And this one wasn't even close, my friends...

As I said in another thread, I had the pleasure of meeting my new sales staff today. I'm blessed with 4 really hard working car guys, so I'm absolutely thrilled. I couldn't ask for a better bunch. We're supposedly hiring a 5th, but I actually want the chance to take ups when the other 4 are busy, and then hand them off to the others as they open up...we save $$$, my monthly bonus is bigger, and I get to spend more time on the floor

Anyway, my Assistant Sales Manager asked me today if I'd ever driven a Hemi, and I ignorantly said "I've never heard one even running!" He set me up in a pretty black Charger R/T with grey leather. Nice color combo...$29,995 sticker price. I thought this would be a GREAT comparison with my $30,500 silver GXP on the Pontiac lot...

The verdict after the test drive?

1) The Charger is like driving a big, classic piece of Detroit Iron. You can see the hood. It feels like a large car. It GOES down the road. HARD. The highway ride is excellent...

That's where the advantages over a GXP ends. If you can deal with torque steer, consider...

2) The GXP, despite being blessed with the less-than-perfect shape of the '04+ GP, is STILL a sportier, nicer looking car than the blunt nosed Charger.
3) The Hemi is NOT faster. It has more torque, but does not rev like the LS4. I think the LS4 sounds better, too. My seat-of-the-pants feeling confirmed both cars have the same 0-60, and checking the specs, they do at 5.7 seconds.
4) The Charger is an abomination of plastic inside. It might be a little better looking than the GP, but not much IMO. I think the GXP and '06 enhancements actually make the materials look better in the GXP, if not the design of the dash.
5) Throw an R/T in a corner that a GXP would swallow up, spit out and ask for more? Those 18" Continentals howl like mo fos. I was dissappointed
6) For $500 extra, the GXP gives you...

-HUD
-On Star
-6 CD
-Monsoon
-Moonroof
-Digital Climate Control

Tell me which is the better deal???

Overall, I liked the Charger very much. I could even see driving one daily someday...but it would have to be as a demo, because honestly? I cannot see buying one over a GXP...at all. The Hemi sounds nice and moves great, but FWD or no, I'll deal with some torque steer to get a BETTER CAR...which IMO, the GXP won.

Next contest will be Caliber vs. Vibe...stay tuned

 

"The Charger is like driving a big, classic piece of Detroit Iron" and the fact that it is RWD gives it the win from my perspective.

 

So, lets ignore that the GXP is arguably the nicer looking car, has more amenities, handles far superior, stops shorter, and is far sportier looking inside (GP may look a little cheap in spots, but the Charger is no better than a Caliber!!!)...

Yeah, because its RWD, it deserves the win I never knew a little torque steer got everyone's panties in such a bunch around here....

 

well i would totally have to aggree with you on that
the chargers interior IMO was terrible the dash is just a wall with a steering wheel sticking out of it
and the plastics do look extreamly cheap
and the interior leather was not that nice either
i havent driven a GXP but have sat in one and the interior is alot better just alot more driver oriented
and the seats were def nicer
but yeah i whole heartedly agree with your review and comparison
and i actually compared the charger to the gto and obviously there was no comparison

 

Actually for me that is an instant win also.

 

And people around here complain about the "FWD Sheep"...

 

Who cares about 14 second cars!

Go test drive an SRT8 charger and compare that to a GTO!

 

For me, the biggest difference maker in youre comarison is all the extra equipment you get with the GXP for basically the same price....

Most of the other stuff could be passed off as subjective (looks, etc)... the interior quality comparo is probably in the gray area here... it is disturbing to me that Charger could actually have a worse feeling than the Grand Prix's interior.

 

Like someone said, the Charger dash IS nothing but a wall with a steering wheel sticking out of it...and it isn't exactly a great looking wall, either. I think its funny that 2 people here would give up a better car just to gain RWD. What, does torque steer bother you that much that you'd live without a nicer stereo, a sunroof, HUD, better seats (forgot to add that one) and digitial climate?

