2008 Dodge Charger Base from North America - Comments

No special things went wrong when I had it.

I leased a Charger 2007, base model and 2.7L engine, for a while.

Car looks very aggressive, and very eye catching. I love its look. This car is too big, like a tank, but this size has its own fans.

Interior is quite plain and simple, not only it is not as eye catching as the exterior, but also some how disappointing. I need to emphasize that I had the base model, but the base model is still a Charger and almost an expensive car, and the interior should not be so cheap.

Interior is very roomy. Seats are good, but not very comfortable. I used to drive a Buick Regal, and in comparison to my Buick, the seats are not very ergonomic and comfortable.

A/C seems not to be very efficient, but OK. Sound system is weak, and when you play songs it sounds artificial.

A large blind spots, but not a big deal.

Small 2.7L is unable to give this beast enough acceleration, you need to push the pedal all the way down to let the car have acceptable acceleration.

A strange problem with this base model: it seems that engine and transmission of this car are so that car has two states; first state is when you push the acceleration pedal until half, in this state the car is pretty slow and lazy. Second state is when you push the pedal all the way down; in this state the engine sound changes and goes very loud, and car suddenly jumps forward and gets a good acceleration, but it can be a bit dangerous because it happens suddenly and you may hit the cars in front of you. The problem is there is no intermediate state between these two states!

The other problem is with the rear mirror. It has a control that you can change it from day mirror to night mirror, which reduces the reflected light from rear cars when it goes dark. Night mirror is too dark for me, and rear cars seem hazy and unclear; the lack of a sophisticated autodim mirror is obvious.

The other problem is with steering wheel, I think it is not in the correct place and angle. You can change the angle of steering wheel, but it's still not very comfortable. All Chrysler and Dodge passenger cars seems to have small steering wheels; I prefer to have a bit bigger steering wheel with a bit more ergonomic design.

Beside the steering wheel itself, the car's steering system is very responsive and the driver can easily control it.

Overall, a nice car, very classy, but if you want to purchase a 2008 Charger and probably pay something more than 15K, spend some more money and purchase higher models, not the base model.

"the engine is weak"

- Just be glad that you didn't buy it, but only leased it for a while.

A good review, although I think complaints about acceleration and performance are unjustified. If you wanted a performance car, you should have gone with the 5.7 L instead of the 2.7 L. They also make a 3.5 L for this car. I think complaints about the bland interior are also due to this being a base model, rather than a higher trim level. If you get the base model, then you have to accept that it is the base model.

Hi guys, I am the author of this review.

I cannot agree a lot with previous person that posted this comment: " If you get the base model, then you have to accept that it is the base model."

I repeat my point of view again, a Charger base model is still a Charger and it needs to satisfy some minimal requirements for an almost expensive full size sedan. OK, you are right that to receive more one should pay more. But this statement does not imply that base model should be a weak car with a too plain interior, and it does not allow the Dodge to do so; it may be to push and force the customers to pay more to receive stuff that are intrinsic requirements of a full size muscle car, e.g. an engine that can give enough acceleration for this heavy car! I think am pretty clear here.

Let me give an example here and compare my Buick Regal 2000 LS, which is base model of Regal, with Dodge Charger 2007 base model. I used to own Buick Regal and I am pretty familiar with these cars, and that is why I am giving this example. My aim from this example is not to claim that Buick is better than Dodge or vice versa, this is just a support for my initial point of view about base models.

I am listing here some very obvious features that exist in my Buick Regal 2000 base model that do not exist in the Dodge Charger 2007 base model!!!

1- Regal LS has a 3800 series II engine with 200HP. With this engine I could catch and pass any car in highway except a few cars that really have giant engines. But what about base model of Charger?!

2- Regal LS has a very perfect ice cold AC, but the Charger's AC is OK.

3- Regal LS has radio controls on steering wheel, but the Charger base model does not.

