Karl on Cars
Dodge
November 3, 2009
This list isn't very long, but it's getting longer every year.
The first vehicle to earn the distinction of "Cars I Want to Hate...But Can't" was the BMW X5, and I still consider it the poster child for this category.
Why would I want to hate the BMW X5? Because it was slower, heavier, bulkier, thirstier, costlier and less space efficient than a BMW 5 Series wagon when it debuted in the late 1990s. The car made no logical sense on any rational level.
Then I drove one and quickly realized that, as slower, heavier, bulkier, thirstier, costlier and less space efficient 5 Series wagons go, the X5 was an awfully nice vehicle.
Since then I've experienced a similar love-hate relationship with several models, including the (new) Dodge Challenger, the Porsche Panamera and -- as of last Thursday -- the Honda Crosstour.
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- Karl Brauer November 3, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- BMW, Dodge, Honda, Porsche, Talk Back Tuesday
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- Honda Crosstour
September 29, 2009
You know all those guys who bemoan the fact they ever sold their first car? I'm hoping to join that crowd.
I've decided to put my 1970 Plymouth GTX up for sale.
I'm not selling it for all the usual reasons (needing money, out of space, tired of fixing it). Sure, getting the money from the sale would be nice, as would reclaiming some garage space and some free time (no more hours repairing the occasional fluid leak, as I did this past weekend).
No, the desire to sell it is far more basic: I just don't want it anymore.
That may sound harsh considering I've owed the GTX for 23 years, but I have my reasons.
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- Karl Brauer September 29, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Muscle Car, Talk Back Tuesday
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- Plymouth GTX Dodge Challenger
July 21, 2009
I just returned from an 1,100-mile towing adventure involving our long-term 2009 Dodge Ram 1500
and my 1970 Plymouth GTX. In terms of drama it had to be one of the most boring tow trips I've experienced. The Dodge proved extremely capable over the mountain passes between Denver and Los Angeles, and even the triple-digit temps in Arizona and Nevada didn't upset the truck's cool, collected demeanor.
But not all my towing adventures have been so blissful. So for the benefit of those who like to learn from others' screw-ups, I present 5 Towing Tales to Terrorize:
1. When I was about 8 my aunt gave my oldest brother her car. It was a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker station wagon. It was actually in pretty good shape overall, but the engine wouldn't run so my Dad decided to tow it home...from Pennsylvania to Colorado...with our family station wagon and all of us aboard. It was going well until the Chrysler came unhooked in Kansas. At night. In the middle of a blinding snow storm. It took awhile to locate it, but thankfully it had landed in a famer's field with no real damage. We talked to the farmer, left it there, and eventually had it towed the last 500 miles by someone who knew how to properly hook up a tow bar.
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- Karl Brauer July 21, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Driving, Muscle Car, Road Trips, Talk Back Tuesday
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- Towing Tow Stories
July 14, 2009
I recently spent a week's vacation driving a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. It was my mount of choice for a family vacation that took me through New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania (it's near Tionesta and the Allegheny National Forest in the photo above).
Yes, you read right: a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T was my requested family car for a vacation. The same two-dour, Hemi-powered muscle coupe that is supposed to represent high-performance and heritage in the Dodge line-up.
Now why would I subject myself (and my family) to a week of pounding out hundreds of miles in a modern hot rod? For the same reason my wife drove a 1970 Plymouth GTX for over two years after we were married, and a 2002 Mini Cooper for 18 months when our kids were ages 2 and 4. Of course it's obvious -- I like torturing them.
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- Karl Brauer July 14, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals, Road Trips, Talk Back Tuesday
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- 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Family Car Cool
June 30, 2009
It's summer time, and that means everyone, (including me) is traveling the country, taking in the sights and visiting new (or maybe old, familiar) places. I'm personally spending today flying to New York City to enjoy the sites and sounds of that singular metropolis. Even more exciting, I'm picking up a new, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T as my ride around the Big Apple.
As you may have guessed, this is a press vehicle. However, according to the window sticker (it was faxed to me last week) this Challenger is equipped almost exactly as I would equip one for myself -- right down to the Deep Water Blue color. On one hand I'm thrilled to be driving a performance car I'm personally drawn to, but on the other I don't really think of New York as a car town. It's crowded with narrow streets, lots of stop lights and no where to park. Heck, you can't even drive through Time Square anymore.
That got me thinking. If I had access to this Deep Blue Challenger R/T and could go to any city to enjoy it, where would I go?
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- Karl Brauer June 30, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Driving, Muscle Car, Road Trips, Talk Back Tuesday
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- Talk Back Tuesday America's Real Car Town
June 2, 2009
I know it just happened yesterday, but today's Talk Back Tuesday will not focus on GM going into
bankruptcy. Instead, I'm going to focus on Chrysler coming out of
bankruptcy, which it is on the brink of accomplishing.
Like most folks I've been suitably impressed by the apparent speed at which Chrysler processed its bankruptcy filing. Obama wanted it done in 30 days. Chrysler wanted it done in 30 days. Even Fiat wanted it done in 30 days. It appears everyone got what they wanted.
But it's really Fiat that made out in this deal. People keep saying Fiat "bought" Chrysler, but how much money did the Italian automaker pay for the Pentastar? That's right -- NOTHING!
Instead, Fiat was simply willing to take on the task of fixing Chrysler. Ironically, that made them the highest bidder in this sale, as every other automaker basically said "no thanks" and ran the other way.
