2006 Dodge Charger

Dag-gum. DAG-GUM!

Okay, we made fun of the Dodge Magnum because it looked like it was trying to hard to be cool (kinda like a car comb-over) but this is what cool is. Once the Hemi is stuffed into the engine bay... boy howdy!

This car makes total sense for Dodge and we hope Daimler-Chrysler (merger of equals) begins to focus Dodge as the performance divison for the company. Although since the demise of Plymouth, Dodge has to be the performance and affordable division so it's an interesting (read: bad) position to be in because how do you market the brand? But, anyway, look at that thing! It's total bad-ass.

And, yes, we know a fat V-8 isn't necessary into today's totally over-crowded, parking lot-type roads (not to mention wasting gas, too) but... well, order ours in red!

Dag-gum... how we gonna sleep tonight?

Comments

[tim]

i think the dodge charger sucks, i've seen some with less than 8,000 miles on them and they have had problems with fuel injectors (6 out of 8 failing)and the brakes being totally shot (pads and rotors) and if you want to drive one of these chargers don't expect the transmission to hold fluid either i've seen them leak with only 5,000 miles on them. It seems like a cool car that has thousands of dollars of problems before they even get a years worth of driving on them. sound like a good deal the only thing worth buying the car is for the warranty but I wouldn't want the hassle of bringing it to get repaired every month.

[Rob Adcox]

I don't have the sales figures, but I bet Chrysler isn't too happy about them. Still, the Challenger will be out next year. Look for Challenger sales to be very high. And count me as one who will run, not walk past the Charger and straight to the Challenger. Hey, I'd even settle for the V6 with this thing, but then considering my student loan debt I won't be getting anything with a Hemi for awhile. Now, then. I hope there are wheel options so I don't get stuck with the plain-janers that the concept car has.

[Maury]

To an artistic eye the 06 Charger is disturbing to say the least. Adding insult to injury are factory applied decals on a four door sedan!!! It doesn't work!! Screaming "loud" paint hues: lime green, taxi-puke yellow or purple pearl on a four door sedan is revolting! Stripes and "loud" colors worked ok on the swoopy styled TWO DOOR muscle cars of yesteryear.

Amazingly these new Chargers seem to be selling!?!?! Many I see are driven by, (you know the type) with mindless rap music blaring away, 22 inch tasteless wheels, and those silly scissor/Lambo front doors! Since the sub culture has NO taste, guess that's why they loooooooooooove dat boomin' thump in da trunk of dat homely thang buzzin' round town thems call a Charger!

Hey, Iv'e seen my share of pimped out Pontiac Aztecs too! Ugly can quite popular; not just in automobiles!

[Maury]

To an artistic eye the 06 Charger is disturbing to say the least. Adding insult to injury are factory applied decals on a four door sedan!!! It doesn't work!! Screaming "loud" paint hues: lime green, taxi-puke yellow or purple pearl on a four door sedan is revolting! Stripes and "loud" colors worked ok on the swoopy styled TWO DOOR muscle cars of yesteryear.

Amazingly these new Chargers seem to be selling!?!?! Many I see are driven by, (you know the type) with mindless rap music blaring away, 22 inch tasteless wheels, and those silly scissor/Lambo front doors! Since the sub culture has NO taste, guess that's why they loooooooooooove dat boomin' thump in da trunk of dat homely thang buzzin' round town thems call a Charger!

Hey, Iv'e seen my share of pimped out Pontiac Aztecs too! Ugly can quite popular; not just in automobiles!

[PJ in TX]

For those that want to buy a Mustang go buy a Mustang..the Charger lovers out there don't give a damn..hell, we'll be waiting at the line to run you..fact is Dodge isn't exactly hurting in the sale of Chargers nor are the buyers "middle class, middle age" as someone posted previously..I own one, I'm neither - 31 years old, 100k+ annual income..Google "charger photos" and see how many twenty-somethings have them customized..then Google "mustang photos" and see how few..Chargers are far easier to "dress" than a Mustang - there are more OEM wheel choices, more OEM grill options, etc. Mustangs, after you put on a set of Coddington or Foose wheels, are pretty much done as far as set-apart custom options..

And for God's sake people, proof read your posts before hitting "post"..I'd be willing to bet Dodge is happy not to have your business as they typically prefer to have the literate portion of the public driving their vehicles - tends to make the positive reviews easier to read. Garth - your typo count is higher than your IQ..

[Eric]

May explain why Dodge is in so much financial trouble.....?? (Ford, Gm).

