[EAGLE 5]

I have two cars on my radar as well.. one is a Challenger Scat Pack Widebody (with a manual) the other is something else.

I see Wesley motorsports got an SP to add to their racers, anyone else have experience with a wide scat pack doing laps at a track (and possibly autox)? What are your thoughts?

 

[Hemi Dave]

I have two cars on my radar as well.. one is a Challenger Scat Pack Widebody (with a manual) the other is something else.

I see Wesley motorsports got an SP to add to their racers, anyone else have experience with a wide scat pack doing laps at a track (and possibly autox)? What are your thoughts?

No track time yet but I have already dusted 3 series M's and ricers in the local twisties with the "boat". They weren't happy. ?

Compared to my 2016 C7 Z06 this Scat Pack is shockingly nimble in the same "test" areas in "Mexico"

Pulled well over 1g indicated on the performance tables with Pirelli All Seasons....nimble steering too...very nimble and responsive.

Handles far better than my stock 2015 Hellcat....or my 392 Challenger did. The steering is especially more responsive than those cars. Turns in great...and sticks.

That is all.

Lets just say its better than I expected....MUCH better.

 

[EAGLE 5]

No track time yet but I have already dusted 3 series M's and ricers in the local twisties with the "boat". They weren't happy. ?

Compared to my 2016 C7 Z06 this Scat Pack is shockingly nimble in the same "test" areas in "Mexico"

Pulled well over 1g indicated on the performance tables with Pirelli All Seasons....nimble steering too...very nimble and responsive.

Handles far better than my stock 2015 Hellcat....or my 392 Challenger did. The steering is especially more responsive than those cars. Turns in great...and sticks.

That is all.

Lets just say its better than I expected, MUCH better.

Thank you for your feedback. The suspension tweaks Dodge has put in the SP's widebody version appear to be working very well especially with the lighter (than a Hellcat) front end.

I watched one of the more professional reviewers drive the car in different conditions and they were very complimentary of the handling going as far as calling it...... a very large Miata.

That's very high praise in my book.

If I get one it'll be the one to get, especially if they come up in power or get a stronger engine like a 426.

 

[Hemi Dave]

Thank you for your feedback. The suspension tweaks Dodge has put in the SP's widebody version appear to be working very well especially with the lighter (than a Hellcat) front end.

I watched one of the more professional reviewers drive the car in different conditions and they were very complimentary of the handling going as far as calling it...... a very large Miata.

That's very high praise in my book.

If I get one it'll be the one to get, especially if they come up in power or get a stronger engine like a 426.

"A very large Miata" is a perfect description...except it has way more POWA.

A 426 would be great.....I would trade mine for one with a 6 speed manual.

 

[EAGLE 5]

"A very large Miata" is a perfect description...except it has way more POWA.

A 426 would be great.....I would trade mine for one with a 6 speed manual.

That would indeed be the perfect combination.

Thanks.

 

[Goins2754]

You should see the durability testing the SRT products do at Chelsea. I wouldn't be concerned until you lower it significantly or add a front splitter (both of which I've done)

Fun story: I rented an R/T from Enterprise last weekend just to test this out.

A month ago, I had rented a C7 from Turo to test out. Even on my country road circuit, the C7 was scraping and even bottoming out! That's what pushed me to ask the question about the Challenger here. I didn't really like the idea of having a performance car that can only be used on pristine roads and tracks - which I'm starting to feel like the Corvette is.

I took that Enterprise R/T out, though, and beat on it hard. The country road circuit was no problem. I hit the worst part of the road at the fastest speed I was comfortable with and the splitter scraped just a little. But I mean, I had to really push it hard to get it to scrape - well beyond what a reasonable person would be doing on a normal backcountry drive.

But then I took it a step further! There's a paved forest service road up near Mt Rainer that I found while looking for camping spots in my 4Runner a while back. I remembered the road because it was bumpy as hell but would be an amazing driving road if it was smoother - almost Tail of the Dragon number of curves and hills! It's just amazing! But even just trying to maintain the speed limit (35mph in most places), my 4Runner was bouncing hard enough that my GPS was reacting as if there was a collision. I may have got a tire off the ground here and there, but I'm not sure.

I took the R/T there and drove it hard! Not as hard as the other road because it was night time and the road was really rough. But still, pretty hard. Maybe around 5/10ths. It scraped a few times but never bottomed out. I would 100% never take a Corvette on that road!

After renting the C7 and the R/T so close to each other, I think my decision is easy to make. I love the Challenger. I love not having to sit on the ground practically. I like that the car is more practical with the back seat and the more comfortable seats. I love the exhaust sound! And it's way more rugged. And from the videos I've seen here, a Redeye can keep up with a Z06 at the track. So, honestly I don't think I'm giving up that much track performance to get a Challenger.

