2006 Charger R/T
“The General Lee” - An Icon Returns
Boomer: I just loved the old Charger; I can’t believe it’s been gone for twenty-eight years.
X: Mom, the Charger is a new vehicle in the Dodge/Chrysler lineup. You must be thinking of the San Diego Chargers football team.
Boomer: No Melanie, read my non-botoxed lips. The Dodge Charger was a muscle car of the 60’s and the one featured in a very popular television series. The Charger, called the General Lee, is ranked as #1 on the top ten list of “Car Stars” of film and television.
X: The General Lee is a car? I thought he fought in some war?
Boomer: Right! Not just any car, but the star of the 1970’s TV show, “The Dukes of Hazard.” It was a silly show, but other than Daisy Duke’s cutoff shorts, the General Lee, Dodge Charger, was the attraction.
X: Mom, the Dukes of Hazard is a movie starring Jessica Simpson.
Boomer: When will you learn that history repeats itself and when we run out of ideas we bring something back from the past for nostalgia or profit. Back in 1966 the Dodge Charger was introduced in a two door version (coupe) of the mid size Coronet. The Charger was conceived to be a competitor to the hot selling Ford Mustang of the 60’s.
X: Another muscle car from the 60’s, I guess your generation was all about hot rods not hybrids?
Boomer: True, we didn’t worry too much about the price of gas then or polluting the environment. The old Charger had two burly V8’s, and a 318 cubic inch engine. That muscle car threw out 230 horses or a larger 426 cubic inch Hemi with 425 hp. Today’s version has a 5.7L Hemi Multi Displacement Engine and 5-speed automatic transmission with dual rear exhaust. The cost of our test car was $32,225. By the way, the throaty noise from the exhaust is actually testosterone.
X: The Charger was obviously powerful then and still is by today’s standards, including the Hemi engine. The Charger actually reminded me of my Chrysler 300, so I’m not sure I know what all the excitement is about.
Boomer: Good observation. The Charger is built on the same platform as your Chrysler 300 and the Dodge Magnum. Oh, that reminds me, what was the car that Magnum PI drove, and can you list a few of the other famous cars from TV and movies?
X: What is this, let’s test the teacher? OK, Magnum’s car was a Ferrari and in answer to your other trivia question, Eleanor.
Boomer: Roosevelt?
X: No. Eleanor is the name of the 1967 Shelby GT500 from “Gone in 60 seconds.”
Boomer: Big deal, you knew a car name, enough of that. What did you think of the interior of the Charger?
X: Since I didn’t see much difference from my Chrysler 300 that means I liked the roomy interior of the Charger. The center console, which is very important to me, was very accessible. I liked the convenience of reach from the driver’s seat. The large round speedometer and tachometer were placed perfectly on the dash, making it easy to read. The trunk could fit all those golf bags and books you made me drag over to Silvianne’s house. Oh, by the way, good try on the set-up to meet her 30 year old nephew that day at her house, I teach kids that have more facial hair than him.
Boomer: You must keep an open mind dear. The bucket seats with suede inserts were very “Daytona racing” like. Contoured and snug around the shoulders and arms to hold you in place in case of sudden turns. However, I found that in my sleeveless top the underarm un-toned skin kept getting caught now and then when I moved my arm right to left within the seat.
X: I really think that was inappropriate to bring up in an auto review. Therefore, changing the subject, I know the other famous car that has made a comeback. That would be “Herbie” the 1963 VW Beetle from “The Love Bug.”
Boomer: Good! How about the 1974 Ford Torino from the TV show “Starsky & Hutch?”
X: You mean the movie? Oh that’s right, another silly TV show throwback
Boomer: I’ve been awaiting the arrival of the ’06 Charger for a long time. Every man I talked to wanted to know if I had driven the Charger, how I liked it, what did it feel like. They talked about the Charger as if it were a fine wine or new girlfriend. I guess I my expectations were too high.
X: I didn’t know what to expect, except a performance car that had plenty of leg space and a Hemi engine. I wasn’t that aware of its past history like I was of the GTO, Mustang, Firebird, Camero, Thunderbird or some of the other cars of your “Happy Days” era.
Boomer: It was a great era. No cell phones, computers or i-pods. Families ate dinner together and discussed their day. Kids did homework at the kitchen table while mom and dad cleaned up. Parents went outside and played games with their children instead of kids going in to their rooms, shutting their doors and playing video games. It was a great era.
X: I guess I’ll look back at the ‘06’s one day too mom. In the meantime, I just thought of one last vehicle that is appropriate, based on your last comments.
Boomer: What’s that Melanie?
X: The De Lorean, from ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’
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