Challenger Scat Pack Widebody Reviewed by Small-car Fans

Challenger Scat Pack is appreciated for its muscle car roots, but they prefer the Charger for several reasons.

The Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is often called the “sweet spot” in the lineup, offering the perfect blend of performance and affordability. Thomas and James from the Throttle House YouTube channel recently got their hands on a Challenger Scat Pack Widebody with the manual transmission for review. Their intention was to find out if this package really isn’t the sweet spot in the lineup, but in the long run, the two have plenty of complaints about what they admit is the last proper muscle car.

Challenger Scat Pack Introduction

Like many of the videos from this channel, the review of the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody begins with some attempted humor. They make fun of the name Scat Pack along with making fun of muscle car owners in general. Thomas points out that James has “a lot of Miata” in him, and he is right. These guys favor small cars that handle well over larger cars that can actually get out of their own way.

They point out the fact that the Challenger Scat Pack starts around $48k in Canada, which is about $20k less than a Hellcat. However, the widebody test car in the video has a price of $69k Canadian, making it similarly expensive to the supercharged models. However, as the driving portion of the video begins, Thomas is relatively complementary of the car.

“This is the right amount of power for a challenger,” he said. “It’s got that low revving, punch-you-in-the-back American feel – it doesn’t get old”.

Those thoughts are accompanied by clips of both reviewers banging through the gears, shifting at redline and seemingly enjoying the 485-horsepower Hemi. They also seem to enjoy the roar of a proper V8, but after that, the review turns a bit negative.

On-Road Criticism

The first thing that the reviewers don’t love about the Challenger Scat Pack with the manual transmission is that the engine doesn’t rev as high as they would like. They are used to much lower performance engines that need huge RPM to make any power. Fortunately, Hemi V8s don’t need to rev to the moon and most muscle car owners like that. These guys don’t love it, but they do like how the low redline allows them to get through the gears when driving around town. Really, it is kind of a mixed message on that point.

Where they are very uncomplimentary is when it comes to handling. The widebody package is intended to offer better handling than the Challengers with the narrower body. They come with wider tires, big brakes and a specially tuned suspension setup, but according to these two, it doesn’t help enough. Thomas claims that “it’s a bit of an idiot in the corners”, complaining that it “wallows” in track suspension mode. He goes on to call the car “big and dumb”, claiming that it “handles like a truck” and that anyone who wants a better-handling car should opt for a Camaro. Based on Camaros sales, there aren’t too many people worried about handling.

James echoes those sentiments, insisting that the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody handled the curves much better. However, he states that the Challenger is “weirdly comfortable” and that it is much more comfortable than the Mustang or Camaro.

In the long run, they enjoy the power, but not the handling capabilities of the Challenger Scat Pack Widebody.

Styling Inside and Out

Once the hosts are done complaining about handling, they park the car and discuss exterior styling. They make fun of the F8 Green name in a lineup with colors like Go Mango and Plum Crazy. They like the design of the headlights, but they admit that they are not muscle car guys. Anyone who watches a few of their videos would know that both of these gents are far more comfortable in a 140-horsepower Miata than a 485-horsepower Challenger.

Next, they head inside for another round of criticism. They point out that the interior is similar to other Challengers, but the like the $800 package that adds carbon fiber and interior trim. They complain that the headrests are too far back and the lumbar support is too low. They don’t like the positioning of the manual shifter, which is a particularly odd complaint.

However, they love the UConnect infotainment system and they call the interior very spacious before turning back to the negative. James calls the parking brake function “prehistoric” and he goes on to complain that the back seats are not very comfortable. Mind you, the Challenger back seat is substantially bigger than the back seat of their beloved Camaro.

In the end, they believe that the Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack Widebody is actually the sweet spot, claiming that it “drives sharper” and has more rear seating space. Fortunately, they close by stating that it “fits the bill of the Challenger perfectly” while pointing out that it is the last of the true muscle cars. That being said, they clearly aren’t muscle car fans and this car doesn’t offer the type of driving dynamics that they expect.

Fortunately, for Americans who want a real muscle car, the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is the best balance of performance and pricing, but for two Canadians who prefer small, agile cars, they prefer the Charger. We know, it doesn’t make sense, but that’s a YouTube review for you.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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