RE: Dodge Challenger
Discussion
vaughan watkins said:
Recently sold my 09 SRT8 which I had as a daily for the last 5 years and put 60k miles on it so it had 72k when I sold it, loved every minute of it, had a few issues over the years but god I do miss it, great cars for the money 
I met the new custodian of this lovely Challenger at the Mopar nationals. It has gone to good hands mateThey are cracking cars - but they need to be equipped with the larger/more powerful engines to cope with their mass.
Handsome, roomy, ferocious - what's not to like.
This is my 2015 392 Scat Pack A8 - a few light mods and it runs 11sec quarters (DR tires providing most of the upgrade).
Hellcats are becoming more numerous and therefore more affordable here in US, but I love this car so much, I am going the Kenne Bell s/c route - less expensive, more discrete and 40hp angrier. I want it all done before Christmas, as a gift to myself.
Handsome, roomy, ferocious - what's not to like.
This is my 2015 392 Scat Pack A8 - a few light mods and it runs 11sec quarters (DR tires providing most of the upgrade).
Hellcats are becoming more numerous and therefore more affordable here in US, but I love this car so much, I am going the Kenne Bell s/c route - less expensive, more discrete and 40hp angrier. I want it all done before Christmas, as a gift to myself.
SRT Hellcat said:
You would be far better off with a Hellcat Matt. All the guys stateside that know their onions say. Don't mess with the 392. Bottom end is week, pistons etc. Just get the real deal. You get the brakes, suspension and the look. Plus of course you can add a lot more if you wish
392 forged rotating assembly weak? Don't think so. I know several 392 owners running 6-7psi with no issues whatsoever - higher than that and I can see risks with pistons/rods.A 2.8L liquid cooled blower + injectors and remap and big brake kit (that it doesn't really need), would still come in around $12-14k cheaper than chopping it in against a Hellcat. For the kind of use I give it, I don't need electronic suspension and I really don't care for the front clip/hood treatment on the Hellcat that makes the front end look a bit 'boxy'. The vents in the hood are a bit ugly in my eyes.
I have a friend up in GA who's 2016 Hellcat has just had to have a new motor - over-fueling caused a cylinder lubrication failure. I'm sure that's isolated. That said, I went up against a 2015 at Orlando Speedworld about a month ago (yes, he kicked my ass), but he broke down in the return lane - nasty burned oil smell and a lot of white smoke and had to be trailered home.
Just friendly advise Matt. It is your car and money. Ask the guys and girls stateside on www.hellcat.org and you might want to re think. I ran mine at the Mopar nationals. Only did two runs on street tyres. Second run was 11.2 at 124mph. Bang on the NHRA certified time. My mate in his ScatPak ran 12.5 at 109
SRT Hellcat said:
Just friendly advise Matt.
Understood - and that is exactly as I took it.I race my car regularly as do a bunch of other folks attached to Central Florida Mopars Group.
Street wheels and tires are a waste of time at the track. I can get under 12 with a good hole-shot and a following breeze, using Nitto drag radials. I have a remapped ECU, Tazer, AFE Momentum/air-catcher and Strange Engineering drive shafts - that's it, so far. It runs low 12's all day long. I've beaten a few Hellcats too (though most likely on OEM tires and driven by yahoos who think that mashing the gas is a winning technique).
There is a guy with a 2016 Scat Pack, who I see regularly at Orlando Speedworld that runs in the mid 10 second bracket - admittedly, I'm certain he has invested a lot of money in his motor and transmission.
At the end of the day, there is a significant difference between the cost of these cars ($40k'ish vs over $60k) and I'm sure that if I had a Hellcat, I'd regard it more highly than a meagre 392.
My feeling is that I can get more value from upgrading my Scat Pack than buying a Hellcat and retain a car I prefer the look of (from the front), that I've modded myself.
ian2144 said:
We have a Challenger R/T 5.7 Hemi rental from Hertz at the moment. I well and truly have the V8 bug now, the sound of it going through the canyons in Yosemite is just awesome.
Truly amazed at how economical this car is........cruising on the highway at 65-70 it's returning almost 32 mpg, even off the highway it's still showing about 24 mpg .
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