The Background
As most of you know, like many on here, I’ve been toiling away for months as I slowly traversed the slow, nerve-wracking journey that is the Dodge factory ordering process.
After being lied to about allocation by one dealer and wasting 3-4 weeks in BX purgatory, I submitted a “good” order on 2/9 with Ray Dodge in Fox Lake, IL. Last Tuesday, 4/26, it finally landed after just a little over a week in the shipping process. My dealer called me right away, confirming the car looked undamaged and sending a few pictures in the process. Since I live in NYC, I immediately made arrangements to fly to Chicago that Saturday, take delivery immediately after arrival, and then store the car (and myself) at a nice hotel before departing early the next morning for the 900-and-some mile journey back to the Apple.
The Process
I already owned a 392 Charger which I took delivery of last March, so the decision to upgrade - and nearly double my car payment in the process - wasn’t an easy one. I agonized over it for a long while after the announcement that Hellcats were going the way of the dodo in ‘24, but couldn’t ever come up with a good enough reason to not do it after running the numbers and consulting friends and family. My Scat had about 10k on the clock and was a standard body, but it was optioned well and perfectly maintained. I listed it for sale privately while also shopping some car-buying sites.
After a few weeks of being low-balled by Carvana (I don’t think they ever went above 40k), somebody mentioned that I should try Driveway before throwing my eggs in the private party basket. I did, and they came back with a generous figure that I couldn’t refuse. I went with their offer to ease my selling pain, and wrapped that up from paperwork to transport in about 3 weeks. If anyone wants more details on that, just ask.
While the selling process was under way, I was aware that my build was coming along and was set to be shipped on 4/15, after being delayed from the original ESD of 4/5. The second date held, and my car was out of Brampton’s lot by Saturday evening. 9 or so days later, it would land in Fox Lake, a suburb of Chicago, over 550 miles away.
Delivery
My dealer, Ray Dodge, was incredible. They worked with me every step of the way, completing the finance paperwork using DocuSign and even picking me up from the airport so that I didn’t need to make the 45 minute journey from O’Hare on my own. Considering the finance end was already handled, I signed one or two sheets of paper they needed real signatures for and was done with the office stuff. I think it took fewer than 5 minutes.
I inspected the car, which was parked in their service bay and had been stored indoors for its 5 day stay at the dealership, and went over it with my rep. The car was clean, presentable, and looked as it should, considering the occasion. The owner then came out and we chatted for a few minutes about where to go out and eat in Chicago. After saying our goodbyes and thank yous, I drove the car back to my hotel lot (indoor garage) in the Rosemont section of the city and parked it in the best spot I could find. One the pictures here was taken in that spot.
My Take on the Hellcat
Immediately after getting into the car for the first time, I was struck by how plush and forgiving the seats were. The laguna leather seats are definitely an upgrade over the alcantara examples in the lesser Charger models, and honestly, I feel they could compete with some German touring/luxury seats if they had more power adjustable features and offered massages to their occupants. The cabin also felt larger, as I had decided to opt for a slicktop this time around instead of getting a sunroof as I had with the 392. The extra headroom was noticeable almost right away, even though I’m only 5’9.
After driving it all the way back to NYC from the Chicago Metro area, I feel like I’ve acclimated to its highway demeanor pretty well. I was shocked, albeit pleasantly, at how little tire noise the summer Pirellis offered at speed. Sure, summer tread is usually quieter, but I had assumed that the big 305s would hum at 60+ mph. This was not so, and the ride actually seemed a little more subdued than the Scat Pack’s.
I also marveled at the Bilsteins’ ability to soak up imperfections in the asphalt, and noted a far more compliant ride than was present in the standard suspension of the SP. For those of us that didn’t opt for the Dynamics Package, the difference in quality and comfort was remarkably evident.
And, of course, what good would feedback like this be without talking about the elephant in the room? The power plant. I’ll tell you this much: I only stabbed it once during the entire ride back, and it wasn’t until after I let off and slowed back down to a legal speed that I realized I’d been holding my breath and had been walloped by a shot of adrenaline that was making my heart race and my eyes go dry. After I’d collected myself, I turned to my girlfriend and said “holy shit… did you feel that?”
She responded, “yes. And I don’t want to feel it ever again.”
If women were as easy to love as cars like this are, life would be grand.