Is RWD THAT important? This is a sedan, gentlemen...not a sports car...

Also, consider that one inherent advantage to RWD that is COMPLETELY missing from the Charger is that RWD is supposed to handle better. It isn't even close. I dove into an on ramp a little too hard, the front tires rolled over, squealed a little, and I think I could even feel the DSP kick in despite not really needing too. It was actually a little disconcerting feeling. I've driven a GXP WAY harder (I'm not familiar with a Charger and what it can do, obviously), and never had the Stabili Trak make a peep.

Throw in the hopefully-better MPG of the GXP, and I still can't for the life of me figure out why someone would pick the Charger. I can see it being picked over an IMPALA based on the lack of handling goodies in the Impy, and the more aggressive look of the Charger. But over the GXP? I don't see it. Hope my guys at work don't see this

 

I think that I like the Charger R/T and GP GXP equally - but for different reasons. Styling? I guess we can say that's subjective. I generally do prefer the Charger's straight forward interior to the busy GP's though.

I just love the focus that Pontiac put into the GXP's chassis. It truly transforms the W-car. Compared to any and all other W-cars, the GXP is certainly in a different league. I've previously described it as the Z/28 of W-cars. Kudos to Pontiac on this one!

But...

Lean hard on the Charger R/T's go pedal, and you may break the tail loose - which is fun.

Do the same in a GXP and you'll get torque steer - which is NO fun.

 

" The Charger is like driving a big, classic piece of Detroit Iron. You can see the hood. It feels like a large car."

And if I'm getting a large sedan, that's what I want, especially one with a V8. Combined with the fact that I couldn't stand a 150HP economy car's tendency to torque steer/break inside wheel traction while accelerating from a stop on a corner (and yes it had decent tires), I don't want to try it with double the HP and torque going thru the front wheels. Don't want to have an inherit design problem band-aided with electronics that try to fight it either.

Sounds like the stock tires suck on the Charger...then I would replace them.

And what's with Camaro people bitching about the interior of cars anyway?

 

Jason I would be interested to know if there is a significant difference between the base package R/T you drove and the Daytona/Road and Track packages. I think the GXP would compare better with the SRT-8 in the braking/handling dept. I was driving the wifes GXP yesterday and even with the winter tires it feels like a race car (for a big sedan).

 

see this jason?

 

steves,
You know, I wondered the same thing. We have a yellow Daytona inbound (I'm going to get along GREAT with these guys ), so I guess I'll have to do some research and get back to you I'm jealous of you having your GXP...if I was 5 years older right now, and was making the kind of $$ I hope to be making when I'm 30, I'd grab one and stuff it in the garage right now. It is just that friggen fun I showed it to a customer yesterday (who I'm actually probably selling an off-rental 300 to once I get to the Chrysler store ) who bought an '03 Special Edition GTP from me brand new. He could not believe how far the GP has come. He was raving about it.

Beanboy,
My Grand Am GT had almost as much torque steer as the GXP does...how 'bout them apples?? Just because you have more power does NOT necessarily mean you have equally more torque steer. The W bodies were known as being excellent in that department all the way back in the mid '90s. I drove an '02 GTP coupe yesterday, and was surprised how little torque steer there was for a 240hp car...my 200hp has no trace of it.

Charlie,
I was looking to see when you'd see this, as I know you're a Charger fan. Don't get me wrong, I know that styling is completely subjective. Yes, the Charger is less busy inside...but its almost econo-car basic inside. It doesn't FEEL special to me. The GXP, with the seats and the HUD and some other cues, feels special. And for the same $$$, it just seems like the GXP is a better value than even I gave it credit for.

Regardless, I agree...the Charger is great fun to get on. I think the name actually is appropriate for the car after one test drive...it definitely charges The sensation is different with no torque steer, but the GXP's handling is so superior, to me the Charger is really great for what I basically did with it...rolling down the highway and passing cars

 

AH HAH!!!!!!!!!!! I am an idiot, and too friggen tired this morning!!

steves,
What size? Steel wheels? Tell me more!