Dodge Charger Daytona: Used Car Bargain or Not Worth It?
With the Dodge Charger heading to the chopping block, the only option for Mopar fans will soon be the used car market. However, Dodge made some fun, tire-vaporizing Chargers in the model’s lifespan. One such iteration is the Dodge Charger Daytona, a V8-powered predecessor to the upcoming all-electric Daytona SRT EV. So, is a used Daytona a worthwhile sports sedan, or should you skip it?
What years did Dodge make the Daytona Charger?
Dodge brought the Daytona namesake back from the history books in 2006 on the Chrysler’s LX platform. It produced the sports sedan model through 2009, when Dodge discontinued it until resurrecting it yet again in 2013. The automaker then brought the Daytona nameplate back again for 2017 and 2020.
Is a Daytona Charger a V6 or V8?
The LX and LD-platform Dodge Charger Daytonas packed 5.7L Hemi V8 engines instead of the automaker’s six-cylinder Pentastar mill. Moreover, the 2020 Daytona traded the 5.7L engine for the SRT Hellcat’s supercharged 6.2L motor.
The 2020 model, a 50th Anniversary Edition, was limited to just 501 units. That number is a direct homage to the numbers of the original 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, a legendary performance car.
How much HP does a Charger Daytona have?
The first LX-platform Charger Daytonas produced 350 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque from its 5.7L V8. The Charger model is on par with the R/T of the day, given the shared Hemi engine.
On the other hand, the 2013 edition produced an extra 20 ponies from its 5.7L mill for a total of 370 horsepower. Moreover, the later model Daytona 392 made the same 485 horsepower as the Scat Pack and SRT 392.
However, the 2020 Daytona produces 717 horsepower that turns tires into molten puddles of liquified rubber. That power is courtesy of the Hellcat hand-me-down engine, a supercharged 6.2L V8. As the curtain closes on the gas-powered version,
How much does a Daytona Charger cost?
Depending on the model year, fans can get their hands on a Daytona Charger for well under $10,000. For instance, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) shows that a 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona with average mileage has a fair value of $6,777.
Of course, later models with lower mileage have much higher price tags. For example, a 2013 Daytona has a fair market value of about $16,323 for an example with 55,000 miles. Moreover, the Hellcat-powered 50th Anniversary Edition from 2020 started at around $75,000 when it came out. However, due to the model’s limited numbers and homage status, it’ll undoubtedly fetch a premium.
Are Daytona Chargers faster than Scat Packs?
Most Daytona models pack the venerable 5.7L Hemi V8, whereas the R/T Scat Pack variants on the LD platform enjoy propulsion courtesy of a naturally aspirated 6.4L V8. As a result, the 485-horsepower Scat Pack is faster than a Daytonas with a 5.7L engine.
However, the 2020 model derives its big cat power from the Hellcat engine, which is much more potent than the Scat Pack. In fact, Car and Driver managed to coax a Charger SRT Hellcat to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. That is, if you can tame the beast without destroying your tires.
Does Dodge still make a Charger Daytona?
Dodge is discontinuing the Charger altogether after the 2023 model year. However, there is hope; the Daytona SRT EV is the automaker’s first electric muscle car and brings the Charger namesake back from extinction. Still, it won’t have the charm or pantomime of a V8-powered Daytona Charger.
