My advice to anyone who hasn't driven one... If you have the option to buy a Charger, don't buy one with the 3.5 engine. I've driven both models, civilian of course, and the 3.5 engine is an extremely loud engine. Winding that engine up, you hear all 6 cylinders trying to work. The car doesn't perform like it should with that motor either.
The 5.7 is a WHOLE different ballgame. The gas mileage isn't bad at all for a large powerful V8, considering the technology it has in the motor. There is NOTHING this car can't catch, aside of street bikes. This car is extremely fast for an automatic sedan. I have kept up with C5 corvettes driving an 06 R/T Charger. I don't know what agencies look for when it comes to cruiser selection, but if they wanted a car that has a decent amount of room, as well as a 340 horse, 390 ft. lb. beast under the hood... this would be it. Just my two cents.