Sat in and rode in the new Charger EV at Barrett Jackson

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Had a chance to get up and personal with the new Charger EV at Barrett Jackson. I even had a chance for a “Thrill Ride.” The car is much better in person. The interior is an upgrade. The exhaust is not as bad as I feared. They were in drift mode and it handled the weight shockingly well. I don’t want one, but I didn’t hate it like I thought I would. Throw a Redeye with 800hp in it and drop some weight, and it could be a cool car.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

 

[jroyk]

I don’t hate the look.

A little off topic, cars are selling for stupid money there. While I missed the details, a ‘67 Chevy Nova pro-mod/custom went for $700,000! Hard to imagine what was under that body to make it worth that much.

 

[BULL]

I don’t hate the look.

A little off topic, cars are selling for stupid money there. While I missed the details, a ‘67 Chevy Nova pro-mod/custom went for $700,000! Hard to imagine what was under that body to make it worth that much.

I saw a 'Cuda AAR go for just over $100K??? Was it a tribute car or something???

 

[jroyk]

I saw a 'Cuda AAR go for just over $100K??? Was it a tribute car or something???

Missed that one.

 

[Speedy!]

I've not seen one in person, but so far I'm not a fan of the looks of the car. Interior SHOULD be upgraded, it's only 10 years later lol. However I'm not a fan of the screen for the gauges in any car. The new Mustang is awful in that regard as well, must be a cost cutting measure.

 

[BULL]

I've not seen one in person, but so far I'm not a fan of the looks of the car. Interior SHOULD be upgraded, it's only 10 years later lol. However I'm not a fan of the screen for the gauges in any car. The new Mustang is awful in that regard as well, must be a cost cutting measure.

I flat out hate that approach to gauges! The cluster in my Power Wagon is absolutely as far as I would take the combination of analog and digital/screen display. And for the radio, there better be an appreciable number of hard buttons around it too!

 

[DavidKFla]

I saw a 'Cuda AAR go for just over $100K??? Was it a tribute car or something???

did they go up that much?

 

[vortecd]

I saw a 'Cuda AAR go for just over $100K??? Was it a tribute car or something???

All about color and rarity. Been a few T/As go for over 200k

 

[vortecd]

Not a fan of the interior at all, hate the steering wheel also

 

[BULL]

Not a fan of the interior at all, hate the steering wheel also

I've always wanted to have the front of the 'Cuda and the back of the Challenger from those years.

 

[DavidKFla]

I like the center screen. Not a fan of the steering wheel.

 

[MikeD1]

What was interesting to me is prices at Mecum's Kissimmee auction a few weeks ago seemed to be fairly reasonable. Lots of nicely restored classics/resto-mods crossed the stage and were in reach of the avg person. BJ's Scottsdale seemed just the opposite, prices were astronomical & the place was packed.

 

[DavidKFla]

What was interesting to me is prices at Mecum's Kissimmee auction a few weeks ago seemed to be fairly reasonable. Lots of nicely restored classics/resto-mods crossed the stage and were in reach of the avg person. BJ's Scottsdale seemed just the opposite, prices were astronomical & the place was packed.

BJ is where the cool kids go.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

BJ is where the cool kids go.

100% correct! It’s fun to go, drink a Blue Moon, and watch rich people over spend.

 

[vortecd]

What was interesting to me is prices at Mecum's Kissimmee auction a few weeks ago seemed to be fairly reasonable. Lots of nicely restored classics/resto-mods crossed the stage and were in reach of the avg person. BJ's Scottsdale seemed just the opposite, prices were astronomical & the place was packed.

Mecum has taken over to be the better auction. There were way more Mopars there. Barrett had a lot euro junk. Hendricks paying way to much for the next 1st built vette

 

[Speedy!]

I like a flat bottom steering wheel, but don't see the reason for a flat top. Flat bottom gives more driver ingress/egress room. Flat top just looks odd and seems would make tight turns cumbersome.

 

[1971demon]

I've not seen one in person, but so far I'm not a fan of the looks of the car. Interior SHOULD be upgraded, it's only 10 years later lol. However I'm not a fan of the screen for the gauges in any car. The new Mustang is awful in that regard as well, must be a cost cutting measure.

I drove a then new "23" mustang GT convertible 400 mile round trip..interior felt cramped..vision was poor..I always liked.the styling...other than that it checked NONE of the boxes..

 

[Speedy!]

Yeah that screen in the Mustang is like what were they thinking.

 

[MikeD1]

I like a flat bottom steering wheel, but don't see the reason for a flat top. Flat bottom gives more driver ingress/egress room. Flat top just looks odd and seems would make tight turns cumbersome.

Got to sit in one of these in the showroom while waiting for my Cat yesterday.

My thoughts/observations:
It's larger than I expected & as others have said, it looks better in person then in the pics.
Build quality (fit/finish) seemed better than what I got on the '23 DSRT I lemon lawed.
Those doors are HUGE, larger then even the Challenger doors - tight parking spots are NOT an option with this car
The hatch is large, but slopes so far down in the back there is little usable space despite it's size.
Interior was very nice & 'modern' looking. As Speedy noted the steering wheel looks cool & the flat bottom makes for easy in/out, but (for me anyway) I think the flat top would get annoying. When cruising I tend to grip the wheel @ 12 or 6 & it just didn't feel right.

Was not able to drive one or even hear it start, but even the salesman said the fake exhaust was not 'all that', especially coming from a Hellcat or 392 car.
Net - some +'s some -'s, not something I'd buy especially at the insane price point they're at with it. They younger gen folks that are likely to be attracted to it probably can't afford 1 so seems to me it's a car looking for a market.