The v8s generally come with all the extra luxury that don't come on base v6 engines (upgraded sound system, leather wrapped steering wheel, fold down rear seats, EVIC computer on most, RT rims, etc)

it's not simply a base charger with a v8 thrown in (although I bet they'd sell a lot of these)

 

i actually thought it was only 4-5 grand more.... i got my r/t awd for 30000 and i thought a loaded sxt was around 26000

 

the 7k difference is between an R/T and SE PLUS, it's only about 5k between an R/T and an SXT.

There is a lot different other than just the motor between the 2008 R/T and the 2008 SE+.

R/T gets the HEMI with the 5 Speed-Auto
R/T gets 18" rims stock
R/T gets better speakers stock
R/T gets heated fold away side mirrors
R/T gets leather seats
R/T gets both front seats power and heated
R/T gets both front windows auto up and down
R/T gets dual zone climate control
R/T gets different brakes and suspension than SE and SXT
R/T gets dual exhaust
R/T gets bigger fuel tank
R/T gets leather steering wheel

This is all off Dodge's website where you can compare the cars.

 

My 2006 SXT came with the 5 speed auto, 18" R/T rims, same stereo and speakers as the R/T, same size gas tank, leather seats, leather steering wheel and shifter. For 2006 my car came from the factory basically identical to a base R/T except for the Hemi. If I would have put dual exhaust and debaged it, you could have walked around the outside and inside and the 2 would have looked identical. Poping the hood would have been the only way to tell. I think they added the extra features for 2008 so you would feel like you were getting more for the price difference.
When I bought my car, the sticker was 27k. base R/T's were stickering for 31-32k. 4-5k for basically just the Hemi at the time is a huge markup considering it was only $945 for my Ram.

 

I might be way off here, but I have always assumed the "larger than expected" price difference between the HEMI and the V6 was put in place by Chrysler to help them meet CAFE standards. They can provide HEMIs to those that really want them, while pricing the V6 attractively enough so that they meet the standard.

In other words.. the V8 owners have subsidized the V6 rides.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy

 

The cost difference for me was only $3000 because I have a loaded SXT and was considering a base R/T. The fact that I couldn't use the Hemi (all city use--live/work in the city). made me choose the SXT.
If I had to do it all over again I would have paid the extra money for the R/T.
Now I have to keep the SXT for at least 8-10 years otherwise I will get next to nothing for this Dodge. I paid $31K CDN ($35K MSRP) without tax (=$30K US Dollars) and after only 18 months it is worth $13K. This has to be the worst car for depreciation. It is worth $13K/$31K= 42% of the purchase price in 18 months.

 

i wouldnt say its the worst car...it seems more like basically any domestic car native to the us..... gm sport compacts and mid levels go throught the same thing.

price difference....as most have stated, and dont forget the "hemi name" being used. same stuff as if you buy Aleve vs "naproxen" from walmart.

 

to put it simple, the dealers know people will pay more for the 8

 

Chrysler sets MSRP, and we are willing to pay more for the pleasure of using more gas

 

The R/T motor is a multi-displacement Hemi engine. It's not a cheap motor. For the MDS system, a new computer and numerous extra variably located sensors are required.

I'm not sure if the SXT does, but the R/T also has the auto-stick (tip-tronic) tranny. Suspension and brakes are quite costly too.

But mainly, switching to the MDS Hemi is not like going from 6 cylinder to 8 cylinder with the exact same motor, just adding two cylinders. It's a completely different motor all together. Hemispherical shaped heads with the MDS system/computer/sensors.

The cost for this system is justified.

 

Frankly, I call BS on the cost being justified. The Ram pickups use the exact same Hemi engine with MDS. The cost difference between the standard v6 and Hemi 5.7L is $2,700 plus you get alot of options including wheels and the 5 speed trans. Don't forget that with the pickups there is also a 4.7L v8 positioned price wise between the v6 and Hemi.

 

That fact that it says "Hemi" means a lot too.

When I bought mine, I was required to register my R/T with Dodge and supply them with credit card information.

Each time anyone asks "Doe is got a Hemi?", and I say "yup", they charge my credit card 5.00 automatically.

So, it costs money just to have the pleasure of saying "it's got a Hemi" ha ha ha ha

 

hell yeah, it's got a hemi:grin:

 

FWIW you can get a lightly used hemi dirt cheap right now. If you can tolerate the gas prices you can get a really killer deal.

Drew

 

The R/T has upgraded brakes, sway bars, 18" Rims & tires (option
on a SXT) Leather (option on SXT), Tire Pressure Monitor, Color Matched
Mirrors, Hemi Engine, 19 gallon gas tank, Dual Exhaust w/Chrome Tips and
a few options not available on the SE/SXT.

