Prius vs. Dodge Charger

drifty1955 · 11-27-2007, 11:51 PM

No accident just comparing the two! Went on vaca and had to rent a car and originally just reserved a small sedan but I was offered a bump up to a mac daddy 07 Charger for $5 and since I see them everywhere around where I live I wanted to see whats so special with the new Charger. Very popular car.
It was worth the $5 to find out my Prius is twice the car. The Charger was very disappointing! The Prius feels much faster. I beat on the Charger pretty good and it made alot of noise under the hood and lots of hard downshifting going on but not going anywhere real fast. I swear the Prius is quicker and thanks to the CVT feel of the trans is 100% smoother. Handling: Charger handles like the boat it is. Very fat smooth boring ride. Just rolling down the road in a tank. Not much road engagement going on. Good brakes though. The Prius is a little sports car compared to the Charger. Also lots of side to side rocking back & forth on the Charger.I could not see one thing that the Charger did better than the Prius other than the Charger has a huge trunk. Also the Charger has a very low roof so the windshield is only about 24 inches high which has a very claustrophobic feel about it. And my rough calc's came up with about 19 mpg's on the highway beating on it. I like the styling look of the car but other than that its got nothing going on whatsoever. I am amazed how many people are driving Charger's where I live. I thought because its a really fast car. Its a disappointing car and made me really miss driving my Prius.

usbseawolf2000 · 11-28-2007, 12:21 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Nov 27 2007, 11:51 PM) [snapback]545063[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I beat on the Charger pretty good and it made alot of noise under the hood and lots of hard downshifting going on but not going anywhere real fast. I swear the Prius is quicker and thanks to the CVT feel of the trans is 100% smoother.[/b]

I bet you floored the Charger on the highway. Prius is incredible at passing speed on the highway. Once you experience acceleration of HSD at 30-70mph range, you can't go back to gear shifting transmission.

I had a similar experience with a loaner car (Corolla). From a stop, touching the gas pedal yanks the car giving me the impression of a powerful engine. On the highway when I tried to passed, I wondered where all those power went?

daniel · 11-28-2007, 12:30 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Nov 27 2007, 08:51 PM) [snapback]545063[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

It was worth the $5 to find out my Prius is twice the car. ...
[/b]

Yep. I've had various loaners and rented various cars in the almost 4 years I've had my Prius, and everything's a disappointment. The convertible in Hawaii was kind of fun. The Chevy last month was comfortable. But nothing compares. Only the Xebra is more fun than the Prius, but it's not a well-designed ot well-constructed car.

galaxee · 11-28-2007, 12:31 AM

the avenger is an equal disappointment. looking under the hood, there was already a coolant leak too

**Tideland Prius** · 11-28-2007, 01:25 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Drifty'sDad @ Nov 27 2007, 08:51 PM) [snapback]545063[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

No accident just comparing the two! Went on vaca and had to rent a car and originally just reserved a small sedan but I was offered a bump up to a mac daddy 07 Charger for $5 and since I see them everywhere around where I live I wanted to see whats so special with the new Charger. Very popular car.
It was worth the $5 to find out my Prius is twice the car. The Charger was very disappointing! The Prius feels much faster. I beat on the Charger pretty good and it made alot of noise under the hood and lots of hard downshifting going on but not going anywhere real fast. I swear the Prius is quicker and thanks to the CVT feel of the trans is 100% smoother. Handling: Charger handles like the boat it is. Very fat smooth boring ride. Just rolling down the road in a tank. Not much road engagement going on. Good brakes though. The Prius is a little sports car compared to the Charger. Also lots of side to side rocking back & forth on the Charger.I could not see one thing that the Charger did better than the Prius other than the Charger has a huge trunk. Also the Charger has a very low roof so the windshield is only about 24 inches high which has a very claustrophobic feel about it. And my rough calc's came up with about 19 mpg's on the highway beating on it. I like the styling look of the car but other than that its got nothing going on whatsoever. I am amazed how many people are driving Charger's where I live. I thought because its a really fast car. Its a disappointing car and made me really miss driving my Prius.
[/b]

I'm pretty sure you got the base Charger with the V6. Plus, check the tyres. They're Goodyear Integritys too.

Yeah.. the high window sill line is for effect. It's also for the mass murderers to hide when they tint the window :P j/k.

