[bharg03]

What are the major performance differences between the charger and challenger widebodies?

 

[Xylander]

Performance wise, there's not much difference, really. The Charger weighs around 120-180lb more (depending on options). It has a longer wheel base, which is the reason why it scrapes over bumps and inclines more than the Challenger. The Challenger's front seats are more supportive. Aside from that, I can't think of much. All things being equal between the two cars, the Challenger is a tiny bit quicker, where the Charger is a tiny bit faster in top speed due to less aero drag. On a road course, the Challenger is a tiny bit better, solely because of the weight reduction and nothing more. I can't stress the adjective "tiny" enough.

 

[GOING TO HELL 19]

What are the major performance differences between the charger and challenger widebodies?

As a daily driver I would choose the Charger over the Challenger. My Charger had better road manners (is that such a thing?) and visibility is also better. Always felt it handled better, too. As much as I love my Challenger due to its looks, it's tempting not to consider a Charger next go around.

 

[PolePosition]

What are the major performance differences between the charger and challenger widebodies?

The only major performance difference is that the Challenger looks far better getting it done! Call it aesthetic performance.

 

[GOING TO HELL 19]

The only major performance difference is that the Challenger looks far better getting it done! Call it aesthetic performance.

No such thing. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder LOL.

 

[PolePosition]

No such thing. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder LOL.

I was just kidding.

 

[2020WB]

I have a 2020 Charger WB 392 and a 2021 Challenger Hellcat WBRE. The Charger has better visibility, rides better, exhaust note is better and looks better IMO. Love both cars but prefer the Charger over the Challenger.

 

[sleepingweasal]

What are the major performance differences between the charger and challenger widebodies?

The charger is more aerodynamic, slightly better handling on circuit track. If you know what you're doing and try both you'll have better lap times in a Charger. They're also better at lower speed racing like autocross, simply because they can turn in better. Now the challenger is a better drag car last I checked than the charger is. But honestly, doesn't really matter how they perform on track if that's not how you use it. Just go with whichever you like the looks of better. Whichever you can't see yourself without.

 

[Blkout]

Charger weighs about 100lbs more and longer wheelbase. In the right hands, the Challenger should handle slightly better. In an amateurs hands, it's probably not very noticeable.

 

[sleepingweasal]

Charger weighs about 100lbs more and longer wheelbase. In the right hands, the Challenger should handle slightly better. In an amateurs hands, it's probably not very noticeable.

They don't handle better dude. I've gone through a lot of racing education, including some instruction from Bondurant, but mostly organizations like NASA and SCCA, the 100 pounds or so of weight doesn't actually mean anything when dealing with the aero on these cars. I know what I'm doing (most of the time lol) and so do the pros. I can't lay down a faster time in a challenger than a charger. You could ask the dudes at Bondurant (don't know if you did their srt experience but they probably would have mentioned this) but these guys race them DAILY on track, they'll tell you the same. The chargers are quite a bit better. Like up to a couple seconds. That's a lot in racing. But that's why I said above,doesn't matter if you ain't racing them on track. And for drag, there's a reason they didn't make a demon Charger or anything like that.

 

[Blkout]

They don't handle better dude. I've gone through a lot of racing education, including some instruction from Bondurant, but mostly organizations like NASA and SCCA, the 100 pounds or so of weight doesn't actually mean anything when dealing with the aero on these cars. I know what I'm doing (most of the time lol) and so do the pros. I can't lay down a faster time in a challenger than a charger. You could ask the dudes at Bondurant (don't know if you did their srt experience but they probably would have mentioned this) but these guys race them DAILY on track, they'll tell you the same. The chargers are quite a bit better. Like a couple seconds. That's a lot in racing. But that's why I said above,doesn't matter if you ain't racing them on track. And for drag, there's a reason they didn't make a demon Charger or anything like that.

Dude, you're going to have to provide some proof of that other than your own word.

 

[sleepingweasal]

Dude, you're going to have to provide some proof of that other than your own word.

Proof of what? You can ask the dudes at Bondurant yourself. Shoot them an email. Super easy. They'll tell you the chargers handle better and put down faster laps too. Those guys race these cars more than anyone. They're the go to source. Then you can trust neither myself, nor anyone else manipulated the info. Get it straight from the pros.You wanna ignore aerodynamics and handling and replace that with a hundred pound weight difference go ahead, it don't change reality. Good talk!

 

[Blkout]

Proof of what? You can ask the dudes at Bondurant yourself. Shoot them an email. Super easy. They'll tell you the chargers handle better and put down faster laps too. Those guys race these cars more than anyone. They're the go to source. Then you can trust neither myself, nor anyone else manipulated the info. Get it straight from the pros.You wanna ignore aerodynamics and handling and replace that with a hundred pound weight difference go ahead, it don't change reality. Good talk!

Reality is weight matters too. You can choose to ignore physics too if you want when it suits your argument. If weight had no impact, supercars would weigh over 4000lbs. Sure aero might have some effect at high speed but it would take a high speed course and a long one to make more of a difference than weight. Weight matters everywhere.

 

[sleepingweasal]

Reality is weight matters too. You can choose to ignore physics too if you want when it suits your argument. If weight had no impact, supercars would weigh over 4000lbs. Sure aero might have some effect at high speed but it would take a high speed course and a long one to make more of a difference than weight. Weight matters everywhere.

