno Red exterior colour garnered plenty of attention when tooling around suburbia. The Charger’s cabin is shared with the Dodge Magnum, so you still get four huge, tunnelled gauges with black numerals on white faces, and the Mercedes-sourced cruise control wand and turn-signal/wiper stalk that’s just as awkward here as in a $84,600 Mercedes-Benz E 500. The interior materials are similar to what you’ll find in domestic competitors; it ain’t no Audi.

But then, your average $40,000 Audi doesn’t got a HEMI innit, eh?



Unlike the Magnum or Chrysler 300C, no all-wheel-drive Charger will be offered. And unlike the GTO or Mustang, there’s no manual transmission in any Charger. What Dodge’s family sedan does get is the same, excellent Mercedes-designed five-speed manumatic that allows immediate downshifts when held to the right side of the gate. The Charger R/T’s slushbox is much quicker and firmer than the Magnum's or 300C's in getting to the right gear during upshifts, but hesitates like a petulant child when downshifts are asked for. Of course, the power of the HEMI helps move this car quickly, but the tranny is well matched.

The Charger R/T’s ride is firm and well controlled around town and the big car never feels floaty at elevated highway speeds; you’ll feel like you’re driving a car worth twice as much. However, like its Stuttgart siblings, sharp pavement creases are felt, and having already driven the Magnum R/T and 300C, I expected the Charger to be the more aggressive of the trio when I took it on some backroads, but my car lacked the R &T package, and it showed.



Turn in was quick, and the steering was fingertip light, but there’s little on-center feel. Near 50/50 weight distribution means that the car is easy to control mid-turn, but the when pushed hard in those corners, the Charger R/T heels over too easily. Without the performance sports seats that come with the R & T package, you’re left gripping the steering wheel to keep yourself in place. At 1860 kilograms, the Charger is lighter than the Magnum or 300C, but you still feel that weight at the car’s limits. And with no way to disengage the Mercedes-sourced stability control, it’s always “on”. Of course, the Charger R/T’s driving experience is unique. Translation: it stills blows the doors off of anything in its price range.

With current events making every driver mindful of fuel consumption, the HEMI’s Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which shuts down four cylinders under a light load, helped the car achieve a 11.5 L/100 km consumption number during the week with the car. And the big mill also accepts regular fuel to boot.



Whatever you think of "two-doors versus four", the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T is a tonne of car for the money. For under $40,000, you get a good-looking, roomy, powerful car that’s not short on performance. And if you want a Charger R/T that handles, go for the R & T package and thank me later.

Demoting the Charger to "just-a-Magnum-sedan" status would get any TV judge’s neck veins a popping. Yeah, they share the same cabin, but compared to the heavier wagon, or the more luxury oriented Chrysler 300, the Charger R/T is here to remind those who can remember that Dodge used to be the performance division at old Chryco before it became a minivan shop. And for those magazine editors craving splashy headlines, Dodge is working on a rear-drive, Hemi-powered two-door muscle car of their own.

Finally, to the majority of those who can afford this type of car, familial dependents are usually part of what little lifestyle you have left after chauffeuring offspring to theatre and swim classes. Rest assured, the Charger R/T can haul the kids, there stuff, and as a bonus, a considerable amount of ass.

- John LeBlanc, Publisher, www.straight-six.com



Just the facts…

Build quality 
Features 
Performance 
Fun-to-drive 
Overall value

Vehicle Type Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Engine OHV, 5.7-litre V-8
Transmission 5-speed automanual
Horsepower 340 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque 390 lb.-ft.@ 4,000 rpm
Curb Weight 1,860 kilograms
0 to 100 kms/hr 5.9 seconds
Wheels & Tires 18-inch alloy wheels with 225/60 R18 touring
Base price $37,550
Optional Equipment Sound Group II ($695), Smoker’s Package ($50) 
Price As Tested $38,295