ZL1 vs. Hellcat Challenger

[winterboy8]

What do you mean by "hero" run?

[Enough Already]

Hate to say it but just got back from the Detroit auto show and there are a number of cars continuing to escalate the HP wars and there will always be something better or faster out there. I for one am completely satisfied with my '13 M6, won't race on the street (until I get some Michelins ) and will probably never be on a drag strip. Just loving having an awesome car, sounds great and able to whip most others out there. Nothing to prove here. Thrilled to watch the heavy mod and racing guys - to each their own. It's just great to be in the game!!

[cal45]

Originally Posted by stc315

........Funny thing is I almost bought one, but went Camaro because my Chevy dealer was willing to make a deal on my Z and the robbers...I mean Dodge dealers wanted to mark up the hellcat by 10 grand! I imagine that a pulley and some tuning make it pretty close.

Yeah, me too - I was actually on a waiting list for one but Dodge couldn't tell me when I might see one plus their added ADM's were crazy- I like the Hellcat Challenger as the pure power was the lure but I still liked the style and feel of the ZL1 better. So after seeing how easy it was to give it more of a power boost with some proven bolt on mods, I traded in my 14 2SS in on my ZL1 and raised it's output a bit. I love how this car runs and it is my daily driver.

.

[Harley01]

Originally Posted by Enough Already

Hate to say it but just got back from the Detroit auto show and there are a number of cars continuing to escalate the HP wars and there will always be something better or faster out there. I for one am completely satisfied with my '13 M6, won't race on the street (until I get some Michelins ) and will probably never be on a drag strip. Just loving having an awesome car, sounds great and able to whip most others out there. Nothing to prove here. Thrilled to watch the heavy mod and racing guys - to each their own. It's just great to be in the game!!

+1 well said!!

[CALLAWAY11]

Originally Posted by BadSport340

Last time I was at the track I saw a bone stock Hellcat running 11.80's consistently with a grandpa behind the wheel. With slicks they can/do run 10's easily.

That grandpa has probably been racing for a while and has been around the block. Not all old guys are slow, just saying be careful before you judge

[stc315]

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

Leave this crap for the drag strip of track....

A freeway is not the place to be racing anything...too many unknowns variables on a public street.

You're absolutely right! I never give into the impulse these days, but I made a poor choice. I usually just accellerate to whatever the posted speed limit is as quickly as my Z will go.

It was a stretch of highway I'm very familiar with (10 miles between exits, dead straight stretch with rarely any traffic. No traffic that night). I was curious because my wife and I had really wanted to buy the hellcat. I've had numerous others try to get me to race them and I always waive them off, but this time curiousity got the better of me. No excuse.

[rontammy0]

Originally Posted by stc315

You're absolutely right! I never give into the impulse these days, but I made a poor choice. I usually just accellerate to whatever the posted speed limit is as quickly as my Z will go.

It was a stretch of highway I'm very familiar with (10 miles between exits, dead straight stretch with rarely any traffic. No traffic that night). I was curious because my wife and I had really wanted to buy the hellcat. I've had numerous others try to get me to race them and I always waive them off, but this time curiousity got the better of me. No excuse.

Don't worry about. ....everyone on this site has done something similiar over the years and if they come on here saying otherwise they are full of it. It's not the worst thing going on in the world. But saying that..having safe roads is very important.

[bobby35ny]

Here is a review I did back in July from another thread.

Here is an HONEST quick review of a hellcat from a ZL1 owner.
Owned Chevys all my life, I bleed Chevy blue but not a fanboy.

My boy got a brand new Challenger Hellcat stick a few weeks ago. I have driven it quite a few times now.

The car is faster than you think, No way it's 707HP, gotta be more!!
No HUD and basic passenger seat adjustments...:(
The Stereo ROCKS for a OEM system, much better than our BA. They put 2 subs in the spare tire hole.

The car is BIG and high, The nose is long, real long. While the car is BIG, you would THINK, the inside would have alot of room, not the case. Sure the driver and passenger is more roomy than our cars but not that much more but more for sure. The rear can hold 3 but no leg room.

The car is fast!! Did I say that already? LOL. The shifting is real nice, like a short throw hurst thats dialed in. Clicks in really nice, I find our shifter a little vague. Can it corner like our cars? HELL NO, but, it does corner much better than you would think being a car thats so big. Stops pretty darn good. close to our cars, I would think it would start fading after a few top end runs. Steering feels loose, not as tight as our cars. Rides pretty good, MUCH less road noise than our cars, however the car is LOUD, real Loud! close the windows and its nice and quiet until you stomp on it...

While our cars were made with the road race track in mind, The hellcat is a street car for sure, A darn good street car at that!!

If you are never going to see a track, the hellcat is a GREAT car, surprised the hell out of me, it handles pretty good for a heavy car.

My car feels like a stick in the mud compared to a hellcat, Guys, the hellcat is the real deal, It's that friggin fast and it turns too!!

No flames please, its Chevy's turn now and guess what, 650HP is not going to do it!!...:(

-Bobby

[Redlineviper]

Originally Posted by bobby35ny

Here is a review I did back in July from another thread.

Here is an HONEST quick review of a hellcat from a ZL1 owner.
Owned Chevys all my life, I bleed Chevy blue but not a fanboy.

