Still Buttoned Down After 75K - 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Still Buttoned Down After 75K - 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Long-Term Road Test

Can a bright red sedan with an obnoxiously loud exhaust sneak up on you? Our 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 can.

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ebeaudoin

Really? No panel gaps, squeaks or rattles inside? I've found Daimler-Chrysler/FCA/Chrysler, etc to be one of the worst offenders of cars shaking themselves apart.

daryleason

@ebeaudoin , you sort of beat me to the punch. I was going to ask if this article was based off their knowledge of Chrysler/FCA/Dodge/Whatever's normal build quality. If it's "iffy" from the showroom floor, does it still seem amazing when it just hasn't gotten any worse? "This car is still as tight as when it was new..."
"Dude, your fender is hanging off the side, you can't open the left rear door without it falling off, and the engine is vibrating so bad your wife decided not to divorce you as long as you take her for a ride at least twice a week!"
"Ehh...it was that way when it was new..."

dgcamero

Those cars were built like tanks. Note that tanks have non attractive interiors and finicky suspensions.

allthingshonda

You should have a dealership to run the VIN to see what repairs were made under warranty when it was new.

nagant

My wife's car is a 2007 PT Cruiser Limited Turbo with 72K miles. The interior is tight and quiet........in 72K the car has had Cam and Crank sensors, an AC switch and other than that just scheduled maint. It seems like with Chryslers one either gets a great one or a terrible one.

daryleason

@nagant :
I got one of the "terrible" ones. My wife went with me to replace our daily driver. At the time, I had a 2000 Kia Sephia that honestly was fairly decent car. It got great gas mileage, was low maintenance, parts were cheap, and it'd never left me stranded through a fault of it's own. But after our son was born, it was time for a new car. My wife didn't have a license, but she wanted to go with me to "have a say in it." I was looking at something along the lines of an extended cab pickup, mid-size SUV, mid-size car, etc. My main limit was making sure that my "wants" didn't over-come my "needs" and end up with more car/truck than I could afford realistically.
While at the dealership, my wonderful wife saw a car that she said, "I want that one!" The good news was that the car salesman didn't hear her. The bad news was she was pointing at a 2006 PT Cruiser Touring at the Chrysler dealership next to the Ford Dealership. My immediate response was "No." Then it began..."I've never had a chance to get a brand new car...I'm your wife, I should get to help pick...This car will be for our CHILD" blah blah blah. I told her it wasn't going to turn out well... It didn't. I hated that car. She never got her license, and it seemed to average about 1200 a year in parts. The only thing I have positive to say about that car is that I liked the color (a soft silvery blue). I had size years of road rage in that car. The only thing that beat it's MPG rating was the Miles per Swear words I got out of it.

schen72

daryleason said:

@nagant :
I got one of the "terrible" ones. My wife went with me to replace our daily driver. At the time, I had a 2000 Kia Sephia that honestly was fairly decent car. It got great gas mileage, was low maintenance, parts were cheap, and it'd never left me stranded through a fault of it's own. But after our son was born, it was time for a new car. My wife didn't have a license, but she wanted to go with me to "have a say in it." I was looking at something along the lines of an extended cab pickup, mid-size SUV, mid-size car, etc. My main limit was making sure that my "wants" didn't over-come my "needs" and end up with more car/truck than I could afford realistically.
While at the dealership, my wonderful wife saw a car that she said, "I want that one!" The good news was that the car salesman didn't hear her. The bad news was she was pointing at a 2006 PT Cruiser Touring at the Chrysler dealership next to the Ford Dealership. My immediate response was "No." Then it began..."I've never had a chance to get a brand new car...I'm your wife, I should get to help pick...This car will be for our CHILD" blah blah blah. I told her it wasn't going to turn out well... It didn't. I hated that car. She never got her license, and it seemed to average about 1200 a year in parts. The only thing I have positive to say about that car is that I liked the color (a soft silvery blue). I had size years of road rage in that car. The only thing that beat it's MPG rating was the Miles per Swear words I got out of it.

I'm so sorry you had to own/drive a PT Cruiser.

daryleason

@schen72 :
I know...it's a horrible form of abuse that was inflicted upon me. However, it did have a long term benefit...my wife said she has no business ever picking out a vehicle. Whatever I pick is fine by her. Sure...it was traumatic. It was cramped. You can't fit yourself and your pride in a PT Cruiser. There just isn't room for both. But I've healed. I've also decided that some day, I'd love to meet Bryan Nesbitt and beat the snot out of him for designing that stupid car. Mr. Nesbitt, while a horrible automotive engineer, isn't stupid. He managed to convince Chyrsler to build the PT Cruiser, then went to GM and designed the HHR, which means it's nothing more than a re-skinned PT Cruiser. After he did his part in causing the GM Stock to tank, he fled the country and is now working for GM overseas, I believe.

