New Dodge Charger is terrible

Flome, by "original," I meant the second generation MR2.

Who cares where they're built? The point is the cars from the Japanes companies are much more reliable than the crap from GM and Ford.

You know what, every car company has its problems. Hey guess what a couple years back toyota had a significant problem with their engines. Sludge was building up in the crankcase because of their set oil change intervals. The "best" auto manufacturer in the world then didn't warranty those engines because they thought they had been neglected when these consumers were just changing at the suggested intervals.

Volkswagon has some serious electrical issues. If you want to verify this talk to someone with a 1-2 yr old gti or jetta.

Granted there are lemons out there, but they are produced by every company. The one person who posted that site above on automobile reliability statistics has no evidence behind those stats to back it up. What exactly were they measuring when conducting those reports?

How about this for example, why do most imports continue to use timing belts in their engines? Cheap to manufacture! Guess what Ford, Chevy and Dodge use in most of their engines? Timing Chains! Whats more reliable? I'll take the timing chain every day.

The fact of the matter is most people are more likely to write something complaining about cars then praising them. You tell me how many foreign cars that you personally know of (ie family, and close friends) that have made it over 150k miles and I guarantee that I'd be able to equal that amount with domestic ones (person to person).

The bottom line is I'm not bashing anyone, but to be bashing these domestic products like nearly everyone is doing is wrong as well.

About the performance cars. You know what, they are an exception. Most people who buy those cars beat on them! If cars get beat on excessively they will break. I guarantee you I could break any car you can name! Nothing is unbreakable. Now what people should realize is maintenance is the key to long life. How many of you out there change your oil according to manufacterers specs. I know with my truck, its a chevy, they reccoment 3k or 3 months. I change it every 1000 to 1500 miles. Guess what, I have no problems with anything. I also grease it everytime I change the oil as well. Another thing, how did you break the motors in, did you listen to the manufacturer, and not exceed 55 miles per hour for the first 500 miles. Did you take it easy on the motor to allow all of the parts to break in properly? There are so many variables that are in this argument. No consumer report will ever take that into account. Bottom line, Maintenence = Reliability!

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Ah. Thanks for the explanation on the Spyder. I agree with you that the WRX is perhaps the best all around car these days. Amazing how sporty that thing is with 4 doors. His is silver by the way. I drove it once and man was it sweet. A bit more than I want to pay for a car now though.

This statement exposes your inexistent knowledge of sports cars. You really need to get out more or read some enthusiast magazines like Road&Track or Automobile.Are these "boring, generic, souless(sic) little cars?"Just to name a few:Acura NSX, NSX-T, NSX Zanardi editionAcura Integra Type-RHonda S2000Nissan Skyline GT-RNissan 300ZX Twin Turbo or 350ZToyota Supra TurboToyota MR2(not the current fag (SIC) MR-Spyder)Mazda MiataMazda RX-7 Twin TurboMazda RX-8Subaru WRX StiDrive these and see if "boring, generic, and souless(sic)" comes to mind.------------------------------------------------------------I'll pit my sports car knowledge against yours anytime, any day of the week. I have a 9 car collection, plus rotating drivers. Before I got into business, I was an auto mechanic and put myself through college working on cars. I have had more seat time in more cars in ten years than most people have in a lifetime. You can choose to believe that or consider I am making it all up, whatever.But lets talk a little about knowledge of sports cars. Especially, your lack of it.A true sports car, and this is the original definition, is a two seater, a la Corvette. In your list, the NSX would qualify, the WRX would not. I don't know how many Skylines are seen outside of Japan, and cars such as the Supra are much better classified as GTs.But we're splitting hairs here. It is also clear what kind of a guy you are when you refer to some cars a "fag cars". Yeah, you are really knowledgeable, aren't you.As far as reading, I have subscribed to R and T off and on since the June 1973 issue, the one with the Mercedes on the cover, asking if it was the world's best car. Look it up peabrain. Perhaps your problem is you are spending too much time reading and not behind the wheels of cars.Most Japanese cars ARE boring, the ones you list above are a small percentage. I could tell you how fabulous the old Saleen Mustang that my friend had was, and how he had over 150K miles on it when I knew him, but after all, that was personal experience, and I know it doesn't hold a candle to the wealth of knowledge you so possess.Listen, go get yourself an NSX! Hey, I even like them. But my opinion is just that, my opinion. You are free to disagree. That is, if you have any time left over trying to come up with which are the fag cars and which are not.

