6-1-2007
2007 Dodge Charger SRT8
by Dave Stall
2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 gives a great ride

As I walked up to Poway Dodge to pick up a vehicle for this article, I walked by a black Charger SRT8. I actually got a cold chill knowing good and well that Poway Dodge would never give me an SRT8 of any kind. What happen next was astounding as they gave me the brilliant black crystal pearl Charger SRT8, the one I had walked by.

General Manager Gary Web and I go way back. We had a great conversation about days gone by. When I found out he was a partner in Poway Dodge, I was thrilled because in all my dealings with Web, he truly puts the customer first. Thanks also to Chris Patterson, the service manger who has been No. 1 in the region for customer satisfaction. Think about that if you own a Dodge Chrysler or Jeep and need good service.

This Dodge Charger has a lot going for it. While Daimler Chrysler has given up all but 20 percent of Chrysler, its presence is still felt in this car, from the cruise control stalk to the suspension under the Charger. Dodge wanted to bring back the name Charger but wanted it to mean something. Today, the Charger is one of the top sellers out there and the SRT8 is the cream of the performance crop.

Under the hood is a 6.1-liter V8 that produces 425 horsepower at 620 rpm and 420 pound foot of torque at 4,800 rpm. That's backed by a five-speed automatic transmission that distributes the power on a curve you can handle. It gets 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the open road (if you keep your foot out of it).

The interior is very well done with SRT8 stitched into the headrests of a very comfortable seat. The driver's seat has enough adjustments for just about any driver and it also has pedal adjusters. If you look close, you'll see a Mercedes Benz seat adjuster mounted on the sides of the driver and passenger seat. Throw in leather and suede for a very comfortable seat. The headrests are big and soft.

The very large gauges keep you informed and the center dash houses the sound system that consists of an AM/FM stereo with CD player and Boston Acoustic Speakers throughout the cabin. Sirius radio rounds off the entertainment choices. My tester came with a navigation
system that worked very well.

The SRT8 boasts high-performance suspension, performance-tuned steering, anti-lock four-wheel disc performance brakes with red painted calipers, all-speed traction control, electronic stability control and brake assist. A set of 20-inch by 9-inch alloy wheels mounted on 245/45ZR20 all season performance tires completes the package and what a package it is.

How well does this hot rod drive and ride? It rode and drove just the way I want my car to ride and drive. You can drive it like a little old lady and if you get the desire, you could take it to a drag strip and embarrass a lot of other so-called hot rods. Plus, it has room for full size passengers in the rear seat and a trunk large enough to fill with all your luggage for that cross country trek on the Power Tour. Wouldn't that be a blast?

As far as safety goes, the Charger does just fine in that department, with five stars all around. Plus, there are added safety features you can't see, such as crumple zones, beams in the doors and a whole lot more.

If speed and performance is not your thing, then take a look at the base Charger and you will be pleasantly surprised. I was. It's going to take a while to get over this ride but that's the pitfalls of this job, I just don't have enough garage space or money, but boy did I enjoy the ride!