Dodge Charger SRT8

[Dr Mordrid]

Chrysler introduced the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 at the Chicago Auto Show today

Engine: 6.4-liter Hemi V-8
Power: 465 bhp
0-60 mph: <5 seconds
Top end: 165 mph
Wheels: 20" 5-spoke

No price yet, but it arrives in fall 2011

[Jammrock]

And 2 MPG! Is it just me or does it look like a red babel fish?

[Delany]

Normally not a huge fan of Dodge cars, but, I like it.

[Technoid]

Looks like a brick

[Dr Mordrid]

And 2 MPG!.....

Sticker will say 14 city/19 highway, but I have a friend eho has a 2011 and he reports 18/24. Next years gets an 80hp bump, but it asso gets a fuel saver tech that shuts down cylinders when in cruise or other low-power situations.

Also will get a Harmon Kardon 900-watt, 19-speaker surround-sound system.

[Elie]

Man!! Where do they get their designers from...that car look hideous, like they smashed it into a concrete wall and said..."There you go"

And again typical American mentality, let's throw billions of HP, that consumes billions of gallons of expensive gas, with crappy handling, only good for 0-60 numbers.

Typical Chrysler! I would take a Ford GT over 10 of these Chargers.

[Jessterw]

And 2 MPG! Is it just me or does it look like a red babel fish?

I used to like how the Charger looked, but this thing...

[Dr Mordrid]

One of its major markets both in the US and overseas is as a police cruiser-interceptor. The SRT8 & other sport models are in synch with that, much like the COPO-9C1 package was to GM's supercars. The Michigan State Police use tons of 'em.

[Jessterw]

The majority of the police cars I see (in the OKC area) these days are Chargers. I rarely see what you would consider traditional police cars. In fact, I see more unmarked police vans than the latter.

[UtwigMU]

So, how much does a car like this cost there and what is the status value (what kind of person usually buys this car?) For example here Passat here has the image of butcher's (small business) car. I saw actual Passat with custom licence plate "butcher".

Why would you buy a muscle car over say BMW 6 series or some hot Audi?

[Jessterw]

The cost range is anywhere from ~$24,000 to upwards of $35,000 USD depending on the style and features.

I'm not sure what the status value is for a Charger as I've seen people of all types with them. As with any muscle car though, part of it is likely to be a sense of intimidation, especially given that the police use them. Anytime I see a black one I slow down a bit.

[UtwigMU]

Here highway patrols use unmarked vehicles equipped with provida monitoring system (Opel Vectra 3.2 GTS, Ford Mondeo 3.0 are known), while regular police use BMWs 3, VWs, Skodas, Renault Lagunas...

Here's a video of police chasing their own minister(ess) of internal affairs who was probably in a hurry being chauffered to shoe sales in Milano Italy. Her chauffer (employee of ministry of internal affairs and police coworker). She was caught doing 187km/h, limit is 130km/h.

[MultimediaMan]

One of its major markets both in the US and overseas is as a police cruiser-interceptor. The SRT8 & other sport models are in synch with that, much like the COPO-9C1 package was to GM's supercars. The Michigan State Police use tons of 'em.

And departments across the nation are retiring Chargers in droves: the car is fine from a mechanical standpoint, a little expensive on the maintenance side, but the real problem with the Charger is the lack of seat space: a 5' 10"+ tall fully-equipped officer cannot comfortably enter and exit the vehicle. This compounded when a Winter Jacket or Parka is introduced.

Nearly all of Arkansas LEOs have gone back to Ford Interceptors for cost and accessibility reasons.

[paulw]

What ever happened to the Australian made Chevy police cars they were trying to sell the the LAPD a couple of years ago??

[Kruzin]

The Aussie made Pontiacs and Chevys where a miserable failure.
We HATE seeing the GTOs come into our dealership for service. They are pieces of crap, poorly built and hard to get parts for.

We had one GTO in our dealership down for over THREE MONTHS, because we could not get a CV shaft, and there was zero aftermarket support. We literally had to wait for enough demand before the kangaroo humpers would build some, then slow-boat one to us.
Not a happy customer...

The basic platform will go on in Chevy (as Pontiac is officially dead), but as I understand they will be built in the US now...