This statement exposes your inexistent knowledge of sports cars. You really need to get out more or read some enthusiast magazines like Road&Track or Automobile.Are these "boring, generic, souless(sic) little cars?"Just to name a few:Acura NSX, NSX-T, NSX Zanardi editionAcura Integra Type-RHonda S2000Nissan Skyline GT-RNissan 300ZX Twin Turbo or 350ZToyota Supra TurboToyota MR2(not the current fag (SIC) MR-Spyder)Mazda MiataMazda RX-7 Twin TurboMazda RX-8Subaru WRX StiDrive these and see if "boring, generic, and souless(sic)" comes to mind." End quoteI'll pit my sports car knowledge against your anytime, any day of the week. I have a 9 car collection, plus rotating drivers. Before I got into business, I was an auto mechanic and put myself through college working on cars. I have had more seat time in more cars in ten years than most people have in a lifetime. You can choose to believe that or consider I am making it all up, choosee what you will.But lets talk a little about knowledge of sports cars. Especially, your lack of it.A true sports car, and this is the original definition, is a two seater, a la Corvette. In your list, the NSC would qualify, the WRX would not. I don't know how many Skylines are seen outside of Japan, and cars such as the Supra are much better classified as GTs.But we're splitting hairs here. It is also clear what kind of a guy you are when you refer to some cars a "fag cars". Yeah, you are really knowledgeable, aren't you.As far as reading, I have subscribed to R and T off and on since the June 1973 issue, the one with the Mercedes on the cover, asking if it was the world's best car. Look it up peabrain. Perhaps your problem is you are spending too much time reading and not behind the wheels of cars.Most Japanese cars ARE boring, the ones you list above are a small percentage. I could tell you how fabulous the old Saleen Mustang that my friend had was, and how he had over 150K miles on it when I knew him, but after all, that was personal experience, and I know it doesn't hold a candle to the wealth of knowledge you so possess.Listen, go get yourself an NSX! Hey, I even like them. But my opinion is just that, my opinion. You are free to disagree. That is, if you have any time left over trying to come up with which are the fag cars and which are not.

Guess what most American cars are BORING too! I have had more seat time in cars in the past five years than any of you have had in the past ten. Most people here don't know how to handle a car correctly and their fancy imaginations are what decide for them that Japanese cars are more boring than their American counterparts. Simply put Japanese cars kick Yankee butt.

Tom Anderson wrote:

Most Japanese cars ARE boring

American's do build some great cars -- in Europe. GM built the Astra for Europeans -- a great little car. And the Opel, which is phenomenal and comparable to the Lotus Elise. In Europe we get the Focus RS, which is very nice, and we get the same platform on the Focus as the new Mazda 3. America's new Focus still sits on its 2000 platform.

American car makers only look at bottom line when it comes to sales in America. They know that if they can build a product that is even in the same ballpark as the Germans or the Japs they will make a killing with advertising ploys in a great, big, giant, idiot-consumer nation. sorry, but it's true.

I thought competition gave you people better products? Instead, you only have better car commercials. That's sad.

Thankfully, I've noticed many tuners are beginning to leave their stamp on American car culture. Keep it up young people. You're the hope for America.

My dog took a shit and it looked like the new Dodge Charger.

If any collectors, or the people at Dodge are interested, I'd be happy to start an auction on Ebay.

Tom Anderson wrote:

I'll pit my sports car knowledge against your anytime, any day of the week. I have a 9 car collection, plus rotating drivers. Before I got into business, I was an auto mechanic and put myself through college working on cars. I have had more seat time in more cars in ten years than most people have in a lifetime. You can choose to believe that or consider I am making it all up, choosee what you will.

But lets talk a little about knowledge of sports cars. Especially, your lack of it.

A true sports car, and this is the original definition, is a two seater, a la Corvette. In your list, the NSC would qualify, the WRX would not. I don't know how many Skylines are seen outside of Japan, and cars such as the Supra are much better classified as GTs.

Keep it going Tom, because you're really cracking me up. Obviously I don't have the vast wealth and business acumen you do because I don't have a "9 car collection, plus rotating drivers." I also know the difference in a sports car and Gran Tourer but I wasn't aware that I labeled my list "sports cars by the original definition." I didn't realize that because the Skyline isn't sold in America that somehow that means it doesn't exist or shouldn't be included as an exciting car. My bad. You should have been consulted before I made my list. I guess you don't recognize the Porsche 959 either. It was a real dog, wasn't it? Why else would you not see many outside of Europe, right? Maybe you just didn't realize I was ridiculing your notion that Japanese cars are "boring, souless(sic) little cars."

