Teresa’s View
The same week I had the 2006 Dodge Charger, I received an e-mail from my sister titled, “If you were a kid in the ‘70s.” Even though I was a teenager for most of that decade, I got a kick out of the list of ‘70s gear, including moonboots, ponchos and Dr. Scholl’s sandals. Instead of a Dorothy Hamill haircut, like my younger sister, I had the Farrah Fawcett wings — a look that went great with my boyfriend’s 1970 Dodge Charger.
Most style experts say you should never participate in a trend that you’ve already lived through once, but the Charger may be an exception to the rule.
The new Charger is a real head-turner, despite the fact that the new model has four doors instead of the two-door coupe that was best known as the General Lee in Hazzard County. The coupe vs. sedan debate is offset by the fact that the new Charger is still a rear-wheel drive car.
And what’s a muscle-car icon without the biggest dang engine you can find? The 2006 Charger comes with a choice of two optional engines — a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 that produces 340 horsepower or the mighty 6.1-liter 425-hp HEMI. That’s not to say the standard engine — a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 — is a slouch.
The Charger is at its best on a long, straight road. In the corners, the sedan felt heavy and, although it handled well, seemed less responsive than I like.
I also like to be able to see my surroundings when driving. The slick, aggressive styling of the Charger creates large blind spots. The small, oddly shaped mirrors didn’t help.
The new Charger is a handsome hunk of steel. Unlike the original Charger’s muscle-bound, T-shirt-‘n-jeans physique, the bold styling of the new Charger is classy enough to squire business associates during the day, yet sexy enough to transition nicely for a night on the town.
Now, where are those moonboots?
What Is It?: The all-new Dodge Charger is a four-door, five passenger, full-size sedan. It’s one of four cars in the Dodge lineup that includes the Magnum, Stratus and the all-new Caliber. The base SE is offered in a choice of several packages, including the SXT, R/T, R/T with Road/Track Performance Group and the Dodge Charger Daytona R/T package. Prices start at just over $22K including destination charges.
Recommended Fuel: The Charger runs on regular fuel. Fuel economy ratings for the V-6 version are 19 mpg city and 27 highway. The HEMI offers a feature that deactivates four of the eight cylinders during certain driving conditions for slightly better fuel economy.
Shhh: This big American car has a little secret. The transmission is German, that HEMI is made in Mexico and the whole sedan is assembled in Ontario, Canada.
Cheat Sheet: Two brothers, John and Horace Dodge, founded Dodge in 1899. In 1928, Dodge became a member of the Chrysler, now DaimlerChrysler, family.