This'll probably be the only time you'll see me post about the new "Charger"

[Mike DC]

 
As if anyone here doesn't know the new Chargers will eat our old ones for lunch in numerous performance/value measurements. 

As if anyone here thinks that makes the new ones categorically superior. 




Interesting thread. 

Pointless debate. 

[chargerjy9]

I know this is a pointless debate.

I have one of each, both the the new (R/T MAX ) and the old, (73 SE 400 Magnum ). I love them both for same and different reasons.

  Getting past the 4 door nonsense, The new car and the old car both embody to a T what they are supposed to be about,

( 1st: Charger is NOT a muscle car by the TRUE definition of the word ), but rather it's stated intention was and is, for both generations, a full size sporty vehicle with luxury appointments. ( not necessarily High Performance either, 318 et al.)  Both of my cars fulfill this criteria.  This holds true for Gen 1 Thru 3 (66-74) as well as current (Gen 2 ) model. IMO the best looking cars in their class for both the the old and the new.

[Highbanked Hauler]

 Agree with the simulated rust the bumper covers are plastic

[tan top]

Huge improvement over the factory four door thing.

[bill440rt]

Hmmm..... it has a push bar.

[Dino]

I've seen it many times on this board, some are getting real good at explaining why the new Charger is so good looking and such a vast improvement over the old.  How  many would look twice at these things if they had called it Avenger?   

How many stripes do you need to put on a Camry before you call it muscle? 



Disclaimer: this post may contain sarcasm, your serious rebuttal will be considered sarcastic as well.

[Fred]

A couple of weeks ago I was going flat out in the overtaking lane, leaving everything behind when WOOSH! a very fast BMW flew past me (and my car has 600 horse power). Do I want that BMW? NO, I'm having to much fun with my CHarger.

[Mopar Nut]

A couple of weeks ago I was going flat out in the overtaking lane, leaving everything behind when WOOSH! a very fast BMW flew past me (and my car has 600 horse power). Do I want that BMW? NO, I'm having to much fun with my CHarger.

Good choice, those BMW's are a dime a dozen, our cars are rare.

[odcics2]

To answer a few questions, I have owned Chargers for 41 years.  I'm 57.   I have never owned anything else but Mopars.  Period.  (if you can't say that, maybe YOU should be banned from this forum)   Waist size is 32", not 40.       And I own a 69....

To clarify "tippy", here are a few pics.  Note the '69 can get the oil changed without jacking it up.  I know, I did it on my 68.
In 1974 A few of us drove to the S.C. to see the Southern 500.  We slept under the back of my 68 Charger!!   (I still have the WINSTON CUP flag I got from the top of the front grand stand. Glenn and Ed from Ohio supplied the beer!)

WHEN NEW - the cars DID sit pretty high. We are all used to cranked down torsion bars and well used leaf springs.  This is a good thing.   
Compare the rocker panels to the wheel center line.  I like the look of the new ones in stock form.  The SRT versions are even lower.
Sorry I ruffled a few feathers of a few guys.  Passion is good. 

[Paul G]

And I thought this debate was dead long ago. But NOOOOOO, someone had to bring it back!

[Fred]

It'a a merry go round. There's no getting off!      

[bull]

Never enjoyed this topic anyway. And now I have another reason for this being my first and last new "Charger" post. So much for my mild attempt at showing some interest in it.

Other than the RWD, modern performance and sharing the same name, the cars have nothing in common. It's not my fault for thinking this, it's a reflection of the dissension Chrysler apparently wanted. Actually, it's my opinion that Chrysler couldn't care less what true Mopar fans think or feel about either car. All you have to do to confirm the company's indifference is to take one look at the Mopar Performance catalog or website.

[Troy]

I find it funny that the roll cage doesn't actually cover any of the area where the driver would sit - but the rest of that awesome ride would survive! There seems to be a lot of lug nuts on those wheels. Wonder how they pulled that off?

I actually do find some of the stuff on SyFy interesting but I just don't watch that much TV.

Troy

[A383Wing]

There seems to be a lot of lug nuts on those wheels. Wonder how they pulled that off?


Troy

probably got a Dakota or Durango front end under it

[chargerjy9]

Other than the RWD, modern performance and sharing the same name, the cars have nothing in common. It's not my fault for thinking this, it's a reflection of the dissension Chrysler apparently wanted. Actually, it's my opinion that Chrysler couldn't care less what true Mopar fans think or feel about either car. All you have to do to confirm the company's indifference is to take one look at the Mopar Performance catalog or website.
[/quote]

I wholeheartedly agree with the crappy Mopar catalogue and website.   ABSOLUTE POS.   

I wholeheartedly disagree that Chrysler "intended" to create dissention.  They simply were not cognizant of what a "true Mopar fan" was. the folks running the show when the current stuff was developed were not there 40 to 50 years ago. They had no history with what happened, or even the car culture at that time.

Most of us "true Mopar fans" are 55 to 70 years old. You are right there. we are such a small demographic to their overall product plan we don't figure into it.


