2015 Challenger Hellcat 707 HP

[SpeedIsLife]

well to be fair in your case it's going to be Goodbyekitty, because like me the only thing you are gonna be seeing is the quarter panel and tail lights as it walks away from us.

Dodge is simply following the pattern they always have, show up a bit late to the party but bring the best package. They did the same thing in 1970 with the Challenger and CUDA originally and have done it again. They are basically going to have the forced induction pony car market to themselves for at least another 18 months

[SpeedIsLife]

Full disclosure: I am thirty eight thousand dollars into my Camaro, it cannot hang with 392 challengers. I have fully accepted an unfortunate truth, I just got it paid off and it's now totally obsolete

[87GNX]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

well to be fair in your case it's going to be Goodbyekitty, because like me the only thing you are gonna be seeing is the quarter panel and tail lights as it walks away from us.

Dodge is simply following the pattern they always have, show up a bit late to the party but bring the best package. They did the same thing in 1970 with the Challenger and CUDA originally and have done it again. They are basically going to have the forced induction pony car market to themselves for at least another 18 months

Ford will have a new GT 500 out next year, mopar is always late to the game. However all the recent recalls will have some GM customers switching brands.

[87GNX]

[QUOTE=07-SRT;7840983]

Originally Posted by MEDISIN

So you bought a Challenger to get attention? Nearly 240,000 Challengers on the road in the U.S. - not exactly a rare site.

You Might want to go back and read my post again. I never said Challenger. I simply said SRT- (look at my Sig) I never said I did it for attention, I simply stated fact. Actually I had #667 out of 1000 Super Bees made for 2007. If I wanted attention I would have just kept that. I kept the other Charger SRT and I didn't care for the Mustang 5.0 I had, so I decided on a 2014 SS. I was simply stating facts. I know YOU see Camaros and Mustangs everyday, but I'm willing to bet YOU don't see SRT's everyday- So yes, it is a rare site.

It clearly depends on where you live...srt's are common in my neck of the usa. I'm interested about the r/t 392 however. If I can get this used with low miles i'm all over it.

[McRat]

Originally Posted by newmoon

The only reasoning I can think of is that MEDISIN must have had his CTSV’s A!s Handed to it by a 392 SRT Challenger and he just can’t get over it. I mean if I had to drive around in a car associated with AARP and the morning YMCA water aerobics class I’d be bitter too.

Spoken like someone who has never abused a RWD car with the babysitter off.

Pretty much guarantee a 2009 CTS-V would anally violate anything Dodge makes except the Viper when using the steering wheel is required. Guess we will see. Better cars have tried and failed.

Even with the babysitters off, they are easy to drive near their limits. No surprises. They feel way lighter than they are. And they are lighter than the Challenger.

[BaylorCamaro]

Originally Posted by 2doorrocket

I just got done with the media test drive, I can tell you it not only handles the same if not better than my ZL1 but the braking and the acceleration is incredible, the interior is so plush.

Sounds like you had some fun! Interesting your conclusion on the handling when MotorTrend states that it still handles like a Challenger.

That said, the Hellcat still handles like a Challenger. Navigating the Challenger through curvy parts of the road or track is, ahem, challenging.

Article

[07-SRT]

[QUOTE=87GNX;7841174]

Originally Posted by 07-SRT

It clearly depends on where you live...srt's are common in my neck of the usa. I'm interested about the r/t 392 however. If I can get this used with low miles i'm all over it.