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- Karl Brauer June 2, 2009, 6:00 AM
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- Automotive News, Chrysler, Dodge, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Talk Back Tuesday
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- Fiat-Chrysler Merger Bankruptcy
January 13, 2009
Auto shows are supposed to be filled with fantasy cars. After all, for decades the glitzy show cars at these flashy gatherings were referred to as "dream cars," so expecting nothing but down-to-earth reality vehicles to appear on the show floor would be unrealistic (and, honestly, boring).
But at this year's Detroit Auto Show I found myself increasingly annoyed by the unending parade of pure fiction being shown off. This aggrevation came not as much from the show cars' embodiment as metallic vaporware as it did from the messages surrounding them. Basically, the automakers were claiming these vehicles would be available in the next 12-24 months when, of course, they probably won't represent viable transportation for upwards of 12-24 years.
By now you've probably identified which cars I'm referring to -- electric cars.
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- Karl Brauer January 13, 2009, 12:06 AM
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- Auto Shows, Dodge, Fuel Efficiency, Future Vehicles, MINI, Talk Back Tuesday, Tesla, Toyota
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- Detroit Auto Show Electric Vehicles Fantasy Reality
September 29, 2008
It was depressingly easy to write-off the new Dodge Challenger -- even before I drove it. The two-ton curb weight, the $40,000 price tag, the oversized (20-inch) wheels. They all seemed about as muscle-like as a blown Prius.
Then I drove it, and it pretty much met my expecations. Heavy, high riding and not clearly worth $40K, it seemed like nothing more than an expensive, rebodied Chrysler 300 -- which of course it was.
But that was the 2008 model, all of which where "top-of-the-line" SRT8 versions, none of which came with a manual transmission, and most of which seemed to be bright orange (I got tired of that color after about 10 minutes).
Was there any chance the 2009 model could change my attitude? Happily, yes.
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- Karl Brauer September 29, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge
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- New Dodge Challenger
September 26, 2008
The big question these days seems to be, "Have we hit bottom yet?"
I can't answer that with regard to the stock market, housing market or economy in general (though I certainly have my theories...), but I'd like to think the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram indicates Chrysler is past hitting bottom and is starting the long (some might say long overdue) climb out of the cellar.
Possibly the only segment more brutal than midsize sedans is full-size trucks. Brand loyalty remains high, performance specs are at an all-time high, and expectations of a car-like, no-compromise driving experience are higher still.
Basically, if you can't tow over 9,000 pounds, offer at least 350 horsepower and provide a ride quality that challenges luxury sedans you should just stay home.
The new Dodge Ram 1500 didn't stay home, and it manages to arrive at the party with all the above-mentioned requirements in place, plus some extra goodies you might not expect.
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- Karl Brauer September 26, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge
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- Dodge Ram Full Size Truck
September 12, 2008
LIke most new cars these days, if you don't look too hard at the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey
it seem "fine." Steering feel? Pretty good. Interior space? Passable. Material quality and seat comfort? Hmmm... Fuel mileage? I guess it seems about right.
But run the numbers against direct (and even indirect) competitors and that impression starts to break down. For instance, a front-wheel drive Journey with the V6 gets 16/23 mpg yet requires 9-plus seconds to get to 60 mph. That's slower than a base Ford Flex (high 8s) while getting worse gas mileage (Flex gets 17/24). And while you can genuinely get six full-sized adults in a Flex, if you think you're getting seven, or even six, full-sized adults into the Journey they better all be Chinese gymnists.
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- Karl Brauer September 12, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge
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- Dodge Journey Crossover
September 10, 2008
It's that time again. Time to buy a long-term car for the Edmunds fleet
. As you probably already figured, we're adding the always-worth-a-few-page-views Dodge Challenger
to our parking garage.
We waited for the 2009 model year to widen our engine and color choices (and to avoid the idiot dealers asking stupid money for the '08s, many of which are still on dealer lots -- HA!).
So we know we're getting a 2009 Challenger, but beyond that we're still considering our options. What should we get?
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- Karl Brauer September 10, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
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- Dodge Challenger
July 9, 2008
Can a 600-horsepower car that does zero-to-60 in 3.7 seconds, pulls 1g on the skid pad and slices the slalom at 74.2 mph really be on the wrong side of the shark tank?
I'm going to have to go with a "yes" on that question, though in terms of sheer performance there's no denying the current car's capabilities.
No, the problem with the 2003-2007 Dodge Viper SRT-10 wasn't acceleration (or stopping, or turning) power, it was everything else. In my opinion the Viper topped out in 2002, with the final version of the first-gen car, complete with standard ABS, available ACR package and all the original model's visual and dynamic attitude.
That first generation Dodge Viper was one of the scariest and harriest production cars since the original Shelby Cobra (the Viper's spiritual predecessor). Even the addition of air conditioning, roll-up windows, a fixed roof (on the 1996 and later coupes) and ABS didn't dilute the snake's original mojo as one of the baddest (in a good way) American cars ever produced.
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- Karl Brauer July 9, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Cars that Jumped the Shark, Dodge
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- Dodge Viper, Jump The Shark
June 17, 2008
I don't like saying, "I told you so" -- at least not too much.
In this case, however, I'm citing a New York Times article from October of 2006. The title was Small-Car Nation and in it the author analyzed the potential for small-car success in the traditionally big car (and truck, and SUV) U.S. market...