[Garth]

Eric What the hell are you talking about the age of the chat room folk have nothing to do with the negitive comments.... all you have to do is look a the less that crappy sales #'s this hidious car has to show for itsself to reailze you are one of the very very few people that have very bad taste in cars. It does not matter what age group is not buying it as no one is, not to mention you said people are more enviromentaly responsible lol...it's got a damn hemi in so don't even try to tell me the fuel saveing MDS is as good as a hybred not to mention all the damn SUV's Dodge sells. All in all this car sucks ! May as well just stuck the Charger name plate on a mini van! maybe they will save Duster or Cuda for them lol...
As for missing the muscle car era hell no I maybe 33 but as A kid I rode in all my fathers muscle cars (a real charger was one of them 8 in total)even took my licence test in one, and I want one now, and have the means to pluck down 50k on one but it sure the hell won't be a new Dodge Charger I already own a Intrepid why would I want a RWD one , hell I can buy a much better built family car from Japan for less if thats what I wanted, Altima, Maxima, Camry, Acord, to name a few.. and for Dodge to even try to compeat with such good cars in this bracket is just plain suicide. So I hope your enjoy your Intrepid opps I mean Dodge Charger (its about as bland as one) .... I will be buy eles wheres (as are the masses kinda like democracy majority rules).... At least the Mustang is still SEXY instead of old fart SEXY, its like the new genertion of grandpas Oldsmobiles ! Oh and drive a new Mustang post 05 they are based on the Lincon platform and are as high or higher build quality as the ugly as hell Charger !
Since you bought a Charger it may be a rare collectors item one day as they hardly sell now lol!!! Maybe instead of GPS it should have a life times supply of paper bags with eyes holes cut in them in the glove box. FACE IT, its a TURD!!!! or atleast rename it to Furry or Intrepit R/T or something.

[Eric]

Seems to me the age of the chatroom might have something to do with comments. Dodge-different seem to be on the focused track of appealing to the the babyboomer's children (25- 39 years of age). All of my friends and wife's, have more than one kid and none have mustangs except me. People of this age group missed the muscle car era,
but also have profesional careers where business is the upmost sophistication and families are the most priority. This rising generation is more conscious, smarter, and more practical because of what has been left for us to clean up an repopulate a dying generation. Our natural resources are depleting and we need better resources and smarter forms of technology.
Dodge has focused on this generation as being the next baby boomers,(the generation where every other baby was a highschool pregnancy) and left the performance coupes to the aging and already prosporous population who can afford and need one.
Styling ,looks mean alot, but leave it to mustang, for a cheap fast fun disposible car that single people of this generation can enjoy. Let dodge be different and offer a different choice among the masses. I bought a used 2002 gt mustang and can't imagine paying over 25000 new for a car that is cheaply built and has poor craftmanship.
My o6 Charger has so much class and appeal, that maybe your right, charger is the wrong name plate for it and a different badge is needed. Since when is a car created around a badge?

[Eric]

I recently purchased a used 06 hemi Charger from the dealership. We liked the sytling of the Mustang in o5 as our first choice. After test driving our dream car,my wife did not like the mustang interior and the way it handled on bumps I was not impressed either, though I enjoyed power and styling. We have other four door cars in our driveway, so two doors was no problem, except I could never understand the tiny rear seat, my 8year old could not fit comfortably.
After checking other cars, we ran into a used loaded Hemi Charger. The wife and I were thoroughly impressed with styling , interior, power. This car has some serious ass kicking power ( especially when you turn that button off (hemi owners know) on the dash skid control). Compared to the mass produced vettes, camaros, mustangs price tags, I got a great deal for a great car for 27,000 with rear Dvd and Gps , blue tooth phone, dual climate, and homelink ( turns on any light in house from car). Yes, this is a 6 second car (no doubt)only when you get on it the engine expels a deep throaty sound. It definetly has complexed mercedes engineering in the electronics and suspension ( complex steering system that leans into corners when at approach), no body rolls on interstate enter ramps at 50mph.
Yes, the 2000 concept Charger had my eyes and would attract the mass over mustang, but this 06 charger is an engineering marvel, with 4 doors that can fit 4 adults with no -problem. The fuse panel (normally under hood) is locatied in the trunk for weather moisture protection, and so is the battery for traction (wieght).
I am 30yrs young and married, and I couldn't find another car under 50,000 that would give me pure power and comfort all at once for a fraction of price. The front grill looks mean aggressive,( like a wide mouth shark ready to eat). The rear, I think needed rework more of a 68 or 69 charger look. I am currently back in college, and I get the chicks trying to pick me up in the parking lot, constantly. The younger guys always comment on the car. It gets respect and 29 mpg on the highway.
Hands down, more bang for the buck here. Besides, Mopar has always been known for large, (most ugly),never mass appeal, sleeper cars that took everbody by surprise when approached at traffic light races. They still adhere to that today.
I am glad we have the Charger, its different, and every other person does not have one (mustang, camaro ,rice) draws attention because few have seen one.

