Drove a 2012 SRT8 392 Challenger Yesterday

[Lou_Dorchen]

$2k for an exhaust upgrade? What does that include? It better be more than just a set of aftermarket mufflers.

[Lou_Dorchen]

Originally Posted by strych9

This is correct. A stripped-down SRT8 392 (no stripes even) sells for $46.5k. The MSRP on the Yellow Jacket is $50,105 and is fully-equipped.

The Dodge Challenger site says the base 392 starts at $45,125 and the Yellow Jacket stars at $46,620.

FYI, those are for the 2012 models. The site doesn't list the Yellow Jacket model on the 2013 models.

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by Lou_Dorchen

The Dodge Challenger site says the base 392 starts at $45,125 and the Yellow Jacket stars at $46,620.

FYI, those are for the 2012 models. The site doesn't list the Yellow Jacket model on the 2013 models.

You are correct. The Yellow Jacket was only produced as a 2012. It included stinger yellow paint, custom yellow Jacket stripe. yellow Jacket custom interior yellow stripe and stinger stitching. and custom stinger wheels. The challenger SRT8 392 is far more car than an SS Camaro and worth every penny if you ask me. I believe the interior is much nicer and more comfortable than the SS Camaro. It really has no competitor because it out classes the SS Camaro and 5.0 GT mustang ,but it gets out glassed by the ZL1 and 2013 GT500. I don't believe it was aimed to go the direction that the Camaro and Mustang has gone but rather to be a true muscle car through and through. This car is very nice to live with day in and day out and has more than enough power to get most people into a lot of trouble quickly.

If the Op thought the ride was stiff, I bet that he had in in sport or track mode without knowing. It rides very nice in auto. It has the same suspension as the 2013 GT500 and it handles a lot better than people think for it's weight
And speaking of the weight, Look at the true numbers comparing like options to like options and you will see that it's only about 180lbs heavier than a Camaro equip't that same way.

[alaskacamaro]

Originally Posted by Stiffy

haha 50hp is definitely enough to overcome the difference. The 392 has the SS man. You don't have to believe me, there are several testimonials from members on here.

I should hope a muscle car with more HP and having a base price almost 10K over mine is going to be a bit faster. The price difference was a big reason I didn't go with the Challenger. While the Mustang can perform, I just don't like the look or the "live" axle. Plus, I have been told the Camaro is really easy to mod the LS3 engine. In fact, I think Chevy actually did itself a disservice when it released the SS when the design and engine have a lot of potential.

[alaskacamaro]

Originally Posted by Stiffy

Haha, you said 50 hp was not enough to overcome the difference between the weigh of the two cars. Obviously it is. "My car weighs 3800 and the challenger weighs 4200.... That 50 hp the challenger has can't overcome the 400 pounds difference" (you the saying the camaro is faster here). Now you're Saying
What?

(Sigh)

Most of the post in here are saying a SRT vs. SS are close and comes down to drivers skill, not the car. It has to be similar to the GT vs SS where the GT wins because it has almost exact HP and is lighter. I think most of the "novice" drivers like myself are really not going to notice a huge difference between these three vehicles.

I dont want to make this a vs thread. All three of these cars are really nice and I wont knock anyone for owning any of them. I just don't feel it is right to pay so much more for a vehicle and have similar characteristics...

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by alaskacamaro

(Sigh)

Most of the post in here are saying a SRT vs. SS are close and comes down to drivers skill, not the car. It has to be similar to the GT vs SS where the GT wins because it has almost exact HP and is lighter. I think most of the "novice" drivers like myself are really not going to notice a huge difference between these three vehicles.

I dont want to make this a vs thread. All three of these cars are really nice and I wont knock anyone for owning any of them. I just don't feel it is right to pay so much more for a vehicle and have similar characteristics...

If you want to split hairs, look at some of the 392 times posted compared to some zl1 times posted. There are several 392's that posted faster times and that car is 7 to 10 grand higher. The 392 is much more car and has a lot more performance parts than the SS. I'm not saying that it compares to the zl1. What I'm saying is, like I posted above. It has no competitor. That 's why it's more than an SS but cheaper than a zl1.

