[Pyrrhus17]

My wife and I are shopping for our Dream car, we test drove a charger and really liked it ,our background is in some track days and autocross , and lots of canyon carving . The Challenger has caught our eye we both love the look but haven't test drove one . here is the question
How does this car handle the curves does it need coilovers and sways right away ? what are your driving impressions you autocross road coarse canyon carvers start bragging sell me on this car !!!! Thanks

 

[SRT8U]

Are you looking at an SRT or an RT? If you plan in tracking the car the SRT provides a much better starting point as you have better brakes, sways etc out if the gate. That said there is still a lot you can do to improve handling, braking, weight savings etc from there. We are big fans of road coursing our cars and have developed a complete line of suspension a and weight reduction products for this platform. So in short, yes the car can be a ton if fun on track, and yes you can make it a lot better as well!

 

[SRT8U]

Here is mine on the track, the 4 door variety

 

[Pyrrhus17]

Thanks ,yes we were looking at the srt8 , how do you find the stock challenger/ charger srt8 . what kind of "road course /track list " of improvement would you make ( the nonpowered kind ) (at first anyway ) Lol

 

[SRT8U]

Thanks ,yes we were looking at the srt8 , how do you find the stock challenger/ charger srt8 . what kind of "road course /track list " of improvement would you make ( the nonpowered kind ) (at first anyway ) Lol

Usual stuff like higher temp brake fluid and upgraded pads are the easy mods

Coilovers are a huge improvement over even the great SRT suspension
Sway Bars also a huge upgrade
Those are must dos if you track a lot IMO

We also have billet tension and fully adjustable, rear control arms, which are great not only better bushings for less deflection but also the adjustability helps on lowered cars
Bump steer correction kit
Sway bar end links
Subframe connectors (one of my favorite mods)
Also tubular fronts which actually adjust camber properly
Front and rear strut tower braces firm things up a but more
We now have a bolt in harness bar to enable install of harnesses

If you want to lose some weight we offer a rear seat delete, light weight bumper supports, tubular k member etc etc

Just depends how far you want to go.

I love the SRT cars on the road course, have done track time at palm beach international, homestead, Daytona as well as autobahn cc in Illinois. Tons if fun and my 06 is in the process of turning into a dedicated road race setup. In fact this weekend I will be on track testing some new yet to be released suspension bits

 

[Bigdodge]

There r a few guys tracking their cars on here. A few videos as well. They all say most people r really surprised that it can keep up and most times pass what most perceive to be faster cars. Don't think u would be disappointed. Its also great for long trips. I just got back from the Dragon a few week's ago. Looking forward to getting mine on a track.

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[wasp392]

I do track my car. Love the way it handles even in stock form. The SRTs are basically track ready cars. Sky is the limit when it comes to modifications and it all depends on serious you wanna get. If you wanna do a few track events a year for fun, you won't have any issues except tires. I've got almost a thousand track miles on mine. Never had any issues. Just tires. Heck, in the two years since I've owned it, it's never been to the dealer.
It all really depends on how far you wanna take it.

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[wasp392]

As far canyon carving, a stock A5 2011 challenger 392 (no ADS suspension for the 11s) ran the "2011 spectre 341 challenge" in 3:39.9 which is damn impressive.
Check out the link below for the results.
http://bangshift.com/general-news/videos/video-and-results-from-the-spectre-341-challenge/

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[Pyrrhus17]

That's just what I wanted to hear ,thanks for the link great info .Got to check out the video section as well.We are not looking to make a track monster , Although I am sure we will mod some things . Thanks again for the feed back guys !!! Wow what a great run up the canyon !!!!!

 

[555ss]

My 11 SRT8 m6 runs around NHMS with in 1 second of my 01 C5 coupe the SRT is dead stock right down to tires the C5 had R6's and aftermarket brakes, after 10 laps the tires are too hot but the car is flat fun to drive and it will out run a C5 Z06 on the straights and brake with it in to the turns even though it out weighs it by 1K .....

 

[Pyrrhus17]

June 12th 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Onboard Nordschleife on Vimeo just caught this video

 

[deranged]

Lowly base R/T owner here with only simple mods. (see signature).