Members on here state how dismal sales are and now they are common...lol
All the SRT's must be concentrated in your area.... Anyway, here are the SRT production numbers for Challenger to Nov 2012... NOT TOO MANY Compared to Mustang and Camaro

Compiled by ResumeSpeed
Source for all production totals: ResumeSpeed


2008.75 Model Year

7,209 - SRT8

7,209 Total for 2008



2009 Model Year

8,625 - Base
16,395 - R/T
9,834 - SRT8

34,854 Total for 2009



2010 Model Year

24,789 - Base
22,877 - R/T
10,156 - SRT8

57,822 Total for 2010



2011 Model Year

12,562 - Base
8,552 - R/T
5,265 - SRT8

26,379 Total for 2011



2012 Model Year

24,197 - Base
15,158 - R/T
7,210 - SRT8

46,565 Total for 2012



2013 Model Year (as of November 2012)

8,872 - Base
5,715 - R/T
1,085 - SRT8

15,672 Sub Total for 2013


---------------------------------
Grand Totals for all model years

79,045 - Base
68,697 - R/T
40,759 - SRT8

TOTAL: 188,501

[2doorrocket]

Originally Posted by BaylorCamaro

Sounds like you had some fun! Interesting your conclusion on the handling when MotorTrend states that it still handles like a Challenger.



Article

I'm not going to insult the people at MotorTrend, but journalists aren't exactly known for their "incredible" driving. There were several journalists that were afraid of the car, both in the rain and dry, and needed the instructors and engineers from SRT to give them laps so they can see what the car is capable of. I went there with a Challenger in mind, assuming similar to my Charger but with a kick, all of their new cars have shown significant improvement, the hellcat however I'd say is 100x more capable in every way than I expected, simply because with every lap I did I was repeatedly faster than almost everyone (except engineers and instructors) that was there for a number of reasons. But, another example would be the fact that several journalists went out, and they went out in different groups just to give you background, the SRT 392, R/T 392 Scat Pack, 5.7L RT, and the V6 all with 8-speed transmissions went out, the guy who was driving the V6 lapped 2 RT's in front of them.

SRT's have phenomenal braking, acceleration, and handling if you learn and understand the characteristics of the vehicle. In comparison to my ZL1 I'd definitely say that the brakes are incredible on all the SRT's but the braking on the hellcat is well beyond the ZL1. Wet or dry tap the pedal it grabs, no fade, very aggressive. When the ZL1 is wet, hahahahaha son keep your distance from the car ahead of you. Handling was in my opinion on par to if not better than the ZL1 - the car instills a lot of confidence after a couple laps, I'll admit at first it was very intimidating because I didn't know the track or what to expect from the car, similar to how the ZL1 can be intimidating but that doesn't mean that it can't handle, it just means 'You' as the driver are not capable and/or the fear of impending death is than the thrill seeker in you.

I'm at the airport right now heading home

[McRat]

"Feels" fast never works.

Your best laps often feel slow.

Nobody is going to know how the 2015 Challenger series is going to compare to the Gen5 Camaro until the same driver, same day, no babysitters on, runs laps.

By the spec sheet, on a tight track, I'm putting my money on a 1LE SS outrunning it, even after giving up 291HP. Weight is a serious enemy.

And like I've said, if the 2015 Challenger did well on the track compared to it's competition, Dodge would not be shy about it.

[2doorrocket]

Originally Posted by McRat

"Feels" fast never works.

Your best laps often feel slow.

Nobody is going to know how the 2015 Challenger series is going to compare to the Gen5 Camaro until the same driver, same day, no babysitters on, runs laps.

By the spec sheet, on a tight track, I'm putting my money on a 1LE SS outrunning it, even after giving up 291HP. Weight is a serious enemy.

And like I've said, if the 2015 Challenger did well on the track compared to it's competition, Dodge would not be shy about it.

Lol... Now I know you people are in denial. They had the competitions vehicles there for comparison as well. Do you really just sit there behind your keyboard and pretend like you know better just by reading a bunch of numbers on a sheet of paper, that weight difference you're referring to is only 180lbs, it's not much at all.