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- June 17, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Talk Back Tuesday
June 10, 2008
If you saw last Friday's blog you know that the Jaguar XF Supercharged comes standard with 20-inch wheels, and in my opinion those wheels reduce ride quality to an unacceptable level. The car's confidence around corners is undeniably enhanced by such large orbs, and many would say it's appearance benefits as well. Yet I would argue the car could/should handle exceptionally without wheels of this diameter. As for style, the large circles are actually too large in my not-so-humble opinion, further compromising the XF's already questionable looks.
However, in a world where entire TV shows can be named after automotive wheels it may be heresy to suggest a uniqe whip could actually be...too large? But I'm suggesting it all the same. The Jaguar XF by no means owns this "excessive rim" status. The new Dodge Challenger with 20-inch wheels? Too big! Makes the car sit too high, giving it more of a "monster truck" versus "performance car" stance.
Same goes for the 20-inch wheels on high-end luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the 22-inch rims on Cadillac Escalades both of them make the vehicles in question look like one of those circus clowns on stilts IMHO. Conversely, the 20s on the Rolls-Royce Phantom neither look too big (likey because it has such large proportions to begin with) nor upset the ulta-luxury sedan's ride quality. Consider the Rolls the rare exception, as I'd argue it's nearly impossible to put 20-inch wheels (or larger) on a vehicle without drastically sacrficing ride quality.
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- Karl Brauer June 10, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Cadillac, Dodge, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Talk Back Tuesday
May 28, 2008
I know what you're thinking: "Karl, how can a vehicle that was never 'cool' to begin with actually jump the shark?"
First of all, if you've ever fully utilized a minivan's capabilities (and if you've got a wisp of self confidence) you already know that minivans are very cool. But Chrysler invented the segment, has made the most money from the segment, and is now going to suffer the most from a shrinking segment. Ford and GM have already bailed out while Chrysler appears committed to the category it invented, which makes sense.
But although the company is still in there swinging, most experts would agree Chrysler no longer offers a class-leading product. Why? What happened to take Chrysler's minivan crown away, and when did it happen?
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- Karl Brauer May 28, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Cars that Jumped the Shark, Chrysler, Dodge
April 18, 2008
Seemed like a fitting end to "Dodge Challenger Week" around here, so I drove my old bomb home for this weekend. Also seemed fitting to provide a fair picture of the old girl, without flourescent lights or parking posts in the background (I posted a similar photo back in August of 2006).
It's interesting -- 1 and 1/2 years ago I blogged about how much modern cars have improved and how old cars really feel old when you drive them. But this is the first time I've driven my 1970 Dodge Challenger after driving the 2008 Dodge Challenger. You know what? The new one drives better -- but not as much better as I think it should. The biggest improvements are (in order of magnitude) body-roll control, steering accuracy and braking confidence. I actually expected that order to be reversed, but steering on the new Challenger isn't as good as I'd hoped, while the steering and brakes on my old one seem better than they should be. Body control remains floaty on the purple car, even with brand new shocks.
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- Karl Brauer April 18, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
April 17, 2008
The immediate answer is, "I don't know for sure" because I didn't instrument test these vehicles or carefully analyze every aspect (cargo capacity, price/value, audio system, etc.). But I did hijack a couple staffers and we took both cars on a driving loop through Mulholland.
Beileve it or not, there's some kind of embargo on Dodge Challenger driving impressions. Seems impossible, considering I've read several First Drives about the car, including our own, and they all include driving impressions. Don't get me started on the stupidity of road test embargos in 2008, that's a discussion for another day (maybe next Tuesday...). Anyway, I can't believe it's "against the rules" to reiterate what our First Drive already says, so here goes.
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- Karl Brauer April 17, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Ford
April 14, 2008
Park it next to the new Dodge Challenger. We've got one in our stable right now, and just for kicks I parked the 2008 Challenger SRT-8 next to my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE. Please excuse the lighting -- these shots were taken on impulse while both cars were available versus being a planned pairing.
Wow! I knew the new Dodge wasn't going to be a compact pony car, but I didn't know it would make the original Challenger look like a compact pony car. Dwarfing the new Mustang is one thing, and I was prepared for that. But dwarfing the original muscle car?
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- Karl Brauer April 14, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge
April 8, 2008
Last Friday's blog entry discussed the crash-and-burn status of large truck and SUV sales. Basically, if it's big and it's truck-based, it ain't sellin' (with rare exception). At the same time, Ford's archaic Ranger is up for the year, and anecdotel evidence suggests new and used Rangers, along with older Toyota and Nissan compact trucks, are quite popular with truck buyers in 2008.
This is basically a repeat of what happned with American cars in the 1970s. For decades they'd grown larger and larger, then a fuel crisis hit and everyone (car buyers and car makers) stopped, took a critical look at the size of their vehicles, and basically said, "What the #@&* are we doing?! Nobody actually needs vehicles this big, we're just caught up in a 'Size Arms Race' with the rest of the industry. Now our vehicles are just stupid-big -- and they guzzle a lot of gas!"
This epiphany had every carmaker immediately downsizing their offerings as a result, and while cars have grown in recent years we've still never approached the behemoths being sold in 1974.
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- Karl Brauer April 8, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Auto Shows, Dodge, Future Vehicles, Talk Back Tuesday
March 13, 2008
A news story yesterday reported on the production of (and promotional blitz surrounding) the 25,000th Dodge Viper ever built.
