Posted on 10/21/2016 7:42:37 AM PDT by rktman
Dodge’s Challenger Scat Pack Shaker (and no, the scat pack doesn’t mean it leaves stuff behind it on the road) is not only a great muscle car experience, it’s also an interesting lesson in semantics.
That’s because it teaches us that the word "standard transmission" no longer applies to a stick shift, at least in this instance. Nope, in this case, the 485 "horsepowerhouse" comes "standard" with an automatic transmission, whereas the great Tremec six speed stick manual transmission is a thousand dollar option.
And a good option, too - better than a lot of the nannies for which you can pay more!
And all for 57 grand! Well, to be fair, the base Challenger Scat Pack Shaker starts at a still substantial but somewhat less frightening $48,895 and, also to be fair, you get a LOT of car for that.
It starts with the retro design, of course, a design that very nearly made me want to seek out a couple of gigantic earth movers to test its ultimate stopping power. Fortunately, the urge reached its vanishing point quickly…
(Excerpt) Read more at canadafreepress.com ...
When I bought my FR-S, I read a lot of forums trying to find out if I wanted the auto with paddle shifters or the manual six speed.
In three years I’ve put 110,000 miles on my manual transmission, and spent a great deal of that time laughing and smiling. I can’t imagine I EVER considered the automatic.
BTW, I drive 160 miles, round trip, to my job in Louisville, about 2/3 of it on backroad twisties. I drift every day. It may be why I’m on my sixth set of tires.
Had to replace a car in April. I’m in serious love with those Challengers. A dream to drive. Sadly, out of our price range :(
Got a Mustang convertible for half the price but I’m still envious and drooling everytime I hear or see one of those Challengers.
Yeah, but it’s a Dodge. I ain’t payin’ no $50K for a Dodge...
A little off topic but it’s great seeing all the old restored cars these days. I saw somebody driving a like 1967 Buick Riviera the other day.
When I bicycle commuted from a Seattle suburb, I was shocked at how many classic cars I saw parked in garages on my way to work.
I think there are a lot more of them than most people think.
When one has a commute such as you, having a fun drive adds greatly to a happy life. Congratulations, and know that if you pass me, I am envious. I do love every mile I drive with the top down on my Mustang tho. Fixin to head 80 miles up to Ft. Worth now. A bit chilly but top down with heater blasting is still fun.
A side benefit of stick shift is that they are seldom stolen mainly because young thieves don’t know how to drive a ‘stick’.
For three years (twice a year:) I commuted 4000 miles round trip in my 70 Dodge Charger SE. One way,32 hours was my best non-stop (ok gas stops) time.
Not really off topic. Muscle is muscle. You should try to make it to Reno for Hot August Night sometime. Thousands of restored and unrestored cars from ‘72 and earlier. Sensory overload for sure.
I’ve always been into smaller sports cars. For me it was a Vega GT followed by an Opel GT. And now I have the FR-S.
But visiting my son in Tacoma a few months ago, he wanted me to drive his new mustang. It is a pretty much fully tricked out version with a manual.
It was an exhilarating rush, pure and simple. I LOVED the experience.
Problem is, you can’t really enjoy it - legally.
Where I live, there are a lot of twisties with a 55 speed limit and no cops. A car with reasonable handling and good tire is an amazing rush on these roads. I’ve cornered so hard that I’ve made myself nauseous.
On a side note, I just got my Michelin Pilot Super Sports and drove in the rain on my way home yesterday. Their dry traction is almost as good as the Bridgestone RE11’s, but their wet traction is mind blowing. I had to push it like I do on dry pavement to get them to break loose. I don’t know what they put in those tires, but that was the most amazing wet road driving experience I’ve ever had.
Ever watch those “super speeder” youtube videos? You might like them regarding your drive time.
Sounds like both of us like to drive.
I own Two Way Blacktop and Vanishing Point. Terrible plots and acting, but GREAT car scenes.
However, at the price they want for a Challenger with equipped with the V-8 engine, I’m getting a Porsche 718 Cayman S instead. Almost as fast and one of the world’s best overall-handling cars.
I don’t watch the videos of racing cars. I do like the youtube videos for repairing cars though:)
Insurance prevents me from using my ‘37 as a daily driver. I do use it at least once a week.
I love the “burnout fails” and “exotic car fails” stuff.
Also, excerpts from the crash compilation videos should be used in driver’s education classes. I’ve actually altered my defensive driving methodology based on what I’ve seen there leading up to the accidents.
I also bought a dash cam for legal protection.
I used the repair videos to fix my tractor and my v-twin lawn mower. :)
And my heat exchanger on my HVAC.
Recently opted for Chevy’s 8 speed transmission in lieu of stick shift and have no regrets. When I want to wind things out a bit, the paddle shift does a good job. I just wish the paddles weren’t so cheap looking and feeling.
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