Dodge Charger for USA trip?

Prophet · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:13

I've been searching for a car to hire while over in the US. Despite not being the best car I could hire I wanted to hire something American. I've looked around and found a Dodge Charger for £380 for 16 days, all in (insurance etc)

This is for a two door model with a V6 engine.

No other spec as such.

Mustangs seem to cost more so how does the DC hold up as a generic muscle car?

[TW]Fox · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:16

It isnt a Muscle Car, the Dodge Charger is just a normal saloon. It is probably the most common rental sedan around at the moment. Some rental companies incorrectly advertise it as a 2 door - but it isn't. I suspect you've found this price on Carhire3000 who currently advertise a 2 door charger.

The Challenger is the Dodge 2 door muscle car.

I paid £422 for 15 days in a Mustang Cabrio. You can do better.

kippermitten · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:29

What Fox said, its a 4 door Mondeo sized shed - I had a Charger RT when I was there in 2008, they are an awful car.
Steering? What steering? yeah its got a bit of poke but even at 80/90mph feels wooly and franky dire.
The semi auto gearbox is a side to side to go thru the gears, that in itself made me leave it in auto.
The turning circle was gigantic - on the Pacific coast highway on some of the switch backs I had to start wide to actually make the turns - a lot of the RVs I saw had better turning circles!
When I returned it, it was dropping oil, coolant and the brakes where shuddering and it pulled to the left enough to change lanes...I got 100$ off the rental cost with Avis.
Defo can do a lot better.

Ev0 · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:31

[TW]Fox;17596494 said:
It is probably the most common rental sedan around at the moment.

Very true, they were absolutely everywhere when we went!

Actually quite like the look of them though.

The challanger also looked pretty good too.

a1ex2001 · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:37

Orange Peel said:
Mustangs seem to cost more so how does the DC hold up as a generic muscle car?

Get the Mustang you know it's what you want, anything else will be disapointing and the increased cost isn't massive and the additional cool points more than make up for it.

Don't forget to check Quidco and the like as loads of the rental companies offer cahsback.

Prophet · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:40

[TW]Fox;17596494 said:
It isnt a Muscle Car, the Dodge Charger is just a normal saloon. It is probably the most common rental sedan around at the moment. Some rental companies incorrectly advertise it as a 2 door - but it isn't. I suspect you've found this price on Carhire3000 who currently advertise a 2 door charger.

The Challenger is the Dodge 2 door muscle car.

I paid £422 for 15 days in a Mustang Cabrio. You can do better.

You tell the Dukes of Hazzard that a charger ins't a muscle car

Yeah I used carhire3000 who as you say state it's a 2 door charger!?

I'll continue my search.

BENJAMIN HERBLE · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:41

we had the v6 mustang 2 door, abso brill it was, pulled, stopped, excellent air con and flashy. Loved it. did 3k in 10 days road tripping the bible belt with husby.
mrs h

Sone · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:45

the Cadillac DTS is the best rental car imho, cheap, comfy and reasonably quick.

I ordered a charger or similar once with Carhire3000 and ended up with a Chrysler 300. It was a 2.7 and pants. Had a 3.5 before and that was alright but not a patch on the DTS.

Prophet · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:50

The main problem I'm facing is price. CH3K is generally the cheapest so I'm trying to find the best car out out of an average bunch.

a1ex2001 · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:57

Orange Peel said:
The main problem I'm facing is price. CH3K is generally the cheapest so I'm trying to find the best car out out of an average bunch.

The question you have to ask yourself is 'is the car an important part of the holiday' if the answer is 'yes' then suck up the cost and get the car you want if the answer is 'no the car is just for getting from a to b' then stop wasting your time pick a reasonable big cheap saloon and go with it.

When we drove from Vegas to the Grand Canyon the car was important, it was a bit of a holiday highlight for both of us in fact however in Hawaii the car was just to get us from a to b so the cheapest compact I could find was ordered. We did get a nice(ish) upgrade as what we ordered wasn't in but it wouldn't have bothered me either way.

[TW]Fox · 18 Oct 2010 at 12:57

Use Hertz, there is 10% quidco, all insurance is included and I have another 10% code somewhere.

Prophet · 18 Oct 2010 at 13:13

a1ex2001 said:
The question you have to ask yourself is 'is the car an important part of the holiday' if the answer is 'yes' then suck up the cost and get the car you want if the answer is 'no the car is just for getting from a to b' then stop wasting your time pick a reasonable big cheap saloon and go with it.

When we drove from Vegas to the Grand Canyon the car was important, it was a bit of a holiday highlight for both of us in fact however in Hawaii the car was just to get us from a to b so the cheapest compact I could find was ordered. We did get a nice(ish) upgrade as what we ordered wasn't in but it wouldn't have bothered me either way.

It's one of those situations where isn't not that important we have a decent car as it's not a road trip just to get from A to B. However we wanted to make the trip as 'authentic' as possible thus wanted an yank tank.

[TW]Fox;17596784 said:
Use Hertz, there is 10% quidco, all insurance is included and I have another 10% code somewhere.

I tried them after reading your thread but they were over twice the price of CH3K. I'll try them again now and see what they come up with.

Sone · 18 Oct 2010 at 13:14

my only issue with Hertz was there crazy young driver fee if your young. Was $35 a day. (enterprise is $5 and will usually knock it off if you haggle about insurance, National is $20)

Prophet · 18 Oct 2010 at 13:24

Just tried hertz who quote £692 for the basic econobox. CH3K is £270 for the same car.

Hertz want over a grand for a mustang!

Will try some other and see what happens.