I am in the process of buying a 2016 Scat Pack I have driven both and I am on the fence. Both of my current cars a manual transmissions. I am hoping I can get some feed back on this. What I want to know is what kind of gas mileage you have been averaging with either transmission. I know this is a performance car and I should buy something else if I want the best mileage but I just want to have a clue what to expect and which transmission is most efficient. After driving both I know the auto is much quicker. I have been driving a manual for over 20 years and I know I cannot shift as quick as the auto can. If you have taken either to the drag strip I'd like to know what you ran. I'd also like to know if you dyno'd your car what kind of numbers you laid down. I have been seeing 430's at the wheels but I cant tell if the numbers i have seen are for an Auto or a Manual. Anyone ever road race their's and what was the experience. I see that many of you have gone from the manual to the A8. Are you happy. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your response.
My usual answer............"Do you want to shift/clutch all the time or not."
That said, I love the A8. Best tranny that I've ever owned and driven. Myself, after owning the A8 for nearly a year, I wouldn't even consider going back to a manual.
I don't track mine, just a street driver, cruiser, road trip car, that's a ton of fun and FAST.
It's kind of like a do you like blue or red question. It's all your preference. Yes the A8 is faster but to me the m6 is much more fun to drive. I prefer the manual and this is the average I get in my HC. Good luck with your choice
I never owned a Scat but I've owned four Challenger R/T's and now have a Ram R/T and there's a 90% chance I'll add a Challenger SXT Plus by the end of the week. Three of my four Challenger's had the M6 and the other the A5. My Ram of course has the A8. I like the A8 trans. It took a while to get used to the added gears shifting so quickly, but it's a very nice transmission. On my past Challengers, I got well above rated mileage with the manual and pretty much at rated on the A5. My A8 gets below rated mileage. The deciding factors for me if I were to get another Challenger R/T would be from my experiences with the past one's. The M6 was just far, far more fun to drive and the mileage was an added bonus. The MDS makes the auto a no go for me. I know, the sport button turns it off. But that, to me, band aid CAFE standard prompted system just being there bugs me. I wish I could have gotten an M6 with my Ram R/T. When I forget to turn it off on that vehicle, I am quickly reminded of it when that bogged down engine drone sound hits me. I've run with MDS on and off and found no measurable difference in mileage. So my vote, go with the M6.
^^^^this. Wife has a DCT M3, kinda best of both worlds they say, but I'm not the paddle shifter type so my SPS had to be a true manual. There is a difference between steering a car and driving a car as you know. You'll get better mileage with the auto, good luck with your choice.
I love the functionality of my A8, it's a great transmission, but I think the shift knob is ugly. Dodge has really improved the interior styling of the '15/'16 Challengers, but the faux brushed steel plastic of the shift knob looks cheap and out of place. I'm not even sure I can replace it with an aftermarket piece because the gear indicator is on the knob. If you buy the manual you'll save money on gas and tires, but if style is your main concern I think you'll be happier with the stick.
I'm pretty sure you'll have a blast either way, though. Congratulations in advance!
The best I have done at the strip is a 12.77 in my 2012 SRT 6 speed. The only times I beat the a8 at the strip is if they are asleep at the tree. I always have a lower trap speed and and a slower ET.
It all boils down what you want to do with the car. You seem to be worried about 1/4 times. Is it for bragging rights or do you want to race the car? Is this car going to be used as a daily driver, or a weekend toy? Where do you drive? Nice open country roads, or packed highways in LA, or NY, etc.
I have the six speed. I don't care if someone's car whether it's an A8, Mustang, or a SS is faster. As I don't have the time to take it to the track. I love driving the manual. That's when I actually drive it. When I'm sitting in bumper to bumper traffic, I curse it, and wished I bought the auto. Otherwise when everything is going good. I love driving the Manuel. Which ever you choose, you will love it.
If you have nurtured a life long commitment for manuals, get the M6. If you are on the fence, get the auto. As much fun as the stick is, likely you will be wishing for the auto the first time you are stuck for an hour in bumper to bumper traffic. The 392 is fussier than any stock V8 I've driven since the early seventies, they tend to be a bit of a beast in that crappy stop and go situation. They really are at their best on open roads. That said, if you spend a lot of time canyon carving in the mountains, or any kind of road racing, the manual is the only choice for real control. I do love my M6, but I realize the urban streets of Dallas are not the ideal for her. The Ozark mountains of my youth are the ideal place to enjoy her, and I'm planning a weekend back there next month.