[Camper]

Originally Posted by motorhead

If you want to split hairs, look at some of the 392 times posted compared to some zl1 times posted. There are several 392's that posted faster times and that car is 7 to 10 grand higher. The 392 is much more car and has a lot more performance parts than the SS. I'm not saying that it compares to the zl1. What I'm saying is, like I posted above. It has no competitor. That 's why it's more than an SS but cheaper than a zl1.

I dont care to get involved in this argument, but stating that the 392 has a lot more performance parts available than the SS is just a flat lie...

the 392 ECU is locked , leaving you limited on your upgrades..

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by Camper

I dont care to get involved in this argument, but stating that the 392 has a lot more performance parts available than the SS is just a flat lie...

the 392 ECU is locked , leaving you limited on your upgrades..

Calling facts a lie is very obtuse on your part. Look at the facts and you'll see that you're wrong.

It's foolish to use the modding argument to compare cars. When it comes down to it any car can be modded to beat another car if you spend enough money. I always love how people with lower model cars say that they can spend X amount of money and beat the Higher model. They fail to realize that the guy with the higher model can do the same and still be better than them. The modding argument is a joke and it has no influence at all for me on buying a car. I like to purchase them correctly from the factory.

Oh and another thing, the 392 can be modded. Do some research instead of blowing off. There are many 392's with superchargers and a few with twin turbos, and there is ways around the ECU. It just cost money as does modding any car. A simple B&G ECU upgrade that takes ten minutes to do will net the car another 3 tenth to 5 tenths with no other mod. That's huge in terms of quarter mile times.

[Bob Cosby]

If it were only 500 lbs lighter, I'd be interested. Love the look....

[newmoon]

Originally Posted by Camper

I dont care to get involved in this argument, but stating that the 392 has a lot more performance parts available than the SS is just a flat lie...

the 392 ECU is locked , leaving you limited on your upgrades..

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The ECU being locked is a problem (not for me I plan on staying 100% stock, been the mod path in the SS) but there is an alternative where you can purchase another ECU for about $800.00 that is tuned, you can then swap back to the stock ecu for warranty. The tune is canned so it is limited. There is also talk that the ECU will be offered unlocked at SEMA this year opening up tuning.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by alaskacamaro

(Sigh)

Most of the post in here are saying a SRT vs. SS are close and comes down to drivers skill, not the car. It has to be similar to the GT vs SS where the GT wins because it has almost exact HP and is lighter. I think most of the "novice" drivers like myself are really not going to notice a huge difference between these three vehicles.

I dont want to make this a vs thread. All three of these cars are really nice and I wont knock anyone for owning any of them. I just don't feel it is right to pay so much more for a vehicle and have similar characteristics...

There are a lot of other reasons the 392 is more expensive than the SS than just the Motor. It has unique Alcoa lightweight wheels, Bilstien adjustable suspension, standard leather, standard touch screen stereo, SRT specific seats, srt specific heated, flat bottom steering, srt sopecific Brembo brakes which are larger and more powerful the SS brakes, automatic climate controls, and I know I am forgetting some, but the base SRT is basically loaded sans nav, sunroof, auto, and 3 season tires.

[toehead93]

That still isnt much to me and most of thT is stock in a 2SS except the lightweight wheels and adjustable shocks. IMO the Dodge product has always been overpriced. Of course they sell them so who cares but imagine how good there sales would be if they were priced equal to the Camaro and Mustang.

[macwest]

I like the challenger but dodge just priced them wrong. I hope they do not do it on the barracuda. Add to it the locked ecu and 2011 and 2012 you are limited on upgrades. If you run numbers for power to weight the yellow jacket matches the 1LE camaro. That is to say the 3769 1LE weight I read was correct.

[Richy_Rich]

The dodge is built in 24 hours, and it looks it.