The Dodge Charger is a car model made by Dodge, an American automobile brand based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Dodge vehicles include performance cars but typically revolve around functional, sturdy, and versatile cars – hence, the Charger.
The first Dodge Charger was a showcase car. This was back in 1964.
One year later, the Charger II concept car spurred the creation of the first model in 1966.
Dodge chargers are cheap for some reasons which include the flexible payment offers offered by manufacturers, the economics of sale, and also because of the fact that other expensive “supercars” are more than horsepower.
The FCA sells about 150k Dodge Chargers a year and has done so for the whole model run which points to the fact that Dodge Chargers are amazing vehicles.
In this article, we shall discuss the Dodge Charger, what makes it a great vehicle, why it is relatively cheap, and just how long they can last.
WHAT SHOULD CAR OWNERS LOOK FOR PURCHASING THEIR MUSCLE CARS?
Car owners look for a variety of qualities when looking to buy muscle cars which include aesthetics, horse-power, price, and engine.
Horsepower
May as well get this one out of the way because it’s the number one thing potential muscle car owner should look out for.
Horsepower, or how fast it goes, is the number one thing muscle cars (particularly the Charger) are known for.
In fact, the supercharged 6.2L Hemi hellcat v8 engine packs 707 horsepower and has 650 lb-ft of torque.
This is just insanely powerful for a car that can be purchased for the average driver.
Aesthetics and powerful engines
Everyone wants a car that will flip heads as frequently as it flips wheels. The shape of the Charger is as bold as it is iconic.
There are so many things to love about them!
The Charger with its sharp edges and low profile will definitely make you stand out at events and on the road.
The heavily slanted windshield gives an air of environment-friendly elegance whilst the elongated hood starts to tell the story of what lurks under it.
Not only is it engine effective, but it is also displayed in a way that can knock you out by simply opening the hood.
Glistening metal, sleek accents, hoses, and tubes snaking this way and that flawlessly frame this mechanical masterpiece.
Performance
Performance is another major factor that should be considered in your search for a muscle car. Dodge Chargers are high-performance vehicles usually fitted with large fitted v6 and V8 engines with a rear-wheel drive.
They are an extension of the hot rodding philosophy which takes a small car and fit it with large displacement engines, for the purpose of high straight-line speed and power on the wheels.
Wheels
While these can be changed at will, it serves you better to go for muscle cars with wheels that are strong and fit for use in performance vehicles.
The Charger prefers the deep dish specialized car wheels mainly because it gives the car an enhanced appearance and is also perfect for use in a performance car.
Long term usability
No one buys a car that will wear out after a few months.
The Dodge Charger is known for its long-term usability and has been on market for a long time.
This makes their spare parts readily available readily, making maintenance of the cars easier therefore increasing their long term usability.
Prices
A major factor that should factor into your choice for a muscle car is the price.
Considering the power they bring, the Dodge Charger is cheap compared to other vehicles with the same options.
Prices range from $10,000 (lower than the starting price of other muscle cars) up to $70,000 (for the range-topping premium Hell Cat) depending on the model and year of production.
No matter your budget, you are sure to find an affordable Charger of your choice depending on your taste on a budget.
Durability
The Dodge Charger is amongst the shortlist of muscle cars that fare nicely when it comes to durability.
With several of them clocking and surpassing 200,000 miles on their original engines.
DO DODGE CHARGERS HOLD THEIR VALUE?
Yes, Dodge Chargers hold their value because they are desirable vehicles and also have lows availability.
Any Ford dealer will have a ton of new Mustang GTs in their inventory. Most Dodge dealers don’t even have Scat Packs in stock.
It’s not just the Scat packs.
Look at 2011 SRT8s.
They still go for low to mid 20s.
The Charger trims above the RT 5.7L have always held value pretty well.
After doing some research I found the Scat pack trims on either the charger or challenger will hold value quite well.
For example, a new 2020 charger sells for around 42k depending on options.