[HEMI DAVE]

Originally Posted by 2doorrocket

I'm not going to insult the people at MotorTrend, but journalists aren't exactly known for their "incredible" driving. There were several journalists that were afraid of the car, both in the rain and dry, and needed the instructors and engineers from SRT to give them laps so they can see what the car is capable of. I went there with a Challenger in mind, assuming similar to my Charger but with a kick, all of their new cars have shown significant improvement, the hellcat however I'd say is 100x more capable in every way than I expected, simply because with every lap I did I was repeatedly faster than almost everyone (except engineers and instructors) that was there for a number of reasons. But, another example would be the fact that several journalists went out, and they went out in different groups just to give you background, the SRT 392, R/T 392 Scat Pack, 5.7L RT, and the V6 all with 8-speed transmissions went out, the guy who was driving the V6 lapped 2 RT's in front of them.

SRT's have phenomenal braking, acceleration, and handling if you learn and understand the characteristics of the vehicle. In comparison to my ZL1 I'd definitely say that the brakes are incredible on all the SRT's but the braking on the hellcat is well beyond the ZL1. Wet or dry tap the pedal it grabs, no fade, very aggressive. When the ZL1 is wet, hahahahaha son keep your distance from the car ahead of you. Handling was in my opinion on par to if not better than the ZL1 - the car instills a lot of confidence after a couple laps, I'll admit at first it was very intimidating because I didn't know the track or what to expect from the car, similar to how the ZL1 can be intimidating but that doesn't mean that it can't handle, it just means 'You' as the driver are not capable and/or the fear of impending death is than the thrill seeker in you.

I'm at the airport right now heading home

Well said...very well said .....

Did you hear any talk about how the Manual Hellcat performed during SRT testing as compared to the 8 speed?

[McRat]

Originally Posted by 2doorrocket

Lol... Now I know you people are in denial. They had the competitions vehicles there for comparison as well. Do you really just sit there behind your keyboard and pretend like you know better just by reading a bunch of numbers on a sheet of paper, that weight difference you're referring to is only 180lbs, it's not much at all.

SS 1LE is 3800lb IIRC. Will any 2015 Challenger, even the Hellcat, be able to hang with it in the twisties? The ZL1 has already proven it can outrun lighter cars with more HP on a racecourse. It would be quite the feather in Dodge's hat if they had proof it will outrun the ZL1 a single track of Dodge's choice.

And like I said, Dodge Screamed from the Tallest Mountain when they finally caught the Vette with Viper at Laguna Seca.

Is this the same Dodge that would keep comparative lap times for the 2015 Challenger a secret if they were better than a Mustang or Camaro?

Especially since that was the major issue that magazines trashed the Challenger about for the past several years.

Oh, and what is the skidpan, 0-100-0, and slalom numbers for the new Challengers. Dodge certainly does have these numbers on their desk, or they would not have increased braking and swaybars.

What a salesman DOESN'T say is usually more important than what they DO say.

I have no doubt they upgraded the Challengers numbers. So what are they now?

[HEMI DAVE]

Originally Posted by G-Oil Guy

I must get a Sublime Metallic Hellcat. MUST GET.

Go to time 7:13 to see the Sublime in action

[MEDISIN]

Originally Posted by 2doorrocket

Lol... Now I know you people are in denial. They had the competitions vehicles there for comparison as well. Do you really just sit there behind your keyboard and pretend like you know better just by reading a bunch of numbers on a sheet of paper, that weight difference you're referring to is only 180lbs, it's not much at all.

Great, so what did the competition run vs the Hellcat? Your subjective assessment doesn't tell me anything. See below.

It [Hellcat] is to the GT500 as the old SRT8 was to the Boss 302. It’s very quick, but it doesn’t feel noticeably quicker than a GT500. There’s a certain viciousness you get with a ZR1 or GT500 that is blunted by the Chally’s weight here. Big motor, pushing a big car, and as a result things feel under control...It really is just an SRT8 plus power. That’s what you really need to know about it...On the track, the brakes and tires proved sufficient to the task, as I’ll explain later today with numbers. Unlike the Shelby, it’s far from underbraked, for a ponycar. Don’t expect Corvette-level braking performance here. There ain’t a disc brake big enough for that unless it’s on a triple-seven Boeing.
-TTAC