Thanks for all the input. Most of my commute is on the highway and it looks as if the mileage is in the 20's either way (gas guzzler tax is what scared me) so that's plus. I drive 60+ miles round trip so the mileage is important to me. I think after reading these responses I'm gonna pull the trigger on the manual even though the auto is quicker. Again thanks for all the responses.
I love manuals and was on the fence too, but I went with the A8 after test driving both. With the manual paddles and shifter you get 80% of the joy of self shifting when you want it, and none of the drawbacks in traffic. And honestly, when you punch the throttle and the back end kicks out a little, having both hands on the wheel gives you better control.
You'll be happy either way, it just depends on what experience you are looking for.
I love manuals and was on the fence too, but I went with the A8 after test driving both. With the manual paddles and shifter you get 20% of the joy of self shifting when you want it, and none of the drawbacks in traffic. And honestly, when you punch the throttle and the back end kicks out a little, having both hands on the wheel gives you better control.
You'll be happy either way, it just depends on what experience you are looking for.
If its your daily driver the automatic may be the right thing for you. I love my 6M but its just a "hobby" car for me. My daily driver is a '12 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L HEMI automatic.
I have a 2011 SRT8 and after driving both i chose the manual. It's just more fun. I get around 18mpg and that's including some bumper to bumper traffic plus city and highway. About 1/3 of the cars ive owned are manual and i ride motorcycles so shifting is a normal thing to me. The manual just felt natural for that car. To me, slapping it into 3rd and nailing it is way more satisfying than just stomping the gas and letting the car decide what to do.
That said I've driven the A8 and it's damn nice. Just depends on what you want the ride to be like.
Well the stick shift will be extinct soon so this may be your last chance to own one. Also since a lot of people can't even drive one it's even more of a theft deterrent.
Owned both......A8 best transmission hands down....the M6 doesn't even compare....like not even remote close to unleashing the potential of the car. Faster and just as much fun using the paddles to shift....also, remote start and other features too. If you daily drive, stick becomes a nuisance.
I can't decide this for you because you are the one that will be driving the car, not me. I have the A8 in my 2016 Hellcat and I love it and you're right, you cannot shift the M6 as quickly and smoothly as the A8 shifts. Does the model you're looking at have Auto-Stick like the SRTs do? Because that would sort of give you the best of both worlds and you could use that if you felt like running through the gears every now and then.
I test drove both and while I liked the A8 I didnt like the way it downshifts and throws you forward when your coming to a stop. I know that is a normal engine braking feature on the A8 but to me it felt like something was broken. I drove the M6 and it was really smooth so it all comes down to what you really want. I am a manual person but the one thing that has me still contemplating the A8 is the fact that this is such a big car. I have driven Manual camaros and mustangs and even my 2014 GT M6 felt no where near as big as the challenger. Even some of the reviews I have seen say the M6 is great but the car is more difficult to navigate and may be easier with the A8. Im afraid to get the A8 as I have always gotten a manual trans. I figured the auto can be for the daily beater.
If you prefer manual then get it. I've had both the 392 and HC in manual and they are phenomenal. I made the mistake of getting a auto Jeep because everyone said that's what I should get. I regretted it as soon as I drove it off the lot and traded it for a manual a year later. You get used to the size of the car very quickly.
I was in the same quandary when I was going to place my SRT order. This car was/is my retirement send-off.
I had originally wanted the M6 and test drove the Scat and SRT which both had the M6. Excellent clutch pressure, engagement and the shifter was perfect. The only reason I changed and ordered the A8 was due to both my sons stating that being I planned on keeping this car for the long haul and I already have hip and knee issues, I might get to the point where pushing a clutch will be more painful and take the enjoyment out of driving the car.
Now with all that said, do I miss the M6? Definitely! But on the other side of the coin, this A8 is FANTASTIC! I've never experienced and auto tranny like this one. She's butter smooth when up shifting in 'StreetMode' when driving normally and also has a nice detectable slide when down shifting. This becomes more pronounced when in 'Sport Mode' and she actually Bang Shifts in 'Track Mode'! Heck, what more can you ask for in an auto tranny?! I'm very satisfied with the A8 performance and feel it will be even more appreciated as time passes especially if my my hip and knee develop more problems.
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