The Charger R/T is indeed a powerhouse, and*a handsome car... but it can't outrun your 8. Don't ask me how I know.

 

I had an rx8, and now have a charger R/T.

I needed more room than the rx8 could provide, and I live downtown, and only get 1 parking spot... so the "add a cheapo" didn't work out so well.

Ended up with a Black Charger R/T with Road & Track... (road and track adds the awesome seats, don't forget).

The only part that I really regret, is when I would go out and drive just for the thrill.

The Charger is faster (from stop light to 135 mph, Never went faster than that in either car, but I don't need to go faster...), it is more comfortable, it is easier to drive, when shiny, it still gets the looks.

If/When I move out of the city, and get a 2+ car garage, I will be getting an RX8 again...

 

Oh, the Big Hemi v8 gets about 20% better milage than I got in the rx8. (I would get 22 mpg on my out of town trips with bowling stuff in the 8, I get 27 with the HEMI). In town, they are closer to eachother.

If you are thinking of the SRT8, it will probably get you to the milage of the rx8 that you have now....

 

It's great. We needed a family sedan that would seat 5. After 3 mini-vans we were done. The car has awesome torque and great styling. My wife gets compliments on the car all the time from men. They seem shocked when they are gazing at the parked car and then see a 5ft 105lb woman walk over and open the doors. I have it in white w/tinted windows. I have the RT w/Road and Track package, so it has all the performance enhancements (larger tires, sport bucket seats, 10 addtl. HP etc.) of the Daytona. Sounds awesome at WOT. It rides like a European sedan. Smooth, yet firm enough to handle well and all the power, accelaeration & braking you need when on the highway. They have begun to cross over items from the Mercedes into Chrysler cars (i.e. transmission, steering column). I put Pirelli Scorpion tires in the winter and it drove fine in the NY snow. Cost me about $800.00, but I expected to do that. Now I put ther Michelins back on. Rides much smoother. Unfortunately with the Charger I don't have the luxury of parking it in the car all winter, like my 8. Gas mileage shouldn't be an issue since you are use to the 8. Mine averages 17 around town, which is mostly what my wife does. How people are getting 22-24 with the Hemi, I haven't seen that ever. Love the car, would recommend it if you want a big car they also performs very well.

 

Lay off the crack, the Charger R/T is faster than the RX-8. Just because you beat some guy in his SXT with R/T badging doesn't mean the RX-8 can "outrun" a Charger R/T.

 

Glad to hear that the Charger is working out for you.

Just wait until the Dodge Charger Police Package becomes commonplace. You'll be amazed at how every other driver in a 50' radius magically becomes more polite during your daily commutes.

 

Were you driving it? Were you riding with me? Is there anything that makes you an authority on anything that has ever occurred in my life? No? Thought so, now shut the hell up.

Consider how much it weighs.

 

Thanks for the replies. I currently have a 05' Altima 3.5 SE and it moves pretty good and gets 23 city and about 27 hiway and I really like the car, but it is JINXED. Weird things happen to that car. I have had it in the body shop 3 times from hail, rear ended and now front ended. Time to get rid of it before someone really hurts me or my family. I would like to still have a 4 door sedan, but a cool one. I have never liked American cars, and if i buy a Charger, it will be my first.

I test drove an R/T the other day and wasn't really impressed with the power, as my Altima didn't seem too far behind on torque. But once I got the thing rolling, look out. Lots of mods available also.

 

I've considered it, it's still faster.

 

Ah yes, I see we've returned once again to Ike's magazine-figure and dealership test drive fantasy world, where 4-door sedans reset the land speed record every week and the RX-8 is handily beat by shopping carts. Welcome home.

Nevermind my direct real-world experience, Ike read it was faster somewhere, and he is indeed a champion of all things automotive.

 

Are you going to start crying?

 

Apparently you already are.

 

Why don't you just put "I know you are but what am I" in your sig., then from now on you won't have to make such idiotic retorts.

 

I'm done arguing here, this is pointless and bound to attract moderator attention. But it disappoints me you missed the subtleties of my Sad Banana mockery. I do believe it's a euphemism, though...

 

I own both and drive both, the Charger smacks you in the seat at launch and takes off quick out of the gate, but on top end highway speeds...the 8 shows it's stuff. They are totally different animals and comparing them is useless.

 

I have to agree with Rootski.

