2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 Vs. 2005 Pontiac GTO - Engine, Acceleration, Handling - Sport Coupes Comparison

Speaking of animals, how about the Charger's bait in this shootout, the Goat? Now in its third year, the GTO enters 2006 with just one significant change--available 18-inch wheels. Unfortunately, the timing of our test dictated that Pontiac could only lend us a 2005 for evaluation. Nonetheless, we forged ahead with the not-as-fresh Goat, especially since it still boasted the necessary attributes to meet the Charger head on: a 6.0-liter, 400-horsepower LS2 V-8 pulled from the C6 Corvette; an optional Tremec six-speed manual transmission; four-wheel independent suspension; a limited-slip differential; and variable-ratio power steering. This Goat can go, but is it quick enough to beat the Charger?

Objectively, yes. The GTO outgunned the SRT8 from 0 to 60 (4.7 seconds versus 5.0), 0 to 100 (11.7 versus 11.9), and in the quarter mile (13.3 seconds at 105.9 mph versus 13.5 at 106.3). Chalk it up to a better weight-to-power ratio (9.4 pounds/horsepower versus 10.0) and, at least for the 0-to-60 blast, the advantage of launching with a manual transmission. Subjectively, however, the advantage didn't register on the seat-of-the-pants meter, a sensation backed up by the closeness of the numbers. If anything, driving the two back to back leaves the impression that the Charger is the friskier beast, its Mercedes-sourced five-speed automatic unleashing the Hemi's 425 ponies so fluidly that stomping the throttle delivers a seamless rush of acceleration that could easily double as mental therapy. Moreover, the Charger emits an intoxicating, raspy rumble befitting its size and strength, while the GTO sounds friendlier, as if comparing a Rottweiler's growl to a bloodhound's. Perhaps it's the GTO's way of signaling that it has a tighter rein on its 400 horses, due in large part to the balky, long-throw Tremec shifter that makes harnessing all that horsepower a chore. Like an omelet pan, the six-speed needs to get intimate with Teflon.

Hustled through a long stretch of twisty roads, the GTO is arguably more fun, but it's the Charger that's more impressive. The GTO, at 189.8 inches and 3777 pounds, feels small, agile, and tossable compared with the 200.1-inch, 4266-pound SRT8. The GTO initially understeers mildly before gradually switching to mid-turn oversteer, at which point the driving experience becomes an entertaining throttle-and-steer shuffle, the Goat dancing and sliding through sweepers in concert with inputs from your right foot and hands. It's less precise than the Charger, rolling more, feeling less integrated and a bit sloppier, a sensation not helped by the mud-and-snow tires that left it trailing the big Dodge in 60-to-0 braking (138 feet versus 124), on the skidpad (0.83 g versus 0.87), and through the figure eight (26.8 seconds versus 26.3). The Charger exhibits more understeer than the tail-happy GTO, but its mammoth Goodyears provide enough grip to allow the chassis to promptly convert the understeer into neutral behavior that can safely be stimulated with the throttle. The steering is light and precise, the brakes tenacious and fade-free, and the chassis well-

conceived, like the front and rear ends reside on the same page. If there's a nit to pick with the SRT8, it's the unyielding ride that can bounce your booty over bumpy roads, as if you were trudging along on horseback. Conversely, the Goat coddles its occupants with a much more compliant ride--one of the few benefits to hoofing it with 17-inch wheels.