8 Reasons You Should Buy a Used Dodge Charger in 2023
Date: Dec 20, 2022
If you’re looking for a powerful sedan that you can rely on to transport your family, the Dodge Charger certainly fits the bill. Past drivers love how versatile the Charger is, even if it isn’t the most luxurious car in its class.
Since Dodge Chargers aren’t exactly among the “fancy” cars, you should investigate buying a used Dodge Charger instead of a new one. After all, used cars in good condition usually come at a discount. Buying used isn’t as daunting as it might seem either. To help you understand, Eagle Motorsport will break down the top reasons why you should purchase a used Dodge Charger and some tips for buying a used car in general.
The Dodge Charger: Background
Dodge charger owners love their vehicles because of their powerful engines, spacious interior, and altogether agreeable ride for all passengers. Compared to most vehicles in its class, the Charger offers outstanding value. Even still, it offers a selection of nice-to-haves like infotainment plus some useful features that elevate the Charger’s performance.
Comfort is paramount with the Charger as both drivers and passengers reap the benefits of an intelligently-designed car. Many passengers report that the front seats are so comfortable that they can sit in the car for hours without feeling sore.
Why You Should Buy A Used Dodge Charger
Among the large cars available on the market, the Dodge Charger is one of the leading performers. Year after year, the Charger’s engine ranks near the top in its class. And in recent years, it seems its safety scores have begun to catch up too. The interior might not contain fine leather seats or other frivolous goodies, but it’s often the simple interiors that stand the test of time. Let’s delve into some of the main reasons you should buy a used Dodge Charger.
Performance
You’ve already heard it a few times, the Charger offers exceptional performance, even for a large sedan. You can choose between a myriad of engine options from the economical yet capable 3.6-liter V6 engine all the way to the hefty Hemi V8.
In recent years, Dodge has been adding extra models to their charger lineup which means that searching for a Dodge Charger can also be a matter of searching for the Charger that suits you best. For instance, the Dodge Charger SE allows you to choose between a 5 and 8-speed automatic transmission. You could opt for all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive depending on your needs, but the rear-wheel drive option is only available on certain models.
Once you get up to the V-8 engine options, you’ll notice that the Charger’s performance is practically unlimited. The 5.7 liter Hemi V8 offers 370 horsepower and more advanced models offer 485. If you’re looking for a family sedan that is also fun to drive, then the Charger is ideal for you. It’s little secret that the Dodge Charger is popular among racers.
Value
One of the best parts about the Charger is that despite its status as a top performer, your weekly gas bill won’t break the bank. As we’ve already discussed, the Charger comes in plenty of different models, so finding one that aligns with your needs won’t be difficult. And in every model, you take advantage of the ride comfort, horsepower, and stylish design. If you opt for the 8-speed transmission, then you can get up to 31 miles per gallon on the highway, which can help you save a lot of money on gas in the long run.
If you manage to get behind the wheel of a used Dodge Charger, the cost savings will be even more significant.
Low Maintenance Costs
The average car owner spends over $1,000 on maintenance every year. By contrast, the average annual amount Dodge Charger owners spend is between $600 and $700. That is quite a steep discount, all things considered. Not to mention, you could learn to make some of the easier repairs yourself by reading the owner’s repair manual.
With the new generation of Dodge chargers, there are very few problems in the initial years. You probably want to bring it in for an oil change regularly. But otherwise, there will be few events that cause a need for repairs to your car.
Reliability
You’ll be happy to learn that the Dodge Charger has shed its reputation for being one of the more unsafe cars on the market in recent years. In fact, the 2022 edition of the Dodge Charger was rated by JD Power as having a “great” reliability score. This is little surprise given how rarely the Charger breaks down and needs repairs.
Some of the safety features that make the Charger so reliable include its extremely advanced blind spot detection technology. The Charger comes with a rear parking sensor, blind-spot monitoring system, and a rear backup camera. Hence, you’ll be able to negotiate all sorts of tight corners and awkward parking spaces with mastery. Moreover, Dodge gives drivers a bunch of extra safety features like advanced brake assist, hill start assist, and electronic stability control.
You can tell simply from how the Charger is built that it can handle just about any accident better than your average sedan. Its body might be heavy, but that’s only because it is constructed with reinforced steel. This hard steel coverage extends to the doors and the roof. If an accident does happen, the charger will also protect your passengers in the interior by deploying front head restraints.
Used Dodge Charger Interior
Capacity
Unlike some sedans, when we say the Dodge Charger comes with 5 seats, we really mean it. Most families will be able to embark on long trips because of how ample the seating is. Not to mention, that seating is quite pleasant both in the front and the back. No matter how tall you are, the seating can accommodate you well.
The seats come with ventilation in some newer models. Even if some regard the design as a bit simplistic, it does the main job of keeping passengers comfy and looks pretty rad in the process.
A Safe, Comfy Ride
Regardless of which model of Charger you buy, you can always be assured that the Charger handles well. Its handling is complemented by the technology features which allow you to constantly monitor your surroundings and drive with confidence. Braking is also a strong suit of the Charger as it allows you to halt from 60 MPH to 0 in 113 feet.
An Attractive Exterior And Interior
One of the things that initially attracts people to the Charger is its hostile, aggressive-looking design. It earns its reputation as one of the most popular muscle cars. Aside from this, little perks like the LED day lights and other race-like features such as the taillights give the Charger a rather intimidating appearance. The austere but functional interior helps further this impression.
