2015 Hellcat

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Typical Pelican responses.

Haters gonna hate.

Personally I think the Challenger is the best damned looking car being made for under $200k.

Oh, and my first thought was "Confederate" (cf. Gogar's pic). My second thought was the Grumman F6F.

I love my 911. I also love hot rods (the antithesis of the Pelican ideal).

[aschen]

Lots of people are critical of the car all over the internet as far as I can tell, at least the sites I visit


Its easy to assume hatred of american cars, except I recall how that same internet circle was overcome with joy at the prospect of the boss 302 a few years ago

Its easy to point fingers, but the fact is a 700+ hp mainstream car is bound to be polorazing.

If bmw announced a 700hp 5 Series my coments would be about the same

[flipper35]

Any car you can steer with the throttle should be fun on a track for a lap or two. Wasn't it Mark Donahue that said when he has enough power to leave black marks from one corner to the next is enough.

For an open track day any car should be fun short of an Aveo. A Saab 96 to an F1. The ultimate limit isn't as important as being able to push them to that limit. For competition the new Hellcat powered Challenger wouldn't be my first choice in a pony car, and neither would the Camaro.

[kaisen]

The belief that the modern Challenger SRT8 is a straight-line-only competitor is ignorant.

The current car -- with only 470hp -- is faster around a road course than the BMW 335iS, the Nissan 350Z Nismo, Lotus Elise SC, BMW Z4M Coupe, Audi S5, WRX STi, and Porsche Cayman S

The current SRT8 pulls over 0.9Gs, it has giant 14.2" Brembo brakes that stop it from 60mph as quickly as a steel-brake M3.

The new Hellcat should perform better in every metric.

So let go of your stereotypes. Or stop gushing about the Panamera Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, or any other portly vehicle that defies gravity.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Or stop gushing about the Panamera Turbo, Cayenne Turbo, or any other portly vehicle that defies gravity.

wait now im really confused these vehicles are even more offensive than the challenger to us I thought. I'm trying to keep up but A cayenne is still rolling Blasphemy to me

[aschen]

Originally Posted by kaisen

The current car -- with only 470hp -- is faster around a road course than the BMW 335iS, the Nissan 350Z Nismo, Lotus Elise SC, BMW Z4M Coupe, Audi S5, WRX STi, and Porsche Cayman S

The current SRT8 pulls over 0.9Gs, it has giant 14.2" Brembo brakes that stop it from 60mph as quickly as a steel-brake M3.
y.

Lightning lap results im sure, some of which are a bit sketchy. They illustrate a good point though, HP makes cars fast. In a straight line and on a track as well.

You would have to be pretty crazy to suggest that a srt challenger is a better track car than a cayman or an elise.

See also: by the same logic a panamera turbo is a better drag racing car than a challenger as it will smoke it in a straight line.

[aschen]

Also are their any near 500hp cars from the lighting lap that it is faster than? It might be one of the slowest cars in its class

[scottmandue]

I was going to say before we dismiss this car as "heavy, high horsepower, pig, only good in a straight line" lets find out what the skidpad #'s and road course results... but Eric already pretty much answered that question.

I really like the look of the Challenger/Mustang/Camaro, if I had the $$$ I would go Camaro... I just like the look best of the three... and I come form a GM family.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by aschen

wait now im really confused these vehicles are even more offensive than the challenger to us I thought. I'm trying to keep up but A cayenne is still rolling Blasphemy to me

Nah. Plenty of Pelicans have bought Panameras and Cayennes because they have the right badge, and they're fun to drive.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I was going to say before we dismiss this car as "heavy, high horsepower, pig, only good in a straight line" lets find out what the skidpad #'s and road course results... but Eric already pretty much answered that question.

And that's all I was pointing out. The numbers for handling and braking aren't horrible, and are better than many cars that enthusiasts "think" are canyon carvers.