But you're ignoring 2 out of 3 factors for a hundred pound difference. Like I said, ask the pros.

 

[Blk_Cat_707]

As a daily driver I would choose the Charger over the Challenger. My Charger had better road manners (is that such a thing?) and visibility is also better. Always felt it handled better, too. As much as I love my Challenger due to its looks, it's tempting not to consider a Charger next go around.

To me, the chargers seem to handle better, plus I wanted a roomier back seat for the kids, which is why I went Vette for my two door due to the challengers looks not doing it for me.

 

[Xylander]

I also have to disagree on the Charger bit. Yes, it has better innate aero. Which, likely gives it better "feel" on initial turn in. But, the cars are riding on the same kit. The longer wheel base makes it a little more predictable. But, that difference in wheel base is only a couple of inches.

Now, here's the part where I have to get technical and a bit philosophical. I come from the school that says, "One does not simply race stock cars." If you're just tooling around for fun, then whatever. But if I go to a drag strip, it's at least going to be on a set of track tires. If I take it to a road course and am serious about seeing what the Challenger can do, it's going to also be on track tires, but I'd also do a larger front splitter and maybe a spoiler (definitely a spoiler if it's a short technical course). I'd say the same thing about a Charger.

You just don't need as much added downforce with the Charger as you do the Challenger. But, if you kit them both out right, you're going to end up with the same damn car really in terms of performance potential. Just the Challenger is going to weigh a little less. And, I don't think stock for stock that the Charger is 2 seconds faster than the Challenger. I think with ample seat time in both, you'd likely end up almost even.

But, I also have to point out that we're talking about road tracking what amounts to 2 sumo wrestlers trying to run the 100m sprint and arguing over which one is better based on the size of their guts.

 

[Spartacus]

I would agree that Bondurant could answer this question more accurately as to Charger vs. Challenger for road racing.
Doesn't matter to me as I have no intention to road race my HC Challenger.

I'm guessing it has more to do with chassis setup more than 100lbs or slight aero advantage (IMHO).

As for looks, I really dig the classic looks of the Challenger.

 

[sleepingweasal]

I would agree that Bondurant could answer this question more accurately as to Charger vs. Challenger for road racing.
Doesn't matter to me as I have no intention to road race my HC Challenger.

I'm guessing it has more to do with chassis setup more than 100lbs or slight aero advantage (IMHO).

As for looks, I really dig the classic looks of the Challenger.

Yeah I love the look better on the Challenger. Only racing I do in it is solos (which it is not competitive against its class) and have been working on my full comp licensing requirements with NASA. Yeah, Bondurant is the go to source on this, that's where I got the info, when I was there training. Now ask them what they PREFER, and I think the majority will say it's the Challenger all day. It's the only one with a stick, and it's what they hot lap students in during the SRT experience.

Edit: by the way, if you wanna see a FAST ass challenger setup properly for the track, check out Wesley Motorsports. Dudes have a redeye with some badass track upgrades like a viper acr wing on it, upgrades suspension, etc. That thing can hit corners.

 

[GOING TO HELL 19]

They don't handle better dude. I've gone through a lot of racing education, including some instruction from Bondurant, but mostly organizations like NASA and SCCA, the 100 pounds or so of weight doesn't actually mean anything when dealing with the aero on these cars. I know what I'm doing (most of the time lol) and so do the pros. I can't lay down a faster time in a challenger than a charger. You could ask the dudes at Bondurant (don't know if you did their srt experience but they probably would have mentioned this) but these guys race them DAILY on track, they'll tell you the same. The chargers are quite a bit better. Like a couple seconds. That's a lot in racing. But that's why I said above,doesn't matter if you ain't racing them on track. And for drag, there's a reason they didn't make a demon Charger or anything like that.

I also have to disagree on the Charger bit. Yes, it has better innate aero. Which, likely gives it better "feel" on initial turn in. But, the cars are riding on the same kit. The longer wheel base makes it a little more predictable. But, that difference in wheel base is only a couple of inches.

Now, here's the part where I have to get technical and a bit philosophical. I come from the school that says, "One does not simply race stock cars." If you're just tooling around for fun, then whatever. But if I go to a drag strip, it's at least going to be on a set of track tires. If I take it to a road course and am serious about seeing what the Challenger can do, it's going to also be on track tires, but I'd also do a larger front splitter and maybe a spoiler (definitely a spoiler if it's a short technical course). I'd say the same thing about a Charger.

You just don't need as much added downforce with the Charger as you do the Challenger. But, if you kit them both out right, you're going to end up with the same damn car really in terms of performance potential. Just the Challenger is going to weigh a little less. And, I don't think stock for stock that the Charger is 2 seconds faster than the Challenger. I think with ample seat time in both, you'd likely end up almost even.

But, I also have to point out that we're talking about road tracking what amounts to 2 sumo wrestlers trying to run the 100m sprint and arguing over which one is better based on the size of their guts.

Yes. My reply was in regards to a daily driver. In my opinion the Charger handles best.

 

[sleepingweasal]

Yes. My reply was in regards to a daily driver. In my opinion the Charger handles best.

Oh no no, chargers do handle better. That wasn't directed at you... lol. It was someone else. Chargers 100 percent have better road and track manners than the Challenger.