Besides, it looks mean in the rear view mirror. Then when it passes you, the rear of the car looks like a bunny rabbit.

Front: Grr, get out my way!
Back: I'm sorry I passed you! Please forgive me!

:P

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Nov 27 2007, 09:31 PM) [snapback]545080[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

the avenger is an equal disappointment. looking under the hood, there was already a coolant leak too

[/b]

yeesh.. at least it's better to look at than the Sebring (didn't that used to be a convertible???). I wonder who looked at that and said "mmm yes. A 4-dr Crossfire. You got rid of that narrow rear hatch. That looks very good. A signature Chrysler front and a taillight design that doesn't match)

subarutoo · 11-28-2007, 03:24 PM

I got the gangsta version Chrysler 300 last year as a rental upgrade. I also prefer the Prius in almost every way. I don't know why they keep building land yachts like those. I fell for it in a weak moment, as a rental upgrade, but buy one? never. Yeah, Prius works for me.

daniel · 11-28-2007, 03:48 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 27 2007, 10:25 PM) [snapback]545102[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

... at least it's better to look at than the Sebring (didn't that used to be a convertible???). ...
[/b]

That rang a bell: It was a Sebring convertible that I rented in Hawaii. Two or three years ago. And rental cars are usually pretty new. So if it's not available as a convertible now, it was very recently.

Pinto Girl · 11-28-2007, 04:08 PM

I was in a rented Charger; four door...sounded like a bigger V6 under there, but I didn't even bother checking.

A few thoughts:

*I can't believe they waste all of that valuable real estate, between the front seats, for a huge and clunky mechanical shifter. Yeeesh!

*Tip-in is amazing, compared to the Prius, and it felt faster to me, but ---how else can I say it--- the HSD is soooo much smoother and infinitely variable, compared to an automatic transmission--- that to hear the RPM of the engine rise and fall, and the car downshift when it needed more power, and then wind out before a jolting upshift...well, that was so old fashioned that it almost brought tears to my eyes.

*The throttle, on my car, was really non-linear, and if I'd press too hard leaving a parking space, the car would really lunge forward.

*Rear wheel drive is still the best for performance, but isn't so good for packaging. This car had RWD, and it was fun to not have the traction control Gestappo visiting me, every time the road was a little slippery.

*The car is really simple, mechanically, compared to the Prius. I read the owner's manual...it's got a warning light for the electronic throttle, for goodness sake. I suspect if the Prius had warning lights for every electronic system, there would be an awful lot of lights on the dash.

*There are hack codes in the manual, to change various audible electronic warnings. I thought that was kind of nice, actually. I turned off auto-door locks.

*The beltline is REALLY high, compared to the Prius. The car had terrible visibility and the windshield felt like a slot. It was a pain to get into and out of gracefully (especially in a skirt) and messed up my updo, which didn't exactly ingratiate it with me.

*Seeing the hood, how quaint! I once said that, "the hood is the platter, upon which the world is served to you." This car reminded me of that.

*My favorite feature (again, from the manual): if you drive for more than one mile with the signal on, there will be an audible warning and (I believe) a warning light on the dash!!!!! How cool is THIS?!?!? :-)

Overall, though, an average car well suited for rental service, except that the trunk was a little smaller than it seemed like it was going to be, which was a bummer (the whole RWD thing).

A nice enough place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

--Natalie

mingoglia · 11-28-2007, 06:10 PM

You guys should test drive a SRT8 Charger or SRT8 300 just for the fun of it.... it's certainly a much different animal.

MIke

statultra · 11-28-2007, 06:12 PM

i had rented a 300c with the v6, certainly its smooth and planted nice on the road, but theres nothing really good about it, its boring. I bet even if i had a hemi v8 version of charger,300c type vehicle it wouldnt appeal to me, the interior is just too confining.

the only real luxury car that appeals to me on all levels is the gs450h ( dream car, hoping on getting one crashed soon ) , or ls600hl ( i doubt will ever be crashed, darn pre collision system )

