Justified

"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight) 08/12/2015 at 10:05 • Filed to: Scat Pack Shaker, brown dog welding, josh welton, dodge, mopar, srt, challenger, 2015 challenger, savethemanuals

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“I wish I could justify getting a Challenger”

This was a comment left on Facebook under a photo I posted of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . My response?

“Fun is a justification.”

Now, obviously everyone has different obligations and responsibilities. But don’t look at me like I needed to buy a Scat Pack. Shit, I don’t even have a driveway. I’ve got 5 cars and I DON’T HAVE A DRIVEWAY.

No, I definitely don’t need it. But I wanted it. I wanted the experience. The sound and the fury. The fun. Why is fun always so low on the priority list? We’ve got a finite amount of time above ground, enjoy it! As my friend !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! said to me recently: “You’re dead for a long time.”

(photos by !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )

I’m not saying you need to buy a muscle car. I am saying you shouldn’t not buy one for the sake of your retirement fund. Come on dude, have you seen your cholesterol lately? We both know a dirt nap is likely coming before that super secure government backed savings plans comes into play.

Yeah, I did my part to #savethemanuals. Color was secondary to finding a T6060. I talked a big game about the TorqueFlight; I mean I drove that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and really ended up digging the ZF 8 speed a lot. In fact, the automatic car is pretty much better in every way: It’s quicker. It gets better gas mileage. It sounds better. There’s more of a tangible feel when you switch to Sport mode in the A8 versus the M6. It’s even got a little soul to it, somehow. It bangs. I really did enjoy it.

But money talks, and when I spent mine I bought the version with the Tremec 6 speed.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

And I ended up with a Pitch Black Shaker with flat black stripes and the black forged aluminum wheels. Black blackity black black. All of my friends let out a collective “WTF” when they found out about my color choice. I like driving cars; I don’t like, uh, washing cars...pretty much at all. But my friend !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at AutoLavish is part-detailer-part-warlock, and he did some kind of crazy spell slash paint correction slash voodoo slash top coat that still now, 3,400 miles later, looks incredible. It’s been raining a lot lately and I LOVE it because the water just beads up and slides off the surface, pretty much washing the car for me.

As a bonus, my wife Darla really digs the car too. We took it on a road trip to the U.P. and discovered how nice a Challenger with all the boxes checked off can be. If I would have ordered one it woulda been zero options. This one is fully loaded...again something I put up with for the sake of the 6 speed. But now that I have vented leather seats, how the hell could I go back to cloth like a peasant? F that noise and pass the Grey Poupon. Oh, yeah, and instead of a spare tire, or whatever usually fills the trunks in these days of mobile inflators, there are 2 10” subs. No, I’ve definitely gotten use blasting NWA at concert levels. Run flats make so much sense now.

And the Shaker. Maybe it doesn’t add any horsepower. Maybe it’s just there to look cool. But man does it look cool! Start the engine, it rocks back and forth. Shift, it rocks with the gear change. Maybe I’m easily amused. I’m definitely easily amused. But this is a pretty rad setup.

So yeah. That’s it. My new car.

Justified.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:10

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Congratz! Looks good.

duurtlang > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:21

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Question: is the guy in the picture unusually short or is that car unusually large? I’m not familiar with Challengers.

itschrome > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:21

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should have got a scat pack...

haha kidding, that’s a sweet ride for sure! I’d rock the hell out of that

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:24

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I daily drove a 2010 Challenger SRT8 for 3 years. This post is not helping me miss it less.

Like I’ve said before the Scat Pack is the biggest bang for your buck you can currently buy IMHO. I wish it would of been around when I bought mine.

Mine loaded tipped the scale at just under $63,000 CAD. The Scat Pack is almost $20K cheaper for the same performance (better in this case since I had the 425hp 6.1L)

atrombs > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:32

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So mean looking. I really love that hood scoop. Awesome buy!

JKER > itschrome 08/12/2015 at 10:42

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I’m pretty sure he did get the scat pack...?

itschrome > JKER 08/12/2015 at 10:47

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i just reread and I’m still not sure if he did or didn’t haha I took that to mean he should have bought it... derp I dunno..

Megamullin > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:49

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So...You’re my hero.

Just sayin.

asenna > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:50

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Kick ASS CAR congrats man, nothing like the sound of this thing with wide open throttle in sport mode, it is insane....here’s mine

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > duurtlang 08/12/2015 at 10:50

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Possibly both. I don't know how tall Josh is but Challengers are fairly big.

Josh Welton > duurtlang 08/12/2015 at 10:53

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I’m pretty much average height. 5’9”. Car is big, but I think the angle of the shot throws it off too. Never really noticed it one way or the other before.

CalzoneGolem > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 10:54

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Someone makes a lot more money than I do and/or has a lot less children to feed.

Josh Welton > itschrome 08/12/2015 at 10:58

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Uh....maybe re-read it again?

“I ended up with a Pitch Black Shaker”

“When it came time to spend my money”

“I did my part to #savethemanuals”

“So yeah. That’s it. My new car.”

Anyone else? Maybe I wrote it under the assumption that I bought the car and that was already a fact, but thought i was clear. Sorry if I wasn’t :)

Josh Welton > Megamullin 08/12/2015 at 11:00

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Hahaha thanks :)

Josh Welton > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 08/12/2015 at 11:02

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Mine was about as much $$ as you could spend on one, but it isn't a SRT officially so I could use an employee discount #. Plus insures as R/T. Definitely dig it.

