My current toy...

My current car: A 2018 Dodge Charger GT AWD in the indigo blue that I bought at Watertown Toyota in Watertown. My wife had bought her 2020 Toyota hybrid Rav4 there and the salesman asked us to give him a chance to sell us another car. The car had only 12,000 miles on it and we joked about the previous owner needing to trade up to a more "responsible" car.

I was looking for a roomy 4-door car that had enough power to get out of its way. Since I live in New England, it had to at least have front wheel drive. The normal Dodge Charger is a "muscle car" and that usually means a rear-wheel drive. The Dodge Charger GT also has a AWD option so I have confidence about driving in the snow. My wife's car is also AWD and it had great traction in the snow.

My white Grand Prix had just been totalled (someone hit me on the way to work). The car was getting old and showing it's age, but it was paid for and I was hoping to get another year or two out of it. I loved driving the two Grand Prix's I had and would have wanted to get another one but General Motors closed down that brand years ago.

I had been eye-balling this car since I first saw it on one of my favorite TV shows, NCIS. In season 19, McGee's car is in the Indigo Blue. I also started noticing that a lot of towns and states had their police in this car.

I had wanted to get the car in Octane Red, a subtle color that doesn't immediately scream for attention. Dodge has a lot of great colors for this car; I saw an older car in "Mango" or "Cinnimon" in my neighborhood that looked great but they did call for more attention. You can tell the newer models from the previous generation; the older cars have the "wide mouth" front grill (reminds me of a whale shark). The new slimmer grill doesn't as "loud". The indigo blue, especial when it's clean and during the day, doesn't scream for attention either, but you can't help but look at it. I think it has a sense of "quiet power". The Dodge website doesn't do the car justice; Indigo Blue has a lot of purple in it, depending on the light of the day. The website's picture makes the car definitely just blue.

This car has 300 hp, up from the 290 hp in the standard engine. The AWD doesn't come in any of the higher end models. It's fun to see the car on the highway at night. The rear of the car is distinctive; no other car has those lights so it's easy to spot. If you ever want to test drive one for the day, I know that Enterprise rents them out. I rented an RT (with the 375hp Hemi engine!). It was a fun ride, but the engine is just too loud for everyday driving and while it didn't block my view of the road, the scoop in the hood felt like it was blocking my sight. It was also a rear-wheel drive only car. Just 300 horses is enough for me.

Previous Cars

2007 Pontiac Grand Prix White.
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Dark Metallic Teal
1989 Chevrolet Beretta $12,000 car, what I paid for my Pontiac 6000 and had more features. White two-door car with a red-stripe trim/door guard along the sides. 2.8L multiport engine was a little loud, but good for the ego. A lot of car. The stick shift was smooth, but the doors were heavy. Plenty of of room for road trips. Bought at Porter Chevrolet in Cambridge. Finally sold it to my neighbor's cousin in 1997.
1984 Pontiac 6000 Maroon, 4-door. My first car. First thing I missed was the power windows. The radio kept failing and was finally replaced after many visits. Bought this car from Columbia Pontiac in Dorchester. Gave it to my mom after I got my Beretta. Finally sold it to my neighbor around 1993 or so.

Last updated October 17, 2008
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