It was an interesting turn of events to step from the seat of the BMW i8 into the cavernous confines of the 2015 Charger R/T Scat Pack a couple of weeks ago but since someone has to do the dirty work, I gladly accepted the challenge. Not to blow the story so early on but the 2015 Charger R/T Scat Pack is everything you think it is going to be and actually may be a little more than that. Make no mistake, we loved this car and part of the reason we loved it was because of the fact that this is a car which does not try to dazzle you with bullshit. Instead it looks you square in the eye, tells you to stand on the gas, and when you do the reward is well worth the cost of admission.

Having had the chance to spend the better part of a week with a Hellcat Challenger earlier this summer, I was interested to see what I would think of the 392i naturally aspirated engine that was making the power in the front of the Scat Pack Charger. I loved it. The engine has a great roar that is not quite at the Hellcat level, but it has sounds that would intimidate any other stock late model driving dude around. The power is available through all parts of the RPM range and this thing with the traction control off is capable of killing tires like its more hairy sibling. The only difference between the two cars is that this one will eventually stop spinning the tires. The 8HP70 automatic transmission is really, really good and it responds amazingly well in manual mode as well as when the shifter is plugged into the normal drive mode. Upshifting and downshifting were fun and happened when we asked them to, not when the trans felt ready to act.

So what’s the deal on the “Scat Pack” situation? Basically Chrysler got the bright idea (and we do think it is a bright idea) to offer the SRT drivetrain options on cars that are not completely option laden and available more cheaply than fully optioned and luxo’d up SRT8 editions. That is not to say that these things lack in comforts or amenities because they do not but the point is that someone up there listened and the result is minimal “stuff that does not matter” and maximum “ass kicking ability”.

While we are here I should mention that I really like the styling on this car. The hood with the scoop, the spoiler at the rear, and the wheels, all struck my fancy pretty hard. It seems tough to make a four door car looks tough and cool but these guys really crushed it and there is zero shame in this car’s game when it comes to the looks department. In fact, we’re thinking that it would have been easier for Chrysler to go out of control with glue on stuff to make the car “look better” but they did not.

The braking and handling may have been the biggest surprises and payoffs for this car. Look, you KNOW it is going to haul ass in a straight line when there is nearly 500hp under the hood but the real question was how the car was actually going to drive down the road. With a nice long wheelbase, some girth, and a well tuned suspension and braking system, this thing is a riot to drive. You can cruise it like a mom buggy or you can throw it around in the corners.

I’m thinking about handling now differently than I have in the past and the main thing I am thinking about is that the real world driving condition is what people care about, not skidpad numbers and not some junk that they will never apply. If the question is, “Can this out lap a Corvette at the ‘Ring?” that answer is a no but that whole scene is a fantasy that virtually none of the people in the world will experience, let along clothed as a race driver.  The more realistic question is, “Does this put a smile on your face while driving it?” The answer there is a 100% yes and if you are a normal humanoid you will enjoy the weight and precise nature of the steering, the chassis tuning , and the ability to rip some corners when you want to. If you are buying this thing to autocross you are on glue. If you want something that had big meats and a well tuned suspension with power, this car is your jam.

The back end of the car is basic Charger with some slight alterations. The vents on the outer edges of the rear are added for this model as is the spoiler across the decklid. Looking down the side of the car you can see the big indented contour that starts in the front door and travels to the back. One of the favorite styling elements of this car for us is that treatment. It definitely adds a bit of depth and helps break up what would otherwise be a very slab sided profile view of the car. Again, there are some changes from a stock Challenger but not any weird departures and I think that is the way it should be. People know that it is different but it is not so different as to be a freak.

This car REALLY shines on the inside. The interior is huge (as you would expect) and it delivers the goods. One of the two options that this car was equipped with was an interior upgrade to Napa leather and Alcantara seats. These babies were comfy and well bolstered as you can see in the photos. They were also pretty wide so you did not feel like you were poured into the things. As far as room, it is nearly endless. Even jamming the seat all the way back still left for a pretty comfy area for rear passengers to be in. Other than the upgraded seating for everyone with heated front and rear chairs, a heated wheel, heated mirrors, auto dimming mirrors, and illuminated rear cupholders, the car also had the customer preferred package option which introduced the Beats speakers (10 of them) a 522 watt amp, big touch screen, navigation, and SiriusXM radio. This is a machine designed to chew up miles and do so in a rapid fashion. With a 3.09 gear the thing loves to get romped on with a little head of steam behind it. From a roll with the traction control off you can ignite the rear tires in a blaze of glory.

As you would expect from the outward dimensions of the car, there is a TON of seating in the back for everyone and we’re guessing that this thing would be some SUVs for rear leg room. There’s no way it couldn’t. Being the last true “big” rear drive American sedan we’re happy to see that it is upholding some traditions that need to be upheld.

We live in an incredible era that we do a bad job of appreciating. This late model Hemi is so freaking good I can hardly stand it and when hooked to an eight speed transmission it is ALWAYS in the power. Like literally there is no spot where you can hit the car and it does not respond and plant you into the seat. I did not have time to hit the strip with it but my opinion is that deep, deep 13s are the neighborhood that this combo would end up. This is the 6.4L Hemi with the MDS system on it for low throttle cruising to optimize fuel economy. It operated seamlessly for the duration of the time I had the car.

Listen, we wish it had a stick as well  but you cannot get one in this body style of car. The automatics is an amazing transmission that does things so fast and seamlessly that it becomes impossible to hate. This is doubly true when you have the thing in manual or sport or whatnot and you can see how quickly it responds to your commands that come from you making them.

So what does all of this near 500hp fun cost? The sticker on this car was $44,275 out the door. We have no idea if there is wiggle room on these cars or if buyers can work a dealer down. Let’s just say you could walk out of your dealer with the keys to one of these babies for under $40,000. That would be one hell of a buy and it would be worth every red cent. This is one of the few performance cars that my wife actually was into and she liked it because it was practical for everyday life and I liked it because the thing is a rumbling, roaring rocket when you want it to be with the tamest manners ever when you need to impress the moms at soccer practice.

So the final conclusion to this review? The car is awesome, we would buy it, and we would burn the tires to the rims in the first three days to the addition. This is a big, red, fun machine designed to wreak havoc and the screw with all of the people who have lesser trim model cars. If we had the money we would buy this car above all else on the market right now. and of story.