I vividly remember the first time I saw the Dodge Viper concept car. It was in a multi-page insert in a 1988 Car & Driver magazine. At the time I was a college student attending Pepperdine and I recall sitting in that 15x15 dorm room with my numbskull roommate, Patrick, trying to explain the level of cool that concept car represented. I was even more floored when Dodge announced it for production and stated it would indeed have the same V10 engine displayed in the concept car.
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- Karl Brauer March 13, 2008, 7:00 AM
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- Dodge, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges
February 5, 2008
The 2008 Dodge Challenger stands poised to upstage the Chicago Auto Show this week, and as an avowed Mopar freak I should be fully enthralled by this car's return. Yup, I should be.
But I'm not. While I see the Challenger's return as an excellent opprotunity to cash in on Chrysler's muscle car heritage (and I love the production grille, fuel-filler door and other styling cues) I also see some major problems with the car's launch plan. As I stated last week in my Dodge Charger R/T post, the LX chassis is pretty hefty for a "sporty coupe" -- even one with a muscle car heritage. But there are additional issues that have me concerned, most of them centered around first impressions this car will make on potential buyers.
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- Karl Brauer February 5, 2008, 7:00 AM
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- Auto Shows, Dodge, Future Vehicles
January 31, 2008
A refresher course in the Chrysler LX platform has me somewhat concerned about the 2008 Dodge Challenger. I just drove a 2008 Dodge Charger R/T (which is basically the same car wtih a bit longer wheelbase and two more doors) and I'm reminded of a couple LX trademarks.
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- Karl Brauer January 31, 2008, 7:00 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge
January 14, 2008
After the first day of the 2008 Detroit Auto Show I've seen Brian Adams sing next to Audis, Kim Cattrall driving a Mercedes-Benz, and professional basketball players shoot hoops over a Kia. But easily the most "wild" product unveil surrounded the 2009 Dodge Ram -- literally.
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- Karl Brauer January 14, 2008, 7:00 AM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Dodge
December 28, 2007
We could talk about shopping and gifts and family get togethers, but let's talk about the real meaning of the holidays -- getting things done! This nether-week between Christmas and New Year's is pretty useless from a professional point of view, with few businesses firing on all cyclinders. At the same time, it's an excellent opportunity to tackle that perpetual "to-do" list we all have.
I've jumped on mine, with the passenger window in my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE being replaced by a used one I found on eBay. The Challenger's original window had some nasty scratches running in a vertical line along the rear edge. With the window pulled I diagnosed the cause as a felt window guide worn down to bare metal (some "love taps" with a hammer cured that problem). I went into this job having minimal knowledge of - or experience with - replacing old Mopar windows. That's good, because once I realized how tricky the job was it was too late to go back. I re-attached the door panel, and gazed through my scratch-free window, just as the sun set and the Southern California temperature dropped below 50 degrees.
Other major items on my "to do" list for this week include:
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- Karl Brauer December 28, 2007, 7:00 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car
October 22, 2007
If you know anything about search engine optimization (SEO) and Google you know that , in effect, your Web page must show up on the first page (or top 10) results when someone types in a search term. Most experts agree you should actually be in the first two or three results at the top of the first page to truly benefit from search engine technology, but if you aren't on the first page at all just hang it up and go home. This means even worthwhile Web content is often overlooked simply because it can't make the top 10.
Think of the 2008 Dodge Avenger as a potentially worthwhile family sedan that simply can't make the first page of results. This isn't as much a reflection of how bad the Avenger is but how good everything else in the category has become. As I drove this silver R/T version home, complete with 18-inch chrome wheels and "mini-Charger" styling, I found myself focusing on exactly where the Avenger fails.
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- Karl Brauer October 22, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge
October 18, 2007
With its relationship to the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass (all three use the same platform and drivetrain options) I must admit a prejudice existed against the Jeep Patriot before I ever got near it. The 2.4-liter, 172 horsepower engine isn't the most inspiring powerplant on the market, and the CVT continues to sap power in the Patriot just as it does in the Caliber and Compass.
BUT...the exterior design of the Patriot is my favorite of the three. I remember hearing the Compass was supposed to be the "girl's" version of this platform, and the Patriot was meant to be the "manly" one. I guess it worked, because I find this version much more attractive overall. The low-range transfer case gives the Patriot some authentic off-road mojo, and the boxy exterior makes it look like an authentic Jeep rather than a Jeep that sold its soul in a transparent effort to grab CR-V sales.
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- Karl Brauer October 18, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge, Jeep
September 13, 2007
I remember a couple years ago when the SRT folks at Dodge announced that they basically wanted to always offer the highest horsepower vehicle in a given segment. It's an honorable goal, and back in the 426 Hemi's glory days (1966-1971) it was enough to give Mopar owners bragging rights. But I don't think winning the horsepower arms race works in 2008, and recent drives of the new Viper and, now, the Caliber SRT4 confirm my theory.
With 285 turbocharged horsepower from the 2.4-liter engine this Caliber is undeniably powerful. And the 265 poiund-feet that come in at 2,000 rpm make the horespower potentially useful. But like the 600 potentially useful horsepower under the Viper's hood, the SRT4 looks better on paper than it feels on pavement.
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- Karl Brauer September 13, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Dodge
September 6, 2007
I have a scary proclamation to make, but that's never stopped me before:
Cars are losing their "fun-to-drive" factor.
