Teaser coming soon!
You can check out the individual reviews of both here: 2009 Lexus IS250 Review and 2009 Dodge Charger SE Review.
There is no doubt that these two cars are different in many ways. One is a compact luxury car, the other isn’t. The Lexus is a fully loaded version whereas the Dodge is a basic rental car spec. The Lexus IS250 is a direct competitor to the BMW 3 series (the 328i to be specific) and the Dodge Charger is a larger and more powerful alternative to the Dodge Avenger. Two different cars created for different clienteles. But what if you take away the price and luxury gap out of the equation? They are rear wheel drive and are powered by V6s. In my opinion, I am interested in finding out whether the more expensive Lexus is a better package than the Dodge under these circumstances. On the basis of styling and driving dynamics, which is the better car? Continue reading
Disclaimer: This car is not stock. Upgrades include rear spoiler, powder coated wheels, black plastidip door handles and door bumpers. black front grill, SRT bumper, CCFL Halo headlights, and Flow Master 40 Series exhaust. This Charger is rental car spec, meaning it comes with a 2.7 liter V6 not included in the non fleet Chargers.
You wouldn’t believe it from looking at this car, but its history goes way back to late 1960’s. The first generation debuted in 1966 as a version of the Coronet. It wasn’t until the next generation in 1968-1970 that the Charger name garnered fame. Showcasing distinct styling cues such as the “coke bottle” styling (the side looked like the side of a coke bottle) and the menacing grille with hidden headlights, not to mention it had the power to match its aggressive looks, the sales took off. This generation became the most famous Charger of all time, helped by its appearances in Fast and Furious series, Dukes of Hazzard, and Bullitt. When you think of a classic Charger, you think of this generation. Sadly, this iteration was the Charger’s peak. As the years passed, the Charger transformed from an iconic muscle car to a front wheel drive hatchback in the 1980s. It wasn’t until 2006 that Dodge had the courage to revive the Charger name. For the first time, the Charger was a four door sedan. The Charger and its twin, the Chrysler 300, were built off the platform of Mercedes E Class, promising better refinement and driving performance than what is normally expected of Chrysler and Dodge vehicles.
What can I say about German engineering? When it comes to luxury cars, the German engineering is present in cars. You can feel it in the ride, the handling, and the overall feel of the controls. The Audi A4 is an example of such engineering. As Audi changed its nomenclature from just numbers (80, 100) to numbers and letters (A4, A6, A8), their cars adopted a different approach to beating BMW and Mercedes Benz in the luxury market. Audi, a division of Volkswagen, would use Volkswagen platforms to keep costs down, while focusing on driving performance and comfort. The Audi A4 succeeded the Audi 80 in 1996, as an attempt to better the likes of its rivals BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. Following up on the first generation A4’s success, the second generation A4 promises even better driving performance. Continue reading