Drove a supercharged SRT8 challenger today....disappointed

[cmgolfr212]

A friend of my dad is a very high end business guy (owns the packeging company that does the packaging for dominion sugar) and is quite the car col590lecter. He purchased a SRT8 challenger with an auto when they first came out. He called us up the other day and said that we need to drive his "camaro eater".

He had a procharger installed with intercooler, corsa exhaust, headers etc. He said it had close to 590whp. I thought it would be hell on wheels but in all reality the auto transmission absolutely kills the car. Yeah its fun hearing the supercharger but when you punch it it feels sort of like its being held back. I took it from 0-110 and it really did not feel any quicker than the camaro. I donno if he was embellishing a little bit on the HP numbers but I was not impressed.

It was kid of cool though because it had significantly more torque ( when you floored it the front end lifted pretty good so you could hardly see the road!).

The SRT8 is a cool guy primarilly due to the styling aspect of it. The seats are also extremely comfy and hold you in nice, but the dash and console kill the interior IMO.


Anyway I know some people are going to call BS because of a lack of pics and no video but i'll try to get some pictures up later if I still have them on my phone.

BTW, he is the part owner of Alexandria of Chevy in Alexandria VA. I went in there to get some touch up paint and they had this sweet looking red ss/rs with white stripes. I asked who the lucky owner was that hadnt picked up their car and they said it belonged to the owner. I asked if the guys name was my dads friend and sure enough, its the same guy. Apparently 590whp challenger isnt enough to keep the guy from ordering a camaro!!!!

[Fatstackz]

Originally Posted by cmgolfr212

A friend of my dad is a very high end business guy (owns the packeging company that does the packaging for dominion sugar) and is quite the car col590lecter. He purchased a SRT8 challenger with an auto when they first came out. He called us up the other day and said that we need to drive his "camaro eater".

He had a procharger installed with intercooler, corsa exhaust, headers etc. He said it had close to 590whp. I thought it would be hell on wheels but in all reality the auto transmission absolutely kills the car. Yeah its fun hearing the supercharger but when you punch it it feels sort of like its being held back. I took it from 0-110 and it really did not feel any quicker than the camaro. I donno if he was embellishing a little bit on the HP numbers but I was not impressed.

It was kid of cool though because it had significantly more torque ( when you floored it the front end lifted pretty good so you could hardly see the road!).

The SRT8 is a cool guy primarilly due to the styling aspect of it. The seats are also extremely comfy and hold you in nice, but the dash and console kill the interior IMO.


Anyway I know some people are going to call BS because of a lack of pics and no video but i'll try to get some pictures up later if I still have them on my phone.

BTW, he is the part owner of Alexandria of Chevy in Alexandria VA. I went in there to get some touch up paint and they had this sweet looking red ss/rs with white stripes. I asked who the lucky owner was that hadnt picked up their car and they said it belonged to the owner. I asked if the guys name was my dads friend and sure enough, its the same guy. Apparently 590whp challenger isnt enough to keep the guy from ordering a camaro!!!!

Well with a Procharger I would expect another 100 -150 HP depending on the pulley. I can't imagine it "Not feeling as fast as the Camaro". They are already pretty dead even. Either you have a badly calibrated 'Butt Dyno" or he has not had the car tuned for the Procharger.

[MuscleCarz]

Guess he should have gone with the Kenne Bell.

[pharmd]

My guess is 590rwhp, is actually a guestimated 590 fly wheel hp.
Probably 450-480rwhp imho, especially based on your evaulation of the performance.

[Kris@BMCPerformance]

Unless that motor is forged or a stroker, it likely isn't 590 RWHP...more likely 500 or so at the wheels. Still should feel significantly faster than an NA SS. A base S/C kit on a 6.1L Hemi should run high 11's at the track with no other mods.

[blklacker]

Originally Posted by MuscleCarz

Guess he should have gone with the Kenne Bell.

LOL ownage

[cmgolfr212]

i donno. it was really weird. I was expecting it to not have any traction but it wasnt even fast enough to break it loose punching it from 20mph. It was pretty cool though because when I would get off the gas all of a sudden it sounded like a blow off valve from somewhere. I've never driven a s/c car so its prolly not a bov like my wrx but still kinda sounded like it.

[Fatstackz]

Originally Posted by cmgolfr212

i donno. it was really weird. I was expecting it to not have any traction but it wasnt even fast enough to break it loose punching it from 20mph. It was pretty cool though because when I would get off the gas all of a sudden it sounded like a blow off valve from somewhere. I've never driven a s/c car so its prolly not a bov like my wrx but still kinda sounded like it.

I betting it wasn't tuned then. My 300 SRT8 with just a AFE Stage 2 and a 180 t-stat and a canned diablo tune will light up the tires anywhere in 1rst gear with a stomp. Or from 30mph it will kick down, burn a little then a little scratch hitting second.
A CMR tune is absolutley necessary for forced induction mods,most head work, or running a bottle. Not sure at what point but, the fuel injectors get swapped out as well. I bet he just kinda slapped it on there and it just runs like crap. Trust me, You would have remembered that ride for the rest of your life if it was tuned properly.
Like everyone else, I doubt the 590 hp was a dynoed number and corrected to the wheels. On the other jhand, its not impossible or unheard of either.

[Sleestack]

Originally Posted by Kris@BMCPerformance

Unless that motor is forged or a stroker, it likely isn't 590 RWHP...more likely 500 or so at the wheels. Still should feel significantly faster than an NA SS. A base S/C kit on a 6.1L Hemi should run high 11's at the track with no other mods.

Right on. With low PSI, 590rwhp is highly unlikely. Probably he is estimating crank HP for shock value.

[cmgolfr212]

he said its only on 6psi

[GM4lyfe]

I meat this guy at the track with a Procharged SRT8 Charger and he said he put down 493 to the wheels.

[KarFan]

Yea probably not 590 rwhp as there is a Kenne Belle SRT8 that put down 510 at the wheels. Not sure what state of tune but just a youtube video.

The auto trans in city or street driving if not equipped with some kind of shift kit or higher rpm stall converter may feel less powerful that the car actually is. But at the track for consistant fast times it's the way to go.

[usmcbmw]

i like the srt's

[Fatstackz]

The Procharger has several options and stages to choose from as well.