Input Regardig a Dodge [STRIKE]Challenger[/STRIKE] Charger?

[chiselchst]

Greetings LEO's.

I was considering purchasing a new Dodge Challenger Charger. I see many in LE use, including within my own city (Martinez).

Might I ask what LE's opinion are of the Dodge Challanger Charger?

Thanks in advance...

[Ron-Solo]

A LOT of complaints about blind spots and visibility issues.

They look great.......

[cowboykenny]

fast V8, bad blind spots, look good, sound good, interior room is ok, better on newer models.

[BigDogatPlay]

One agency local to me is using them. They do look sharp, they go really fast and they have a surprisingly good amount of room. The complaints I hear are the blind spots, that the handling is not as good as it could be (which is purely subjective, IMO) and that there've been some issues with front ends.

Speaking personally, I'm not a Chrysler guy but I gave serious consideration to buying one this past year after a couple of test drives.

[Tacobandit]

Challenger is the 2 door, you sure you don't mean charger (4door)?

[cntrolsguy]

Challenger is the 2 door, you sure you don't mean charger (4door)?

I think your right, I have never seen a challenger pd unit.

[KevH]

I have yet to see a Dodge Challenger in a police package. The Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum is a different story.

The Charger with the Hemi is extremely fast; however, the trade off is extremely bad gas mileage. The biggest complaints I have heard (and experienced in the one I drove) is blind spots and back seat size (especially once a partition is installed).

I would rather have a Challenger (2 door) if I were going to by a new Mopar for myself.

[BadPoor313]

I think your right, I have never seen a challenger pd unit.

Same here he must mean the Charger

[hitman13]

I've seen a decent ammt of challengers used by traffic guys and UM units. They look GREAT! For those of you on the ARFcom secure LEO foru, there are some pics in one of the threads....

ETA:

[chiselchst]

Opps - I DID mean Charger. Thanks for the input guys...

(On the Chrysler, I really do like the 300 C)

[Full Clip]

(On the Chrysler, I really do like the 300 C)

I've had two 300Cs - the hemi is great. Feels like driving a really fast, powerful La-Z-Boy.

[TheExpertish]

Fast as hell, but small, especially if you're 6' plus, but that's with the cage. Seem to like to eat transmissions, but that again might be an abuse/heavy use issue.

[tyrist]

It's a piece of crap. It's expensive for what you get, cramped, expensive to maintain, and if you hit a raccoon it results in the car being totaled. It's looks great though.

The crown vic while getting horrid gas mileage is a total tank in comparison.

[Tacit Blue]

Ah... The Dodge Charger Police... Where to start? We'll I can speak for down here in San Diego County, the first agency to adopted them into service was San Diego Sheriff's Dept. They were used on a trial basis and the results were less than desirable... For all the reasons stated above, poor visibility,expensive cost as a fleet vehicle, poor gas mileage.

They have two different versions, the first being the obvious Hemi V-8 and the second being the V-6. Now the only other agency in my area that uses them secondary to the Crown Victoria Police interceptor, is Oceanside Police.

The Crown Victoria Police Interceptor cannot be beat, its too reliable, and cheap to fix compared to the Dodge Charger. Not to mention more roomy. It has been the work horse of law enforcement for over two decades..

If you want another car that is comparable to the Charger, look for a Police Chevy Camaro Z28. Escondido P.D and C.H.P used them for awhile.

[bobfried]

I have one issued to me and like it enough. Usual complaints about big car with small interior, the backseat area is especially small. It is fast, hammer down and it goes, high speed stability is decent if not almost good.

The only thing is the handling, the back end will snap out at the smallest thing unless traction control stay on at all times. Even with traction on there have been a few incidents of snap over steer causing the vehicle to spin in the rain.

For my money i wouldn't buy one, a Camry/Accord with a V6 is just as fast and has many more positives. But as a work vehicle it's about as good as it gets beside the SVT Raptors that some guys get.