I also disagree about the cars not having anything in common, as I stated in my post above. IMO the Charger of today is in the same position relative to other modern cars as was the Charger of 40 years ago.

Yeah, OK . It has 4 doors, SO WHAT. we "true Mopar fans" need to get over that.

I will never bite the hand that feeds me, I bleed Mopar Blue. I am  a "true  Mopar fan".

[Mopar Nut]

Most of us "true Mopar fans" are 55 to 70 years old. You are right there. we are such a small demographic to their overall product plan we don't figure into it.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement, just to disagree.  

[Ponch ®]

<-------

[A383Wing]

 

[Fred]

Other than the RWD, modern performance and sharing the same name, the cars have nothing in common. It's not my fault for thinking this, it's a reflection of the dissension Chrysler apparently wanted. Actually, it's my opinion that Chrysler couldn't care less what true Mopar fans think or feel about either car. All you have to do to confirm the company's indifference is to take one look at the Mopar Performance catalog or website.

I wholeheartedly agree with the crappy Mopar catalogue and website.   ABSOLUTE POS.  

I wholeheartedly disagree that Chrysler "intended" to create dissention.  They simply were not cognizant of what a "true Mopar fan" was. the folks running the show when the current stuff was developed were not there 40 to 50 years ago. They had no history with what happened, or even the car culture at that time.

Most of us "true Mopar fans" are 55 to 70 years old. You are right there. we are such a small demographic to their overall product plan we don't figure into it.


I also disagree about the cars not having anything in common, as I stated in my post above. IMO the Charger of today is in the same position relative to other modern cars as was the Charger of 40 years ago.

Yeah, OK . It has 4 doors, SO WHAT. we "true Mopar fans" need to get over that.

I will never bite the hand that feeds me, I bleed Mopar Blue. I am  a "true  Mopar fan".

Point taken. And I've got to say that in today's hectic world and given our want for convenience.............four doors are better than two. I'm not bothered with the two doors on my 68 but then, it's not the daily driver and I rarely have back seat passengers.

[Mike DC]

          
The new Charger has virtually nothing in common with the old one because they are separated by about 30 years of FWD cars.  


Imagine if the late-70s to early-2000s Mustangs & Camaros hadn't existed - the modern Camaros & Mustangs would look just as unrelated to the original stuff as Mopar's.  

[bull]

Other than the RWD, modern performance and sharing the same name, the cars have nothing in common. It's not my fault for thinking this, it's a reflection of the dissension Chrysler apparently wanted. Actually, it's my opinion that Chrysler couldn't care less what true Mopar fans think or feel about either car. All you have to do to confirm the company's indifference is to take one look at the Mopar Performance catalog or website.

I wholeheartedly agree with the crappy Mopar catalogue and website.   ABSOLUTE POS.  

I wholeheartedly disagree that Chrysler "intended" to create dissention.  They simply were not cognizant of what a "true Mopar fan" was. the folks running the show when the current stuff was developed were not there 40 to 50 years ago. They had no history with what happened, or even the car culture at that time.

If you look at my quote above I sort of amended my statement to say Chrysler doesn't really care what we think one way or the other. So I guess we agree.

[Patronus]

Apparently there's going to be a new (hopefully decent) SyFy series called Defiance and Dodge is showing pics of a Mad Maxed-out new "Charger" from the 2013 Chicago Auto Show that's going to be in the series. It actually looks a lot more like the truck it is with the all-terrain tires and simulated rust.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/01/07/defiance-trailer-2/

The new Charger runs circles around the old.  Goes faster, stops quicker, turns better, and gets more mpg.   A lot safer, too.
OK, so it has 2 more doors.   My waist isn't a size 29 anymore either!    

oooo Captain Obvious strikes again..

[chargerjy9]

If you look at my quote above I sort of amended my statement to say Chrysler doesn't really care what we think one way or the other. So I guess we agree.
[/quote]


yes we do on that point. But I still submit that they TRIED to appease us with the styling of the current Charger as opposed to the 06-10 model, given what they had to work with (and thank Daimler  for that BTW), They put enough styling cues from classic Chargers to give it some identity and connection. Even the IP has it's roots from the 3rd gen Chargers.

[Mike DC]

  
Agree.  

They know the 2006 car would have been more successful as a fully retro '68-70 car.  (The Germans didn't know/care, but they aren't running Chrysler anymore.  Chrysler itself would have probably made the right decision back in 2006 all along.)   

But their new styling "mistake" ended up being successful on its own steam, contrary to all the griping from the enthusiasts.   So they aren't gonna throw out all evidence of it.  They told the stylists to push the 2011 car in the direction of the '68-70 car but keep it recognizable as the new Charger first and foremost.  This is a very expensive product and they don't wanna throw away a known success when they have it.  
 

[chargerjy9]

Amen..  I was there in the styling studio. That is what went down. I was also in the B body styling studio in the early 70's. I have first hand experience with all this stuff. You said it exactly the way it w.as