Tallboy
06-10-2005, 08:36 AM
Stopped by my buddy's Dodge dealership last night to pick up the Neon. [Yeah, Yeah, I know. It's our "disposable car"] I hung out there for a while, bs-ing with the guys I used to work with. I made an off-handed comment about "all the Hot-Rods around here"; they had a couple STR-10 Ram trucks, a copperhead Viper, an ACR SRT-4, some Magnum R/Ts, and a couple Hemi Chargers. I told my buddy [who owns and runs it] I wanted to take a Hemi Charger out for a spin once the "magic" wore off. He handed me the keys to one, and tossed me a dealer plate.
I smiled and said "see you in a half-hour."
I spent the next 30 minutes making a direct comparison to my car, before and after the blower install. This Charger is a nice car. Comfortable, [I'm 6'5" and couldn't put the seat all the way back!], tight and rattle-free. Rides nice, handles nice. Simple, well-laid-out interior, and a nice sunroof. I don't like the fact that it has no more instrumentation than our Neon. "Guages? We need some stinkin' guages!" I would describe the inside of the car as both "unoffensive" and "uninspiring." It's just there, and is nice. no more.
Driving around with the sunroof open and stereo off, you can hear the exhaust, but only on aceeleration, and then, just barely. What you do hear sounds good. Visibilty is good, and I like the high cowl. Makes you feel like you're in a substantial car, which it is. The styling of this car is much better recieved in person, than a magazine photo. If you have a chance, give one a good "walk around".
Now to the "good part"...
Dead punch acceleration: Unimpressive. Don't get me wrong, it's no slouch, but you get no tirespin, just a 'chirp" and then the T/C kicks in. You cannot shut it off completely. I did half a dozen dead punch acceleration runs. Brake-Torque burnouts ain't happenin'. The computer freaks out, and the tires spin a half-rotation and stop, half-rotation and stop. Annoying. This car is by no means underpowered, but a stoplight-superstar it is not.
I am now awaiting the SRT version of this car. I will report back.
If you have a bone-stock Marauder, I wouldn't go around making fun of these cars, but I wouldn't be afraid of them, either. If the guy wants to "go", you can stay with him.
If you have a tune and/or gears, etc., You WILL take him. Not by much, but you will NOT lose.
If you have any variety of a supercharged car, you will absolutely annihilate him. You will beat him so badly he may never recover. Keep a box of kleenex in the car, and toss him some at the next light.
I smiled and said "see you in a half-hour."
I spent the next 30 minutes making a direct comparison to my car, before and after the blower install. This Charger is a nice car. Comfortable, [I'm 6'5" and couldn't put the seat all the way back!], tight and rattle-free. Rides nice, handles nice. Simple, well-laid-out interior, and a nice sunroof. I don't like the fact that it has no more instrumentation than our Neon. "Guages? We need some stinkin' guages!" I would describe the inside of the car as both "unoffensive" and "uninspiring." It's just there, and is nice. no more.
Driving around with the sunroof open and stereo off, you can hear the exhaust, but only on aceeleration, and then, just barely. What you do hear sounds good. Visibilty is good, and I like the high cowl. Makes you feel like you're in a substantial car, which it is. The styling of this car is much better recieved in person, than a magazine photo. If you have a chance, give one a good "walk around".
Now to the "good part"...
Dead punch acceleration: Unimpressive. Don't get me wrong, it's no slouch, but you get no tirespin, just a 'chirp" and then the T/C kicks in. You cannot shut it off completely. I did half a dozen dead punch acceleration runs. Brake-Torque burnouts ain't happenin'. The computer freaks out, and the tires spin a half-rotation and stop, half-rotation and stop. Annoying. This car is by no means underpowered, but a stoplight-superstar it is not.
I am now awaiting the SRT version of this car. I will report back.
If you have a bone-stock Marauder, I wouldn't go around making fun of these cars, but I wouldn't be afraid of them, either. If the guy wants to "go", you can stay with him.
If you have a tune and/or gears, etc., You WILL take him. Not by much, but you will NOT lose.
If you have any variety of a supercharged car, you will absolutely annihilate him. You will beat him so badly he may never recover. Keep a box of kleenex in the car, and toss him some at the next light.