There -- I said it, and I feel better. Actually I feel better in having finally faced an undeniable fact, but worse that this is a fact of today's automotive reality. Yet after recent stints in the latest Dodge Viper and BMW 5 Series (to name just two) I can't deny the trend.
Sure, the Viper is still quick, loud, brash and bold -- but it ISN'T more fun to drive than before. In fact it's less. The steering response is too slow, the shift action is too clunky (yes, even for a "raw, manly car" like the Viper), and the driving position is not only uncomfortable but uncooperative when driving fast, which is supposedly the whole point of the car. And while the 5 Series is still luxurious, refined and stable around corners, it's also less entertaining on a twisty road than it used to be (I blame active steering primarily).
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- Karl Brauer September 6, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- BMW, Cadillac, Dodge, Driving, Porsche, Toyota
August 27, 2007
So I'm driving the new 2008 Dodge Viper Coupe and I find myself thinking "Okay, what about this car do I find truly compelling?"
The looks? I've never liked it as much since the 2003 redesign. The previous car had a smoother, more cohesive (and honestly, more exotic) appearance. This one looks like an angry Corvette to me.
The handling? Again, the previous (pre-2003) version was more entertaining. It turned when you wanted it to turn, and you could rotate the rear-end far more easily. Some might say too easily, as many a first generation Viper owner found himself pointed in the wrong direction (or worse...), but ultimately that comes down to driver error, not a design failing. Unfortunately, the new car's handling feels sanitized to the point of being truck-like.
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- Karl Brauer August 27, 2007, 6:00 AM
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- Chevrolet, Dodge
August 10, 2007
Let's cut right to the chase and acknowlege the most important aspect of a successful minivan -- family friendly gadgets. Sure, you want decent steering feel, capable (and refined) powertrains, handling that doesn't minic the Titanic (after it hit the iceberg) and "not-a-household-appliance" looks. But like so many modern vehicle segments, those fundamental traits have all gotten pretty good on almost all the vans in this segment. Truth be told, the Honda Odyssey still rules in all those areas, even against the redesigned 2008 Chrysler minivans. But Honda's competitive advantage has contracted like the California housing market, and this Dodge is right on the Odyssey's power-liftgate with regard to the above basics.
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- Karl Brauer August 10, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge
June 8, 2007
Timing is everything, and in this case the timing of the latest Ward's "Interior of the Year" announcement strikes two ironic chords with me. First because it's a day after I picked on J.D. Power's latest award announcement, and second because it comes right after driving the new 2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible. See, the Sebring, along with the Dodge Caliber, were mentioned as wining categories in the "Interior of the Year" competition, which strikes me as, well...complete and utter nonsense. I bashed the Caliber's interior quality after first sitting in one last year, and if you were to ask me what new model has the worst interior of the year, the Caliber would likely be the first vehicle to pop into my mind. And now, after driving the Sebring convertible last night, this model would be right on the Caliber's heels. So, if I was questioning J.D. Power's Initial Quality Survey yesterday I guess I have to flat out denounce these "Ward's Awards."
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- Karl Brauer June 8, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Chrysler, Dodge
May 23, 2007
After three days in a BMW 335i coupe the transition to Dodge Charger SRT8 Superbee is a bit jarring. First, this car feels BIG compared to the lithe 3 Series, and if you allowed first impressions to dictate your opinion you'd file the Charger in the "unwieldy boat" bin and move on. But just like that first Chrysler 300 SRT8 I drove back in 2005, the Charger version is downright surreal in its ability to turn 4,100-pounds of Detroit iron into two-tons o' fun when the road goes twisty. Not as rewarding as the 335i, of course, but good enough to...well...in theory at least, embarass G35 sedans on the twisty parts of PCH (again, in theory).
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- Karl Brauer May 23, 2007, 6:00 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
March 16, 2007
The rumors started a few weeks before the Tundra went on sale last month:
"Psst. Hey, Toyota is going to launch their brand new Tundra with incentives!"
It seemed ludicrous to think the most successful automaker on the planet, and one historically loathe to incentives, would be offering them on a brand new product even before the dust could settle on showroom models.
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- Karl Brauer March 16, 2007, 7:09 AM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Nissan, Toyota
March 1, 2007
In less than a week the Dodge Demon Concept will "debut" at the Geneva Auto Show. I use the quotes because this car already debuted on Inside Line last week, so you can view a dozen photos and watch a video without waiting for the tarp to be pulled in Switzerland. In looking at the photos of the Demon I find myself hoping Dodge builds it, though the current DCX situation, with talk of Chrysler being sold, leaves me doubtful it will ever see the light of day. I'm not thrilled with the front grill (someone needs to tell Dodge that the gaping-hole-with-crossbar doesn't work on every type of car), but otherwise it looks very right...
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- Karl Brauer March 1, 2007, 7:01 AM
- Categories:
- Auto Shows, Dodge, Future Vehicles
December 15, 2006
There's somethig about a police car with both "Charger" and "Hemi" badges on the exterior. I remember when police versions of the 1980s Mustang and Camaro first appeared. These were a welcome change after years of lame police sedans (they were actually using Chevy Celebrities in Denver in the mid-1980s). Of course the Camaro is gone now, and I haven't seen a Mustang police car for years, but Dodge has stepped up with both the Magnum and Charger. I drove the Charger version yesterday, complete with pushbar, paint scheme and light bar (but the siren wasn't hooked up...).