4- Regal LS has auto head and tail lights, and it turns them on or of automatically whenever it goes dark or bright. But Charger base model does not. I can remember that I was going to get a ticket because of it. Because of driving Regal for a long time I was used to totally forgetting and neglecting lights, so the first night that I was driving the Charger I forgot to turn them on! And I turned onto street with off lights! I observed a police car that turned to me, I immediately checked every thing and realized that lights are off, and I turned them on, fortunately officer went to his way after it!

5- Regal LS has a perfect audio system, with great sound quality, but the Charger has a low quality sound system.

I believe this list is much longer this, but prefer to finish it here.

So as you see, a base model of Regal, which was constructed in 2000 has much more options than a base model of Charger constructed in 2007 (2008) has.

After all I still love the Charger, however hope Dodge increases the quality and number of options in the base model of Charger.

By the way guys, I will post a complete review about my previous car, Buick Regal LS 2000 in near future. If you like to see my review please check there in near future.

Thanks.

Nice and honest review. Someone is using the site for its intended purpose. I rode in a Chrysler 300 and I expected more out of the interior for it to be such a classy car. I compared it to my 14 year old Buick and I expected more out of it. It was not much better than a dodge neon that I had a couple of years ago. It wasn't bad you just expect more. I still think the charger is one of the best looking cars on the market now. BTW I love the auto headlights in my Buick, they spoil you.

To previous comment:

Yes, a Buick delivers much more than you expect, I love Buick as I love Charger and Challenger's looks.

But Buick Regal has been a problem for me! I used to own a Regal, and drove it and it has amazed me so much that no other car in the same price range can satisfy me now! I am trying to purchase a car, but all of those Hondas or Toyotas or Kias that I can afford to buy are too basic for me! Today I saw a Cadillac Seville and may purchase it! Now just a Cadi may satisfy me!:D:D

You have to consider that the Buick line always was regarded as a higher marque than the Dodge line, so a base Buick will naturally have more options than a base Dodge. Let's put it this way: if the base Charger came with a 5.7 L hemi and higher option trim, but cost $35,000 MSRP, would you have bought it? The base model Charger is about $23,000. For that price, you are buying looks, not performance.

I am the main author of this review:

To the comment 16th Aug 2009, 17:51.

Yes, exactly, the comment that you posted is exactly what I mean, Dodge is selling just an aggressive body and look as the base model of Charger. People that are buying this base Charger need to know that this is not a muscle car, it is just a beautiful body and look, with plain interior and weak engine!

Yes, you are correct, the Base Charger is not a muscle car, and at that price point I doubt there are too many people who expect it to be.

I think Chrysler Corp. offered this car (along with the base Chrysler 300) for people who wanted the look but who wanted it at a low price. Therefore you gave up better brakes, fancier wheels, power, a nicer interior etc. and got a car with a barely adequate engine, a rent-a-car interior and a mediocre stereo system in return.

Personally I would forego these "base" models for a better equipped less expensive model from another manufacturer or better still buy a late model premium brand car off lease.

I'd hardly call the base engine in the Charger "weak". It is very adequate for any driving need. 250 horsepower is a lot. Due to the extra weight it won't turn 6.5 second 0-60 times like a base Mustang, but it gets right at 7 seconds and that's VERY good performance. As for the wheels, I'd just buy a base model and upgrade. You can get incredible deals on wheel/tire packages now. The base Charger is not a bad car by any means. For the $10,000 you save over the hemi, you can do an awful lot of upgrading, and still pocket thousands of dollars and save a ton on your insurance and fuel costs.

The 3.5 liter is rated at 250 horsepower, the base 2.7 is not.

I have Dodge Charger 2007 turbo engine. I love it, but it has some problems like bad sound system, but my car is so fast cuz of the turbo, and I love the sound of it, wherever I go, everyone turns to the car cuz of the sound it makes, but I hate the inside of the cars, it's so classic, no design, just normal stuff. But outside of the car is so nice and aggressive, specially with black windows.

05:20.

2007 Turbo engine??? In a Charger???

Am I missing something or did I sleep through the 2007 model year?

If you are driving the 2.7 liter, BETTER trade it in as soon as possible! They are FAMOUS for sludge build up.

Can't believe Dodge is still making those 2.7 liters, which all they KNOW how to do is BREAK DOWN!