The Daily Grind
The following week we drove the Charger to family functions, work, and out on the town Saturday night. The daily 45-minute commute in traffic was more than comfortable, and the Hemi was quite capable at keeping us in the fast lane. We really liked the exhaust note emitting from the rear of the car, as it produced a nice rumble that was not a droning sound that annoyed passengers. When the throttle was pushed to the floor, a healthy exhaust tone let everyone know they had just been passed by a Hemi. The car also garnered its fair share of looks when pulling into the local grocery store.
Driving the car with the MDS system helped the Hemi, in our case, reach an average gas mileage of 19-20 mpg--not bad for a V-8-powered car with a heavy-footed driver. The MDS system shuts down four cylinders for increased fuel economy. The transition is seamless while driving, and you do not feel any change in engine characteristics.
The driver-oriented cockpit design positions the driver's controls and information directly in line of sight and within easy reach. The silver-ringed electroluminescent gauges are easy-to-read and quite pleasing to the eyes at night. The Charger's seating is about 2 inches higher than normal, and is sculpted for comfort and support. The seat featured an almost complete electronic control, except for the manual lumbar adjustment, which we felt was a disappointment given the rest of the car's features. If you are a large person, the sunroof may be a bit of an issue. Our 6-foot-tall operator missed the extra inch or so of lost headroom confiscated to accommodate the sunroof. Options such as the DVD-based navigation system and high-quality AM/FM/CD sound system keep the driver informed and entertained.
The '06 Dodge Charger sports...
The '06 Dodge Charger sports a driver-oriented cockpit that is designed with a performance mindset. The instrument panel and Dodge Viper-inspired gauges are highlighted with white faces and silver accent rings. The instrument cluster's electroluminescent display is easy-to-read in all lighting conditions.
Chrysler is once again going...
Chrysler is once again going after the police... in a good way. Available in the fall of 2006, the Dodge Charger police vehicle will offer law enforcement agencies a bold and powerful rear-wheel-drive vehicle to effectively patrol the streets. The Dodge Charger police vehicle features either the 3.5L High Output V-6 engine, or the optional 5.7L Hemi to provide the ultimate in pursuit power.
The '06 Dodge Charger is available...
The '06 Dodge Charger is available in the following exterior colors: Bright Silver Metallic, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, Cool Vanilla, Inferno Red Crystal Pearl, Magnesium Pearl, Midnight Blue Pearl, Silver Steel Metallic, and Stone White (late availability); the Daytona R/T version is available in Go Mango and Top Banana.