Video of the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5suR1RUwPA

 

yup..Did the same thing..we went with the GXP. Surprised how well a FWD did when we opened her up..

 

So is this the real deal or is it a mock up?

 

Its real. Its from the Expo.

 

I have owned a G8 GT, GXP, and Charger SRT8 over the last few years.

There was no real noticable difference driving the G8 GT and GXP except the brakes (GXP's are MUCH better). You would really have to push the car to find the difference between the models.

The Charger SRT8 was big, solid, fast, and has awesome brakes. The SRT however has a more floaty feeling suspension and at the limits requires more attention. With the traction control off, the SRT8 is not nearly as forgiving as the G8 GXP. My Charger gas a Diablo Tune and catback exhaust (very common mods for these cars) and if floored the car at say 50mph to pass someone..you had a good chance of ending up in the other lane. The more modded G8 GXP I have now I feel more confident in.

 

2 things that have nothing to do with the RT or police version:

1. I never drove a G8 GXP but the skid pad and slalom for the Charger SRT8 has better skid pad AND slalom numbers.

2. The SRT8's have a multilevel ESP. Are you referring to completely disabling it? Even then, thats either one powerful car from just a tune or your tires were in bad shape. By no means is the car uncontrollable under power at 50mph.

 

Just a few odds and ends from their respective websites (Charger Pursuit and Caprice PPV).

* The Charger has a 220 amp alternator. Caprice's is 170.

* The Caprice has a 6 speed automatic with sport mode, Charger's is five with "Autostick" (a "man-u-matic").

* Charger runs 225/60-18 tires. Caprice runs 235/50-18.

* The Caprice will have AM/FM/CD& MP3 standard. Charger will have a Keyless "Enter & Go" system standard.

If intrested here's the sites:

Charger:
https://www.fleet.chrysler.com/fleet...rsuit&nlevel=3

Caprice:
http://www.chevroletcapriceppv.com/#home

Finally, here in the flesh is Michigan's State Police's actual previous rundown of vehicles available for police useage:

http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7...6274--,00.html

At the risk of it starting to look like that "dead horse" saying, nowhere does it say that the Charger has sloppy handling or anything resembling that..... actually, it seems MSP test are saying pretty much the opposite.....well...actually, very much the opposite.

 

Of course, the Charger shines when comparing it to the Crown Vic and the Impala 9C1, just about any other sedan would. MSP tests have always treated cars tested with nice wording since manufactures are on site and provide the cars for testing. For example they have never reported the Crown Vic to be unstable at 120 mph, which it is. It's not as bad as it was, the Crown Vic has came a long way over the years, but back in the 90s it was horrible.

 

So here ya go:

0-60- Caprice: 6.18, Charger 6.24

0-100-Caprice 14.77, Charger 14.99

Top Speed- Caprice: 148, Charger: 146

60-0 Braking- Caprice: 128.3 ft, Charger: 133.9

Handling course (Avg): Caprice: 1:35.8, Charger: 1:36.8

Caprice won all catagories between it and the Charger.

*Although the Ecoboost AWD Ford Taurus Interceptor beat both cars in handling and braking.

However, as I pointed out, it was by no means "blown off the road course". There was no issue whatsoever with something called "sloppy handling" (and never was outside of worn subframe busings as the early LX cars aged).

Both cars are extremely capable, and both represent the best cars for law enforcement on the market. The difference to 60 is an eyeblink, difference to 100 is shorter than the time it takes you to say "one", and regarding handling:

" The Caprice's power boomed through the straights, but its oversteer through the curves proved a little difficult to control in spots, and a couple of drivers nearly went sideways. The Dodge was slightly better planted, with less waggle around the course but a lower top speed."

Seems of the 2, the Caprice is the one that's sloppy in handling.

My point all along was that we shouldn't use the Pontiac G8 GT as the rule that govern's what the WM chassis Caprice will be. I've driven both vehicles. Also drove a Charger quite a few times.

Sure, Caprices and G8s are both Zetas.... But they are also very, very different cars, both in size, weight, and therefore also handling characteristics and performance.

 

I beg to differ.

1 second difference on the road course is huge. Grattan raceway is a 2 - mile course with 12 challenging turns and a 3200 ft. straight away. If the cars were traveling down the straight approaching 100 mph that is a 8 to 10 car length difference, which would IMO qualify for "Blowing the Charger off of the road course".

I can't believe you of all people quoting Jalopnik, one of the worst autoblogs for misinformation out there. Even after pointing out some misinformation about their article in another thread here. Point is they weren't driving, just observing. The over-steering they observed helped the Caprice get around the track faster. Nothing better than having a powerful good handling RWD car and using the gas pedal to steer the car around tight corners.

When we started this debate, the 2011 Dodge Charger Pursuit wasn't even unveiled yet. My observations were about the previous generation Charger. Given that the new Charger was tested I am really surprised it didn't perform better. Both cars are really good performers and are pretty close in most catagories. The better brakes on the Caprice must have really helped on the road course. I haven't seen gearing for these two cars, so that could have played a roll too.

Since you quoted Jalopnik, I guess I will too.


The Caprice won.