If so, how the hell can they not say the same about the Charger R/T??? As some of you may remember, before I started here I took a Charger R/T (sans Road and Track group) for a quick spin...I had a sad farewell spin in a GXP shortly before driving the R/T. I was extremely dissappointed in the R/T after driving the GXP. The ESP got mad at me, the tires howled, the car leaned...and this was driving less aggressively than my beloved GXP.

Anyway, now I have another R/T as a demo, also without the Road and Track group. Its a beautiful car...midnight blue, light grey leather, the best nav system I've seen yet, Sirius radio etc...but when you get off the highway (which is most of my driving now anyway), this car hurts my brain after only 24 hourds with it. Driving home last night, myself, a matching midnight blue Magnum R/T and a GS400 were playing around on an open stretch of highway...it was exhilarating watching an American station wagon and 4 door sedan accelerate so quickly above 100 (I think 120 was where I topped out ), I have a stupid grin on my face just thinking about it. I slowed down to 80 for a slight curve in the highway, and....


BOING....BOING....BOING....


The curve was part of a bridge, and as the car hit the expansion joints mid-turn, it was bouncing all over the road. The Magnum had already slowed down even more than me, probably knowing better the car's reaction to that corner.

This car, IMO, is the epitome of too much engine and not enough chassis tuning. My 5 year old Grand Prix with 65,000 mile struts and fresh 17" rubber will run and hide from this thing. Who puts Goodyear Assurance tires on a PERFORMANCE car? To be honest, I am appalled by how poorly this car handles and bounces around for the amount of thrust it can produce.

I have not driven an Impy SS yet, but I did drive an MC SS and came away impressed. It handled marginally better than my GP with upgraded rubber, which is what I expected. I did not expect it to be head and shoulders better than the LX chassis, but it certainly seems to be. I never felt like the MC had too much motor for the chassis, despite the torque steer. RWD or not, the Charger chassis doesn't cut it for me...

Against a GXP? This reconfirms what I thought...the GXP is a better performance car...

 

So uh, do you sell your Chryslers this way?

You should really get your self back to a GM dealership of some kind man. You really don't seem to like Chryslers.

Not that I have a problem with it or anything. I'm a Pontiac guy all the way (at least, until the new Camaro comes out).

 

I think C&D was refering to the fact that Impala delivers that power through the front wheels.

Also, they (like most car rags) have a bias against old chassis. I think it pained them to give the GXP the complements it did.


I'm curious what your opinion of a Charger with the Road & Track group will be (instead of the "base" R/T suspension). I think that would be a better comparison since that model is tuned for the track like the GXP, and unlike the regular Charger R/T.

Be sure to post when you get ahold of one.

 

I think thats right about the FWD. I know on mine, just everyday driving its fine, no control/stability problems of course. When you push it, you can certainly feel some balance issues when compared to my old CTS, but I wouldn't say it was THAT bad. I guess I'm willing to forgive it knowing its FWD and an old platform. I'd be more upset if it was new and RWD and it jumped around all over the place like you say the Charger does.

It's not the most balanced car when pushed, but it's what you would expect. My 3 yr olds favorite thing to do is "go fast", so I romp on it all the way up to 50 (at about half throttle mind you) and she's giggling w/ delight. Obviously in my situation, I don't see a skidpad much, so I don't really notice it's shortcomings.

 

I will say this, my dad recently bought an 06 Impala SS. I have driven the car a few times and it is a nice car in every way except for one. Under moderate to hard acceleration, the car feels like it wanders on the road. Doesn't do this under normal driving. My guess is that this is due to the weight transfer to the rear of the car under acceleration which unloads the front suspension and changes the alignment angles. This would be enough to keep me from buying one. Guess that is why a lot of power belongs in rwd or awd only.

 

Turn off the traction control

 

Yep!

According to the same C&D article, that's the traction control applying brakes alternately to the front wheels attempting to regain traction.

 

They would. Its C & D.

 

Car and Driver is chronically full of crap, so that may be why they said that.

 

BINGO!

 

No, I don't sell Chryslers this way However, understand that it isn't my GM love that makes me see the inherent flaws in this car. Its simply that for the amount of press and attention this car gets, I expected more. There are many cars DCX makes that I sell that I love. The Grand Cherokee, IMO, is the best SUV I've ever seen or driven...period. I covet a 300C (an AWD C has replaced the MC SS on the list of my girlfriend's and my top car to buy when she's ready in 1-2 years), and ACCEPT the fact that it isn't the strongest handler, but it isn't supposed to be.

The Charger, on the other hand, is marketed for performance. I expected better.

 

You know, its funny you mention that....

3 days ago, I got my first R&T package car in (you can see who's ordering the cars now )...a black one with the sunroof, Sound Group II (an even badder Boston Acoustics system than the normal one) and the R&T group for $33,500, or $3,000 more than a comparable GXP. I will give you a full report tomorrow, hopefully, as the car just got finished being prepped earlier this evening.

Should be a fun lunch break tomorrow I love having control over the keys to a $3+ million new inventory

 

Car and Driver seemed to love the GXP, so this surpises me...but the Impala does need some suspension work.

As for the GXP, mine is an awesome handling car, however, this is the first car I have ever owned that truely scares me in that it is so powerful and FWD...that I don't think it would be very forgiving if I made a mistake.

 

I read the C&D story last week or so, and I agree with them completely.

The Impala SS is a nice enough car, just don't push it beyond 6/10ths.

 

I've driven a Impala SS w/ the 303hp V8 with my 190 lb ***, my best friends 300lb ***, and the dealers 170lb *** in it. Lets just say that the dealer didn't care too much what I did.. and when I punched it next to a Fiaro i INSTANTLY put 5 car lengths on it. No questions asked.. 5-instant-carlengths. The car pulls liek a raped motherf*cker. Not to mention, you better have DAMN strong arms or else you will literally be torque-steered into the next lane up until 50mph or so. Its fast.