(Photos by Dave Nutting – Words by Lohnes, Sestito, Nutting) – For a guy who does not own a Challenger, I spend inordinate amounts of time in them. Between spending a week with Freiburger in a Hellcat Red Eye on drag week, renting Challenger R/Ts off the lot at many NHRA races, and getting the shot to spend some time behind the tiller of press cars, I think I have a pretty good sense of what these cars are and what they are not in many of their various forms. Believe it or not, the 2018 Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody is my favorite. It’s the most balanced of the rowdy performers in this group and the car that does all the stuff I want a muscle car to do, especially if I was going to spend the $51,116 list price that this one came with.

This F8 Green model with its flared fenders, 20×11″ Devil’s Rim wheels, cloth interior, 8-speed automatic transmission, active suspension, deleted rear seat, 3.09 rear axle, and six piston brakes clicks all the boxes I want. The Hellcats are awesome, the Red Eye even more violently awesome still but they lack something when compared to this particular car. The standard R/T model with the 5.7L Hemi is great and makes for the coolest rental car in America but where the Hellcat and the Red Eye skew heavy on one side of the scale, the standard R/T just doesn’t quite bring enough when you have driven all the other cars in the lineup.

This is a handling muscle car that is the most balanced of the awesome Dodge lineup. That’s what I best enjoy about this car. I think the money is smart. Taking some of the options off the sticker of this thing gets you back deep into the $40k range and keeps all the performance range there. Then again, holy hell this thing looks amazing.

Because I didn’t want to hog all the Hemi myself I wanted to bring in Tony Sestito and Dave Nutting to have some fun here as well and get their respect takes on this car. What did they think? Read on to find out.

As for me? I love this thing.

Tony’s Take

Have you ever heard the expression “never meet your heroes”? The implication is that they will never live up to the person you hoped them to be, or worse, they could be a real jerk. This, of course, also applies to cars. Like many other car nerds, I’ve put more than a few cars up on a pedestal, only to be disappointed when finally sampling the car in person. Some of the cars I had plastered on my bedroom wall as a kid ended up being flatulent turds in the real world, never living up to the hype and praise constantly heaped upon them.

That brings me to the topic of the F8 Green Widebody Scat Pack Challenger you see here.

Ask anyone who knows me (especially my poor wife), and they will tell you that I’ve been borderline obsessed to the point of incessant annoyance with the modern Challenger ever since the unveiling of the original LX-based concept car back in 2006.

I was a huge fan of the original E-Body cars, and thanks to movies like Vanishing Point and my trusty pile of car magazines, I gravitated toward them. Unlike the GM F-Body cars, the Mustang, and even AMC’s offerings, there was something about the Challenger and ‘Cuda that made them just a tick more insane than the rest. The best Mopars from back in the Musclecar Era were always a step beyond that fine line between a sensible performance car and something wearing a Surgeon General’s warning label. Once modern cars like the original SRT8, Hellcat, and insane Demon started showing up, I wasn’t surprised at all. It was the modern equivalent of stabbing a 440 6-pack or a Street Hemi in between the fenders of the original Challenger. Mopar gonna Mopar, as the kids say, and it warmed my heart to see it.

With that introduction out of the way, let’s focus on my encounter with this “hero”.

First, the looks. Back when I was a kid, my parents had a 1970 Olds 98 Convertible that my sister and I called the “Big Green Booger Machine” for its dark green pigment, and we loathed the thing. Over the years, I’ve grown to like the color (and that car, which we miss dearly), and the shade that this Challenger is adorned with is much like the Highland Green that FoMoCo slathers all over certain special Mustangs named after movies with cool chase scenes. The base V6 Challenger looks great, so it’s no surprise that the SRT-style nose and the wide flares further compliment the visual package.

There are little details all over the car that let you and others know that you are driving something special, from the cool vortex pattern on the headlight-style air intakes to the small silhouette of the car embedded into the windshield glass, much like the Easter Eggs FCA has been hiding all over their Jeep products in recent years.

