My 2015 Dodge Charger R/T - initial impressions.
Car = R/T with Premium Group \ Package, RedLine, & Sunroof – all black leather.
A quick cell phone pic:
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rayainsw/media/2015%20RedLine%20Charger%20RT/minefront99photo11crop_zpsc60e1f20.jpg.html
My initial impressions are very positive. I am very pleased, indeed. I drove it from the dealership to my house, read a few portions of the manual, then headed out for a drive. Local, surface streets [ errands ] and then about 45 miles of highway – mid-Saturday traffic around here [ north east of Atlanta ] is typically quite heavy, but moving OK once outside built-up areas. Then I drove it to a local park, where I typically jog a few times each week. Then drove it to work yesterday & this morning – approx. 185 miles, so far.
The drivetrain is a jewel. The 5.7L V8 makes appropriately V8 noises, but nicely subdued most of the time. The ZF 8-speed automatic is just as good as I remember it in a couple of 235i BMWs and a 550i.
[ Aside – I am well aware that this is NOT a BMW, nor an Audi. but everything important TO ME is very well done, by my standards. And the price \ value proposition is much more reasonable, to me, right now. ]
So, varying engine speeds & load, staying below about 3,000 RPM and half throttle – the drivetrain provides effortless thrust. Fun! I have not yet tried ‘Sport Mode’, but the trans. shifts smoothly & very quickly, up & down, both in manual & fully automatic modes.
Top gear [ eighth, thank you ] is purely highway, and will not engage below about 55 mph. But it does provide that very low RPM cruising that I like. The trans. is quite happy [ in Drive or Manual ] to start off in second gear. When in ‘stop & slow’ traffic, this works well, for me. There is plenty of low RPM V8 TQ and no hint of strain.
I would characterize the drivetrain as effortless and engaging. But well suited to really entertaining acceleration, when called upon. Top marks!
The ride and handling I find excellent. I have certainly not approached the car’s cornering limits - and never will, in even [ um ] spirited street driving. The handling feels solid and secure and well-planted. The ride is very good – particularly for 45 series tires. It handles all the varying road surfaces I encountered on my drives with control & composure. Even sharp \ harsh bumps like a railway crossing near me are smothered well. No extraneous movement. Well damped and not at all harsh. Nice. Full credit to the suspension & tire engineers!
The interior is a very nice place to spend time. The seating leather is nice and soft – and perforated across the middle – to allow the forced ventilation are well done. The seat heaters come on quickly enough & the heated steering wheel was particularly nice when we first started in the morning at the Dealer – outside and about 22 degrees. The seat’s side bolstering is adequate and the adjustability is appreciated. The driver’s seat and driving position I found immediately comfortable.
The instruments and displays and the customization available for them is much appreciated. Clear, sharp and easily read at a glance – and lots of information available.
The car was prepared well for delivery. So far, it looks and drives flawlessly.
Enough, for now.
- Ray
I am a very happy Dodge driver!