If you look back on older scat pack models (2015 and above), they are commonly still sold in the 30–39k range assuming it doesn’t have a ton of miles.
Compared to other vehicles on the market, they depreciate a lot less.
So in short if you buy a scat pack Charger it will hold value a lot better than the RT or SXT.
TYPE OF OFFERS AVAILABLE
Manufacturing financing and affiliate offers are available for the dodge chargers and other offers which are described below:
- $500 cash back on certain Dodge Charger models
- Financing Offer : 0.0% APR for 36 months on certain Dodge Charger models
- Affiliate Offer : $1,000 cash back on certain Dodge models
- Conquest Offer : $1,000 cash back on certain Dodge models
- Low Credit Score Offer : $1,000 cash back on certain Dodge models
- Military Offer : $500 cash back on certain Dodge models
- Loyalty Offer : $500 cash back on certain Dodge models
- Koon’s Offers: $750 cash back on certain Dodge Charger models
- Price includes: $500 – 2018 Retail Consumer Cash *Conditions applied.
IS THE DODGE CHARGER A GOOD CAR?
Yes, the Dodge Charger is a good car.
The company produces very powerful engines with superior handles as well as a stylish and comfy ride.
The Charger has a spacious interior, user-friendly tech features, and a decent amount of trunk space.
It has a great predicted reliability rating, and while some other cars have more luxurious interiors, the Dodge Charger does well in its own right.
Great Street Presence
It affords the driver with an extreme street presence; this car will have lots of people looking at you admirably.
Powerful yet fuel-efficient Engines
It is powered by award-winning engines, extremely fuel-efficient on long distances at 140kmph it is in eco mode, the engine is extremely relaxed spinning at 1800RPM.
The ZF 8 speed feels like butter with the shifts.
As a result, this makes it super quick and reliable.
Very well isolated, quieter than a BMW 5 series at any speeds.
Strong Body
Extremely strong chassis, the roof can take a weight of 21,000lbs before it starts to crumble.
No car can currently match this.
Dodge is the first manufacturer to use all-steel construction for cars since the early 1900s.
Great Interior
The company uses Nappa leather for its excellent interior.
Also installed is the award-winning UConnect infotainment, built by Harman, Alpine radio, etc.
ARE DODGE CHARGERS GOOD FIRST CARS?
Yes, Dodge Chargers are great first cars. Below are a few factors that make them good first cars:
- Low Insurance Rates: The insurance for a Dodge charger is actually rather close to the insurance you would pay for a Honda Civic or Mazda of the same year.
- Great Safety Rating: The Charger has a good safety rating from the IIHS, so if he/she drives reasonably he won’t kill himself or herself.
- Power: contrary to what others have said, some variants Dodge Chargers do not have all that much power. Its 3.6L v6 has about 292 horsepower. When you put that in a 2-ton car, that is not a lot.it is going to be a bit faster than a similar civic (for the 2020’s the Charger has a 6.3 second 0–60 and the Honda a 7.1) but the difference will be minor.
- Size: The size of the dodge charger is just perfect for new drivers.
DODGE CHARGER 200K MILES, ARE THEY STILL GOOD AFTER THAT?
Dodge Chargers if properly maintained will last past the 200k miles mark.
Availability of spare parts and specialist mechanics are the common praises the dodge charger gets because it makes maintenance easier and cheaper at high mileage.
DODGE CHARGER LIFESPAN
While Dodge Charger engineers state that the factory designed service life of the Charger is 250K miles, it should be noted that it’s just a collection of parts and with proper maintenance and parts replacement, can last indefinitely.
The lifespan will depend upon the individual factors of the car in question.
- What engine does it have V6 or V8?
- What is the vehicle’s maintenance routine?
- How many miles are on it?
- What was the previous drivers’ driving style?
Generally, if a Charger has been well maintained, it should be able to last above 250k miles.
If the car has not been maintained, then that drops to at most 100k.
If an old grandmother somehow owns a Charger, you can be sure that it will make it past the 250k+ miles mark, but that is no guarantee.
