Are the Hellcats Death traps?

Tennis_pro · 03-26-2015, 07:22 AM

So I am falling in love with the Hellcats, especially the Charger Hellcat. Between the looks, the sound and the insane acceleration, whats their not to love?

I am just wondering though how safe this car is...You have close to 4600 pounds, rear wheel drive, 707 HP and pretty skinny tires. Not to mention, standard comes all season tires. How would these tires every be able to really hook up? With this much power, weight, and lack of traction (rear wheel drive and skinny tires) I really feel like this car is kind of a death trap. Get on the throttle too hard, you're gonna get tons of wheel spin. Take a turn too fast, you're gonna be in a tree. It just seems that this much power in such an insanely heavy car that's only rear wheel drive and riding on skinny tires it would be hard to ever really get it to hook up well.

In my ZL1, which is 500 pounds less, down 130 HP and riding on 30 mm wider rear tires, I have trouble frequently getting the tires to hook up at lower speeds. I can't imagine how troublesome this would be in the Hellcats.

This is not a flaming on the Hellcats thread, I really like them and can't stop looking at them. But it seriously seems that the rest of the car is not suitable to support a 707 HP engine. I personally would be scared to drive this car any bit hard...

SSJ455 · 03-26-2015, 07:54 AM

A Hellcat with 707hp has all seasons. My RS V6 came with summer tires. Go figure.

2011shelby · 03-26-2015, 07:58 AM

Just have to respect the power.
Many cars are modded (mine included) far above the hellcat and driven without any issues.

72MachOne99GT · 03-26-2015, 07:58 AM

Any car car can be a death trap.

Some are just more efficient killers..

Tennis_pro · 03-26-2015, 08:04 AM

I'm simply saying for 707 HP and to have virtually no supporting features (all wheel drive, weight reduction, wider tires) I would personally be scared to drive this car hard, especially around any kind of turn or in any conditions outside that are less than 100% perfect.

When you mod a car, you up the risk factor on your own. But when you can buy a 707 HP car stock with skinny tires, 4600 pound weight and rear wheels driven, for people who are not extremely careful I can see this as being a disaster.

DevilsReject97 · 03-26-2015, 08:09 AM

One of my very good friends has driven both the Hellcat Charger and Challenger...with some lengthy time on the track...and he is a guy who drag races. As said above, its all about respecting the car and driving it right. Even a 400hp car can get you killed if you can't drive it.

Tennis_pro · 03-26-2015, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevilsReject97

One of my very good friends has driven both the Hellcat Charger and Challenger...with some lengthy time on the track...and he is a guy who drag races. As said above, its all about respecting the car and driving it right. Even a 400hp car can get you killed if you can't drive it.

Of course any car can get you killed if you don't know and understand the car, I'm simply saying the degree of this seems to be ridiculously high in the Hellcats.

DRKS1D3 · 03-26-2015, 09:14 AM

I agree Dodge could have put some stickier/wider rubber on this thing, but as others have said, respect the vehicle and you shouldn't have a problem.

ChrisBlair · 03-26-2015, 06:43 PM

The gas pedal is not an on/off switch

We have been driving cars for so long that do so many things for you in terms of keeping you from harm that most drivers haven't a clue of what it feels like when something starts to go wrong. We don't have "Oh shit!" moments any more that remind you that yes, the car will bite your ass hard.

If you put half the people on this forum who own an SS into a stock 1969 Camaro with a 350, with stock bias ply tires, and told them to drive the way they normally do, they'd wrap the car up in 10 miles. We suck at driving as a group. Not the car's fault we're stupid.

Q'smuscle · 03-26-2015, 06:54 PM

I don't know because what would happen if the car was real light ? I think the heavy weight has it's pros and it's cons just like a lighter car! Our 5th Gen's has the best crash test rating because it's heavy! But boy, is the Hellcat charger's front end ugly!

2010SLVRBULIT · 03-26-2015, 07:10 PM

if you fear the power, then it's not for you(blame is usually the driver's fault, and not the car).

dcpatters · 03-26-2015, 07:15 PM

My '14 300 SRT8 came equipped with eagle F1 supercar tires as an option. Guessing the Hellcat's are the same.

Tennis_pro · 03-26-2015, 07:21 PM

I'm just saying the stock tires it comes with and all that power...just seems a little scary to me.

c5Legend · 03-26-2015, 07:24 PM

So change the stock tires, if you are spending that much on a ride that shouldnt be an issue?

03-26-2015, 07:22 AM	#1
Tennis_pro Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 229	Are the Hellcats Death traps? So I am falling in love with the Hellcats, especially the Charger Hellcat. Between the looks, the sound and the insane acceleration, whats their not to love? I am just wondering though how safe this car is...You have close to 4600 pounds, rear wheel drive, 707 HP and pretty skinny tires. Not to mention, standard comes all season tires. How would these tires every be able to really hook up? With this much power, weight, and lack of traction (rear wheel drive and skinny tires) I really feel like this car is kind of a death trap. Get on the throttle too hard, you're gonna get tons of wheel spin. Take a turn too fast, you're gonna be in a tree. It just seems that this much power in such an insanely heavy car that's only rear wheel drive and riding on skinny tires it would be hard to ever really get it to hook up well. In my ZL1, which is 500 pounds less, down 130 HP and riding on 30 mm wider rear tires, I have trouble frequently getting the tires to hook up at lower speeds. I can't imagine how troublesome this would be in the Hellcats. This is not a flaming on the Hellcats thread, I really like them and can't stop looking at them. But it seriously seems that the rest of the car is not suitable to support a 707 HP engine. I personally would be scared to drive this car any bit hard...