[Rob Adcox]

IF the Challenger doesn't cost more than the Mustang, and IF it comes to market looking like the concept, and IF Chrysler doesn't finance it out of my reach, I MIGHT seriously consider buying one. However, after DaimlerChrysler screwed itself with that ugly monstrosity called the "Charger" (HA!), the company will have to prove to me that it has a product which can compete directly with Mustang.
The Camaro concept is too ugly to take seriously.

[Garth]

LOL like a modern day V8 pacer lol... what a UGLY car ! and ordering it in red ... please may aswell put $80 lipstick on a $2 pig !Not to mention a its a SALES FLOP ! yep another chysler screw up !!!!!!!!! Chysler should install a life time suply of paper bags in the glove box so someone could drive this Styling Disaster without being seen in it, they might just sell a few that way lol! I am a Dodge guy but don't think the Mustang will loose much in sales because of this heavy ugly fat pig ! that is trying to pawn itself off as a Charger ... maybe a Furry sport would be a better name ! And as a NASCAR it sucks about as aerodynamic as a Brick ! And whos idea was it to put a Dakota truck Grill on a 300 and call it charger....(must have had lots of truck grils left over or someting) Dodge Charger = Edsel of the now ! 0% financing could not even sell them ! Not sure why Dodge thinks they could sell lots of these as the Impalla SS in the late 90 did not sell and the Tauras SHO did not either so why try to make a car for a Dead market! Heres an idea put a V8 in afordable 2 door car ! Mustang is selling well and Gm is bringing back the Camaro too......... remove head from the sand Dodge there are lots of us that have been out of post secondary School for a few years and have money to buy a sproty car !PLEASE give us one Or I will be forced to by a Mustang or new Camaro As i am well off but not well off enough to buy a viper ! AND I DON'T WANT A DAMN SUV !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That thing looks like a damn rental car ! Talk about boring styling styling ! Not knocking the Hemi but just put it in something worthy to wear the badge ! what cool vintage name are the going to ruin next Cuda ! maybe they will build a 4x4 electic Road Runner next ......

[Garth]

For those of you that don't think 2 door performance cars would do well ask yourself how many Mustangs do you see on the road? or how many 2 door Hondas and other imports do u see on the road being bought up by the next genertion of new car buyers?(not everyone wants a SUV) Yep instead of giving us An afordable sexy car to help win back this market that the Jap's have all but taken, instead they build another grandpas oldmoble (the next generation of dieing car buyers). Hmmmmm what saved Fords a$$ in the 60's oh yeah a sporty sexy car that was AFORDABLE !!! and youth orientated ,which built brand loyalty for years and years. Remeber when Ford was going to make the new "Probe" the new Mustang in the mid 80's and when it was annouced that Ford recieved soooooo much hate mail(over 3/4 of a million letters)they cancled the idea and we still have a rear wheel drive Mustang! Come on MOPAR GUYS get off your A$$'s grab your pens and get emails flying and let them know how far they were off on this PIECE OF CRAP ! Just build us someting fun and sexy to drive that WE can aford thats RWD . AND START TAKING BACK THE YOUTH MARKET AS THEY ARE THE FAMILY CAR, SUV, AND TRUCK BUY PEOPLE OF THE FUTURE !If the big 3 dont realize this all our cars will be from Japan. SORRY HATE TO SAY BUT I AM 33 NOT 84 SO NOT GOING TO BUY GRANPA'S CHARGER BUT RAHTER A SEXY NEW MUSTANG !(willing to give up a few HP's for style) HOPEFULLY A NEW SHELBY VERSION ! but will trade it off in a micro second if they build the Chanleger like the proto type! WAKE UP DODGE !!!!!!!!b!!!!!!!!!!! or risk a 3RD near BANKRUPCY .... Dont think Iacoca could even save the big 3 now ! With the Growing sport compact market the big 3 should see there is a groing perfomace crowd again instead of bring us ugly four doors with cool names or another SUV like the nitro !YUCK YUCK YUCK

[Maxzoe]

Being fond of classic cars, my father and I are dissapointed that Dodge would name this car the Charger. It's more like an Intrepid than a Charger, and the performance (or lack thereof with the little 5.7 "Hemi")does not justify the price . The car is too short and the grill is as ugly as the 300C.When I heard Dodge was going to reintroduce the Charger I was expecting a big beautiful car but I was crushed. I'll note that I do like the interior.

[Rob Adcox]

It's a pretty sad day when a Buick Century looks sportier than a Charger. I can't wait for the Challenger!

[nick]

Ford mustangs!! A piece of CRAP!!! Ford cant figure out how to make a different kind of vehicle to help the poor faulty company. They decided to make the mustang Retro with a little flair but the car is crap. Junky interior, crappy seats, and faulty electrical parts. The best idea from Ford was the LTD, the focus and the model-T. Huh!!! Dodge Chargers rule !! The best new car I ever drove. Period!!!!

