We Need A Demon That Can TURN

"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
04/13/2017 at 10:28 • Filed to: demon, srt demon, dodge challenger srt demon

Hear me out. We’ve seen the GT concept. We saw the ‘ADR’ mules. Now that they’ve become the Only Good In A Straight Line SRT Demon, why can’t Dodge make it handle?

Take the Demon, take all the drag racing goodies out of it, give it a competent track suspension (the kind of track with turns) and put some sticky NON-DRAG RACING tires on those wide wheels.

I mean, you COULD call it an AAR ‘Cuda Challenger, but that’s none of my business.

DISCUSSION (39)

Milky > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:32

Dodge already made the best turning car they could. No one bought it.

Blame yourselves.

Kinja'd!!!

Takuro Spirit > Milky
04/13/2017 at 10:34

Blame it on the price.

The “AAR” doesn’t need 840hp. Put the 392 in it. Charge $50k. Make it a ZL1 killer.

Textured Soy Protein > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:37

I’m not sure how much weight the Demon saves vs. the Hellcat (maybe like 200 lbs?) but the Hellcat weighs 4449 lbs. Even the Camaro ZL1 is 3926 lbs.

facw > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:39

It would take more than a suspension upgrade to make it turn.

PS9 > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:40

Nah. We already got muscle cars that can handle. The Chally never had any hope of becoming a ‘Ring god, So it sticks to what it does best; barreling down the straight like an angry rocket propelled chainsaw.

If you wanna challenge GT3s and what not at the autocross, the ZL1 and GT350 are there for you. Let the Challenger be what the Challenger is good at.

LongbowMkII > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:41

Physics. youre not making a LX platform competitive for cheap, too much mass, not enough tire.

vondon302 > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:42

So true! But now it’s gone and they go and build a Street legal drag car that can’t run it’s number without a cage. I love drag racing and the Demon has some cool stuff but the way Dodge is marketing it ugh. It’s not banned dammit it’s unsafe to run that fast!

Takuro Spirit > PS9
04/13/2017 at 10:42

That’s pretty much what the SRT guy said at the launch of the Demon, and I agree. But it would be fun to see what they can do with it.

Takuro Spirit > Textured Soy Protein
04/13/2017 at 10:44

Time will tell but yeah, I think they saved about 200lbs. So even at 200lbs more than a ZL1, it’d need a little more than 315 Cup tires at all four corners to be competitive. But how fun would it be to see that comparo?

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > vondon302
04/13/2017 at 10:44

The conundrum though is. When you add the roll cage will it still hit it’s number?

Takuro Spirit > LongbowMkII
04/13/2017 at 10:44

The Demon is 200lbs lighter and has 315's at all four corners. It’d be a nice start.

TheHondaBro > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:45

No.

Takuro Spirit > TheHondaBro
04/13/2017 at 10:45

Counterpoint: Maybe?

Milky > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:46

I mean its like 10X cheaper then a P1. But the SRT 392 is already $50k and it would still be a porker.

It not going to be great at turns so making it the quickest in a straight line is probably the right play. Get people hyped and make some more money on an aging platform.

Make the next gen Gulia or Ghibli based and then focus on turning.

TheHondaBro > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:47

No. Muscle cars aren’t for ultimate handling.

vondon302 > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
04/13/2017 at 10:52

I’m sure it will but that’s a lot of surgery to put a cage in. I believe the font 2 bars have to go through the dash and hook into the frame mounts not to mention the door bars.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:52

With apologies to Bruce Wayne, the Demon isn’t the Dodge that we need right now, but it’s the one we deserve.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:57

I think the engineers realized that they have cut up and bastardized the old e-class platform so much that all they can do is throw a big motor in it and pray. Now when they finally put it on a new platform? AAR all the way.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > TheHondaBro
04/13/2017 at 10:57

There’s about a half century of Trans Am history that would disagree with you.

Kinja'd!!!

66671 - 200 [METRIC] my dash > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:59

Replacing the Viper by reviving the ‘Cuda name as a lightweight(er) weight platform using the same supercharged V8 but for track use would be cool.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 10:59

I agree. The Demon was so underwhelming because Dodge already played that card with the Hellcat. It would be really cool if this thing could turn.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 11:02

Like everyone else is saying, the current platform is too fat. Dodge recognizes that and is focusing and making it do what it does best, go like hell in a straight line.

