It just depends on what you are after. Modern Muscle just doesn't excite me. The morbidly obese weight, the overly complicated electronics, the physical size...

I do have an appreciation for their powertrains, though.

I thought the same...but, I had to get one. Now I am thinking strongly about transplanting a 6.4 into my '66 Coronet.....pricey, but might be worth it.

The size and weight is one of the best things about them for a car to drive vs a mustang or camaro, they are comfortable to drive. We were in mine for 15 hours straight last weekend and were not tired of driving it. That barcolounger front seat with a/c in it makes it fun to drive a lot. Dodge could have pulled 700 lbs out of them but the car would suck like a camaro. A new corvette is a fantastic light fast car that sucks to drive long distance. The hellcat is one of the faster cars that I fit comfortably in at 6ft-3 265, so my choice is limited. Check the weight of all the Mercedes, Audi hotrod sedans...they are all heavy. Most people do not want to ride in a pop can. I guess in the end if you want a car to drive get a Dodge, you want a track car get something else, if you fit in it.

I bought a used one 5 years ago and still enjoy it. If you are not used to that much power on demand I would suggest using the black key or dropping the power in the SRT pages till you get used to it. As mentioned, tires are everything to get it hooked up. Traction control won't save you at 60 mph when you tromp it to pass. Good luck with your purchase!

Very true, they beat them in every category except for driving experience. A modern SUV or minivan could wipe the floor with a lot of stock muscle cars in every single performance category. But that doesn't mean I would rather have a SUV than a road runner lol.

Thank you for the responses, opinions, and knowledge. Would you guys recommend a manual or an auto? I have read the auto is faster but I do enjoy shifting gears. Would you worry about finding one with the Harmon/Kardon stereo setup or is the stocker sufficient? I like to listen to music but I wonder if the sound of the supercharger isn’t what I’ll be listening to..

68HemiB - thanks for sharing info and experience…I will probably pay more than I should.

A12 -

Its all about preferences. I have drove almost all manuals for almost 50 years. I drove a manual HC but opted for an automatic. Things happen real quick in these cars and my reflexes are not what they used to be, so I went auto. With the HC you can put it in full manual mode (essentially) anyway and use the paddle shifters if you want to. I ordered the Harmon Kardon in mine. As my daughter says, that system kicks A$$. But, is it a necessity...No. Took a road trip in mine yesterday. Set the cruise at 80 and still knocked down 18mpg which I did not think was terrible (and that was with a few hard pulls tossed in).

Here are two forums more in line with your questions:


https://www.challengertalk.com/

https://www.hellcat.org/

Thanks for the info and the links. Right now I’m looking at a B5 blue 2016 hellcat with a black interior and the H/K stereo with 41k asking $52k or a 2020 maroon (not sure the name of the color) hellcat with black interior and no H/K stereo but two sets of wheels (stock and some really nice aftermarkets) for $59k. There are others out there but these seem to be the best deal.

I can't go without at least one old school Mopar. I've tried. While I love the modern stuff for it's power, mpg, comfort, and DD abilities, I crave driving the old stuff with the old feel, sound, look etc.

Music is just a background noise for me now. I don't ever crank it anymore as I so enjoy the sound of that Supercharger. I prefer automatics because FOR ME the shifting becomes tiresome in any kind of traffic. While it's not my daily driver, I still enjoy it more when I can just hit the pedal and let the modern auto do it's thing. Of course my Hellcat is a TRX so it's not like I had a choice, but I definitely would've chose auto anyhow. I can use the paddle shifters whenever I like and that's enough for me.

I love the TRX - it’s an amazing vehicle. If you wouldn’t mind, post a pic of it (or two!) especially the rear mat where the t-Rex is eating a raptor.

These are the two I am really considering…the pictures of the red one are better but I’m not sure if the car is actually nicer…

This is a pretty informative video.

https://youtu.be/B-6X9PL-JuA

I’m not dissing Hellcats. I’m not THAT stupid! L

But the author makes some valid points for the “street” driver.

It points out several reasons why I went Scat.

I have a 21-scat pack (392 T/A) that I drive daily. I also have a 20 Hellcat redeye that sits in the garage most of the time. Here are the differences i see.

The scat pack has a much stiffer ride, the Hellcat in auto mode is much softer ride and is adjustable if you want to change it. (Wife has a 17-scat pack and rides the same as my 21-scat pack)

Hellcat much louder.

Both cars have Brembo brakes, the hellcats are much larger and make way more dust to clean.

The performance, there is no comparing the two, the hellcat seems a bit much to drive every day in my opinion, i put a drag radial on the back of the hellcat, car is less likely to end up in the ditch now.

Both cars are impressive for ride, comfort, fuel mileage etc.

The scat pack doesn't have the blower whine or performance, but still a fun car overall to drive. I get low 20's with the scat commuting about 80 miles a day, the ride home is in rush hour traffic too.

If I'm buying a toy, definitely going with the HC, If daily car id go with the Scatpack.

Hey Nutso, I have a 2016 B5 blue Hellcat and a 2016 B5 SRT392. Both are manuals. The SRT is a great car, and is 95% the equal to the hellcat when you’re on the street. At any legal speed I can’t really tell a difference in performance. But when you have a straight deserted stretch of road the hellcat is absolutely ferocious! I have drag radials on the hellcat and consider them mandatory equipment.

You are welcome to swing by and drive them, as well as your old road runner!

I talked to a guy at 41 last year who had a Redeye widebody. He had traded a Scat Pak in on it. He said even though he loved the Hellcat he wished he had kept the Scat Pak. He said the Hellcat was a definite nice weather car.

Thanks guys! That video was very informative and while 485 Hp isn’t 707 it is still pretty impressive. I’m torn between an older a or b-body hot rod and a newer muscle car. I love the looks and visceral experience of driving an old car but where I live is so far from shows, cars and coffee, etc. I’d really like to have something I can drive a longer distance. The reliability and comfort of some older rigs is suspect…the new cars have air conditioned seats!!!

I have always loved those two seat AMXs - I don’t regret selling my roadrunner though, I probably could have gotten more for it (based on the asking prices I see) but it went to a good home and is appreciated which is important to me.

The scat packs nearby are quite a bit less expensive, newer, and have the same interior options as the hellcat…there is a green one with a shaker hood in Grant’s Pass that has 450 miles on it! It’s a beaut too. I love green cars, you never see them.

Nutso, I texted a pic of the road runner at a local show (assume you still have the same phone number). I recently bought all the sheet metal I’ll need if/when I restore the car. You’re always welcome to swing by and take it (or the hellcat) for a spin.

I’m biased, but I would get a SRT392 before I’d get a scatpack; it’s a more refined package vs the non-SRT Scatpack. But honestly, you’d be crazy not to get a hellcat or, better yet, redeye.

I went to a local dealership and looked at some challengers today, saw a really cool R/T Swinger limited edition. I really like the green widebody look and the wheels are really cool. and 485 Hp!! They also had a ‘shakedown’ edition scat pack in Destroyer gray. The stripe kit was really unique and fit the car well.

Very cool cars, test drove a black scat pack today. Lots of power!!

My dealer is trying to sell me a battleship gray Scat Pak Shaker Widebody. He also has an R/T Shaker in white.

I had a 2016 Shaker R/T and miss the hell out of it.

Most comfortable car I ever owned.