[sid]

I had the 2006 charger SXT, car is heavy,bulky, the suspension steering sucked with zero or no feedback, excessive body roll, ton of repairs (lost close to $500 in lost wages due to repeated trips to the dealer...sold it at a loss of $7000 just to buy a subaru legacy GT spec B....dodge has a lot to learn from subary engineers in making a performance car because the base legacy (which costs the same as charger) can beat charger in a heartbeat

[Dr. Z]

They made a new Charger?! When! lol!

[Rob Adcox]

The new "Charger" should have been named the Desoto. Similar to the Desotos built in the early 50s, it looks bulky, clumsy, and ungainly (not too dissimilar to the Washington Redskin offense, btw). The "Hemi" model has a price tag which will appeal to haughty, foolish, wealthy trial lawyers and business execs alike. This ugly-looking car is proof that some people will buy ANYTHING that Detroit designs. I can't wait for the Challenger, though. DC really redeemed its sin with this gorgeous retro pony car. "Charger". Feh!

[Mike]

Boy, I should have proof-read the preceding post better, it should have read as follows:
Being the former owner of a 69 Charger, I may be a bit biased here, but I have to put in my 2 cents worth. The new Charger may be a good car, a lot of owners like it. But if Dodge wanted to ressurect a name from the past for a four door sedan, they could have chosen "Coronet". The new Charger is essentially (at least in appearance)a Chrysler 300 with a different grill. A Charger, at least in my opinion, was always meant to be a two door coupe.

[Mike]

Being the former owner of a 69 Charger, I may a bit biased here, but I have to put in my 2 cents worth. The new Charger may be a good car, a lot of owners like it. But if Dodge wanted to ressurect an name from the past for a four door sedan, the could have "Coronet". The new Charger is essentially (at least in appearance)a Chrysler 300 with a different grill. A Charger, at least in my opinion, was always meant to be a two door coupe.

[Rob Adcox]

The new "Charger" is a loser. It has performace capabilities (with the "Hemi") intended for younger people, it's price is one that mainly middle-age, middle-class can afford, and it has an ultra-conservative design which appeals mainly to the elderly. Maybe DC should have named it the "Edsel".

[Rob Adcox]

Glenn, I'm a Mopar guy from way back. you say the new "Charger" can "kick ford and GM butt". Not where it really matters, which is in sales. Everywhere I look I see retro Mustangs. I have now seen a total of 5 "Chargers" in this town of approximately 100,000 -one of those still had dealer plates on it, and the other was being driven by an elderly couple. Yeah, nice going there, DC Marketing. On the other hand, I HAVE seen far more Mustangs in town than i have "Chargers". I suspect that no one who buys a "Charger" cares about how it looks. They like the performance. Fine, except for one thing: if you bought your "Charger" for its performance, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO DRIVE IT? Certainly not on the highway. On a dragstrip or and autocross? And tear up an expensive new car? I love the retro Mustang, but if DC will make the retro Challenger's price comparable to the Mustang, i might be persuaded to buy the Challenger. I'm still kind of po'd about DC predicting that two door, rear-drive cars don't sell when Ford obviously understood that they do. The "Charger" looks like something grandpa would drive. All it needs to be complete is a set of whitewalls and full wheel covers, and it would be a Buick.

[Glenn Kozak]

I bought my '06 Charger R/T HEMI in June 2005, and it now has 23K miles. My wife and I just love it! Everyone comments about the smooth ride and great handling. I also get between 27-29 mpg highway at 70 mph with AC, and over 30 mpg if drive 60. Get a Mustang GT if you want one that bad. I'll take my Charger any day! Glad to here DC will make the Challenger. Dodge will be kick both Ford and GM butt with either two doors or four.

[Rob Adcox]

The '06 Charger's profile is reminiscent of the Kaiser Henry J of the early 50s. How many here would regard the Henry J as sporty?

[Da Breeze]

the charger is awesome, i baught one after looking at a mustang. the mustang didnt ride as smooth, it isnt as slick looking, and it doesnt have as much power. The charger may be a four door and it may not sale a lot but thats exactly what i like about it. I am about to go off to college and i need room in my car, i went from a 01 pathfinder to a 06 charger r/t and i feel like i have more space in the charger than i did in the pathfinder... I really like the fact that i dont see any off them when i drive 12 miles to a neighboring city compared to seeing 15 mustangs, 10 gto's, and 5 cameros(which i pass by the way:)...).. I always get positive comments on my car and from talking to people in my area they are suprised there arent more on the road when you can buy one with a hemi and pay 34,000 after taxes...
i will say it isnt worth buying one unless you buy with a hemi even though you still have as much power as something like a maxima...why not pay a couple thousand dollars more for a car with more power than a 350z, mustang, etc....
on a scale of 1-10
mustang-8
charger-9.5
I LOVE MY CHARGER!