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Dodge Charger vs. Chevrolet Impala
I haven't purchased yet, but it is coming down to these two cars. I've done several test drives in both cars including alternate versions of the same--LTZ, LS as well as the SXT in the Dodge.
I have a couple criteria:
1) Leg room
I'm 6' 4" and got into this game looking for leg room and good power as well as comfort. Overall I'd say the Charge, though the Impala is listed as a "full size", has more room. Leg room is practically the same, but there is more head room, shoulder room, etc. Also the back seat is roomier in the Charger for the family.
So the Charger gets the nod here.
2) Pricing
Chargers were selling for MSRP when they fist came out, but now they are coming down in price. My first offer was $600 over invoice and I would expect to get lower.
However, the Impala is selling right now below invoice and is priced lower from the start with more options. I seems the Charger has a lot of add ons that jack the MSRP. My comparison is the Impala SS with leather, block heater, polished wheels, Bose Sound, convenience package, $29995 MSRP going for $27003 with an additional 1,000 rebate.
Charger R/T with R/T performance package, convince group, Bose Sound, $33,095 MSRP. Invoice is $31,177 with the option of another 1,000 rebate if you take their financing which is higher than I could get.
Is there 3,000 in value difference here?
Impala SS might do OK with value because they aren't fleet cars, buy the regular Impala will suffer for this. Charger will be rarer. But the Charger has more power and rear wheel drive is attractive even up in the North lands.
3) Handling
The Impala is smoother...much smoother than the Charger. However you can feel the weight up front compared to the equal weight distribution in the Charger. So even though it is rear wheel drive it does well in the snow and ice. Torque steer is an issue in the SS.
4) Interior
Impala is superior here. Charger is bone crusher hard on the arm rests, and looks cheap in comparison. Radio might be better in the Charger, but both are exceptional.
5) Mileage
Charger R/T owners are saying they are getting what is advertised even with limited break in. Impala SS owners are reporting much less than the EPA numbers.
I have a couple criteria:
1) Leg room
I'm 6' 4" and got into this game looking for leg room and good power as well as comfort. Overall I'd say the Charge, though the Impala is listed as a "full size", has more room. Leg room is practically the same, but there is more head room, shoulder room, etc. Also the back seat is roomier in the Charger for the family.
So the Charger gets the nod here.
2) Pricing
Chargers were selling for MSRP when they fist came out, but now they are coming down in price. My first offer was $600 over invoice and I would expect to get lower.
However, the Impala is selling right now below invoice and is priced lower from the start with more options. I seems the Charger has a lot of add ons that jack the MSRP. My comparison is the Impala SS with leather, block heater, polished wheels, Bose Sound, convenience package, $29995 MSRP going for $27003 with an additional 1,000 rebate.
Charger R/T with R/T performance package, convince group, Bose Sound, $33,095 MSRP. Invoice is $31,177 with the option of another 1,000 rebate if you take their financing which is higher than I could get.
Is there 3,000 in value difference here?
Impala SS might do OK with value because they aren't fleet cars, buy the regular Impala will suffer for this. Charger will be rarer. But the Charger has more power and rear wheel drive is attractive even up in the North lands.
3) Handling
The Impala is smoother...much smoother than the Charger. However you can feel the weight up front compared to the equal weight distribution in the Charger. So even though it is rear wheel drive it does well in the snow and ice. Torque steer is an issue in the SS.
4) Interior
Impala is superior here. Charger is bone crusher hard on the arm rests, and looks cheap in comparison. Radio might be better in the Charger, but both are exceptional.
5) Mileage
Charger R/T owners are saying they are getting what is advertised even with limited break in. Impala SS owners are reporting much less than the EPA numbers.
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This discussion has been closed.
Comments
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Mercedes design tranmission.As a owner of a SXT Charger I think this is a great car.Mine has the power pedals so you could be 5ft to 6.5ft no problem driving.The ride and transmission is smooth as anything iv'e driven.The looks are I think great,I get a lot of looks with this car.It does catch your eye.Good luck with your choice.
Drove the SS again today....it is nose heavy. Milage was about 17+ in town and 20 on the highweay doing 75 MPH. Very odd, no? I was getting 23 in the Charger R/T on the highway.
Looks are great, but I wasn't looking to make a statement either with my new car purchase....though I used to own a '69 GTO. My 13 year old daughter who went ont he test drive even asked the salesperson: "Is this what would be classified as a Muscle Car?" I hadn'teven thought of it til then...but it is too brawny to be a sports car.
The Impala rides smoother than the Charger. But i do notice the weight balance right away...and even though I live in Northern Planes which are snow covered all winter, I don't think the rear wheel drive is a detract. I would not use the traction control in the FWD Impala. It just hits the break on the spinning wheel while I'm hitting the gas. Seems counter productive. I think the Posi Traction in the Charger would do better...though you might want to throw some weight in the trunk still.
ABS brakes are standard in the Impala too, but the Charger brakes much better.
Price is the main problem right now. Impala SS loaded is still 2-3K below the Charger and that without the discounts and rebates the Impala is reciving. The Charger is still in its first year of production, so there are few deals. However, I'm guessing the first people who bought a Charger, especially with a Hemi, paid MSRP out the door. My first offer was $600 over invoice right over the internet.
What did you pay for yours?
I want the Impala to work out...but the Charger seems like the better value. It may even hold its value better than the Impala. But what is going on with Charger fleet sales? Are they in the rentals as wella s police cars?
This year's car of the year is the Honda Civic.
http://www.motortrend.com/searchresults/?terms=Charger
I'm glad to hear you like the SS. It's great to have a small block back in the biggest Chevy sedan, even with FWD. I really have no problem with FWD V8.
What features are there that the Mopars didn't have? I'd like to know since I have a 300C and can't imagine what features are missing. Of course, the C is more expensive than the R/T and I went for most of the options (except navigation: I like maps
I like the interior of my C by the way. You know, different strokes.
I would probably be happy with the SS, but it didn't exist when I was shopping in July 2005.
It's good to see these domestics going back to where they belong: V8s.
Enjoy the SS. :shades:
The exhaust note is the same, the flip / fold back seat in the SS meand no more damage to the leather when hauling.
Both have remote start and satellite radio built in. Actually, its apples versus oranges outside of FWD versus RWD.
Also Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 12 Alltel Dodge Chargerjust surprised lucky fan Jimmie Funell in Rapid City, SD yesterday. This guy won a free trip to Bristol Motor Speedway where his name will appear on Newman's Alltel Dodge! How sick is that! I've never heard of anything like that with an Impala!!!
Check out Newman surprising the fan:
GoRacingWithNewman
Nascar - not a fan, doesn't mean a thing to me.
As far as the Hemi engine,a far cry from the 1970 version as installed in the Dodge Challenger, Charger, Super Bee etc. The Hemi is great for our Grand Cherokee but if there was a rebate on the Trailblazer SS in12/06, we would have bought it. Hard to pay sticker for the Trailblazer SS versus $4000 rebate for the Hemi Grand Cherokee plus a generous dealer discount.
But the big difference is that the Impala is still a FWD grocery/family hauler. You can't expect too much performance with all the torque steer and uneven weight distrubution.
Larry Jackson
Hewitt,Tx
I am having the same problem with Waco Dodge. I got a new 2008 Avenger RT from them less than a month ago. There are some scratches on the car and on the steering column that was there when I bought it. I showed it to my salesperson when I bought the car. Since then I have just been getting the run around from them and the manager. Did you ever have any luck in dealing with them?