I talked with my wife about it and she agreed, so we're almost certainly going to go with the Challenger. I don't think I'm going to jump straight into the deep end with a Hellcat or Redeye, though. It's kindof a big gamble since I've never track raced before and it might turn out to be different than I'd imagined. I know a friend who wanted to get into track racing, bought a GT350, then ended up getting motion sickness every time he went to the track!

Long story short, I think I'm going to start with something cheaper and less powerful to learn in. I have my eye on a couple of <$18k SRT8s from before the facelift. 425hp will be great for a starter track car, IMO. Put some performance tires on it and just go learn and have fun. Maybe if things work out and I love it, I'll move up to the Hellcats in a couple of years.

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[DGatzby]

Fun story: I rented an R/T from Enterprise last weekend just to test this out.

A month ago, I had rented a C7 from Turo to test out. Even on my country road circuit, the C7 was scraping and even bottoming out! That's what pushed me to ask the question about the Challenger here. I didn't really like the idea of having a performance car that can only be used on pristine roads and tracks - which I'm starting to feel like the Corvette is.

I took that Enterprise R/T out, though, and beat on it hard. The country road circuit was no problem. I hit the worst part of the road at the fastest speed I was comfortable with and the splitter scraped just a little. But I mean, I had to really push it hard to get it to scrape - well beyond what a reasonable person would be doing on a normal backcountry drive.

But then I took it a step further! There's a paved forest service road up near Mt Rainer that I found while looking for camping spots in my 4Runner a while back. I remembered the road because it was bumpy as hell but would be an amazing driving road if it was smoother - almost Tail of the Dragon number of curves and hills! It's just amazing! But even just trying to maintain the speed limit (35mph in most places), my 4Runner was bouncing hard enough that my GPS was reacting as if there was a collision. I may have got a tire off the ground here and there, but I'm not sure.

I took the R/T there and drove it hard! Not as hard as the other road because it was night time and the road was really rough. But still, pretty hard. Maybe around 5/10ths. It scraped a few times but never bottomed out. I would 100% never take a Corvette on that road!

After renting the C7 and the R/T so close to each other, I think my decision is easy to make. I love the Challenger. I love not having to sit on the ground practically. I like that the car is more practical with the back seat and the more comfortable seats. I love the exhaust sound! And it's way more rugged. And from the videos I've seen here, a Redeye can keep up with a Z06 at the track. So, honestly I don't think I'm giving up that much track performance to get a Challenger.

I talked with my wife about it and she agreed, so we're almost certainly going to go with the Challenger. I don't think I'm going to jump straight into the deep end with a Hellcat or Redeye, though. It's kindof a big gamble since I've never track raced before and it might turn out to be different than I'd imagined. I know a friend who wanted to get into track racing, bought a GT350, then ended up getting motion sickness every time he went to the track!

Long story short, I think I'm going to start with something cheaper and less powerful to learn in. I have my eye on a couple of <$18k SRT8s from before the facelift. 425hp will be great for a starter track car, IMO. Put some performance tires on it and just go learn and have fun. Maybe if things work out and I love it, I'll move up to the Hellcats in a couple of years.

Thanks for the help everyone!

You will be addicted soon. Have fun, drive safe.

 

[Goins2754]

You will be addicted soon. Have fun, drive safe.

In the meantime, I'm going to be living vicariously through your YouTube videos! I need you to start posting weekly episodes of "Hunting Track Cars with the Redeye."

 

[DGatzby]

In the meantime, I'm going to be living vicariously through your YouTube videos! I need you to start posting weekly episodes of "Hunting Track Cars with the Redeye."

I should get my "track privileges" restored soon. Sorry for the lapse the past couple of months. Hope to keep you happy soon.

 

[EAGLE 5]

Fun story: I rented an R/T from Enterprise last weekend just to test this out.

A month ago, I had rented a C7 from Turo to test out. Even on my country road circuit, the C7 was scraping and even bottoming out!

This is precisely why I'll never Turo one of my cars out....

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Goins2754]

This is precisely why I'll never Turo one of my cars out....

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

No one should ever rent out a car they care about. I think a rental owner needs to see it as an asset with a value and nothing more. Even if a renter babied your favorite car, you'd be worried sick about it while it's out - wondering what the person is doing with it, to it.

Rental cars live hard lives. People drive them much more aggressively than they would their own car. Myself included. And in a sports car or performance car, that means some pretty hard miles. Nothing was broken though, so it's all good. Some scratches on that Corvette's belly pan isn't going to cause any problems.

 

[TrackDay]

I think you can get a 15 Scat Pack Challenger for the mid 20s or so now with a few miles. I only mention it since it has some newer features that may make it more appealing on the street.
Plus, who doesn't want another 60 hp or so?

