Test Drive: 2012 Charger W/HEMI

[SID210SA]

So just for giggles I went to the local Dodge stealership and test drove a 2012 Dodge Charger.

We drove up in the Infiniti and met the salesman. He asked what I was looking for and I told him I wanted to check out the Charger with the HEMI. He asked if I wanted a 6 or 8 and I told him I wanted an 8 as I had and 8 already and didnt want to go down in power. He asked me if I had an 8 in the Infiniti....I kind of laughed and said no, I have a Marauder....he said oh, a Mercury...I said yeah....thinking wow, some one knew what I was talking about for once.

He then asked if I was looking to trade it in, and Rosa and I both said NO at the same time!! LOL. She is a keeper for sure!

I like the looks....the rear, front and sides. The interior is spacious and laid out nicely and the tech is nice too with the indash touchscreen radio and climate center, heated and cooled cup holders, heated seats in the rear, sunroof, the auto cruise control, LED lighting inside, backup camera, steering wheel controls, blindspot detection and so on. The seats were comfortable.



Overall it looks and feels nice but I didnt like the new car smell, it had leather seats but didnt really smell like it, like in the Marauder.

I told the salesman that I liked the car but it felt underpowered. He didnt like that at all. It had the HEMI but when I put my foot down it seemed to take forever for it to speed up.....and the seat of the pants feel of that 5.7 liter engine was boring. I told him that my 4.6 V8 in my Marauder seemed a lot peppier. He didnt seem to like that much either...

As much as I liked the way this car looks, I am not impressed at all by the car.

Just thought I would share.

[guspech750]

I'm willing to bet a tune of some sort would wake the Charger up just like our turd buckets.

I would not mind a SRT8 as a daily.

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Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[SID210SA]

I'm willing to bet a tune of some sort would wake the Charger up just like our turd buckets.

I would not mind a SRT8 as a daily.

Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

Maybe so.....but it seems like the Marauder was quicker and had more throttle response when I bought it new. But then again that was almost 8 years ago.

Maybe I should have test drove the SRT8 instead!

[Baconbit]

I drive a 2012 Charger with a Hemi everyday at work and I agree with you totally. You mash the pedal and it bogs down and takes a while to get up to speed. But cruising along and punch it you better hold on. Traction control in them is pretty good. I got a hot call one night and ran out to the car and floored it and the traction control kicked in and it just sat there and shuddered lol. Nice cars just initial takeoff sucks.

[SID210SA]

I drive a 2012 Charger with a Hemi everyday at work and I agree with you totally. You mash the pedal and it bogs down and takes a while to get up to speed. But cruising along and punch it you better hold on. Traction control in them is pretty good. I got a hot call one night and ran out to the car and floored it and the traction control kicked in and it just sat there and shuddered lol. Nice cars just initial takeoff sucks.


Cool,

glad it wasnt just me thinking the acceleration was slow......I know some people really like their Chargers.

[DOOM]

The acceleration seems slow on every one I line up against! :D

[Vortex]

Mike, I had a stock Marauder and still have my stock 05 Hemi Ram. It may have something to do with gears but I have to be honest that my truck always felt faster then the MM. Where the MM felt quicker was like if you were entering a highway, punched it and it dropped a gear but other than that, the hemi felt stronger to me (and it was/is pulling a big ole truck). Im not too much a fan of the looks of a Charger and think if I was going to buy one Id spend a few more bucks for a 300 just for the improved looks.

[fastblackmerc]

My wife's 2007 Charger R/T with the R/T package will take my MM off the line all day long...... half way down the 1320 I pass it like it's standing still!

[88LTDCV351]

I believe that if the Charger had come out before I fell in love with the Marauder, I probably would have been a Charger person despite my Ford past. I love my full size powerful beefy four door American styling sedans. But I'm happy with my Marauder and don't ever see parting with it.

[capt512]

I never drove the Hemi charger, but had a friend that had the larger v6 version the first year it came out and IMO it easily felt to me like it would hold its own against the MM. Will agree that acceleration was iffy, wouldn't hardly spin a tire, but seemed quicker otherwise and handled great. That said it was a POS in the end and sold with only 20,000 miles on it due to all the problems it had.