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11-27-2007, 11:51 PM	#1
drifty1955 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 100 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	No accident just comparing the two! Went on vaca and had to rent a car and originally just reserved a small sedan but I was offered a bump up to a mac daddy 07 Charger for $5 and since I see them everywhere around where I live I wanted to see whats so special with the new Charger. Very popular car. It was worth the $5 to find out my Prius is twice the car. The Charger was very disappointing! The Prius feels much faster. I beat on the Charger pretty good and it made alot of noise under the hood and lots of hard downshifting going on but not going anywhere real fast. I swear the Prius is quicker and thanks to the CVT feel of the trans is 100% smoother. Handling: Charger handles like the boat it is. Very fat smooth boring ride. Just rolling down the road in a tank. Not much road engagement going on. Good brakes though. The Prius is a little sports car compared to the Charger. Also lots of side to side rocking back & forth on the Charger.I could not see one thing that the Charger did better than the Prius other than the Charger has a huge trunk. Also the Charger has a very low roof so the windshield is only about 24 inches high which has a very claustrophobic feel about it. And my rough calc's came up with about 19 mpg's on the highway beating on it. I like the styling look of the car but other than that its got nothing going on whatsoever. I am amazed how many people are driving Charger's where I live. I thought because its a really fast car. Its a disappointing car and made me really miss driving my Prius.

11-28-2007, 12:31 AM	#4
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,671 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 92 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	the avenger is an equal disappointment. looking under the hood, there was already a coolant leak too

11-28-2007, 03:24 PM	#6
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,176 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	I got the gangsta version Chrysler 300 last year as a rental upgrade. I also prefer the Prius in almost every way. I don't know why they keep building land yachts like those. I fell for it in a weak moment, as a rental upgrade, but buy one? never. Yeah, Prius works for me.

11-28-2007, 04:08 PM	#8
Pinto Girl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,372 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 0	I was in a rented Charger; four door...sounded like a bigger V6 under there, but I didn't even bother checking. A few thoughts: I can't believe they waste all of that valuable real estate, between the front seats, for a huge and clunky mechanical shifter. Yeeesh! Tip-in is amazing, compared to the Prius, and it felt faster to me, but ---how else can I say it--- the HSD is soooo much smoother and infinitely variable, compared to an automatic transmission--- that to hear the RPM of the engine rise and fall, and the car downshift when it needed more power, and then wind out before a jolting upshift...well, that was so old fashioned that it almost brought tears to my eyes. The throttle, on my car, was really non-linear, and if I'd press too hard leaving a parking space, the car would really lunge forward. Rear wheel drive is still the best for performance, but isn't so good for packaging. This car had RWD, and it was fun to not have the traction control Gestappo visiting me, every time the road was a little slippery. The car is really simple, mechanically, compared to the Prius. I read the owner's manual...it's got a warning light for the electronic throttle, for goodness sake. I suspect if the Prius had warning lights for every electronic system, there would be an awful lot of lights on the dash. There are hack codes in the manual, to change various audible electronic warnings. I thought that was kind of nice, actually. I turned off auto-door locks. The beltline is REALLY high, compared to the Prius. The car had terrible visibility and the windshield felt like a slot. It was a pain to get into and out of gracefully (especially in a skirt) and messed up my updo, which didn't exactly ingratiate it with me. Seeing the hood, how quaint! I once said that, "the hood is the platter, upon which the world is served to you." This car reminded me of that. *My favorite feature (again, from the manual): if you drive for more than one mile with the signal on, there will be an audible warning and (I believe) a warning light on the dash!!!!! How cool is THIS?!?!? :-) Overall, though, an average car well suited for rental service, except that the trunk was a little smaller than it seemed like it was going to be, which was a bummer (the whole RWD thing). A nice enough place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. --Natalie

11-28-2007, 06:10 PM	#9
mingoglia Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 833 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 1	You guys should test drive a SRT8 Charger or SRT8 300 just for the fun of it.... it's certainly a much different animal. MIke

11-28-2007, 06:12 PM	#10
statultra uber-Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: cape coral, FL Posts: 682 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	i had rented a 300c with the v6, certainly its smooth and planted nice on the road, but theres nothing really good about it, its boring. I bet even if i had a hemi v8 version of charger,300c type vehicle it wouldnt appeal to me, the interior is just too confining. the only real luxury car that appeals to me on all levels is the gs450h ( dream car, hoping on getting one crashed soon ) , or ls600hl ( i doubt will ever be crashed, darn pre collision system )