Maybe whenever they use/create a new platform they can focus on turning, but until then it really doesn’t make sense

Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns > TheHondaBro
04/13/2017 at 11:06

Counterpoint:

Keep in mind that both companies have been road racing these nonstop-well, short stop in the Camaro’s case-since the late 60's. Dodge was always more into NASCAR and the drag strip, but just a quicker ratio and better suspension would make a lot of difference.

TheHondaBro > Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns
04/13/2017 at 11:07

Those aren’t muscle cars. Those are pony cars.

Milky > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
04/13/2017 at 11:08

I believe those are pony cars. Might be pedantic but the Challenger really is a muscle car. The new ‘stang and Camaro are actually compact relative to the Dodge that is based on a large sedan.

CobraJoe > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 11:12

Why?

For the price you can get any number of cars that are built to handle well, some of them with a lot of power.

Let the Challenger live up to it’s strengths instead of forcing it to be worse than something else in it’s weakness.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 11:13

No, take the already destroked Hellcat engine, sans supercharger and install that. Then remove back seats, sound deadening, etc. Then give it side pipes. Call it the TA. Give that badge the car it deserves.

Ssfancyfresh > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 11:14

I don’t see why they wouldn’t. They’ve already got the widebody kit, the superfat wheel/tire package, and the light-weighting from the demon. Downsize the motor, add a manny tranny, and tune the suspension. It would be a neat little package that would add production volume for all those special bits.

Kinda like how a C7 Grand Sport is a Z06 minus big motor and carbon brakes.

Mister Win Blames People, Not Guns > TheHondaBro
04/13/2017 at 11:15

That’s not two hairs, thats splitting one.

Ssfancyfresh > Ssfancyfresh
04/13/2017 at 11:15

As fat and old as these things are, they are still pleasant to drive and handsome to look at. The added bonus is a usable back seat and a rationally sized trunk. It’s a decent package.

shop-teacher > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 11:30

Except it will still lose to the ZL1. It’s too fat.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Challenger. If I could afford a Plum Crazy Purple Scat Pack Challenger, I’d have one in a heartbeat.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Milky
04/13/2017 at 11:47

Well, I agree with you, there. It might be pedantic.

I’ve heard the whole pony car/muscle car debate before, but I don’t think it matters too much. As far back as the ‘60s, it was proven that ponderous, American hulks could go around corners, and there’s no reason modern technology couldn’t make it happen today. Yes, the Challenger is bigger and heavier than its competition, but they’ve already proven that it can get lighter.

I think taking a heavy muscle car and making it a track monster is far more exciting and surprising than just adding a much of power and going for quarter mile times.

Saracen > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 11:49

I think that Dodge took the drag racer route because they know that the Challenger is a huge, heavy pig, and there is no way to make to improve its handling to the point of being competitive with the Camaro and Mustang (while also being reasonably priced).

Challengers also feel like you’re driving a sofa, and have the numbest steering on earth. It was the right move.

Having said that, if you want a attempt a Hemi Challenger that can handle half way decently, start with an SRT 392, and throwing fender extensions and super wide wheels on it, with bilsteins at each corner..

Milky > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
04/13/2017 at 12:01

Bruh, they took all of the seats out and it will probably still weigh 4,200lbs.

Its almost a foot longer than the Camaro and Mustang. Which again are based off a small RWD platform and on its own platform, respectively.

Also lol at 2.3 to 60 not being exciting.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Milky
04/13/2017 at 12:14

Meh. It wasn’t even that exciting when Tesla did it earlier.

I just think they already played the Strip Monster card with the Hellcat. After all the endless hype, it’s just a Hellcat with more power and some fender flares. But then, I’ve never been that into drag racing.

Jayhawk Jake > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 12:47

Nah, we don’t need it. The Challenger operates in its space and it’s great for it. If you want handling get a Mustang or Camaro

nerd_racing > Takuro Spirit
04/13/2017 at 15:44

Why not throw the trailhawk trans and front end in there while we are at it too? That should help with cornering.

Spoon II > Takuro Spirit
04/14/2017 at 03:39

How does the Demon compare handling-wise to the Hellcat?

Takuro Spirit > Spoon II
04/14/2017 at 12:25

No real idea, but I’m sure those wrinkle-wall drag slicks do not like corners... I can’t wait for the first test of someone taking one around a slalom or skidpad.