2012 Dodge Charger V6 8-Speed - Shift Points

[mustangman442002]

It's sort of funny that my '85 BMW 635CSi has almost identical shift points with a 4 speed automatic...just less of them lol. It shifts insanely low, never going above 2k in casual acceleration. This thing sure does haul though! 

[tfmercedez]

it seems that the sound is delayed from the video? The rpm counter drops on the gauge, while the engine can be heard with no change in the sound.

[flyc2a]

how was the gas mileage in this car? compared to the old 5spd auto

[mpgomatic]

@flyc2a It was quite good ... although I didn't have the opportunity to test the previous model. I have some ideas for a different set of videos on the Charger, but it might take a while to get it together.

[derpplay]

@flyc2a the 2012 one is 31 hiway

[crashercarlton]

This new transmission is lame with the gearing...Why Can't auto manufacturers get automatic transmissions right seriously...After 4th the gearing is stupidly long...i understand a long 7th-8th-Gear, but this transmission entirely wastests 5th&6th

[rick859]

better performance and better gas mileage

[PandOandU]

Maybe I'm a noob but what's the point of having 8 speed ?

[lfsracer79]

@PandOandU Faster acceleration and better fuel economy for starters.

[danoconnell427]

@PandOandU Fuel economy & the ability to hold the car at torque rpm better for say towing or going up hills...

[thweepz]

@PandOandU it keeps the rpms lower which increases fuel mileage. and just to accelerate faster. also puts less strain on the engine when it downshifts

[DMlCK90]

@PandOandU Better MPG, performance.

[ThePPPTrainAndCarFan]

it seems like a 0-45 run instead of 0-60

[4wheeler14]

Dan, what is your opinion on the new 8 speed auto? Does it constantly gear hunt and how is it around town? From what I've heard it's better than expected

[mpgomatic]

@4wheeler14 It's a solid transmission. Take a look at the long list of high-end cars that us it, holy cow. I guess it all depends on how you drive ... the gear changes didn't bother me whatsoever, but hey, everyone has their own preference. Sport/manual mode with the paddles is snappy. I wish I couldn't held onto this one for a full week (only had it for the weekend).

[mlacayoa]

who cares the easy acceleration

[jaretkady]

I would like to see the 3/4 throttle until it shifts itself out of 2nd gear rather than letting off...

[mpgomatic]

@jaretkady Take a look at the 0-60 ...

[billybadass42]

I hate the cvt transmission about as much as getting beat up by a bunch of thugs, ...no wait, ...I hate it more.

[MattHutzell]

I still like DCT more than CVT. But I also like a full manual way more than either.

[mpgomatic]

@MattHutzell Aye, yup!

[urbex2007]

Jesus, CVT? Waste of time. Invented by Leyland DAF in the 1950's and still very old technology used today. When you put your foot down the engine stays at full RPM and feels like a slipping clutch. 8 speed auto is great, what you need is a DSG or DCT transmission, nothing beats them for speed & economy. They are faster than manuals. Anyone wanting a variomatic type CVT should think about poor economy and how slow they are compared to other gearboxes. CVT is useless in modern cars.

[Enemyofreali7y]

Here's an idea.

DODGE, MAKE A FUCKING MANUAL TRANSMISSION

[Nebraskahusker23]

@Enemyofreali7y They do...

[MangoSmoothie16]

@Nebraskahusker23 But not in a charger :'(

[Nebraskahusker23]

@MangoSmoothie16 Wow, just noticed that. That's sad.

[Enemyofreali7y]

@Nebraskahusker23

They do not. The Tremec is only available in the Challenger.

[undeadkillers]

@Enemyofreali7y I really don't recall them making a transmission by themselves and I'd rather not see the outcome.

[Enemyofreali7y]

@undeadkillers

The Tremec they're using in the Challenger is tried and true in the mustangs, but I'd shudder to think of what they'd come up with themselves, myself.. haha.

[gusherb94]

I love the "shift point video's" you post. the audio seems to be quite out of sync on this one though. the 8spd while driving normally seems to be pretty decent, doesn't appear to terribly slushy, certainly not like the 5spd they have used in the V8's forever.

[mpgomatic]

@gusherb94 Thx! Not sure what's up with sync. Might be time to retire the camera I use to shoot these.

