Is The 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody Worth The Money?
Not If You Plan On Taking It To The Drag Strip...
This past month, Dodge announced their plans for the launch of the 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody. For the first time, a Challenger without a supercharged powerplant would be able to receive the factory widebody kit.
The Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody adds:
- SRT-tuned chassis, featuring stiffer front springs, retuned shock absorbers and larger sway bars in both front and rear
- SRT-tuned high-performance adaptive damping suspension
- Front fascia with integrated splitter optimizes airflow to the cooling modules without compromising vehicle balance
- Rear spoiler from the HELLCAT helps to deliver responsive and balanced handling
As a result, the R/T Scat Pack Widebody delivers its best on-road and on-track performance ever, with an improvement of close to 2 seconds per lap or 12 car lengths compared with the R/T Scat Pack. In a quarter-mile comparison, the new Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody gained .2 seconds – running 12.1 seconds E.T. at 112 mph.
Base MSRP for the 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack is $38,995. The MSRP for a base model 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack with the 8-speed automatic is $40,590. The cost of the new Widebody package will add $6,000 to that MSRP.
Just for contrast, the all-new 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 has the 8-speed automatic transmission as an only transmission option. The 2019 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 shaves 4 tenths of a second off the quarter-mile time to 11.7 seconds at 115 mph and cuts .3 seconds off the 0-60 mph acceleration time to 3.8 seconds. That package will set you back $3,995 on top of the base MSRP for a R/T Scat Pack with the automatic of $40,590. (Plus the extra $1 for a passenger seat and another $1 for a rear seat.)
So if you like shifting gears and want the best performance out of a 6.4-liter 392 HEMI SRT V8 at the drag strip, than the standard Challenger R/T Scat Pack will be your best bet at the drag strip as the Widebody is not as fast down the strip. But if you are looking for a car to take to the drag strip to bracket race, then the 1320 is your car and you will save a few hundred dollars for a much faster car down the quarter-mile.
If going to the local road course is your thing or going for a weekend ride down the a twisty paved back road, then the R/T Scat Pack Widebody is the car you want. Basically you are looking at $44,995 for a 6-speed manual R/T Scat Pack Widebody and $46,590 for the R/T Scat Pack Widebody with the 8-speed automatic. Those prices don’t include taxes, destination, plates and etc; but for about $50,000 you can yourself a 485-horsepower Challenger that has the same looks as last year’s Challenger with a lot more grip than the standard R/T Scat Pack.
There seems to be a Challenger for everyone in the 2019 model year. Just goes to show if you want a 797-horsepower monster, a 485-horsepower drag racer or a 485-horsepower canyon carver, Dodge has built something for you with a variety of prices.