[Haggis]

Mike, I had a stock Marauder and still have my stock 05 Hemi Ram. It may have something to do with gears but I have to be honest that my truck always felt faster then the MM. Where the MM felt quicker was like if you were entering a highway, punched it and it dropped a gear but other than that, the hemi felt stronger to me (and it was/is pulling a big ole truck). Im not too much a fan of the looks of a Charger and think if I was going to buy one Id spend a few more bucks for a 300 just for the improved looks.

Your joking right?

[SID210SA]

Mike, I had a stock Marauder and still have my stock 05 Hemi Ram. It may have something to do with gears but I have to be honest that my truck always felt faster then the MM. Where the MM felt quicker was like if you were entering a highway, punched it and it dropped a gear but other than that, the hemi felt stronger to me (and it was/is pulling a big ole truck). Im not too much a fan of the looks of a Charger and think if I was going to buy one Id spend a few more bucks for a 300 just for the improved looks.

Yeah...I agree your truck prolly has better p/u...no pun intended....

My buddy has an 06 Dodge Ram with the 4.7 and seems to have better acceleration than the Charger.....maybe I wasnt driving it right or something....I used the autostick on the way back to stealership....improved a bit but not much.

[71cyclone]

So just for giggles I went to the local Dodge stealership and test drove a 2012 Dodge Charger.

We drove up in the Infiniti and met the salesman. He asked what I was looking for and I told him I wanted to check out the Charger with the HEMI. He asked if I wanted a 6 or 8 and I told him I wanted an 8 as I had and 8 already and didnt want to go down in power. He asked me if I had an 8 in the Infiniti....I kind of laughed and said no, I have a Marauder....he said oh, a Mercury...I said yeah....thinking wow, some one knew what I was talking about for once.

He then asked if I was looking to trade it in, and Rosa and I both said NO at the same time!! LOL. She is a keeper for sure!

I like the looks....the rear, front and sides. The interior is spacious and laid out nicely and the tech is nice too with the indash touchscreen radio and climate center, heated and cooled cup holders, heated seats in the rear, sunroof, the auto cruise control, LED lighting inside, backup camera, steering wheel controls, blindspot detection and so on. The seats were comfortable.



Overall it looks and feels nice but I didnt like the new car smell, it had leather seats but didnt really smell like it, like in the Marauder.

I told the salesman that I liked the car but it felt underpowered. He didnt like that at all. It had the HEMI but when I put my foot down it seemed to take forever for it to speed up.....and the seat of the pants feel of that 5.7 liter engine was boring. I told him that my 4.6 V8 in my Marauder seemed a lot peppier. He didnt seem to like that much either...

As much as I liked the way this car looks, I am not impressed at all by the car.

Just thought I would share.
Last year I machine glazed my co workers 2011 Hemi challenger/ he asked if he could use my marauder to go the bank. I said OK , he came back 20 minutes later and said DERN [ D--- ] my car feels under powered compared to yours , your marauder is real quick :burnout:He to was dissapointed after the drive

[Mr. Man]

I drove a AWD RT a few months back and I agree it was a very well laid out interior. I too felt the acceleration was underwhelming. I attributed it to the AWD sucking up power but like others have said perhaps it's a tune issue. I would like to try an SRT someday though.

[guspech750]

Our Hemi Aspen seems to pull really hard in first and second. But after that or WOT downshifts at higher speeds isnt fun. Im also guessing that with transmissions having more and more gears now. We do not feel the bigger downshift into a gear due to having more gears at closer ratios.

Still love our Hemi powered Aspen though.

[SilverBirch]

Im not too much a fan of the looks of a Charger and think if I was going to buy one Id spend a few more bucks for a 300 just for the improved looks.

Couldn't agree more, the new 300 looks way better than the Charger and in SRT8 trim would be awesome. I had an 06 300 SRT8 with cat back and CAI and it was a screamer.

[MrBluGruv]

Could the lack of throttle response also partly be throttle-by-wire? I suppose that may technically fall under the category of tuning, but just a thought.

