Auto Car | Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee 2007 | 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.
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.
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 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.
Source : cars.about.com
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