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The Charger SRT8 is Dodge's modern-day muscle car, serving up 425 horsepower and all the acceleration you can handle. What? Too subtle? Then check out the Super Bee, a limited-edition Charger SRT8 that recalls one of Dodge's most potent muscle cars of the late '60s. How does the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee work in today's world? Read on. Base price (including $2,100 gas guzzler tax) $41,395, price as tested $46,960, EPA fuel economy 14 city, 20 highway.
First Glance: Wanna race?
With its bright "Detonator Yellow" paint, black-tape graphics, and huge 20" aluminum wheels, the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is about as extroverted as you can get without resorting to neon or nudity. Wherever I went, people wanted to race. Countless cars, be they Corollas or Cayennes, would pull away full-throttle from the lights in an apparent effort to get me to flex the Bee's muscle.
I didn't take any of them up on it. If a cop happened to catch a glimpse of the action, who do you think would get the ticket? My money's on the guy in the yellow car with the loud exhaust and black tape stripes. "No, really, officer, it was the middle-aged lady in the Ford Escape that was trying to get me to race." Bullcrap, sir. Step out of the car and keep your hands where I can see them.
So no, I didn't take any of them up on the offer.
But if I had, well, I'm sure I could have taken them.
In fact, I'm positive I could have taken them.
The original Dodge Super Bee appeared in 1968 (photo of a '70 Bee here); it was basically a stripped-down Dodge Coronet with no options save an enormous engine. Today's Super Bee is a limited production package (just 1,000 to be built) that tacks on $1900 to the Charger SRT8's $36,595 price tag. The SRT8 includes the 6.1 liter HEMI engine, 20" wheels, Brembo brakes, sport-tuned suspension, and enough attitude to fill a decent-sized lake; the Super Bee adds the aforementioned paint, badges and decals for the quarters, hood and trunk, plus yellow stitching for the interior and a badge with the car's individual number.
In the Driver's Seat: Functional, not festive
The Charger's interior is functional, not festive, though the quality of the materials is a darn sight better than those found on newer Dodge designs like the Avenger and Grand Caravan. The SRT's deeply bolstered driver's seat has the feel of an overstuffed armchair; I felt as if the pillow-like backrest was pushing me out of the seat. The electrically-adjustable pedals were nice, though the column stalks take some getting used to; I kept hitting the cruise control when I wanted the turn signals.
Visibility is just OK; the short windshield doesn't help matters. The Charger is a big car and that's just how it feels from behind the wheel. But all that space translates to a roomy back seat and a huge trunk. And since the Charger lacks a spare tire -- it comes with sealant and a compressor instead -- there's extra room under the trunk floor.
The original Super Bee was a no-frills muscle car. That's not the case with the SRT8, which comes standard with power everything, leather-and-suede seats with embroidered headrests, Sirius satellite radio, antilock brakes and electronic stability control. Two-row side curtain airbags are optional, but seat-mounted torso airbags are not offered. My test car was loaded with options, including dual-zone climate control, heated seats, navigation, trunk-mounted subwoofer (thanks, but I prefer listening to the rumble of the Charger's exhaust), and a rear-seat DVD player with wireless headphones. Add in the gas guzzler tax ($2,100), and the bottom line on my Charger SRT8 Super Bee was just two Jacksons shy of $47,000.
On the Road: Yes, it's fast -- just watch it in the curves
The SRT8 comes with the 6.1 liter (370 cubic inch) version of Chrysler's HEMI V8. Its 425 hp rating has its roots in history -- it was the published rating for the original 426 cubic inch HEMI V8, one of the most potent muscle-car engines ever produced. (For more on the original, visit Hemi Central at allpar.com.) Torque is 420 lb-ft, and it all gets routed to the rear wheels via a 5-speed automatic.
Flooring the pedal gives a firm shove in the back (now I see why those seats are overstuffed!) and a howl from the exhaust that would do the '68 Super Bee proud. The 6.1 has the peaky feel of a small-block V8; max torque comes at a surprisingly high 4,800 RPM. Still, you can do a brake stand and leave nice big fat strips of rubber on the pavement (not that I would ever try anything so irresponsible). As for fuel economy -- do you really want to know? I averaged 16.8 MPG in mostly-highway driving; around town I saw figures closer to 11, and that's on premium unleaded.
Cornering is another matter. The Charger comes with electronic stability and traction control, but it's tuned to allow a bit of show-off wheelspin. That can be a problem in the curves, especially if you're using the manual-shift feature to keep the revs up -- a stab of throttle coming out of a turn is enough to kick the rear end out, and it takes skill (and room) to recover. Luckily, those big Brembo brakes do a great job of scrubbing off speed before heading into a turn. Also in the Charger's favor: Responsive steering and an independent rear suspension that stays well planted on the bumps.
Journey's End: Muscle for the family
Though I can't get used to the idea of a four-door Charger (to me, proper Chargers will always look like this), I loved the Bee, big, thirsty, and hedonistic as it is. I'm a big fan of muscle cars, and the Dodge Charger SRT8 delivers the true muscle car experience, soundtrack and all, only without the headaches of carburetors and insufficient cooling systems. And while the Charger SRT8 is no Lotus Elise in the corners, it's respectably tidy and responsive for something so big -- it's just the big-time torque that can catch you out.
Buying an SRT8 entitles you to a day at the SRT Track Experience, which includes track instruction. Kudos to Dodge for including this program in the cost of the car.
The SRT8's closest rival (besides the similar Chrysler 300 SRT8) is the Ford Shelby GT500. Its supercharger and manual tranny make it more involving to drive, and its smaller size makes it easier to handle in the curves. Like the Super Bee, it has definite collector potential. But forget it if you have a family to haul -- it can't beat the Charger's practicality. The Cadillac CTS-V is another car to consider; it's a true muscle car, but collector value is questionable.
The biggest drawback to owning a Charger SRT8 -- particularly the Super Bee -- is that you rarely get the chance to use all that muscle. People will try to goad you into it; common sense will usually prevail, and if it doesn't at first, it will after a couple of tickets. But that's OK.
Sometimes just knowing you can beat 'em is enough. -- Aaron Gold