If you are looking for a car that will get you to the corners while being comfortable and capable to haul any belongings easily, then you might want to test drive a Challenger. Myself, I would do the test drive rather spiritedly. Just saying.......



Probably the most fun I've gad with my clothes on;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elolr8t51wA


This was NOT the best run. The best run was the evening before, running with a McLaren Mercedes SLR. My $30k Dodge was not embarrassed by the $200k?+ "super car".

 

[Rush-2112]

I guess it wouldn't hurt to put this up again. If you have time, watch the whole 9 min video, there's a near wipeout in front of me, and some cool passing! I'm a green driver w/instructor.The car was bone stock. Surprised a lot of people at the track and both my instructors were very impressed with "how the car is set up". I'm hoping to get back there this year.
VIR Full course Dodge Challenger SRT8 - YouTube

 

[t500hp]

I tracked an SRT8 Charger for 2 years before buying a track-only mustang to class race W2W.

You need good brake fluid and pads, stock rotors are fine but won't last but a couple weekends. My 08 would blow power steering pumps so I installed coolers for PS, oil, and tranny all at once. Stock suspension, wheels, etc on street tires. Finally ran a weekend with a set of Hoosier's R6's and pulled 2:18's at VIR (look it up, that's fast!)

My car ran great out the box. Not sure what improvements might exist on the new ones??? Mine was (still is) my daily driver so interior and other MODS weren't an option.

 

[brandy16]

Thanks ,yes we were looking at the srt8 , how do you find the stock challenger/ charger srt8 . what kind of "road course /track list " of improvement would you make ( the nonpowered kind ) (at first anyway ) Lol

I have a 2012 challenger SRT-8. If you buy the SRT and its a 2013 and some if not all 2012s you will get the three mode dampening suspension. I have it on mine and it really stiffens up the suspension. I would buy the car take it out and then decide if and what to do to it. You will also get an SRT Track experience with the New SRT. They take you out to a road course and give you a one day driving lesson. I have been twice and I can tell you the new 2012 and up SRTs handle very well from the factory. So before you spend money on parts you don't need test it for yourself and see.

 

[brandy16]

I tracked an SRT8 Charger for 2 years before buying a track-only mustang to class race W2W.

You need good brake fluid and pads, stock rotors are fine but won't last but a couple weekends. My 08 would blow power steering pumps so I installed coolers for PS, oil, and tranny all at once. Stock suspension, wheels, etc on street tires. Finally ran a weekend with a set of Hoosier's R6's and pulled 2:18's at VIR (look it up, that's fast!)

My car ran great out the box. Not sure what improvements might exist on the new ones??? Mine was (still is) my daily driver so interior and other MODS weren't an option.

All the things you did to your 08 came from the factory on my 2012. They have made a lot of improvements. The stock brembos are as good as any you can buy. They run them hard at the SRT experience with no brake fade at all.

 

[O_Racing]

if an SRT, when at the track, swap for some good tires, take some 275 low profile with soft compound; that will fit easy on a 9" stock rim; swap brake fluid, put some brake pads worth of the name (carbotech, hawk, ECB) and drive with an instructor at first

with sport mode on and a good driver with traction control off you can make a lot of guys jealous with your tank

add a REM 4 point tower brace in the front and that car can push >=1g of cornering force easy right there and then

fun, fast but not quick that car given its weight outperforms road handling of a stock M3 or any Merks out there and of course mustangs and camaroz but i did not need to say that it is obvious

buy it and drive it like you stole it meaning 3.5k to 6.5k rpm at all times or the magic power band

Cheers

ODP

 

[Pyrrhus17]

Really enjoying the videos guys thanks !!!! Thanks for all the great info !!!

 

[Bigdodge]

June 12th 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Onboard Nordschleife on Vimeo just caught this video

Love that video. That guy is flying.

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[SRT8U]

Love that video. That guy is flying.

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That is Luc, a customer of ours and also a Challenger talk member.

Lots of mods to his Challenger
Vortech Supercharger
KW Coilovers
Strut Tower braces
Sway Bars
Exhaust
brembo 8 Piston Brake upgrade
And more