The new 392 SRT8 Chargers are exceptionally fast even stock though, I could swear I saw one of the automotive magazines claiming a 12.8 1/4 mile stock?

[guspech750]

Could the lack of throttle response also partly be throttle-by-wire? I suppose that may technically fall under the category of tuning, but just a thought.

The new 392 SRT8 Chargers are exceptionally fast even stock though, I could swear I saw one of the automotive magazines claiming a 12.8 1/4 mile stock?
I dont know. I know the 2005 GTO I had with the throttle by wire was pretty quick to respond and :burnout:

[MrBluGruv]

I dont know. I know the 2005 GTO I had with the throttle by wire was pretty quick to respond and :burnout:


I got to test drive a used one about 2 years ago, but I think it had a few minor mods along with under-sized wheels and tires. The torque feeling was astonishing, but at the same time I'd burn rubber like crazy if I used more than like 1/2 throttle in anything under 3rd gear. :confused: Honestly, power without traction only stays fun for a while, and that "while" lasts about as long as it takes someone with FAR less power than you but more traction to walk you in a race.

Still, if just for the "I've got torque" factor, those cars did not disappoint. ;)

[99SVT]

My GF has a 2012 Challenger SRT8 6spd and a friend has an SRT8 Magnum. I've driven them both and they both run quite well, the powerband is similar to the 4.6L 4v's, lots of midrange and high RPM power, just more of it. The big thing they could use is more gearing or a loose convertor for the autos. Fun cars and very easy to drive, I taught my GF to drive a manual less than a month before she bought the car and she's had no problems driving it.

[Shaijack]

I just bought a 2012 Challenger and really like it, Orange and had black leather interior installed. 6 cylinder/ 300+ HP. I use it as a spare car.
I am thinking about getting the high hp one next. Orange and black of course. Best of all the wife loves it....

[justbob]

I just bought a 2012 Challenger and really like it, Orange and had black leather interior installed. 6 cylinder/ 300+ HP. I use it as a spare car.
I am thinking about getting the high hp one next. Orange and black of course. Best of all the wife loves it....

Are you just made of money? LOL!

I would rock an SRT/8 Charger anyday! Hate the front end now, but the rest is nice. My only issue is the $$$$ Just no room for mods once I drop that coin..

[SilverBirch]

I see a 2012 SRT8 300 in my auction future a couple years down the road.

[Mr. Man]

Are you just made of money? LOL!

I would rock an SRT/8 Charger anyday! Hate the front end now, but the rest is nice. My only issue is the $$$$ Just no room for mods once I drop that coin..
Get a Black one Bob then the front end will look better:)

[breeze]

Road in my buddy's rt challenger and it felt under powdered too. With the 400lbs trq specs and mine felt like it had a lot more bite to it with only tune a gears. Told him when my babys %100 I'll take him for a sprint up the street to show him teal muscle.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I would definitely rock a new charger RT or SRT. The RT seems less obnoxious looks-wise. But overall the red car they had at the Chicago Auto Show is what did it for me, red with gunmetal/black wheels, carbon fiber front and rear spoiler and red and black sporty interior.

I'm sure a tune and breaking the engine in is all they need.

Here it is
http://blog.roadandtrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012-Dodge-Charger-Redline_John-Lamm_0005.JPG

[FrankJAG]

That is freeking sweetness there!

[boatmangc]

Me,
I have a problem with the name. Chargers should only come with 2 doors!
Call it anything else and I might give it a break. 4 door Charger?
Why not a 4 door Mustang?
Or a 4 door Camaro.

[guspech750]

Me,
I have a problem with the name. Chargers should only come with 2 doors!.

It does silly. 2 on the left and 2 on the right.


Sent from my iPhone
Eaton Swap + 4.10's = Wreeeeeeeeeedom!!

[FrankJAG]

Lmao!!!! :d

[chevsmoker]

i blame the 8sp gear box on the lack of pick up,i own a 2007 sxt R/T police pkg and i love it the pick up is their when i mash it and when i did get the chance to open it up i got clocked by ISP at 151.5 and she was slowly still pullin. I went out and drove one of the new ones with the hemi and i put on my life that my 07 will whoop that thing.