1. You don't know what mods, if any, he has.

2. Stock vs stock, the rx8 could win if the guy in the charger misses a shift of shifts slowly.

3. You don't know if they started at 0. RX8 probably is faster on the highway going to high speeds.


No offense to anyone who has one, but I don't see why Chargers sell as well as they do (which I'm pretty sure isn't that well). They don't look good, unless you like the old muscle car look. In that case the Mustang is a lot better looking. Also, its handling is horrible. There is no such thing as a car with a large 8 cylinder engine front mounted with good handling. Don't say Viper because they have horrible handling which is a reason why they are so low priced for speed (yes I know it has a 10 cyl not 8 but thats even worse). The STI and EVO are faster, better handling, and look much better.

 

1.) He's stock or damn close to it

2.) I'd LOVE to hear you explain to me how that's happening

3.) The Charger R/T traps about 100mph in the 1/4 and does 0-130 in about 25 seconds, the RX-8 does 0-130 in about 35 seconds, that's many many buslengths for the Charger RT. In short, I don't give a damn what speed the started at. Either the Charger wasn't racing, Rootski is making stuff up, there was something wrong with that Charger, or it wasn't really an R/T.

4.) There are plenty of cars with heavy front mounted engines that still manage to have very good handling. Viper and Vette are two of those despite what you think.

5.) The STI and Evo are ugly and are just fast in a straight line, but only because they have cheating turbos.

 

I'm not making it up. I can PM you the details if you wish, but ultimately I don't really give a damn whether you believe me or not.

 

110+ horsepower is a lot. even if the car weighs 1000 lbs more.

I am not sure why I am so fascinated by this board. I spend 100x more time reading posts here than at any of the wrx boards.

Maybe it's because when somebody on the wrx board races an srt-4 he says "damn, that was fast, I lost.. stupid cheap neon" and everybody agrees with him.

Here it seems that everybody has to defend the majesty of their rx-8.. and the rx-8 must be faster than everything... and even if you couldn't win, you could beat him in the twisties!

it's like morbid curiosity, I guess.

I love rx-8s, but I like watching for ike's posts, because the responses he gets amuses the hell out of me.

 

1) okay, I wasn't sure as I stated.

2)If the guy misses 3rd and shifts to 1st, by the time he recovers, an 8 would beat it. Its not likely, but could happen.

3)Maybe there was something wrong with the Charger. Maybe they aren't reliabe. Maybe if you floor it a lot something will come lose. Doesn't sound like a good car to buy if its true.

4) They don't have very good handling, horrible for price range. A Lotus could easily out handle them. Also, the Ultima gtr is 80k and it could easily out handle both.

5) lol, just fast in a straight line? you've lost it. the evo and sti have really good AWD transmissions. they might even be capable of out handling a stock rx8. Also, turbos aren't cheating. Its just car technology. I guess a 3 rotor engine is cheating too. Cheating is NOS.

EDIT: I never said STI or EVO had nice looks, but they are better than the Charger.

 

I rest my case

 

Let's look at a picture of the Charger R/T interior, shall we?

Notice anything? I'll give you a hint, it's common to all Chargers.

 

I.) You said I didn't know, and I did know.

2.) Examine the picture above, things might make more sense to you then.

3.) That's the least likely of all the explainations, my guess is he wasn't or fully on it.

4.) That's the stupidest comparison I've ever heard.

5.) The Evo and the STI aren't AWD and NOTHING can outhandle a RX-8!

6.) Why the hell am I arguing with some teen that has read a few magazines and thinks he knows what he is talking about?

 

Oh Oh pick me pick me, I know the answer Blue Eyes. Automatic. No one is going to miss a shift in the Charger.

I took an R/T off the lot Friday to test drive over the weekend. Very nice car. Lots of tourque but does not handle like the 8. Push the throttle to the floor, and hang on. It is fast, just a different fast that the 8. Totally different cars, love them both. Straight line up to 100mph, Charger. After 100mph and if there is ANY slight turn in the road, 8 for sure. Thats what I have learned this weekend.

 

Why the hell would they make a car that puts down as much as 425hp (SRT8) and ONLY offer an automatic. I was kind of interested in checking one out until I saw that. It just totally destroys any interest among enthusiasts, or maybe I'm just picky. It's like giving a motorcycle training wheels - stupid.

It's been very much the opposite of the Mustang - The more I see them, the more I like them. The Mustang was great looking for the first 3 or so days they were out, then they were EVERYWHERE and I think they're looking more and more boring. Shame Dodge had to fall flat on their face by requiring a slushbox.