With that paint and the black wheels and accents, the whole visual package bridges the gap between classic and modern Mopar muscle, and people’s heads automatically swivel when you roll by. In layman’s terms, it looks absolutely badass.

Moving inside, you get an all-business environment equipped with everything you need and nothing you don’t.

The interior of the Challenger was upgraded for the 2015 model year refresh, and it still holds up well.

In lieu of the plastic dash and white faced gauges of the early cars that screamed dated cheapness and your mom’s old Tupperware, you get a sort-of-rubbery soft-touch dash and some very modern gauges and switchgear.

The steering wheel is big and meaty, and being equipped with the 8-speed automatic, there are the requisite flappy paddles attached to the wheel.

The front seats are covered in basic houndstooth cloth and were very comfortable, even with my XXL American posterior planted in them. This car was optioned with the rear seat delete package, which replaces the rear seats with a plastic tray with a cargo net. Even though the air bag warning sticker on the sun visor still says that the back seat is the best place for children, that cargo net isn’t going to keep them safe, so you may want to leave little Billy at home.

Speaking of cargo, the trunk is massive; Nutting had no problem hopping in and getting comfortable, so maybe you could stow the kids back there, who knows.

The gauges are fantastic, as is the 8.4” Uconnect infotainment system. Yes, this has the “good” radio, and for good reason: that large touchscreen has a suite of SRT Performance Pages that monitor the car’s systems as well as display all sorts of helpful data. The thing even has its own track timers, simulated on-board dyno, g-meters and a lot more. And unlike some other modern pony cars (ahem, Mustang GT), accessing the performance settings is simple and easy to perform. Instead of having to drill down into a bunch of menus, a couple touches of that screen and you’re right there.

Enough about the looks and all that; let’s talk about how this thing drives!

I’ve only driven one other Challenger: a 2018 GT AWD model with the Pentastar V6. That car was decent, but it felt more like driving a giant 2 door Subaru than a muscle coupe. Not that it was bad, it was just not what I expected. This Scat Pack Widebody was an entirely different beast. For 2019, Dodge tossed some Hellcat suspension bits at the Scat Pack cars, like bigger sway bars, stiffer springs, and adjustable shocks. And speaking of adjustability: by accessing the Performance Pages, you could configure the car’s drivability in all sorts of ways. Transmission settings, traction control, suspension and steering are independently reconfigurable with three modes: Street, Sport, and Track. The Street modes were the softest and cushiest, while Sport tightened everything up a notch, but keeping things civilized enough for loafing around town.

Then there’s the Track settings.

When selecting Track on the steering and suspension, the car felt even more planted, and even though it tracked a little rutty on the uneven New England roads we drove it on, I believe that’s due to the massive 305/35/20 steamrollers than anything else, and I’ve honestly driven a lot worse.

The transmission in Track Mode is up to the task as well, letting you wind out the gears and shifting harder than your buddy’s 3^rd Gen Camaro with a shift kit and the ever-important Corvette Servo. Not once was I pining for a third pedal and a row-your-own 6-speed shifter. I can’t believe it, either. It was that good. Also great were the large-by-huge brakes, featuring slotted rotors and Brembo calipers all around. Stopping in this thing is not a problem. And the handling: wheeling this thing around the twisties is completely effortless, and it feels great. It defies all logic as to how well a car this large can handle the way it does.

And what good is all of that technological wizardry unless it can put the power down on the ground? This car comes equipped with 392ci of pure Hemi awesomeness, and I’m pleased to inform that all 485 horses are thoroughbreds. Man, this thing will go if you ask it to! We’re talking sub-4 second 0-60 times and ¼ mile passes in the high 11’s. A twitch of the toes, and you’re blasting down the road at extra-legal speeds before you can say Scat Pack. And the best part: the car feels very balanced, no matter what you are doing. Whether you are commuting to the 9 to 5, carving up a fun driving road or blasting down the two-lane blacktop, it’s impossible not to enjoy yourself in this thing. While it’s not the fastest car I’ve driven, it might just be the most fun, and that’s saying something.

