While I'm impressed with the increase in horsepower from the R/T to the SRT, 35lbs of extra torque seems a bit modest. Is all that SRT performance hidden above 5000 RPM? I'm not enthusiastic about paying an extra 10g for red calipers and a chin spoiler.

 

10 Grand...does this make sense to bring it to that amount?....

2K...20" wheels

500...tires

1K...Body kitand exhaust

1K...recaro.sparco style seats

1-2K...Suspension setup

1-2K...Engine boring?

1K...Brembo brakes

Does this seem about right to anyone?

 

The laundry list of add-ons isn't really the point. It's not like the R/T doesn't already come with seats and tires. If the SRT doesn't have significantly better performance than the R/T, then it's just a bag of rice. It seems to make a lot more sense to buy an R/T (perhaps used) and then change the exhaust.

 

Just trying to make sense with the 10K mark up. The BREMBO's may be closer to 3 or 4K. I know they are about 2500K for a set of 2 for an Acura

 

huh, if you don't think that 425hp / 420 lb-ft isn't a significant upgrade from 340hp / 390 lb-ft of torque then nothing is going to make you happy I think, it's quite a significant increase in perfomance, the 300C SRT-8 was tested at 0-60 in 4.9 seconds and 1/4 mile in 13.2 seconds, that's quite an upgrade from the 300C's 0-60 in around 6.0 seconds and 1/4 mile in the low to mid 14's range, the magnum will be estentialy the same, just a hair slower due to the extra 150 lbs from the wagon body.

also it's gona be less than $10k more, it's only a little over $6k more for the 300 and the package should be around the same price increase for the magnum as well.

 

The RT does NOT have the same seats as the SRT. You can't say they are the same when they aren't. The wheels and tires are NOT the same either. Seats are not seats in this case. lowbolstered leather seats are not the same as HIGH bolster leather and suade seats. It;s all a matter of personal choice. I will take the SRT over the RT. That way you know the MDS in diengaged at ALL times

 

Not the same wheels and seats, but nice wheels and seats nonetheless. When adding up the price of the goodies, you need to subtract the price of the existing pieces.

$6k seems like a reasonable markup. However, the Chrysler markup might be a function of price point, trying to stay under $40k. The Magnum has more room under this price point, so the markup could be more like $8k. Add in tax and any mandatory "options" and it's easy to imagine the SRT will be $10k more, out the door. Obviously this is speculation, but I think this is consistent with the Crossfire markup.

My point on the performance is that the torque increase is only 35 lbs. This is what you feel at low revs during acceleration with your butt dyno. HP is way up, but those gains tend to be at high RPM, and more important at high speeds. The description of the engine suggests that much of the work went into allowing a higher rev limit. Indeed, without seeing the curves, one can speculate that all of the HP gain is from a modest bump in torque and a higher rev limit. My original question remains: Will I need to drive at 6000rpm to notice a difference between the cars?

Throw in the detail that the RT has been out for almost a year, and one is left to compare a $25k low mileage RT with a $40k+ SRT that's only a hair faster.

I haven't yet seen the same magazine test both the RT and the SRT. Car and Driver has numbers for the 300C that range from 5.3 to 6.

 

I personlly think Dodge should stop using the R/T on anything. The last decent R/T cars were the Spirit R/T in 91-92 and the Iroc R/T in 92-93. These car were factory fast and had a clear increase over the other models. Now Mopar puts R/T on anything and its goofy crap like graphics, a tail and stiffer shocks... its just sad.

If I had the cash though Id love the SRT8, that car is so retro cool in a new way, it begs to be forced inducted.

 

It does seem like only 30lbs more torque, but you're forgetting the shorter gearing of the SRT8. Overall, gearing is 7.5% shorter, which means that the spec'd 420 lb/ft torque feels more like 450, when compared to how RT feels. From 390 to 450 there is a bit of difference. Gotta love torque multiplication !

 

Well, like you mentioned, we haven't seen the torque curve of the 6.1L to compare to the 5.7L. It could be that the peak is at a lower RPM, and holds through to 6000. In any event, I am sure that there is more to be had from the 6.1 once the aftermarket picks up. I'd rather mod a non-MDS 6.1L then a MDS 5.7L anyday.

Does the SRT8 have HIDs? The R/T doesn't, so that would be another big improvement.