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- Karl Brauer December 15, 2006, 8:04 AM
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- Dodge
December 11, 2006
You may have heard this already, but Chrysler recently sacked its Sales and Marketing Vice President, Joe Eberhardt. The level of unsold Chrysler inventory sitting on dealer lots is threatening to alter tectonic plate activity under the North American continent, and some -- okay, I -- have suggested Chrysler simply "give 2007 a miss" in terms of model production. They could literally just let the 2006 leftovers cover sales for a few more weeks, and then start producing 2008s in January. They are already taking this approach with a few models, including the Viper...
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- Karl Brauer December 11, 2006, 10:30 AM
- Categories:
- Chrysler, Dodge, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Jeep
November 27, 2006
As part of the holiday weekend festivities I took a cruise over to Village Coffee Roasters in Woodland Hills at the 101 and Valley Circle exit. Every Sunday morning between about 8 and 10 a.m. a collection of interesting iron will show up, but on the fourth Sunday of each month it's "exotics" day, meaning you'll see a collection of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches. Of course, knowing exotics are going to show up somewhere just ensures everything else will show, too...
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- Karl Brauer November 27, 2006, 7:58 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Driving, Muscle Car
November 14, 2006
I'm at an undisclosed location today driving the new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer
. I don't yet know what the embargo date is on detailed specs or driving impressions, but considering the car's debut at the Detroit Auto Show in early January I'm certain it will be sometime after that.
But even before driving this vehicle I've heard some interesting tidbits from my Mitsubishi contacts. As some of you may know, this car uses the "Project Global" platform that shares underpinnings with the new Outlander. And you also may know that, technically, the Outlander shares structural componentry with the new Dodge Caliber. But where I basically like the new Outlander, I basically dislike the Caliber. So what happened?
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- Karl Brauer November 14, 2006, 8:17 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Domestic Manufacturers Problems/Challenges, Mitsubishi, Talk Back Tuesday
October 18, 2006
I like the new Dodge Charger more and more every time I drive it. I know there's a hardcore group of Charger fans who have never forgiven the new car for having four doors, and I'll admit I wasn't a fan of the idea myself. But this car is just soooo good on so many levels. The steering is exceptional in terms of feel and precision, and the ride quality manages to be comfortable and controlled, despite the car's weight and size. Just like the current Mustang manages to maintain what was cool about the original's look and attitude -- while injecting all that's great in the modern world of automobiles, the Charger manages to feel large and powerful like the old one, but also controlled and confident,
unlike the old one (thank you Mercedes-Benz!). The wife took it to drop off the kids at school and came back asking about price and availability. Of course she was already sold on our long-term Magnum, and this is just a flashy, sedan version of that car.
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- Karl Brauer October 18, 2006, 8:38 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
October 12, 2006
Drove the 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T in today, and it again occurred to me how radically my vehicle standards shift -- depending on what I'm driving. For instance, the 36-year-old Dodge has amazingingly precise steering, minmal road noise and excellent throttle response -- for a 36-year-old Dodge. Compare it to our long-term Chevy Cobalt and it just plain sucks (actually it might still have lower road noise at highway speeds, depending on whether the long-term Cobalt's sunroof is working or not that week). As old muscle cars go, this Challenger R/T has some of the best driving characteristics I've ever experienced...
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- Karl Brauer October 12, 2006, 8:16 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
October 3, 2006
I spent some quality time with Dodge's new Nitro R/T over the past few days. Commuted to and from work, plus had a few family outings. My take? It's a cool-looking SUV -- in a world increasingly over-run by cool-looking SUVs...
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- Karl Brauer October 3, 2006, 8:20 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Talk Back Tuesday
September 11, 2006
I spent most of the weekend replacing the carpet in my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE. The car is originally from Iowa, and the one owner (before I got it) lived on a farm that obviously didn't have any paved roads. The good news is he never raced the car, so the engine and suspension are in surprisingly good shape. The bad news comes from every nook and cranny in the car being coated with dust and rocks. Pulling off interior pieces is like an expedition below the Great Pyramids. The car also has a nasty mothball smell, allegedly to keep rodents (farm mice?) out of the car. So I buy some replacement carpet and start pulling up the 36-year-old deep pile and what do I find?
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- Karl Brauer September 11, 2006, 8:14 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car
August 7, 2006
Okay, so it isn't all new. The interior is still 100 percent stock (and pretty much mint and much of the paint is original as well (as is the vinyl top).But I did reclaim my 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE last week after some body work and mechanical upgrades that had it in the shop for the past three months. A few metal patch panels were put in near the wheel wells to fix the rust, and everything below the side stripes was repainted in the factory FC7 Plum Crazy shade of purple. Shortly after retrieving it I put on a set of American Racing Torque Thrust D 16X8 wheels, with 255/50 tires in back and 225/50 tires in front (replacing the 14X5.5-inch road wheels and 70 series, whitewall tires -- yuck!)...
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- Karl Brauer August 7, 2006, 8:26 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
June 9, 2006
I just watched a commercial for the old Dodge Charger. It's on Sylvia's Carspace Page
, and it's got to be one of the funniest commercials I have ever seen. The portrayal of women is so blatantly 1970s that many people in today's world won't think it's funny. To me it's a case of something being so bad it's good -- though I wouldn't suggest Dodge revive the "You might be Dodge material" campaign today...