That said for the price the SXT is a better value, just no Hemi:grin:

 

Remember the Hemi is made in Mexico and the 3.5L in the US.
Just by that fact the Hemi shouldn't cost that much more plus you have an iron block and an OHV which is also cheaper.
If the 3.5L was a brand new engine with DOHC and VVT it would definitely have cost more to make.

 

I don't think the 3.5 was made in America. Canada perhaps. They don't make anything over here, they just assemble it.

The guy that stands in a line and puts screws into a peice of plastic over and over again all day long, wants 40 dollars per hour because he's go 6 kids and a stay home wife. Oh, and he belongs to a Labor Union, so he gets whatever he wants, and the American economy suffers as a result.

That's why nothing is made here anymore. And people complain that America is sending all their work to other countries instead of keeping it here? ha ha ha, no wonder. Who woudn't. It's the labor union's own fault. They put themselves out of work and in the unemployment line. I hope they are proud of their positive accomplishment.

 

Yeah, we've already long concluded that there is no such thing as a hemisphere motor internal. It is all a sales gimmick. Sure, they might be 'oval' shaped, but that's a far cry from 'hemispherical shaped'....it's two completely different shapes.

Hemi just sounds better then Oval

And there's nothing wrong with the 3.5 motor. I think it's a great motor. I had the SXT Magnum a few years back and I thought it was awesome.

The SE though? I'm inclined to think that to be underpowered.

Just goofing around yesterday on the way to work, I had a guy pull up next to me at a traffic light in a bronze colored SE. Nice looking color. The light turned green and he punched it, so I punched it and after I actually began to stop spinning and start moving then I flew by him so fast that the turbulence nearly blew his car off the road. That's where they get the term "blew his doors off"

I could have ran faster then that car, seriously. Very very pathetic. The car is just to big and heavy to be powered by an engine with that displacement.

In my opinion, of course. I don't mean to offend anyone by it. I think they sell it for price-point reasons only.

"If you want a Charger, but you're dead broke, don't go away disappointed....we made the SE just for you" I think is their advertisement.

 

Yeah, we've already long concluded that there is no such thing as a hemisphere motor internal. It is all a sales gimmick. Sure, they might be 'oval' shaped, but that's a far cry from 'hemispherical shaped'....it's two completely different shapes.

Hemi just sounds better then Oval

And there's nothing wrong with the 3.5 motor. I think it's a great motor. I had the SXT Magnum a few years back and I thought it was awesome.

The SE though? I'm inclined to think that to be underpowered.

Just goofing around yesterday on the way to work, I had a guy pull up next to me at a traffic light in a bronze colored SE. Nice looking color. The light turned green and he punched it, so I punched it and after I actually began to stop spinning and start moving then I flew by him so fast that the turbulence nearly blew his car off the road. That's where they get the term "blew his doors off"

I could have ran faster then that car, seriously. Very very pathetic. The car is just to big and heavy to be powered by an engine with that displacement.

In my opinion, of course. I don't mean to offend anyone by it. I think they sell it for price-point reasons only.

"If you want a Charger, but you're dead broke, don't go away disappointed....we made the SE just for you" I think is their advertisement.[/QUOTE]

well said... mr. miyagi

 

I read an article, I will try to find it, that said that the v8 and v6 loaded will be worth the same price, or possibly the v8 less in the next couple years due to gas. Reguardless of those of you who think your 5.7 gets the same mileage a 3.5 does, it's a v6 and not many "think" that.

It went on to say that the v8 models may be discontinued in many car makes. I don't know if that will happen with the charger, but it was an interesting article. It also said the era of fast cars is quickly comming to an end, and the 0-60 cars and muscle cars, and even many sports cars will soon be replaced by smaller, lightweight cars with good fuel efficiency. Also mentioned that hybrids are likely NOT the cars of the future.

We'll see I guess.

 

It went on to say that the v8 models may be discontinued in many car makes. I don't know if that will happen with the charger, but it was an interesting article. It also said the era of fast cars is quickly comming to an end, and the 0-60 cars and muscle cars, and even many sports cars will soon be replaced by smaller, lightweight cars with good fuel efficiency. Also mentioned that hybrids are likely NOT the cars of the future.

We'll see I guess.

They said the exact same thing in the late 70's and early 80's. As soon as gas came back down the V-8's came back also. Gas prices will come down again someday and emission technology will continue to grow so I do not think V8's will dissapear like everyone thinks. You will see a lot more V-6, turbo and diesels appear though. Ford is talking about ditching the V-8's in their F-150's for turbo sixes.

 

Where did you copy and paste that from?

 

http://www.allpar.com/mopar/v6.html

 

Also on the window sticker of my car it says the engine is manufactured in the US.