Now, pardon me while I start re-arranging my priorities for the impending purchase of a Dodge Challenger. My sincerest apologies to my wife; Challenger Want Syndrome has only been exacerbated by this review. Sorry, honey.

Nutting’s Take

I’m going to keep this short and to the one to the point. Mostly.

Recently we test-drove a brand new red on red Mustang GT convertible (CLICK HERE), which was an exercise in how far the American car manufacturers have come from the Bad Old Days of the 80s and 90s in regards to quality and technology: IRS, heated leather, and steering effort, transmission response, and even an exhaust note that could be changed at the flip of a switch, all with a 460+ horsepower V8 to put a smile on your face every time you stabbed the loud pedal.

It was a blast to drive, and yet, not surprisingly, absolutely no one gave a rat’s ass when it rumbled up next to them. After all, just another Mustang, right?

In stark contrast, within 10 feet of pulling out of Lohnes’ street we had an old dude walking down the sidewalk stop dead in his tracks, point his “finger guns” at us, and then yelled for us to do a burnout (You can’t make this stuff up). And yes, we obliged, because that is exactly what this car was made to do: Big Dumb American Things from a Big Dumb American Car (Which borrowed some components from Mercedes, but let’s not worry about that).

From the extra-wide tires that manage to scrub at full lock even with the fender flares to the aggressive bodywork and just-right exhaust note, this is a car that demands attention.

Now, let’s go through the typical “new car test drive” items that consumers seem to care about, because this is a new car review, after all:

 Fuel Economy

Sucks. Floor the throttle and literally watch the gas gauge move. Driving this car daily will cost you at the pump. Doesn’t matter, it’s worth it.

Interior

Don’t let Tony’s portion of the review fool you with his “soft-touch rubber” commentary, because this is the one part of the car that is somewhat lacking. Then again, let’s be real in that you’re not buying the car for the interior. The seats keep you planted, the steering wheel feels great, and the touch screen is intuitive and easy to use.

The rear seat delete is a questionable option, as this car’s raison d’être is to hoon around with as many friends as you can cram into it. Making a 4,000+ pound car a two-seater for “weight savings” is more futile than ordering a Diet Coke at McDonalds. You ordered the large Big Mac meal and a 20 piece nugget on the side. Own your decisions.

Also, can we talk about how the dash in this thing is slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island? Buy this car and win the “If you can reach this $100 bill on the dash and it’s yours” bet every time, even while parked. Trust me, I tried. This thing has to be two feet deep at parts. Dodge, what are you hiding behind that mass of rubber and plastic?

Overall though, it’s passable, and again, you didn’t buy this car for the interior.

Handling

For a big, heavy car, this thing is grounded to the ground as the experts say. Not surprising given the 305mm-wide tires at all four corners. That off-ramp speed limit? Merely a suggestion. I’d love to see how one of these does in the SCCA Classic American Muscle autocross class.

Engine

It’s 485 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 6.4L Hemi V8. No, it’s not the most powerful Challenger available, but it’s quick enough to break loose the tires (And break the law) at pretty much any speed.

Given that it was a brisk 30 degree day during our time with the car, we kept the car in Sport mode with the exception of the traction control because of that. Call us out on it, but with summer tires and cold pavement this thing will get sideways with ease. It’s perfect.

Exterior

You ever own a car where you can’t stop turning back to look at it while walking away after you parked it? This is that car, partly because it’s so freaking cool looking, and partly because you want to make sure that it hasn’t eaten the Toyota Camry parked next to it while you had your back turned.

If you’re going to buy one, opt for the green. It’s like stuffing a cage fighter into a tweed suit. Stunning to photograph and even better in person.

Overall

If you’re looking for a pony car and want something with an old-school look and feel, this is that car. Big V8, brash looks, and just enough modern amenities to keep any non-car enthusiasts in your life from thinking it’s completely ridiculous. Until you hit the gas, that is…