Volkswagen is not a Japanese car company.

Really? What lemons has Honda produced recently?

Go read up a little on it and you'll see. Maintenance records mainly.

And what lasts longer? Japanese cars? Even with their unreliable timing belts.

Don't you get it? Reliability rankings aren't built off "who you know" or the story of your brother's cousin whose Dodge Charger lasted 300k miles. They're built off of huge amounts of aggregate repair data.

No there are not too many variables. Consumers treat their American cars the same way they treat their Japanese cars: Like crap mainly. The ones that last the longest without breaking down are the most reliable. The numbers clearly show this.

The "bashing" is not based off of anecdotes. It's based off of numbers. Your anecdotes are meaningless. Japanese cars are much more reliable. Period. Go argue the "fun to drive" position. You'll have better luck there.

Give me a good 60/70's Muscle Car anyday over all this modern junk! Simple and you can still work on them yourself......without a COMPUTER!

I must agree - Ford did well with the retro look on the 2005 Mustang.

Dodge... well, I think somebody simply threw the look together because it looks like a damn Ram pickup from the front end and a stinkin Stratus from the rear. This model has NO highway identity looks NOTHING like a Charger!

My only hope is that no one gets a stupid idea to slap a flag and a couple of 01's on the newest model. I'll puke for sure then!

I agree the new charger design does not do justice to the 68-70 Chargers. I think the 1999 design at the auto show was a much better, might have thougt about buying one if those were put into production. But now, I will continue to restore and drive my '68 R/T. In regards to Ford reliability, nothing can beat the "toughness" of my '31 Deluxe Model A roadster. They produced almost 5 million and about 3 million are still registered around the country. I don't think any manufacture will be able to claim that today and 70 years from now...........

I see Dodge still doesn't mind embarassing themselves.

The thing is, Polluter, that new technology can make very powerful, fast cars get much better gas mileage than in the 70's, especially at highway speeds, not to mention much cleaner emissions. The Mustang you are talking about, the GT with a 5.4L 8cyl., gets 21 mpg on the highway - move down to the 4.6 Liter 8 cyl. and you improve to 25 mpg - about the same as my 4 cylinder pickup truck. Compare that to the 1972 Ford Torino with a 351 Cleveland I sold last year - that thing got at best 12 on the highway and would get walked in every way by the new Mustang, probably even the tamer 4.6L.

has anyone mentioned that germans now own chrysler?

proceed.

Compare that to the 1972 Ford Torino with a 351 Cleveland I sold last year - that thing got at best 12 on the highway and would get walked in every way by the new Mustang, probably even the tamer 4.6L.

Brian wrote:

The thing is, Polluter, that new technology can make very powerful, fast cars get much better gas mileage than in the 70's, especially at highway speeds, not to mention much cleaner emissions. The Mustang you are talking about, the GT with a 5.4L 8cyl., gets 21 mpg on the highway - move down to the 4.6 Liter 8 cyl. and you improve to 25 mpg - about the same as my 4 cylinder pickup truck. Compare that to the 1972 Ford Torino with a 351 Cleveland I sold last year - that thing got at best 12 on the highway and would get walked in every way by the new Mustang, probably even the tamer 4.6L.

Totally correct. Even my 1988 GT is a much better driver than the 1965 289 HIPO I had. It faster, worlds better handling (I think the 1987-93 GTs are one of the most underappreciated performance cars ever...those that have them know what they can do) and now there is a Subaru WRX which has just as terrific acceleration if not more. However, let's put your Torino remark in its perspective.

Your Torino, as well as my old 289, are wonderful in their own rights. Who cares about the 12mpg? These cars were amazing, and great milestones for performance of their time. You don't compare a vintage Indy racer with today's, you appreciate it on its own terms. Could the WRX walk away from my base 350 1970 Corvette? Sure it could, but its a Subaru with a turbo on it. I can throw a blower on mine and wipe it off the planet. What's the point, a Suburu will never be a Corvette, and a new Mustang will never be your vintage Torino.

And yes, few things in life sound as exciting as a HIPO 289 screaming away towards redline and poked with a 4 speed, not even the sound of my 88 GT!