 

I don't agree. The United States, perhaps a long long time ago, used to manufacture quality products. Now, everything is overpriced junk.

Better clothes are made in India and other countries, vehicles and electronics are better made in Japan and other countries. America doesn't make anything better here.................okay, perhaps TOOLS. That's about it.

Mexicans work hard because they make very little money and their family depends on every penny. Americans could care less about what they're making because they know that they can't get fired because they hide behind the labor unions. They work as little as humanly possible and physically harm other people that work harder then them on the job. They think only about getting home and watching their new plasma screen HD tv.

I've worked for a few labor unions a long time ago and I hate hate hate them and know that they are destroying where American companies choose to get their product from. They are killing us.

The Electrical labor union (IBEW) that I was at, I was building a new IBM plant down here, they took breaks every 30 mintues and shuffled through the day without ever lifting one foot off the ground.

I didn't care. I liked to work and I worked hard. They kept yelling "you better slow down BOY if you know what's good for you".

Then, they took me outside and beat the PI_S out of me and smashed my car with steel bars.

Needless to say, I left and never returned. Ever since then, I realize what unions are about and how they hurt our economy and our build quality and drive prices up so everyone has to pay for that one guys new Lexus because he has no high school education and he wants his 6 kids and wife to stay home while he brings in all the money like the "good ol days". They are ALL stuck in the past like that.

 

I don't agree. The United States, perhaps a long long time ago, used to manufacture quality products. Now, everything is overpriced junk.

Better clothes are made in India and other countries, vehicles and electronics are better made in Japan and other countries. America doesn't make anything better here.................okay, perhaps TOOLS. That's about it.

Mexicans work hard because they make very little money and their family depends on every penny. Americans could care less about what they're making because they know that they can't get fired because they hide behind the labor unions. They work as little as humanly possible and physically harm other people that work harder then them on the job. They think only about getting home and watching their new plasma screen HD tv.

I've worked for a few labor unions a long time ago and I hate hate hate them and know that they are destroying where American companies choose to get their product from. They are killing us.

The Electrical labor union (IBEW) that I was at, I was building a new IBM plant down here, they took breaks every 30 mintues and shuffled through the day without ever lifting one foot off the ground.

I didn't care. I liked to work and I worked hard. They kept yelling "you better slow down BOY if you know what's good for you".

Then, they took me outside and beat the PI_S out of me and smashed my car with steel bars.

Needless to say, I left and never returned. Ever since then, I realize what unions are about and how they hurt our economy and our build quality and drive prices up so everyone has to pay for that one guys new Lexus because he has no high school education and he wants his 6 kids and wife to stay home while he brings in all the money like the "good ol days". They are stuck in the past like that.

Im with ya there I dont work for a union for that reason I bust MY ARSE at my job and I in 2 years have moved farther up than ppl that have been there for 4-5. yea ppl get pissey but I have a family to take care of and slacking dosent cut it in the real world.

 

I later heard that the IBM job got shut down and they never finished it because the particular contractor that was using IBEW labor didn't meet certain guidelines due to their lack of ability to meet deadlines. I don't know what happened afterward but IBM eventually sold their entire location to developers or something. I think Motorola bought some of the existing buildings.

But I agree. The harder working and higher quality people should earn more money and respect. THAT is what America is about.

Labor Unions are sort of like........communism. Do nothing but sit on your fat A_S all day and still get paid the same as everyone else and nobody can fire you.

Yeah, I'm pretty darn sure that sounds like communism to me.

 

The real kicker on the price difference is that the HEMI engine is actually less expensive to produce than the V6 due to both the location of manufacture and the complexities of the engines - the V8 is still comparitively simpler than the V6.

 

Do you have any proof? I agree with you but the 3.5L has been around for
15+ years and it has been amortized.

 

The V6 is more simple then a multi-displacement V8? I can't believe that. MDS engines were attempted many times in the past and failed due to their excessive complexities.

 

A bigger shock is the price of the 2.7L DOHC. I have read some people saying it around $5K, much more than the 3.5L. Why even make it when it is gutless and prone to failure?

 

Rebuilt 2.7's can run as high as 3k + core + shipping.:knockout:
I came across this website that would be a good read for anyone that owns a 2.7L.
One paragraph in particular bothered me and I do not know if it is true but the rest of the website is VERY informitive about the 2.7L.
Will Chrysler Cover Defective 2.7L Engines?

"Chrysler refuses to cover prematurely failed engines even when under its own 3 Year / 36,000 mile warranty while blaming consumers for these problems. These problems are so common and so well known that extended warranty companies also decline to cover Chrysler 2.7L engines."

http://www.dodgechryslerengineproblems.com/