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- Karl Brauer June 9, 2006, 8:52 AM
- Categories:
- Cars in Entertainment, Dodge, Muscle Car
June 5, 2006
I
have been known to criticize cars that many people think are "good." It's not uncommon for a reader to see my opinion of a vehicle and say, "don't bash car XYZ, it's a 'good' car." But as many of you already know, "good" isn't good enough in today's super-competitive market. This is doubly true if, as an automaker, you are in the unenviable position of trying to reverse your dropping market share and/or change consumer perception of your product. Those guys need to be doing it better, cleaner and more effectively than the competition, and they certainly can't be producing "also rans" in terms of marketplace competitiveness. However, I'm willing to admit that while a Chevy Cobalt, Ford Five-Hundred or Chrysler Town & Country doesn't get my "gotta have" blood pumping, they are fully functional vehicles that will serve most buyers with minimal fuss.
BUT -- what about cars that aren't even "good" or "fine" but are downright "bad?" The truth is, those models are becoming fewer and further between each year...but they do exist. And, as your personal guide through the automotive world, I'm even willing to call these vehicles out by name.
Yes, I'm risking the wrath of all these cars' current owners, but I'm also ensuring that, if anyone who reads my blog subsequently buys one of these models, they do it with full knowledge of these vehicles being on my personal "Don't Buy!" list. Let the games (and hate mail) commence!
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- Karl Brauer June 5, 2006, 1:18 PM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jaguar, Toyota
May 15, 2006
What's cooler than seeing a glamorous new concept car at an auto show? How about seeing it out in the real world, where real enthusiasts can offer real feedback? That's what we did with the Dodge Challenger Concept this weekend at two Southern California cruise events. Every Saturday morning in Orange County you can visit both Donut Derelicts
and Crystal Cruisers (at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach) to see a vast array of special interest automobiles. Donut Derelicts tends toward the street rod, custom and muscle car set while Crystal Cruisers typically hosts exotic cars ranging from Vipers to Enzos to Aston Martins. We visited both events with the Dodge Challenger concept and, as you might expect, it generated a fair amount of interest.
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- Karl Brauer May 15, 2006, 8:49 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car
April 18, 2006
By now we all know that Dodge has bailed on the economy sedan market in favor of the Caliber five-door hatchback. We posted a
First Drive
several weeks ago, and now we've got one in the parking garage downstairs. I actually got to drive the Caliber a few months ago as well, but it was in Aspen as part of an all-wheel drive press trip, and there was little chance to really try it out under normal (non snowy) conditions. After a trip home and back in the last 24 hours I have a better idea of what works on this car...and what needs work.
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- Karl Brauer April 18, 2006, 3:02 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge
March 24, 2006
But this one ends on a slightly happier note:
March 21st, 10:15 p.m. -- Picked up by my Denver-area Mopar Gurus at the Denver International Airport in Plum Crazy car (notice security guards eyeing it suspiciously). On trip back from DIA a loud screeching sound comes from under the hood, followed shortly by sparks coming out from the front of car. We pull over and find that the air conditioning pulley has seized, but the belts are continuing to do their darndest to try and spin it. Result? It's glowing red hot and small bits of liquid metal are starting to drip off the bottom. My Mopar expert quickly notes, "Never seen that before..." then we turn off the engine, let things cool down (complete with snow scooped up from the parking lot) and then start the engine again. Now the pulley is turning again so we complete the drive back to their house and swap out the pulley after confirming the bearing is fried (apparently, they don't like glowing red hot...). We unplug the air compressor to keep that from happening again.
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- Karl Brauer March 24, 2006, 9:57 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
March 23, 2006
I've had approximately three hours sleep in the past two days, but both the Challenger and I have arrived safely on the West Coast. The Challenger was driven under it's own power from Denver, and it was the full-blown adventure you'd imagine when driving a 36-year-old muscle car, that you've only had for 10 days, on a 1,000-mile journey over the Rockies...in March. I'll put full details (and some photos) up tomorrow, but here's a shot of the car taken a few hours ago after a much-needed bath and some quick carb/distributor tweaking. I got it running very well, and then let the wife take her first drive in it tonight...
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- Karl Brauer March 23, 2006, 9:54 PM
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- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
March 13, 2006
I finally rolled into Denver after 470 miles in the Challenger. The fuel gauge wasn't working when I left Lincoln, Nebraska, and the speedo quit 95 miles out. But otherwise the car had been running better with each mile, almost like it was awakening from a 12-year slumber. The AM/FM toggle switch on the radio was obviously gummed up, but by flipping it back-and-forth a few times I got both bands working. The charging system was also proving intermittant at first, yet it seemed to operate more consistently as I rolled west. But when I got to Denver the real fun began.
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- Karl Brauer March 13, 2006, 5:51 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
...in a Plum Crazy Dodge Challenger R/T SE on a beautiful, sunny Nebrska day.
This much fun can't be legal...and I'm sure in some way isn't (like using the tags from Dad's Mercury Sable). The gas gauge doesn't work, which wasn't a problem...until the speedo cable snapped 95 miles out of Lincoln. No odometer or fuel gauge can make planning gas stops tricky...
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- Karl Brauer March 13, 2006, 8:37 AM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
March 9, 2006
Ugh! I'm sick, okay! Just sick! Hey, at least I admit it, which hopefully puts me at the first step of the 12-step program...