2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 First Test - Motor Trend

Originally Posted by Motor Trend

Utilizing a reworked suspension, 14.2-inch front/13.8-inch rear Brembo brakes, and sizeable Goodyear F1 Supercar tires (245/45R20 front, 255/45R20 rear), the 392 delivered excellent handling and braking numbers. Both lateral acceleration (0.89 g) and 60-to-0 braking (117 feet) trailed that of the '10 SRT8, but the 392's figure-eight time (25.6 at 0.70 g) was marginally better than before (25.7 at 0.71). Regardless, the '11 SRT8 feels much improved in light of the '10 car -- sportier, smaller, and more responsive. Some of those sensations are attributable to the compact steering wheel and slicker shifter, but the 392's tweaked chassis pieces - fresh Bilsteins, quicker steering, new anti-roll bars - have transformed this beast into a lithe animal that turns in sharply and maintains a set with minimal push. The new SRT8 392 simply belies its 4260-pound curb weight and 197.7 x 75.7 x 57.1-inch dimensions; this is a monster of a muscle machine that now feels more like an oversized sports car. What Ford managed to do with the Mustang GT - tighten this, button down that, lighten the overall feel - Dodge has done with the new Challenger SRT8.

The new car should improve in handling and braking

[Tobra]

I am sort of shocked at how well my brother's SRT Challenger handles. Big, heavy car, but pretty nimble for a school bus.

Oh, and a Hellcat is an airplane.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by cashflyer

Even in AAR trim, it was always a struggle to get the E-body cars to handle well.
You would think with all the new composites and alloys, that they could get the weight down, tighten up the suspension, and find a way to make it corner. Unfortunately the 707 hp Challenger will be a straight-line weapon - not a curve carver.

You would think...

Good thing they went for sodium filled valves to compliment the steel heads

...and despite my obvious lack of love...

I truly think this thing looks the business, as does the new Z/28.

[SiberianDVM]

its 4260-pound curb weight and 197.7 x 75.7 x 57.1-inch dimensions;

They should have named it the Blimpie.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

its 4260-pound curb weight and 197.7 x 75.7 x 57.1-inch dimensions..........They should have named it the Blimpie.

At 4343 pounds, 197.5 x 76.2 x 55.5 inch dimensions can we call a Porsche Panamera Turbo the Zepplin? Hey it costs 2.5 times as much and has almost 200 fewer horsepower.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by kaisen

At 4343 pounds, 197.5 x 76.2 x 55.5 inch dimensions can we call a Porsche Panamera Turbo the Zepplin? Hey it costs 2.5 times as much and has almost 200 fewer horsepower.

Dunno. I guess you could. At least the country of origin relates.

Doesn't the Panamera have a rear hatch and fold down rear seats, making it a little more practical for loading large objects?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Dunno. I guess you could. At least the country of origin relates.

Doesn't the Panamera have a rear hatch and fold down rear seats, making it a little more practical for loading large objects?

Yes, and for the trade off of nearly 200 fewer horsepower and $100,000 more coin (normally equipped), I'd hope that it does some things better.... like haul lumber from Home Depot

[mikeferg75]

With ever tightening EPA restrictions ect, I applaud any and all high HP cars. I think it's fantastic that automakers are still putting them in production. I just hope it lasts.

[aschen]

Honestly a panamera is practiacally a limosine. It is a huge freaing car. For better or worse we can all agree that its a porker. It is shocking to me that a 2 door coupe can weigh almost as much. I really dont care much for either car. The panamera is ungodly expensive and frankly the challenger is the worst car in its class. It just happens that its two rival are pretty good cars.

A more fun question to me: what would win stock for stock in a dragrace a panamera turbo S or a hell cat?

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by aschen

A more fun question to me: what would win stock for stock in a dragrace a panamera turbo S or a hell cat?

On street tires? All Wheel Drive wins the dig

Also, a Panamera Turbo S (typically equipped) is $195K

The Hellcat is reported to be under $60K

I'll be the Porsche has nicer interior materials as well. Shocking?

[kaisen]

BTW, I don't personally like the Dodge Challenger SRT8 Hellcat

But I wouldn't go around dissing it in ways it doesn't deserve