Review: Release the Family Tiger by James Hutchinson

The SRT8 is blindingly fast. I mean that not as a figure of speech, but quite literally when have you come across an SUV that goes off the line like a grenade. This car blinds you. Your butt is forced into the seat, the bonnet raises itself in the air and the growl of the tiger is heard by all within a 10 Km circle. The sheer force of detonating from a standstill to 100Kph in 5 seconds, the SRT8 flinging itself off the line with just a hint of wheel spin. You almost feel like you’re just about to take off on holiday. Once you ease off the throttle the world wobbles back into view.  All this was done in relative comfort too. Bucket seats with the SRT logo hold your butt in place when this rocket goes off.

My car is the 2007 SRT8 with a 6.1 litre 425Bhp engine that will propel the family and your shopping through the speed of light.  Ok not that fast but this is close. It has a permanent four wheel drive system, which is the reason for the car sticking so well on take-off. The book states that the car will do 0-100Kph in 4.8 and I have pretty much matched this.

Right then, your eyes has regained focus and your thinking I want one, well take it slow here. These beasts are hard to find in good condition and the running costs are quite high compared to the standard 5.7 and lower models.  When I was searching the used market I actually viewed 8 over a two month period and boy was there some dog eared examples out there. It is the type of car that the local nations will drag race and tune, so to find one is a nightmare and you need the patients to do so. If you don’t know too much about the car research and ask a someone that does. Not the someone that drag races them but someone with sound knowledge.

Like all the best things in life, likely to turn you blind if you use it too much. The 2007 SRT8 is appallingly, brilliantly quick for an SUV as is most SRT range but caution faults and peoples desire to break them. Otherwise you will not be disapointed if you wish an SUV more reasonably priced than the premium marks of the Porsche and BMW brigade.

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