New Charger...Love it or HATE IT!

71383bee · Post by **71383bee** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:37 pm

I don't know if everybody has seen the new charger, but it is out and will be available in afew weekd at your local dealer. Here is link to new photos released by dodge
http://www.dodge.com/autoshow/charger/gallery.html

Personally for me being a proud owner of a 71 super bee which shared the charger platform for that final year, I am not impressed. To me it seems that dodge is trying to build one basic car. You can get it as a station wagon, a fancy 300, or now a 4 door sedan. I don't see any reselblence of the old charger in this thing. To me it is a Magnum with a slanted roof and curvy quarter panel with stratus taillights. The quarter panel curve remebles a challenger more than a charger and beleive me that is a real stretch in comparisson. There are no hood scallops or door scallops, and it does not retain the traditional coke bottle design.

I'm sure the hemi power train is kick ass and it is rear wheel drive, but I am not convinced this thing should be labelled a charger. It's uniqueness is gone. Coronet seems to me to be a more fitting label becasue this is more in line with what the coronet offered; 4 door family style sedan (2doors offered to, not so on the new charger), clean lines, and available as a stump pulling R/T till 70.

If this is dodge's attempt to capture there past and propel it to the future like Ford's new Mustang I give them a resounding D+. That's only because it has a v8 and RWD.

Ohh well that's my opinion and I just want to gripe a bit. What are your thoughts?

BigBlockHead · Post by **BigBlockHead** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 4:34 pm

IMHO:
When you compare that to european/japanese cars it looks good, and the Hemi and RearWheel Drive is a great thing...BUT why they couldn't make it like the new mustang or T-Bird...to look like the old chargers?!?!
It's a Dodge allright, but it's not a charger.

Markku

71383bee · Post by **71383bee** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:31 pm

I agree...don't get me wrong I like the direction dodge is moving, but calling this thing a charger just feels wrong.

I might have to clarify my point because this is a hot topic on some of the other boards and I don't want to get in a flame war.

I just don't like the name associated with this thing. The uniquness of charger is gone and DC seems geared up to give us 5 differnt versions of the same car. Neon to ram all seem to be looking the same now.

Charger was cool because it was a B body that split apart from the other sedans. Now it looks like a magnum with a slanted roof!

BigBlockHead · Post by **BigBlockHead** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:47 pm

Yes it does. I think the Dodge Sprinter is one of the ugliest things that I have ever seen....!

Markku

73 runner · Post by **73 runner** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 4:00 pm

I do not like it all.

Post by **Dave** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:25 am

I'm personally holding judgement on the car until I see one in person. However, from the pictures I've seen of the car, I'm not wild about it, but it's something that could grow on me, I guess. I didn't like the current generation Ram pickups when they first came out, but I've grown to like them, and really think the 3500's look sweet.

Sure, I'm disappointed there isn't a 2 door version of the Charger, which means I won't personally be parking one in the garage next to Project Blue Bird. I'm not hung up on the use of the Charger nameplate - I understand the business of it. I know a lot of people were wanting something with retro type design, and I do like that, but it has to be done well to really work. Granted, the 99 concept Charger pulled it off REALLY well, including being a 4 door. Still, I don't have an issue with a Charger that has a modern style.

The big question is, will it sell? I believe it will. It's a mid-size, RWD V8 Sedan, something the market has been lacking for some time. Next to the Magnum and the 300C, I think the concept definately makes sense. It has styling that isn't too outrageous to turn non "car-people" off, and as long as the quality is there, it should be a decent seller to past Intrepid buyers.

71383bee · Post by **71383bee** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 11:01 am

I agree. this car should do well for DC and i am sure that a few nostalgic concepts will sneak out. Like some hemi orange or plum crazy colors with stripes. That might make it look more retro, but overall I am not impressed with style.

Too me it seems that this car did not take a whole lot of thought. Aside from the rear quarter panel there appears to be no charger-esqe styling. Everything about the car screams magnum. Even the front end looks like every other car that dodge is putting out. Look at their site and look at the front ends of the neon, stratus, magnum, caravan and even the trucks. They all look the same. In the old days you could tell a dart from a charger, a coronet, etc. Why does it have to be that way? It now seems like you can go to dodge and by a dodge in small, medium, large, wagon, van, or truck.

I love the concept of v8 RWD, but I dislike the cookie cutter appearance.

I hope the challenger project lives up to our gearhead expectations. DC has to do something to keep up with the mustang.