nagant

schen72 said:

daryleason said:

@nagant :
I got one of the "terrible" ones. My wife went with me to replace our daily driver. At the time, I had a 2000 Kia Sephia that honestly was fairly decent car. It got great gas mileage, was low maintenance, parts were cheap, and it'd never left me stranded through a fault of it's own. But after our son was born, it was time for a new car. My wife didn't have a license, but she wanted to go with me to "have a say in it." I was looking at something along the lines of an extended cab pickup, mid-size SUV, mid-size car, etc. My main limit was making sure that my "wants" didn't over-come my "needs" and end up with more car/truck than I could afford realistically.
While at the dealership, my wonderful wife saw a car that she said, "I want that one!" The good news was that the car salesman didn't hear her. The bad news was she was pointing at a 2006 PT Cruiser Touring at the Chrysler dealership next to the Ford Dealership. My immediate response was "No." Then it began..."I've never had a chance to get a brand new car...I'm your wife, I should get to help pick...This car will be for our CHILD" blah blah blah. I told her it wasn't going to turn out well... It didn't. I hated that car. She never got her license, and it seemed to average about 1200 a year in parts. The only thing I have positive to say about that car is that I liked the color (a soft silvery blue). I had size years of road rage in that car. The only thing that beat it's MPG rating was the Miles per Swear words I got out of it.

I'm so sorry you had to own/drive a PT Cruiser.

Really? Have you ever driven the Limited Turbo or a GT model? Why not actually go back and read the reviews of the 04+ GTs with 215-235HP they are a scream to drive. This is only our second Mopar in 30 years of buying cars but we still love how fun and practical PTs are to drive. I imagine that the good luck Edmunds is having with their Charger is really causing angst in the automag echo chamber of spec racers.

roadburner

I'm looking at a CPO 2012 Challenger SRT8. It's optioned just like I would have ordered it- three pedals, H-K sound, and no hole in the roof. It's good to know that it will likely prove as reliable as your Charger.
As for a PT Cruiser? My current DD is a mildly tuned 320hp Mazdaspeed3, and even though it almost deserves to be called fast it will certainly be my first and last FWD car.
Thankfully.

daryleason

@nagent :

"WOW, some of the most ignorant comments I have seen in a looooong time. A "stupid" car? "Cramped"? If you cant fit in a PT then you need to lose a LOT of weight. The PT can easily fit four six foot adults in front AND back because of the high roof and upright seating position, try doing that in a Mazda 3 or Focus......and with the amazing rear seats that flip/fold/remove one can haul amazing amounts of stuff. I fit a six foot long gun cabinet inside because the front passenger seat folded flat forward and was able to close the hatch. As for "convincing" Chrysler to build the PT, it was not "stupid" at all since it was a massive hit when introduced and went on to sell over one MILLION units in 10 years. The last few years when MB was sucking all of the profits out of Chrylser they turned into rental specials and were not as nice but were still stylish and practical. You really, really show your ignorance if you think the HHR was a "reskinned" PT. It was not his fault that GM built the HHR on the Cobalt platform and used cheap interior materials. Oh and the HHR sold pretty well too.

Oh and please post your service orders adding up to $1200 a year.......I smell BS big time."


Nagant: I'm guessing either 1) You're related to Nesbitt, 2) Own stock in FCA, or 3) just someone trolling. Either way, the only weight issue I have is I could stand to gain some weight. I'm six foot, 155 lbs. However, with my particular body build, I had to have the seat all the way back to keep my knees from rubbing the steering wheel, seatback leaned back (which I hate) to keep my head from rubbing the headliner. Perhaps the car is a "perfect car" for someone who takes short trips and is shorter than 5' 10". And I'd hardly call the rear seats "amazing" as they're similar to the majority of every other car that has fold-down/flip up seating. And just because the majority go along with something, doesn't mean that it's a good idea. Ford sold hundreds of thousands of Ford Pintos. It doesn't mean that the design was all that great.

As for the HHR being something different from a PT Cruiser. Please, think this one through. The SAME guy who designed the PT Cruiser goes to GM and designs a "retro wagon" for GM. It's powered by a 4 cylinder engine. It's front wheel drive. It's got four doors and a hatch. Oh no, I'm sure he didn't use ANY of his design layouts for the HHR that he'd JUST DONE for the PT Cruiser because that would make no sense.

Now...on a personal note. Read through my posts, if you want. I've asked people questions to clarify something. I've disagreed with people. But, I've actually never insulted anyone, nor tried to be condescending. If you have a valid point that you'd like to make with me, I'll be happy to debate it. But the way that you posted your reply to my comment, it just makes you look ignorant to me. This is supposed to be a forum for car enthusiasts, not a bashing contest.