[datpimpinboy]

Ehh idk. I like the whole 8 speed idea. But it seems like having more than 5 or 6 gears seems kinda redundant and especially in performance cars, it doesnt sound as good as having 5 or 6 gears. it's hard to explain. But for saving gas purposes, it's definitely the way to go, and though i love Nissan, I MUCH prefer having 8 gears than a CVT

[johannthebored]

Only here would you see people begging for CVTs.

[raptor750r]

I think this is a good idea. However, i feel like i wouldn't want an 8 speed. It just means more to go wrong..especially being built by Dodge who doesn't have a great history with transmissions.

[mpgomatic]

@raptor750r The transmission isn't built by Dodge. It's a ZF 8HP ... used in a slew of high-end European cars.

[raptor750r]

@mpgomatic Oh yeah my bad. Isn't Dodge affiliated with Mercedes still?

[mpgomatic]

@raptor750r Daimler-Benz sold the bulk of their stake in Chrysler to a hedge fund company, Cerebus in 2007. Cerebus promptly ran them into the ground. Fiat pulled Chrysler out of bankruptcy in 2009.

[jaretkady]

@raptor750r Also, a 8 speed doesn't necessarily have that much more happening in it over a 6 speed. The additional parts really just build off of the other architecture - case study:  Hyundai's 6 speed transmission has fewer moving parts than the 5 speed it replaced!

[gusherb94]

@raptor750r yeah the beauty of this trans is that it's the same exact trans you find in the BMW 5 and 7 series. So no worries about Chrysler quality there...

[chorstma44]

The ratio is what changes the cruising rpm. My 4 speed jeep cruises the same 2k rpm at 70mph as my new 6 speed mazda. I dont think more gears will be beneficial to fuel economy, since it has to rev up higher and more often during acceleration, but I bet it makes for a good car pass on a back road or freeway. Having that many gears your more likely to hit the top of a gear when you downshift, having your engine at high rpm producing more power.

[8747800]

a question: when car is going 70 mph...is it in 8th gear like at 1200 RPM or so?

[mpgomatic]

@8747800 Not 1200, but it's relatively low. I need to dig through the tape to see if I have a shot at 68 MPH (our standard cruise speed). At 60 MPH it's just a bit over 1200, if I'm not mistaken.

[nellhicks91]

Thanks, this explains a lot. Biggest difference between the 6-speed and 8-speed is this almost never creeps above 2000 RPM. Does the 8-speed have that lag inbetween gears like the 6 does? That was my biggest complaint.

[skimmm91]

how do you record these videos? i wanna make a speedo vid but cant be holding the camera lol

[mpgomatic]

@skimmm91 I have a bunch of different camera rigs. Holding a camera can be risky and is always shaky.

[talldude123]

Still waiting on a Grand Cherokee SRT8 0-60 test! Oh, and on a totally unrelated note, does anybody know how to read or post channel comments on the new Youtube layout?

[BlackAstonMartin]

audio is off track...

[mpgomatic]

@IROCwarriorAMC88 Cool stuff. One of these days I hope to have some spare coin to pick up an old muscle car again. My goal is to build something that runs on a domestic alternative fuel. Not sure what, tho. Maybe CNG, maybe biodiesel of some sort, maybe alcohol. I need a new shed with a still. :)

[njwags95]

what's the purpose of an 8 speed auto? isnt it mimicing a cvt, so why doesnt dodge just do that lol

[mpgomatic]

@njwags95 It might seem that way, but it's not really. There's a nice snap to the gear changes. Sport mode and paddle shifters make it interesting. This transmission feels snappier than the Camaro's, from what I remember.

[TylerBrandonHardwick]

@njwags95 because enthusiasts hate CVTs

[immortal4942]

@njwags95 i agree they should have just put a cvt in this, this 8AT gearing is too wide and not helpful performance wise off the line.

[clarda1]

@immortal4942 False. Although this has more of a 5 or 6 speed at gearing it is much better than the older 5 speed they were using. And cvt is just plain annoying, this is much better...

[flatblackstrat]

@njwags95 Because CVTs take any sort of driving enjoyment out of the car.

[mpgomatic]

@IROCwarriorAMC88 Crazy thing was, with WOT it wound to 80 before hitting second gear. Those old Pontiacs didn't rev very high.

[mpgomatic]

@IROCwarriorAMC88 Hey, it's not that bad. My first car had a two-speed Powerglide ... =)