Tapas > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 11:04

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Fuck to the Yes :)

Loved the article. Rev long and burn out :)

asenna > asenna 08/12/2015 at 11:07

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Oh mine is the 6 also. Throttle response in sport is much improved. I know what you mean about the 8speed auto though. My friend has a hellcat with it. I don’t think I would order the Hellcat without it.

Josh Welton > asenna 08/12/2015 at 11:08

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Nice!

asenna > asenna 08/12/2015 at 11:08

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WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 11:23

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I have to say, I completely hate you now. I hate you in the best way possible. That is a gorgeous car, and I want to take it. I’m pretty jealous.

Rock on. Solid choice.

ChooChooMotherFudger > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 11:31

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Since people are sharing there Challengers, I will too.

My black ‘09, 6 speed, R/T and my Dad’s 6 speed Hellcat. Had mine for 2 years now. I love this car, and I know the new ones are even better.

Congrats and have fun.

Josh Welton > Tapas 08/12/2015 at 11:31

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Damn straight!

Josh Welton > ChooChooMotherFudger 08/12/2015 at 11:33

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Rad, looks great man.

jkm7680 > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 11:36

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Looks great! Nice color choice also.

Tripper > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 11:50

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Congrats! I couldn’t agree more, first priority = fun, last priority = gas mileage.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 12:02

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DAMM nice car!

kitchenaire > asenna 08/12/2015 at 12:41

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Why wouldn’t you order a Hellcat w/o the auto? (I dont hate autos or anything, and if I was getting a Porsche Cayman I’d probably get the PDK, but I just figured that manuals work better w/ American V8s)

SummerFun > duurtlang 08/12/2015 at 13:16

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Both, the car’s a boat and the OP is short as fuck, lmao...

asenna > kitchenaire 08/12/2015 at 13:39

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To make the most of the car. The 8 auto in track mode has really hard fast shifts. The car is faster with the auto and it also at the same time makes the car so tame when driving around town in traffic but will instantly downshift and takes off faster than you could ever drop a gear with a manual. It also downshifts into corners or for slowing and you can manually shift with the paddle shifters. Don’t get me wrong the hellcat would be a ton of fun with the manual but it is a better car with the auto. I ordered the 6 speed in the scatpack to get that connection, the “mechanicalness” feeling that I get when I drive the old ‘66 Chevelle with the 4 speed muncie, to give it sole. The 6speed is a ton of fun, plus when someone looks in your window you don’t get the oh it’s an auto crap. You really need to experience it for yourself to see why. The 8speed in the hellcat is a really good transmission and the sounds (supercharger and exhaust) and unlimited ludicrous acceleration gives it a sole all its own. Just a side note FYI the naturally aspirated Scatpack’s exhaust is louder than the Hellcat’s.

Josh Welton > StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 08/12/2015 at 14:46

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Thanks!

TheOnelectronic > Josh Welton 08/12/2015 at 21:54

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Dang. I hadn’t seen you ‘round these parts lately. I was hoping you hadn’t left. Glad to see my favorite purveyor of gorgeous welds is still kickin’.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Josh Welton 08/13/2015 at 05:59

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nice!

random001 > Josh Welton 08/13/2015 at 06:35

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Amen to that. I ran around in a Corvette Z06 for 9 years, constantly asked why I had “such an impractical car” to which I responded “ Vroom vroom!” I miss it, had to sell it because child, but I bought a relatively practical, relatively fast family sedan. With a turbo. It is also a very fun car.

Josh Welton > TheOnelectronic 08/13/2015 at 07:35

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Right on, thanks!

mcdids69 > Josh Welton 08/13/2015 at 08:20

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They were asking whether or not you bought the Scat Pack, not whether or not you bought a Challenger. Which the obvious answer based on the badging is yes. And seriously, this is one of the most meaningful article that I’ve read all week and I wanted to thank you for writing it.

Also MASSIVE props for going with the Challenger. It’s not the fastest, it’s not the lightest and its definitely not the most efficient, but the car has a soul. It was built with a purpose. The way it makes you feel cannot be quantified on paper, nor can it be exampled to someone who just doesn’t get it.

I know this is Mazda’s new slogan, but driving matters, and not enough people nowadays understand that.

Andrew T. Maness > Josh Welton 08/13/2015 at 11:59

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And this might be all the justification I need to do the same thing. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve built this thing, I want to see it come to life.

Josh Welton > mcdids69 08/13/2015 at 12:16

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Right on!! Coincidentally my first two cars were late 80s Mazda 626s. Loved them. Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad it hit home for you!

Josh Welton > Andrew T. Maness 08/13/2015 at 12:17

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DO IT

Iforgotmygoddamnaccountname > Josh Welton 08/13/2015 at 14:34

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Fuck. Where were you back in March when I was on the fence about Mustang GT versus more-practical-but-still-fun GLI.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Josh Welton 08/14/2015 at 22:55

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Great article, great justification, great choice.

Had you bought the auto, it wouldn’t have been justified. It wouldn’t have registered high enough on the fun scale.

George McNally > Josh Welton 10/05/2015 at 22:54

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Nice car......I wish my Hyundai had a Scat Pack.