The only problem with the design might be that the Charger resembles a race car so much that one might be tempted to start racing down the highway with it after getting a taste of its engine power.
Diverse Models
One of the great parts about the Charger is that there are several variations of Dodge Charger vehicles that could suit your fancy, not just one. One of our favorites is the Charger SRT Hellcat which comes with 700 horsepower. This might not be one of the models at your local used car lot, but it goes to show just what kind of optionality Dodge provides. And even with these high-powered models, you still get pretty decent fuel economy, which shows you just how versatile the Charger is.
Buying A Used Dodge Charger Vs. A New One
First off, one of the main reasons to buy any used car is the fact that you can get a good discount just because a new car’s value depreciates the day you drive it off the dealer’s lot. You can usually get a great price for used Chargers compared to older ones. As long as your Charger has been vetted properly by a dealership, you could stand to save a lot of money
While some of the older generation Dodge Chargers came with a few rather disappointing problems, the latest generations dating from 2014 onward are a refreshing improvement. We wouldn’t have any issue recommending those models to anyone.
Buying A Used Dodge Charger Vs. Similar Cars
When it comes to large family sedans, we believe that the Charger tops the list by far. The combination of high performance and a sprinkling of luxury features make the Charger comparable to vehicles like the BMW M5 and Mercedes-AMG E63. Meanwhile, a used version will likely cost about half or less than what the newest of each of those two models normally costs.
What You Should Look Out For When Buying A Used Car
Now that you’ve determined you should buy a used Dodge Charger, we’re going to give you some useful tips on buying used cars in general. We recommend that with the Charger, just as you would with any used vehicle, you should research some past car reviews. Read both the professional and amateur reviews to get a sense of the common pain points past drivers have had with the car.
Condition
Vehicle history and condition are two of the most vital aspects of a car that you need to consider before making a purchase. Therefore, you need to obtain a vehicle history report that details all the pertinent information about the car’s condition such as ownership history, title history, and accident history. That way, you’ll be able to find out what your car was used for in the past and whether there were any significant events involving it.
Mileage
We know that the Dodge Charger isn’t the most fuel-efficient sedan. If that’s your primary concern, then there are plenty of other cars with great gas mileage that you could opt for first. However, you should still take into consideration things like highway vs. city miles per gallon depending on what you use your car for the most. Moreover, you might consider that perhaps weaker fuel economy in one car could be compensated for in other areas like repair costs.
Buy From A Trustworthy Dealer
Buying from a trustworthy dealer is one of the main points you should consider when shopping for a used car. Of course, you also want to be sure that they have the car you want before you do your research. In this case, you want to be sure that the dealership you go to has a used Dodge Charger for sale on its lot before you visit.
Just like you would read reviews for a car you’re interested in buying, you should also read reviews for a dealership. Focus on their level of customer service and try to find out if they have lots of repeat buyers. That will show whether past customers were generally satisfied with the buying process.
Don’t Buy From Private Sellers
We must emphasize that we would never advise that anyone go to a private seller rather than a dealership. Unfortunately, there are so many scams associated with private sellers on Craigslist, Facebook, and other car sales platforms. You could end up spending weeks negotiating a fair price and then finally agree on one only to have the deal fall through due to an unenforceable contract. Not to mention, you’ll need to verify the vehicle history and condition yourself given that there is no in-house dealership team to do that work for you.
You can obtain Carfax or Autocheck reports to fulfill this purpose, but your challenges won’t end there. When it comes time to test drive the car, you’ll need to agree to a date and time that works for both of you, which is just one of many roadblocks that could arise.
Consider Financing & Trade-Ins
Another aspect of dealerships that you should consider heavily is financing. If you’re in the market for a used car in the first place, you would probably like to take advantage of as many discounts and deals as possible. Therefore, looking for a dealership with financing options will help relieve your initial financial burden. Note that dealerships usually look at things like credit history and employment when offering you terms for an auto loan. Some dealerships will be more stringent with their requirements for your finance payment than others.
You could also trade your vehicle in for a different one at some dealerships. Their in-house financing team will value your car to see how much of a discount you’re eligible for on your next purchase. That way, you have a quick and easy way to get rid of your old car and make your next one cheaper in the process.
Take A Test Drive
Of course, whether you’re buying a Charger or just about any other vehicle, you must take a test drive beforehand. It doesn’t matter how positive the reviews are or how much you want the vehicle, every car, especially a used one, has its nuances.
Therefore, you should think ahead and plan a route for your test drive ahead of time. Try to go for a route that has a good combination of the types of streets you normally drive on during the average day. You’ll likely need to look at maps of the area near your dealership beforehand. You could potentially take a drive with your current car yourself to get a better feel for the route.
Once you arrive at the dealership for your test drive, you should take full advantage of the situation and test every possible aspect of the car including the brakes, signal lights, and more. You should also bring a partner with you during the drive to be your second pair of eyes and ears whilst you focus on the road.
Check Out A Used Dodge Charger At Eagle Motorsport
The Dodge Charger is one of the best used sedans you can buy. Its spacious interior combined with its powerful engine makes it the perfect family car for a wide range of families. At Eagle Motorsport, we often have at least one Dodge Charger for sale on our lot. And if you want to check out other cars, we have plenty of inventory.
Each car we offer is subject to rigorous safety standards from our team. Plus, our prices are affordable, and our financing is not too strict. We’re confident we can write up a deal that suits your personal situation.
