Excellent review of Challenger Hellcat

[darylzero]

I really want to test drive this car.

"the Hellcat accelerated from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, and passed the quarter-mile mark in 11.7 seconds at 125.4 mph."

"Now a word about trap speeds. 125 mph is insane. Here's some comparative data for you. The 991 Porsche 911 Turbo S can hammer home the quarter mile in just 10.9 seconds (on Pirelli P Zeros, coincidently) but its trap speed is only 123.7 mph. The quicker time is due to better traction at launch (thanks, AWD!) but the Dodge -- which costs a third the entry price of the porker, about $60K versus $180K -- is going faster at the end of 1320 feet. And since stoplight-to-stoplight racing is never GPS-tracked ... You get my point. Look at the 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Edition. That flavor of Godzilla does the quarter in 11.0 seconds flat, but is "only" trapping at 125.1 mph. OK, so the Hellcat's barely faster, but here's the point -- it's faster."

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BZOcxQQC2M#t=58[/youtube]

[Bubba1]

Believe it or not, I will be test driving a Hellcat at VIR next April. My buddy just ordered one, and he does track events. He doesn't take delivery until sometime in December I think. His current track toy is a modified Challenger SRT-8, which is already an impressive car on road courses. (Too many people think of just what it can do in a straight line) When he told he was ordering one. I joked that after driving his SRT-8 on track, the last thing I thought his car needed was another 200 hp to be really good. I'm looking forward to it.

[darylzero]

You lucky bastage! VIR Virginia International Raceway??

So if he modified his SRT-8 will he be doing the same with the Hellcat?

[Bubba1]

You lucky bastage! VIR Virginia International Raceway??

Yep. the full course.

So if he modified his SRT-8 will he be doing the same with the Hellcat?

Good question. I'm sure he'll upgrade the brake pads at minimum. The front brakes in the Hellcat are supposed to be a tad bigger than the regular SRT-8, though I imagine the pad material is the same. If so, then his pads won't last long under track use. I'm guessing he'll hold off engine mods until he gets comfortable driving it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

His current track toy is a modified Challenger SRT-8, which is already an impressive car on road courses.

Interesting. I've always thought (based on zero first-hand experience) the Challenger's chassis was sloppy and underdeveloped. I've never thought of it as a proper sports car. The Charger it's derived from certainly isn't known for its positive chassis dynamics.

[Bubba1]

Interesting. I've always thought (based on zero first-hand experience) the Challenger's chassis was sloppy and underdeveloped. I've never thought of it as a proper sports car. The Charger it's derived from certainly isn't known for its positive chassis dynamics.

I was skeptical too and thought " meh, one dimensional muscle car". Uh-Uh. That all changed when I drove it hard at VIR. That big, heavy girl can dance! SRT designed a road course monster. Problem is very few people know it. Most owners take them either to the drag strip or park/polish them at a cruise night. The suspension is quite good. Very composed. little lean. I suspect the lower model R/T might more closely fit your expectations. big difference between the two.

SRT-8 is not a perfect car. There are areas where it could use improvement. My friend, who's a big mopar guy, believes SRT has addressed at least some of the SRT-8 shortcomings I noticed with the Hellcat. We'll soon see.

Oh, another interesting tidbit. According to my drag racing friends, the 11.7 quarter mile time might be understated as I'm told the NHRA requires roll cages for cars that run under 11.5. If that's the case, I can't imagine Chrysler will be thrilled getting stock owner complaints about having to spend extra money for roll cages just to run on a drag strip. Hmmmmm.

[frapjap]

Uh-oh, MOD might have found his replacement for the aging LS!!

Really though, I'm impressed that you think its a very good car, Joel. I'll keep my eyes open for one of those in the years to come to use as a winter beater.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Uh-oh, MOD might have found his replacement for the aging LS!!

Nah, not enough doors and not really my style. The LS8's replacement will most likely be one of these:

[darylzero]

From this story, apparently Chrysler dyno'd the car at 825HP!!! That is crazy. Bubba1 your friend will have a lot of fun modding that beast.

[SX APPEAL]

That report came from Jalopnik, the cesspool for automotive trollery and misinformation. I'm surprized Car and Driver would even see fit to repeat it. Although in a way its believable as there's obviously a lot more potential in a 6.2L supercharged, so it wouldn't be surprizing if Dodge reached that output, then had to dial it back to meet emissions reg's. Still, Jalopnik *shudder*

[OriginalWheelman]

[Bubba1]

^very interesting.

The Hellcat is a monstrous performance bargain. Hopefully the Chrysler dealers will not repeat what they did to early Viper buyers and try to rape their early buyers with premiums.

[SX APPEAL]

That's exactly what they're doing. Talked to a guy with a Chrysler 300 SRT-8 (NICE car) the other night. He said he had been in to look at one, but the dealership has them marked up to almost 80K!

[Desert Rat]

Wish I had the $ and the storage to buy one of these and just mothball it until I retire. I have to think these things will be produced in very limited numbers and will represent the cream of the US Muscle car collector market in the years to come, much like the Shelby super snakes, etc.

Then again, sitting on one of these for 20 years and not stretching its legs would be almost a crime.

My brother is sitting on an original 2008 SRT8 model....#336 of 6400. His has about 3,000 miles on it. Original everything - with the same intentions.

[Bubba1]

That's exactly what they're doing. Talked to a guy with a Chrysler 300 SRT-8 (NICE car) the other night. He said he had been in to look at one, but the dealership has them marked up to almost 80K!

Hmmm. I'm hearing differently. According to my friend, he said he's paying MSRP with no additional dealer markup. He also said his dealer told him that dealers with logged complaints about price gouging (for the SRT-8 when it first came out) would not be getting any Hellcats in the first alottment. Plus I understand they're only building like 1200 (?) of themin the first wave and there are over 2500 dealers in the US. Though I'm sure there will be several folks buying them who quickly resell 'em at a big premium. I guess we'll soon find out.

[OriginalWheelman]

I read somewhere, not sure where or how valid the source is, that dealers will be allotted based on volume sales for the first run, and Dodge will use sale date for the 2nd run. So dealers that sell the Hellcat faster are more likely to get a 2nd one. Again, not sure where I heard this or how true it is.