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- Karl Brauer March 9, 2006, 3:43 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car, Retro Revivals
March 1, 2006
You've probably already seen the latest news on the Mazdaspeed 3
(or is that the Mazda Mazdaspeed 3? Ugh!), but I would venture to say that between this car and the Caliber SRT-4
we might soon find that "300 is the new 200" in the economy sedan class -- meaning you have to have at least 300 horsepower just to be taken seriously. Even as a horsepower junky, I think that's nuts! I remember when it was a big deal that Dodge/Mitsubishi offered 300 horsepower in the Stealth/3000GT (later upgraded to 320 hp). And don't forget that the Acura NSX never
got to 300 hp (290 was the most it ever saw from the factory)...
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- Karl Brauer March 1, 2006, 1:17 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Mazda
February 10, 2006
With my road test of the Gallardo this week (story should be live soon!), I feel like I've had enough exposure to today's high-end exotics to know where each excels -- and where each falls short. Therefore, I'm proposing "the perfect sports car" by combining the best elements of each entry in this segment. In a world where I can pick and choose the exact components and attributes from each of these vehicles, this is the car I would construct:Continue reading...
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- Karl Brauer February 10, 2006, 5:10 PM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Lamborghini
January 31, 2006
I just got back from Aspen, where I was able to drive several Chrysler products with all-wheel drive on a snow course (I also squeezed in a few hours of skiing -- my first time in 12 years -- and I didn't even get hurt!). Included in the list of cars I drove was the Chrysler 300 and Pacifica, Dodge Caliber and Jeep Rubicon. I can't comment specifically on the Caliber because of a driving impressions embargo until February 5th. However, another staffer drove the Caliber yesterday at the official press intro, and we'll have a road test on Dodge's Neon replacement up next Monday.
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- Karl Brauer January 31, 2006, 10:25 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Safety Systems
January 12, 2006
I have been back from the Detroit Auto Show
for a few days and I think I have a handle on these two cars. While the Chevrolet Camaro
and Dodge Challenger
were both presented as "concept" cars we all know there will be a 2008 Dodge Challenger and either a 2008 or 2009 Chevrolet Camaro appearing in showrooms eventually. Heck, Inside Line even broke the story on the Camaro Concept becoming a production car
. I find it ironic that the Ford Mustang beat these two to market by several years last time around, and here we go again. But will things be different this time?
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- Karl Brauer January 12, 2006, 6:15 PM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Muscle Car
January 8, 2006
Yikes! As one astute reader just pointed out, I haven't yet blogged about one other car from today—the Dodge Challenger! Geez, the Mopar Police are going to show up to repo my 1970 GTX for this blunder! Tough way to lose a car I've had for 19 years...
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- Karl Brauer January 8, 2006, 4:42 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Muscle Car
December 26, 2005
We all know the new Dodge Caliber is coming, but my question is: Is this just the latest eclectic Chrysler product (ala minivan, PT Cruiser and large, rear-wheel drive family sedan -- all of which were pretty cutting edge at the time of their introductions over the last 20 years), or is this a sign of the times? Put another way, Dodge isn't just introducing the Caliber but doing so at the cost of their traditional economy car offering -- the Neon. The Caliber will be stuffed with SUV-like traits, from its hatchback design to available all-wheel drive to an optional diesel engine. The Scion xB and Honda Element (not to mention all the "cute-utes" that started with the first RAV4) have proven there's a strong demand for low-priced utility vehicles...
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- Karl Brauer December 26, 2005, 5:10 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge
December 23, 2005
Our American Exotics Comparison Test
posted yesterday. The Corvette won, both because it's just a tick behind the Ford GT in terms of performance while having things like dual-zone climate control, stability control and usable cargo space. Plus there's that whole $100,000 price advantage, too.
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- Karl Brauer December 23, 2005, 12:23 PM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford
November 27, 2005
I just saw over on Autoblog
that Porsche will be using variable turbine technology on their next 911 Turbo. The idea is to vary the airflow of the exhaust gas by varying the angle and diameter of the vanes in the turbocharger. As you might know, a smaller area requires faster airflow to get an equal amount of air through it. In other words, if you can shrink the diameter of the turbo's vanes at low rpm, the air will naturally speed up. The bottom line -- no more turbo lag. And trust me when I say the system works very well!
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- Karl Brauer November 27, 2005, 4:20 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Porsche
November 18, 2005
We'll have sketches going up next week, and spy shots shortly thereafter (also shown at right, added 11/23), but I just saw the photos and if you think the new Mustang looks like the old one you ain't seen nothing yet.
Actually, think Ford GT in terms of using old-for-new inspiration. Everyone will see the car at Detroit, but imagine a "Foose-ized" (as in Chip Foose)1971 Dodge Challenger.
Pretty cool!..
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- Karl Brauer November 18, 2005, 1:53 PM
- Categories:
- Dodge, Retro Revivals
October 29, 2005
We just tested the cars, but unfortunately I can't remember all the numbers we got. But I do remember 1/4-mile times (always my real benchmark for performance...must come from my drag racing days of youth...). Anyway, they stack up like this (these numbers are uncorrected, so figure about 3/10ths off each to account for the altitude of our facility):
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- Karl Brauer October 29, 2005, 12:54 AM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford
October 26, 2005
I just spent the day driving three of the most capable performance cars built in the good ol' U.S. of A. My seat time came at Willow Springs Raceway, one of the fastest race tracks on the West Coast. I love the fact that each of these cars has over 500 horsepower and a top speed above 190 mph. And while few of them will be used as daily drivers by most buyers, all of them could easily serve that level of functionality. What a blast!!
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- Karl Brauer October 26, 2005, 3:41 PM
- Categories:
- Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford
