Repair-It

One thing this car has going for it is an utter lack of competition, other than the SS, which is very limited production. I test drove one a few months ago, and ended up going with a Chevy SS.
Driving the cars within a relatively short period from each other, the Charger felt even bigger than the 400 pounds of weight difference suggests--it still handled well, but you could feel the bulk.
I will not say this made the SS a better car, but more what I was looking for. No doubt, I liked many things about the Charger including the presence the SS just does not have to the observer on the street. It is also quicker, and behaves more like a muscle car when punched. You can also have the opportunity to take less options, making it cheaper.
For me, however, I like a vehicle that was a bit more understated and feels smaller. I am sure there are many that would prefer the Charger, and you really could not go wrong with either considering the pricing.

Even with suspension upgrades, there is little that can be done about the feeling of bulk. Scat Pack or not, that part remains the same until they upgrade the chassis, if Fiat ever does. Again, this car does not handle badly--it is actually quite good for its weight. I think you would have to drive the 2, whichever version, back to back, to see what I am saying. The SS just feels smaller, particularly when moving at higher speeds. Again, I like both, this was just what I was looking for.

I'm sure this car handles better than many likely assume, but it's not a car that will dance at 9/10ths...or 8/10ths. 7/10ths probably feels pretty solid, though.

10 years ago, Fall 2005, I bought a Charger SRT8 with the 425HP 6.1 for $41,000. As tested here, it ran 13.2@109 and pulled 0.86g on the skidpad. Today, you can get the Scat Pack for the same price but it runs 12.4@115 and pulls 0.91g on the skidpad for the same price! I love progress! Oh yeah, and MPG went from 14/19 to 15/25!

I didn't bother driving a Charger, since they don't offer a proper transmission; but we did check out the Challenger, since it's got the biggest back seat of all the coupes. I'm guessing that the two will have a similar feel, given the manufacturer.

We drove an SS with a stick, and it was great: balanced, loud but not in your face, nicely laid out equipment, really long clutch with very short engagement zone. All in all, the perfect package: composed and demure enough for a daily driver, but ready to eat the road at a moments notice. Feels smaller than it really is, and more nimble than many smaller cars I've owned.

The Dodge made my wife giggle like a school girl as she dropped the clutch and floored it. The nose dives into corners, and it feels like it's coming loose constantly. Bottom line, I think it feels more fun because it makes you feel like you're earning it. Great for the fun factor I suppose, but I'm not sure I'd want to drive it EVERYDAY. I'd probably be physically tired after 20 min of mountain roads in this beast, where in the SS I'd go out of my way to add 20 min of twistys to a long drive. Feels like driving an aircraft carrier, but with fighter plane power- and that was just the RT!

I've driven the CTS-V on the track, and it's an incredible machine. I'm guessing that based on my SS drive it will be very similar, just a few knots slower out of the corners. The Dodge however, will be sitting in the pea gravel around the first compound turn, unless the driver really knows his stuff. I just have trouble imagining that massive front end not digging in on a hard right to left transition at speed.

I liked many things about the Charger including the presence the SS just does not have to the observer on the street. It is also quicker, and behaves more like a muscle car when punched. You can also have the opportunity to take less options, making it cheaper.

The Dodge made my wife giggle like a school girl as she dropped the clutch and floored it. The nose dives into corners, and it feels like it's coming loose constantly. Bottom line, I think it feels more fun because it makes you feel like you're earning it.