03-26-2015, 07:54 AM	#2
SSJ455 Drives: "Kara Zor-El" 2017 2SS HBM Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Lower Hudson Valley Posts: 2,055 View My Garage	A Hellcat with 707hp has all seasons. My RS V6 came with summer tires. Go figure. __________________ Lead me not into temptation. I already know the way. Lana? Lana? LANA! LAAANAAAA!!!! What? Dangerzoooooone.

03-26-2015, 08:09 AM	#6
DevilsReject97 Nightmare Drives: Your mom crazy in bed Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Naptown Posts: 2,442	One of my very good friends has driven both the Hellcat Charger and Challenger...with some lengthy time on the track...and he is a guy who drag races. As said above, its all about respecting the car and driving it right. Even a 400hp car can get you killed if you can't drive it. __________________

03-26-2015, 09:14 AM	#8
DRKS1D3 Drives: '17 Corvette Grand Sport M7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,748	I agree Dodge could have put some stickier/wider rubber on this thing, but as others have said, respect the vehicle and you shouldn't have a problem. __________________ MY RIDE: 2017 CORVETTE GRAND SPORT--TRIPLE BLACK, 7 SPEED MANUAL, VARARAM TCR-7 INTAKE, BORLA CATLESS X-PIPE, CARBON FIBER STAGE 2 AERO, MGW SHORT-THROW SHIFTER SOLD2011 TRIPLE BLACK SS CONVERTIBLE--6 SPEED MANUAL, MANY MODS, 455 RWHP/435 RWTQ DAD'S RIDE: 2012 ZL1 #1866--BLACK, 6 SPEED MANUAL, EXPOSED CF HOOD, POLISHED WHEELS, SUNROOF, ROTO-FAB INTAKE "Silly Americans, taking from the rich and giving to the poor only works in fairy tales. Success is earned here!".

03-26-2015, 06:43 PM	#9
ChrisBlair Buick 455 Fan Drives: 1970 Buick, 2012 1SS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Boston MA Posts: 5,957	The gas pedal is not an on/off switch We have been driving cars for so long that do so many things for you in terms of keeping you from harm that most drivers haven't a clue of what it feels like when something starts to go wrong. We don't have "Oh shit!" moments any more that remind you that yes, the car will bite your ass hard. If you put half the people on this forum who own an SS into a stock 1969 Camaro with a 350, with stock bias ply tires, and told them to drive the way they normally do, they'd wrap the car up in 10 miles. We suck at driving as a group. Not the car's fault we're stupid. __________________

03-26-2015, 07:58 AM	#3
2011shelby Drives: 2011ShelbyGT500 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Louisiana Posts: 293	Just have to respect the power. Many cars are modded (mine included) far above the hellcat and driven without any issues.

03-26-2015, 08:04 AM	#5
Tennis_pro Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 229	I'm simply saying for 707 HP and to have virtually no supporting features (all wheel drive, weight reduction, wider tires) I would personally be scared to drive this car hard, especially around any kind of turn or in any conditions outside that are less than 100% perfect. When you mod a car, you up the risk factor on your own. But when you can buy a 707 HP car stock with skinny tires, 4600 pound weight and rear wheels driven, for people who are not extremely careful I can see this as being a disaster.

03-26-2015, 06:54 PM	#10
Q'smuscle Account Suspended Drives: 2011 Camaro VR 2SS/RS & Impala Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Riverside,ca Posts: 5,342 View My Garage	I don't know because what would happen if the car was real light ? I think the heavy weight has it's pros and it's cons just like a lighter car! Our 5th Gen's has the best crash test rating because it's heavy! But boy, is the Hellcat charger's front end ugly!

03-26-2015, 07:10 PM	#11
2010SLVRBULIT Drives: G5(LLT) & C6(LS3) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MARS Posts: 7,524 View My Garage	if you fear the power, then it's not for you(blame is usually the driver's fault, and not the car).

03-26-2015, 07:15 PM	#12
dcpatters Drives: 2015 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 206	My '14 300 SRT8 came equipped with eagle F1 supercar tires as an option. Guessing the Hellcat's are the same.

03-26-2015, 07:21 PM	#13
Tennis_pro Drives: 2012 ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 229	I'm just saying the stock tires it comes with and all that power...just seems a little scary to me.

03-26-2015, 07:24 PM	#14
c5Legend Camaro5 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: WA Posts: 1,155	So change the stock tires, if you are spending that much on a ride that shouldnt be an issue? __________________ My Build '11 Chrysler 300 Limited / '10 Camaro 2LT