One Week Drive: Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack

"Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom" (will-alib)
06/22/2016 at 00:28 • Filed to: Charger Scat Pack, reviews, Will Alibrandi

Plum Crazy. You either love it or love it.

The Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack is a throwback to the good old days when building a fast car meant little more than shoehorning the biggest motor possible between the shock towers. That formula still works but there are precious few examples left in today’s turbocharged small-displacement FWD environment. The Charger R/T combines a thumping V8 sending power to the rear wheels with some slick bodywork in one tidy package. The Scat Pack reviewed here is the cheapest route to the 485hp 6.4L hemi, and it does away with leather interior and navigation to bring the base price in just below $40k. If that’s a bit rich for you the 375hp 5.7L hemi can be had for a starting price of just under $34k in the Charger R/T. No bad choices here.

Just open the hood, pause and smile when you think of your neighbor with his new $40k Avalon... Chump.

6.4 liters of Mopar fury for $39,995 base price? That’s got to be one of the best dollar per horsepower deals out there. 485hp and 475lb-ft motivate this beast 0-60 in the mid-4s and tops out at an electronically limited 175mph. The ZF 8-speed autobox shifts quickly, ripping off shifts when in banzai mode, but smooth as can be when shuttling grandma around town.

And that sound ... The exhaust note is throaty with a nice burble when cruising through town, but mash the pedal down and you get the aural experience of a NASCAR stocker (minus a few decibels). The combination of horrific forward thrust and a goosebump-inducing soundtrack makes grown men giddy. (Well, this one anyway) This is a car you can get in trouble with if you don’t suppress your inner teenager’s temptation to punch the throttle driving out of corners. Best advice? Keep the traction control on. It is your friend.

Four-piston Brembos up front do an excellent job slowing down 4,400lb of automobile. They can be a bit grabby however if you’re not used to that kind of braking power. The 245/45-ZR20 is a little less tire than the Hellcat Charger comes standard with, but still perfectly adequate for most driving situations.

Analog tach and speedo flank a configurable gauge cluster showing selectable instant HP or torque readout. The dash does look a bit plasticky without the SRT’s faux carbon fiber treatment, but it’s a minor detail. Thankfully Dodge stuck with rotary knobs and buttons for radio and HVAC controls. The test car came with the optional Uconnect 8.4 Nav which was intuitive and simple to operate. Drivers with big hands will appreciate the thick-rimmed wheel with thumb detents.

Do people really track these cars? If so, the launch control function is helpful and impressive to passengers.

The launch control is adjustable through this screen that pops up when you hit the Track Pack button on the console. While functional, it seemed a little gimmicky in a sedan, even with a monstrous Hemi providing the motivation.

See that second switch from the right? That’s the one that’ll keep you out of the weeds.

In Dodge-speak, “Sport” means “Off” on the traction control settings. Trying to take off from a stop quickly without tire squeal is virtually impossible. With traction control off, tire spin is inevitable. And fun. The steering toggle changes the weighting on the steering wheel while the Engine/Trans toggle raises the throttle sensitivity and adjusts shift points. The steering in normal mode is pretty heavily weighted with good feel but the car’s mass does show a bit. On the road the suspension does a good job in soaking up bumps in the pavement without upsetting the back end. Pushed hard in turns though, pavement ripples will cause the rear to kick out a bit; a giveaway to the car’s five-link solid axle rear suspension. The ride is firm but not harsh -the chassis might be getting old but the Charger hides it pretty well. The seats are comfortable but with little side bolster to hold you in place during spirited cornering. For 90% of applications they’re perfectly adequate. Visibility out the front and sides is excellent even if the rear is a little restricted, but nothing that will trigger claustrophobia.

Bottom line? If you’re at the point in your life where your driving choices are being dictated by your life choices, this Charger will make you feel a lot better about your decision to procreate. Sure, you might have two child seats in back with Cheerios crushed into the upholstery and juice stains on the carpet but all that is quickly forgotten once the right foot is planted and you’re thrust into the seat as if by a catapult launch. The R/T Scat Pack is a no-apologies performance sedan that will comfortably perform as a family-hauler, but is never far away from silly grin-inducing performance.

DISCUSSION (17)

Sam > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 00:50

I feel like we must study people who don’t like purple cars. They obviously have something wrong with them.

CB > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 00:52

Damn I dig this car. And with the exchange rate, apparently they’re cheaper here. Huh.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Sam
06/22/2016 at 00:53

Plum Crazy is not for introverts.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > CB
06/22/2016 at 00:54

Lots to love about the hemi Charger. Where’s “here” btw?

CB > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 00:55

Canada.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > CB
06/22/2016 at 00:56

Beauty.

I can see this being on the short list when I get out of my Town Car.

Sam > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 00:58

Purple has always been my favorite color. Midnight Purple is probably my favorite color on any car, ever. If I won the lottery, this would be my first and only major purchase -

Kinja'd!!!

(McLaren calls this ‘Amethyst Black’, but it’s totally midnight purple)

valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 01:02

That’s a pretty car. The Scat Pack Charger and Challenger are definitely priced well for what you get.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 02:19

So if I’ve learned anything from aerodynamics class it’s that the air HATES things going through it at high speed. This must be incredibly aerodynamic for what it is.

So riddle me this; if this car is limited to 178 electronically and the Hellcat is limited to 204... how fast would the Hellcat go without the limiter?

Either way, love this car. The purple makes a cool car something special.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 06:51

Just got to drive a Challenger Scat Pack 6spd and absolutely loved it. The world needs more Scat Packs.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
06/22/2016 at 08:12

I assume the SP Challenger has the same ballsy exhaust the Charger now? The SRT8 Challenger I reviewed in 2013 was too quiet, it desperately needed a cat-back system.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Sam
06/22/2016 at 08:15

That car could only be cooler if it was painted in flip-flop.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > valsidalv, reminding you that infiniti is an option
06/22/2016 at 08:15

No doubt. The Charger is on the short list for when I eventually replace my Town Car.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
06/22/2016 at 08:29

Fluid dynamics, FTW! I don’t know if the Hellcat is limited. At 204mph the air resistance is huge, and to go any faster requires a lot more hp. My Gleim CFI book says drag increases at the square of the velocity so every 1mph over 204 requires an increasing amount of power to achieve.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
06/22/2016 at 08:31

Yeah it's pretty loud. I would hold third gear and let of the gas and it would burble and pop, lots of fun.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
06/22/2016 at 11:48

I noticed during full-throttle acceleration the Charger would backfire thru the exhaust a little between shifts. I drove through tunnels with the windows down to hear it. All cars should sound like that.

mr2gud2u > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
08/02/2016 at 13:31

I have a first gen SRT 8 Magnum. Its really neat to see how much this platform has improved front to back. I dont think FCA gets enough credit from that.

I remember when you posted that you were going to have some time with this car. I was really excited to see your review and I have been mean to reply for a few months now. It’s really sad to see the state of V8 rear drive sedans. That being said Dodge is doing a hell of a job marketing they cars. The Charger will never speak to the milk toast Camry guys that think cars are strictly for transportation. It will never have monster sales numbers, and that’s ok. I know the end is rear for the LX platform. Its will be sorely missed. The Scat Pack wont be posting really great autoX times anytime some, but how does it turn in and roll compared to the 1st and 2nd gens? Great review btw