 

[EAGLE 5]

I think you can get a 15 Scat Pack Challenger for the mid 20s or so now with a few miles. I only mention it since it has some newer features that may make it more appealing on the street.
Plus, who doesn't want another 60 hp or so?

This. I test drove a 16 Scat Pack in manual not long ago and It was around 29 or so without any sort of haggling thrown in there so yeah you can definitely do the newer car which is faster, better equipped and (subjectively) better looking too.

 

[hklvette]

I think you can get a 15 Scat Pack Challenger for the mid 20s or so now with a few miles. I only mention it since it has some newer features that may make it more appealing on the street.
Plus, who doesn't want another 60 hp or so?

This. For reference, I picked up my loaded '17 Daytona 392 for under 33k with CPO warranty. Granted, it had 58k when I got it (salesperson likely the first owner) but mid-20s is easily attainable for a '15. I think the equivalent in a Chally is the T/A package w/ Hellcat wheels and brakes. If you get one, definitely get a Tazer for it to open up the SRT configuration pages.

 

[TrackDay]

I had a 15 Scat Pack that I put a TA side stripe on before there was an official TA. I loved that car.

 

[Goins2754]

I think you can get a 15 Scat Pack Challenger for the mid 20s or so now with a few miles. I only mention it since it has some newer features that may make it more appealing on the street.
Plus, who doesn't want another 60 hp or so?

My budget going into this was $10k for the car ($4k for any repairs, tires, and brake upgrades). I thought that'd be a fair price for a entry level performance car that I could use for about a year or two. If it turns out I like track driving and want to do it more, I'd move up to a better car. $10k was plenty enough to find a decent condition C4 or C5 and $4k was plenty enough to replace the tires and brake pads.

But looking at Challengers, It's hard to even find an R/T for that price. SRT8s I'm finding are around $18k with somewhere between 60k - 100k miles. And I'm still gonna have to put tires and pads on it. That's definitely some budget creep.

This is part of the debate I was having over a Challenger vs the Corvette. You get so much more performance per dollar in the Vette. A C5Z is an amazing track performer that can usually be found right around $20k. And if I were to pit a C5Z against an SRT8, I'm not sure it'd be much of a competition. I still love the Challenger, but it's hard to make these "heart" decisions when I'm staring a such a restrictive budget.

 

[DGatzby]

So, here is my take. If you could race it, I'll take the Vette. Really race it, no HPDE. Damn things should lap faster. Hell, I took a novice driver for a lesson, and with about five laps of coaching, had him and his special carbon fiber Vette deluxe doing about a 2:00 lap up at BIR. Don't know if he could do alone yet. I believe it takes more (maybe more desire) to corner those things closer to the limits. Same goes for putting on the brakes in any car. It may be a bit more easy to get to the corner limit of a Challenger, while the others are not at their limit. We can brake with them and we can generally out accelerate them unless their supercharger is performing real well, and they are running the living snot out of it. Since you pass only on certain straights in HDPE you need to be able to roll race a Hellcat and get by them. A Hellcat can out roll race most things. If you even know a little about driving, you can pop a HC out of corners pretty easy. If you are buying it for just track, then rip it apart and make it light and have at it!

 

[EAGLE 5]

So, here is my take. If you could race it, I'll take the Vette. Really race it, no HPDE. Damn things should lap faster. Hell, I took a novice driver for a lesson, and with about five laps of coaching, had him and his special carbon fiber Vette deluxe doing about a 2:00 lap up at BIR. Don't know if he could do alone yet. I believe it takes more (maybe more desire) to corner those things closer to the limits. Same goes for putting on the brakes in any car. It may be a bit more easy to get to the corner limit of a Challenger, while the others are not at their limit. We can brake with them and we can generally out accelerate them unless their supercharger is performing real well, and they are running the living snot out of it. Since you pass only on certain straights in HDPE you need to be able to roll race a Hellcat and get by them. A Hellcat can out roll race most things. If you even know a little about driving, you can pop a HC out of corners pretty easy. If you are buying it for just track, then rip it apart and make it light and have at it!

This.....

I was going to say unless you're going for serious racing the Challenger should scratch the itch and get you on track and home comfortably. If you're trying to race and win then you really need a dedicated machine.

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[TrackDay]

A 2015 or newer Challenger suits your desire for a car that has some ground clearance, it's much more modern inside than a C5 Corvette, has a lot more room and is definitely more comfortable. If you want a track only car, the C5 Z06 is a hard one to beat for the money.

 

[Hemi Dave]

Looks like Wesley Motorsports lowered his WB Scat Pack and got new shoes.

I know the wheels are 19x12.5's as he stated so, but I don't know tires sizes or what he lowered it on.

**EDIT: Seems it's a coilover setup: "Fitting some new @BilsteinUS double adjustable MDS shocks and just starting to sort ride height."-Westley Motorsports