Hi folks!
Why call it “the washing machine”?
This came out of some discussions with various friends, peers and colleagues, based on when you pick your rental car - it is not much related to brands, but more the class or size of vehicle. It is to fulfill some purpose(s): travel from A to B, carry 5 people, luggage or something else. Some rental companies let you pick your car from a certain bay. So, what do you get/pick? Is it random, does it not care, like a washing machine is there to make you clothes clean, not lose color and have a nice scent. But the brand? Nah.
Well, so I thought, when I have rental cars, what are the experiences I have. When I travel in Europe or the US and Canada, I want to drive myself. What are the dull or less dull car experiences I have, and what do I think about the vehicles?
Let’s kick off with one experience - the Washing Machine #1:
DODGE CHALLENGER GT 3.6L V6
Boring? The muscle car dream in a retro-modern guise.
First impressions - I got the car in Northern California, with Nevada plates. The paint was severely scratched - I didn’t notice that at first in the garage, only when stopping outdoor: the hood, trunk lid, roof. The car wouldn’t tell me either, so it is probably some well-kept secrets from Las Vegas…
The color I do think is great! This plum color is named “Hellraisin” by Dodge. Not sure if I got to that level of enthusiasm or capabilities with this particular vehicle…
The V6 sounds rather good, but this is a heavy vehicle 4078 lbs = 1850 kg, so moving this mass makes the engine labored. Not the best combination.
I find the seat ok, perhaps hugging a bit to much, but driving position is great (I am 6’1’’ tall), visibility in the front and sides ok, the back not as good.
Cockpit is rather intuitive, still with a plethora of nubs and buttons plus a screen. Car play works well, and audio system is great (listening to the Italian pop queen Elodie on max volume did work well…).
Cruising, highway driving, city all good. What I did not find that particular well was when driving on narrow curvy roads, which I happen to like the best. The under-motored “beast” is too heavy and big to feel agile and nimble. It moves and turns, but I do not feel there is much confidence. The beast does it with a grunt.
Still, I did like to move around in the Dodge, it is a part of the present Detroit area history and legacy.
Washing machine points: 3 out of 5. The color earns it a plus.
/Mika