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Road Ruler · 06-30-2009, 07:54 AM

We have read how well the Charger RT is at towing when professionally set up. This video clip compares the Hemi Charger RT with the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT.

YouTube - 2008 Dodge Charger R/T vs. 2008 Pontiac G8 GT

I was surprised to see the G8 out performed the Charger in almost every way.

Charger braking 60 to 0... 133'
G8 braking.................... 109'

Charger 1/4 mile time and speed 14.5sec/97mph
G8....................................... 13.6sec/105mph

The G8 was also quicker in the slolam speed test. The G8 is priced less.

Makes on wonder about the overall towing prowess potential of the G8.

biggoofball · 06-30-2009, 08:23 AM

The G8 is a great car. Holden has done an awesome job engineering performance vehicles for quite a few years now. I only wonder how GM will package Holden in the US now that Pontiac is being shut down.

Road Ruler · 06-30-2009, 08:32 AM

Yes big... It would be a shame if GM in NA lets this vehicle slip away.

Silvertwinkie · 06-30-2009, 09:04 AM

Not shocking to me, The General has always made better cars, even though Mopar fans would harshly disagree.

With Pontiac going away at the end of this year, it'll be up to Chevy to keep things going.....

I however would not tow any newer Airstream or any trailer other than a jet ski with either of them. They are sports cars, not mules.....and designed as such.

bob34787 · 06-30-2009, 10:01 AM

being that I traded in my 07 charger daytona for an f250 as a tow vehicle I wonder if I should have just kept it as a TV, my concerns were with the nag1 transmission and the independent rear, both of these areas are weak on the hemi charger and prolonged stress from towing would be a headache in the long run. I could be wrong but the one thing most hemi owners complained about was the longevity of the german transmission. On another note I always found it amusing that the dodge was an american car with a german transmission and rear with an engine made in mexico and it was all assembled in Canada.

slowmover · 06-30-2009, 02:45 PM

I still like the Mercedes platform well enough to prefer it (and being a mopar or no-car type whose stock 383 Chrysler Newport used to leave 454 Chevy sedans in the rearview [and we need not talk handling or braking]. There was good reason the big Chrysler products were not only the best ever cop cars, but the best ever tow vehicles as well. GM was only better in looks, arguably). While the Charger braking leaves question marks (and I imagine the aftermarket has long ago stepped up to address this for enthusiasts) a salient note is that the Charger is the more comfortable ride. I see it as a coin flip after a weekend test drive of each for several hundred miles.

Other questions:

Where is peak torque on the Pontiac motor, and how is the TQ curve?

What is the wheelbase on the Pontiac?

Can the Pontiac be had in AWD like the Charger?

Road Ruler · 06-30-2009, 08:05 PM

The weekend test would be nice.

Would luv the opportunity to drive the two cars back to back. From the video the ride would be better in the Charger but the performance would be best in the Pontiac. Wonder if the SRT with the better engine in the Charger would be a better match for the G8 but that Charger costs a lot more.

slowmover · 07-03-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

The weekend test would be nice.

Wonder if the SRT with the better engine in the Charger would be a better match for the G8 but that Charger costs a lot more.

The SRT-8 is already a bit strained, and not a towing motor, unfortunately, unlike the 440-6Pak in the 1970 Plymouth Fury with which, reportedly, a few folks did tow (but no A/C, etc available).

http://www.fuselage.de/ply70/70ply03b.jpg

http://www.fuselage.de/ply70/70ply_back_b.jpg

Only a few made and an obscure magazine test from years ago gave a idea of what this was like on the road. Too much compression, but, then, we don't have 105-octane fuel available anymore, either.