The classic American Muscle-Car is (now almost) a thing of the past. My youth and indeed much of my adulthood was spent observing this phenomena from afar. Big horsepower, eight-cylinder heavy metal with the potential for rocket-like acceleration, shoe-horned into a ‘normal’ if modified car body. Over my lifetime I’ve driven & enjoyed a few powerful vehicles but never a full-blown Muscle Car; until now!
I had booked a one-day one-way car rental to take me to the Airport and my flight back to the UK. The ‘collection’ entailed riding light rail, a bus transfer and an encounter at the Car Rental Desk any of which, as travelers know, could become extraordinary time-wasters but not this time. The train ran to schedule, the transfer bus arrived at it’s stop at the same moment as I did and there was nobody in line at the Car Rental Desk. The Lady at the Rental Counter asked me if I wanted to upgrade from the Standard Compact I’d booked then told me that she had allocated me a Dodge Charger. I was on my way to the Car Lot after just a few squiggles of the stylus!
And there it was, spot D15, hidden behind an SUV, just the trunk (boot) and spoiler visible, an all black beast, fresh from the wash-rack and all mine for up to the next 24 hours. Once, many years ago, a rental company tied to blame me for some minor paint damage on a (well) used vehicle so I’m pedantic about pick-up inspections but the car was immaculate, as indeed it should be with only18K miles on the clock, just about run-in and ready to roll, a 2022 Dodge Charger Daytona with a 5.7L V8 Hemi. 370 horsepower and nearly 400 ft lbs of torque (I know because I looked it up).
I admit that I’m not a small guy, the joints much less flexible than they once were and therein was the rub. With the drivers seat all the way down and back getting in was. lets say, undignified. The space between the seat and the door top sill definitely less than I’m comfortable with but once inside this beast had all the bells and whistles. So much so that I could have used an operations manual and probable most of an hour to figure it all out.
First driving impressions were good. with an automatic, provided the right foot was light it behaved remarkably well in rush hour traffic, happy to sit there and burble away at stoplights waiting for the green, it then took very little effort to get ahead of the pack. I’d describe the ride overall as firm but not harsh. There was however always the promise of so much more. Early on I decided that I would forsake the 200+ miles of I-35 for a more scenic and hopefully rewarding drive thru the country on a mix of fast rural 2, 3 and 4 lane highways and byways. Definitely the right choice.
When you’re checking if for an international long-haul fight it’s best to build in plenty of slack, if and when things do go wrong time can literally dissolve so we set out with plenty to spare, time to enjoy the ride rather than pressure to achieve the destination. The Daytona did not disappoint. On the 20 or so miles of freeway the cruise control kept road-speeds sufficiently close to posted speed limits to avoid any unwelcome attention, the engine switching (almost) flawlessly in and out of the economy 4 cylinder mode and the fuel mileage began to creep up from the 20 mpg (short US gallon) around town.
As we traveled Southwest then South the traffic reduced and speed limits picked up 70 then 75, being the norm outside of towns, the Daytona loved it, sure footed and effortlessly cruising at or just a little over posted limits out of town. Blue Sky and a warm Texas sun taking the temperature up to about 80F (on November 29th.) and at those speeds A/C kept us and the cabin cool and quiet. Passing other vehicles with that much power available was very definitely quick & easy, even semis traveling at or near the speed limit required little more than a quick peak to ensure the road was clear, a squeeze down on the right peddle and the engine burst into life, the transmission down shifted and a few seconds later what had been before was passed, and the sound, the glorious sound of that V8 truly performing as designed. Even so the fuel mileage continued to rise 21.5 by Hico 22.5 by Lampasas.
I must digress here briefly. I made this same trip back in May of 2020, dodging around lockdowns and travel restrictions trying to get back to the UK without being caught up in one of it’s (less well conceived) COVID Quarantine mandates (or should I say madness’). One of the few restaurants, probably the only restaurant open where it was possible to actually take a break, sit and be served was The Koffee Kup in Hico Tx. (see my blog post Air Travel post COVID-19 Lockdowns ) I can say that I was looking forward to repeating the experience but was disappointed to find it closed on Tuesdays due (according to the sign) to staff shortages. No Koffee no burger, no onion rings, no pie!
We stopped to eat in Hico, fueled full (about 11 gallons @ $2.63 per) in Lampasas, a further coffee and restroom break and topped off the tank before drop-off and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed my unexpected fun bonus ride. I can also state that, if getting into the car was undignified, getting out again would have been embarrassing had I thought I was being watched. I’m at the age where I knew that I could have burned rubber at any time, not only from a standing start but felt no need to do so I enjoyed the power and ride without the need to press the envelope. Probably boring to observe but none the less a very gratifying experience for this Old Man in that Fast Car!
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