For $65k New Hellcat Widebody vs C8 w/ Z51 Package

Lets say one has $65k for a new american sports car and ignoring the whole c8 production freeze. 

Challenger Hellcat Widebody  717 warrantied HP 

vs

C8 w/ Z51 package   Americas budget supercar.

Hrm... They both do fast in pretty copious amounts... Do I want to turn? Yeah, C8 for me.

Mid engine is pretty cool. C8 for me 

Do you need a back seat?  Challenger

Do you not need a back seat?  Corvette 

I would need a back seat, I'm still getting the Corvette. 

Enough power plus turning...C8 here.

Hellcat for me. Looks better, sounds awesome, easier to live with in real life. Also, the Hellcat has been out for a while and the gremlins have all been sorted out. The C8 is an all-new car and development/production has been hampered twice now, the big UAW strike and now Covid-19, which makes me think that the first year cars are going to have some serious teething pains.

I'm struggling to wrap my head around the idea that I can get over 700 hp with a warranty for $65k.

If it’s my only car, Hellcat.  If I have another car for a daily driver, C8.

Other than the rear seats, I can't see the Challenger being even in the same ball park. The C8 is faster 0-60, about tied in the 1/4, and would destroy the Challenger around a road course. Either one is going to have its own set of "American car" foibles, but the added bonus of "Italian owned, Mopar built American car" foibles for the Challenger. I'm not sure the teething pains are going to be as bad as the run of the mill Mopar pains. And I say that as a Mopar owner.

dculberson (Forum Supporter) said:

Other than the rear seats, I can't see the Challenger being even in the same ball park. The C8 is faster 0-60, about tied in the 1/4, and would destroy the Challenger around a road course. Either one is going to have its own set of "American car" foibles, but the added bonus of "Italian owned, Mopar built American car" foibles for the Challenger. I'm not sure the teething pains are going to be as bad as the run of the mill Mopar pains. And I say that as a Mopar owner.

I think the Dodge still holds up if your desire is for more of a traditional muscle car. Of course if you want more than just brutal acceleration you get the Corvette, but I can see the appeal with the Hellcat. Personally, I'm not the type to spend so much money on a track toy given the financial risks associated with that, so my decision between these two would come down to more subjective considerations.

Hellcat for me, hands down.

I'd rather a Charger than the Challenger. And for less money I'd rather cram that engine into a magnum

Base model Vette's always seem pretty pedestrian after the hotter versions are released a year or so later and overshadow them.

The Widebody Hellcat is never going to seem like a base model. Plus it's the only option with a manual if you're into that.

Currently own and daily a challenger, I can say it's a great at being a daily with a useable back seat (fits my 11 year old and 2 year old) and huge trunk. But I wouldn't take it to a autocross or track day and expect it to do great but it would still be fun. 

If adding to current stable, corvette.  If only car, i have kids so challenger(but would opt for charger if given the option)

mr2s2000elise said:

Hellcat for me, hands down.

Exactly.

I am a lifelong Corvette fan. I've been to the museum (not as exciting as I had hoped), my parents own the 67 I left my wedding in. I've driven a C3 and C4 and loved them. 

I think the C7 and C8 were beaten hard with the ugly stick. They are undeniably better around a racetrack than the Challenger, but gosh, so ugly, especially the C8 interior. The Challenger is way way better looking, and probably better to live with.

So I add a third option.

Take this:

For whatever salvage auction would get, maybe $20K, and add some work, some measurements from the aforementioned museum, and make this fit:

There, that's my choice.

The Corvette strikes me as a worthy successor to the hairiest car I've even been in, the 2005ish fordgt. That was an amazing experience. 

The hellcat, I'm with everyone else. Lemme get that charger. A much better looking car imo. 

Another thought, if it matters, I'd expect Corvette depreciation to track like it has historically. That is to say that while the C8 is a milestone, it will likely be eclipsed by subsequent year's models performance-wise, and thus a first-year C8 probably won't be worth as much as later C8s until they get old enough for the fact it's a first-year car means something to collectors.

I'm also guessing Hellcat production - especially widebody variants - is far less than C8 production. Add in that from what I see on the streets, Hellcat owners are more likely to drive(wreck) their cars than the average Vette owner, and I think you potentially could own a Hellcat for several years & not lose a bunch of money.

Adding another, the Hellcat reminds me of the top hat guy asking "What if we tried more power?" over and over and over again here: https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/

I like that.

something about melting the tires at ease with a front engine 700+ hp car seems like a blast for me, Ill take the challenger.  Ive also seen a couple a track day.  They hold their own better then a car that heavy should be able to.  

MrFancypants said:

I'm struggling to wrap my head around the idea that I can get over 700 hp with a warranty for $65k.

I'm furloughed, so I'm trying to wrap my head around just the $65k part 

Definite vote for the C8.  It is a tuned, mid-engined, capable track car for the street.  The Hellcat is a heavy, floppy sedan with a monster under the hood.  If you want to actually USE the hp for more than bragging rights, get the C8

eastsideTim said:

If it’s my only car, Hellcat.  If I have another car for a daily driver, C8.

This

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

MrFancypants said:

I'm struggling to wrap my head around the idea that I can get over 700 hp with a warranty for $65k.

I'm furloughed, so I'm trying to wrap my head around just the $65k part 

Definite vote for the C8.  It is a tuned, mid-engined, capable track car for the street.  The Hellcat is a heavy, floppy sedan with a monster under the hood.  If you want to actually USE the hp for more than bragging rights, get the C8

I think I would defer to my four year old on this one.  Show him both, and buy the one he gets more excited about.    I'd find something to love no matter which one ended up in the garage.

Another vote for the c8. The hellcat is awesome, but not on the same level as the Vette.