My boy got a brand new Challenger Hellcat stick a few weeks ago. I have driven it quite a few times now.

The car is faster than you think, No way it's 707HP, gotta be more!!
No HUD and basic passenger seat adjustments...:(
The Stereo ROCKS for a OEM system, much better than our BA. They put 2 subs in the spare tire hole.

The car is BIG and high, The nose is long, real long. While the car is BIG, you would THINK, the inside would have alot of room, not the case. Sure the driver and passenger is more roomy than our cars but not that much more but more for sure. The rear can hold 3 but no leg room.

The car is fast!! Did I say that already? LOL. The shifting is real nice, like a short throw hurst thats dialed in. Clicks in really nice, I find our shifter a little vague. Can it corner like our cars? HELL NO, but, it does corner much better than you would think being a car thats so big. Stops pretty darn good. close to our cars, I would think it would start fading after a few top end runs. Steering feels loose, not as tight as our cars. Rides pretty good, MUCH less road noise than our cars, however the car is LOUD, real Loud! close the windows and its nice and quiet until you stomp on it...

While our cars were made with the road race track in mind, The hellcat is a street car for sure, A darn good street car at that!!

If you are never going to see a track, the hellcat is a GREAT car, surprised the hell out of me, it handles pretty good for a heavy car.

My car feels like a stick in the mud compared to a hellcat, Guys, the hellcat is the real deal, It's that friggin fast and it turns too!!

No flames please, its Chevy's turn now and guess what, 650HP is not going to do it!!...:(

-Bobby

No flames coming from here. I ordered a Hellcat when the banks opened up and put 5k down. After 4 months they told me I would have to pay 10k over. Got my deposit back and bought my ZL1. I am happy with my choice. I made it what no manufacture was going to. It will blow any hellcat off the road and is more unique as I have made mine my own.

[G7C ZL1]

I own both. Only modification to either vehicle is the addition of a catch can. I have never been at a dragstrip to do 1/4 mile times in any car. In November of 2015 I brought both cars to street legal drags at Auto club dragway in Fontana, CA. The first two runs in the A8 HC were 11.7 and 11.6. In the M6 ZL1 I could only pull off 12.8 and 12.9 Im certain a good driver would improve the Chevy's time (and the Dodge's time as well), but I doubt it would make up enough to beat the Dodge's time. Unmodified, the HC is without exception the faster car at a dragstrip, even with the skinny tires. I haven't tried either at a road course. I would posit the Chevy being better at laps based on my own driving experience. I think the cooling was done better in the Dodge as there is up to a 25 degree difference while cruising and 10-15 at idle. I normally see 225-228 oil temps in the Chevy cruising or idling ambient temp notwithstanding. The Dodge does 195's cruising and 210-212 at idle. All measurements taken from factory gauges.

Any car can be modified to do better than either of these two in stock form. Either of these two are great places to start if you are into modifications. Get what you like, or like what you get. Either car will be the fastest car on the street 9 times out of 10. Based on the platforms they were built from, these two cars were built with different focus points; one excels in areas the other might be considered deficient in. To me they were different enough that owning both was not redundant. I am no fanboy of a certain make or have any loyalties to the same. If you are worried about being the fastest, keep worrying; there is always something faster.

[2013 ZL1 #7860]

Originally Posted by newagemuscle

They are heavier, but they have the ability to put the power down and are making more power than a ZL1.

285 all seasons, broken toothpick driveshafts, broken axles and spun lower blower pulleys because Mopar built a 700hp supercharged car and didnt think they needed to pin or keyway the crank pulley...

Sounds exactly like a car built right and can put the power to the ground...(Sarcasm)

In all seriousness, no crank pulley pinning or keyway, driving a blower that Mopar advertises as requiring 85hp to spin is not forgivable IMO. Replacing entire motors or at best the crank shaft on a new car is unacceptable. Having to pin it for peace of mind and void your warranty is stupid.

Wonder what else they forgot to do or strengthen?

[shawn18]

Originally Posted by 2013 ZL1 #7860

285 all seasons, broken toothpick driveshafts, broken axles and spun lower blower pulleys because Mopar built a 700hp supercharged car and didnt think they needed to pin or keyway the crank pulley...

Sounds exactly like a car built right and can put the power to the ground...(Sarcasm)

In all seriousness, no crank pulley pinning or keyway, driving a blower that Mopar advertises as requiring 85hp to spin is not forgivable IMO. Replacing entire motors or at best the crank shaft on a new car is unacceptable. Having to pin it for peace of mind and void your warranty is stupid.

Wonder what else they forgot to do or strengthen?

Nail..Meet Hammer... This post right here is my biggest fear in my Hellcat and one of a few reasons I am going back to a ZL1. I am in the process of working a deal on a 2013 Inferno Orange ZL1 M6. I am leaving today or tomorrow and headed to Florida in my Hellcat and driving my new to me Z back to NC. The Hellcat is a great car but I just dont trust it like I do a ZL1.

[crimsongtp]

Originally Posted by KaBoom1701

Leave this crap for the drag strip of track....

A freeway is not the place to be racing anything...too many unknowns variables on a public street.

[DRKS1D3]

Originally Posted by crimsongtp

Why do you disagree?