I hope my experience provides some insight, encouragement, and entertainment to all that cared to read it. And that you enjoy the hodge-podge of pictures I’ve collected so far:
![Wheel Tire Car Vehicle Hood]()
![Tire Wheel Vehicle Car Window]()
![Automotive tire Automotive lighting Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design]()
![Wheel Tire Car Automotive parking light Vehicle]()
![Vehicle Car Motor vehicle Automotive design Gear shift]()
![Tire Wheel Car Vehicle Hood]()
![Automotive parking light Car Automotive side marker light Vehicle Automotive lighting]()
![Hood Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive design Vehicle door]()
As most of you know, like many on here, I’ve been toiling away for months as I slowly traversed the slow, nerve-wracking journey that is the Dodge factory ordering process.
After being lied to about allocation by one dealer and wasting 3-4 weeks in BX purgatory, I submitted a “good” order on 2/9 with Ray Dodge in Fox Lake, IL. Last Tuesday, 4/26, it finally landed after just a little over a week in the shipping process. My dealer called me right away, confirming the car looked undamaged and sending a few pictures in the process. Since I live in NYC, I immediately made arrangements to fly to Chicago that Saturday, take delivery immediately after arrival, and then store the car (and myself) at a nice hotel before departing early the next morning for the 900-and-some mile journey back to the Apple.
The Process
I already owned a 392 Charger which I took delivery of last March, so the decision to upgrade - and nearly double my car payment in the process - wasn’t an easy one. I agonized over it for a long while after the announcement that Hellcats were going the way of the dodo in ‘24, but couldn’t ever come up with a good enough reason to not do it after running the numbers and consulting friends and family. My Scat had about 10k on the clock and was a standard body, but it was optioned well and perfectly maintained. I listed it for sale privately while also shopping some car-buying sites.
After a few weeks of being low-balled by Carvana (I don’t think they ever went above 40k), somebody mentioned that I should try Driveway before throwing my eggs in the private party basket. I did, and they came back with a generous figure that I couldn’t refuse. I went with their offer to ease my selling pain, and wrapped that up from paperwork to transport in about 3 weeks. If anyone wants more details on that, just ask.
While the selling process was under way, I was aware that my build was coming along and was set to be shipped on 4/15, after being delayed from the original ESD of 4/5. The second date held, and my car was out of Brampton’s lot by Saturday evening. 9 or so days later, it would land in Fox Lake, a suburb of Chicago, over 550 miles away.
Delivery
My dealer, Ray Dodge, was incredible. They worked with me every step of the way, completing the finance paperwork using DocuSign and even picking me up from the airport so that I didn’t need to make the 45 minute journey from O’Hare on my own. Considering the finance end was already handled, I signed one or two sheets of paper they needed real signatures for and was done with the office stuff. I think it took fewer than 5 minutes.
I inspected the car, which was parked in their service bay and had been stored indoors for its 5 day stay at the dealership, and went over it with my rep. The car was clean, presentable, and looked as it should, considering the occasion. The owner then came out and we chatted for a few minutes about where to go out and eat in Chicago. After saying our goodbyes and thank yous, I drove the car back to my hotel lot (indoor garage) in the Rosemont section of the city and parked it in the best spot I could find. One the pictures here was taken in that spot.
My Take on the Hellcat
Immediately after getting into the car for the first time, I was struck by how plush and forgiving the seats were. The laguna leather seats are definitely an upgrade over the alcantara examples in the lesser Charger models, and honestly, I feel they could compete with some German touring/luxury seats if they had more power adjustable features and offered massages to their occupants. The cabin also felt larger, as I had decided to opt for a slicktop this time around instead of getting a sunroof as I had with the 392. The extra headroom was noticeable almost right away, even though I’m only 5’9.
After driving it all the way back to NYC from the Chicago Metro area, I feel like I’ve acclimated to its highway demeanor pretty well. I was shocked, albeit pleasantly, at how little tire noise the summer Pirellis offered at speed. Sure, summer tread is usually quieter, but I had assumed that the big 305s would hum at 60+ mph. This was not so, and the ride actually seemed a little more subdued than the Scat Pack’s.
I also marveled at the Bilsteins’ ability to soak up imperfections in the asphalt, and noted a far more compliant ride than was present in the standard suspension of the SP. For those of us that didn’t opt for the Dynamics Package, the difference in quality and comfort was remarkably evident.
And, of course, what good would feedback like this be without talking about the elephant in the room? The power plant. I’ll tell you this much: I only stabbed it once during the entire ride back, and it wasn’t until after I let off and slowed back down to a legal speed that I realized I’d been holding my breath and had been walloped by a shot of adrenaline that was making my heart race and my eyes go dry. After I’d collected myself, I turned to my girlfriend and said “holy shit… did you feel that?”
She responded, “yes. And I don’t want to feel it ever again.”
If women were as easy to love as cars like this are, life would be grand.
I hope my experience provides some insight, encouragement, and entertainment to all that cared to read it. And that you enjoy the hodge-podge of pictures I’ve collected so far:
