Test Drive: 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack

Every dad knows when it’s time to put his foot down. Every driver not so much and therein lies the challenger, or should I say Challenger?

FCA sent me this delicious Challenger R/T Scat Pack Shaker dressed in Blue Pearl. How can you not like, even love, the looks of this car? It’s retro, but modern, sleek with no unnecessary chrome accents. Everything about it, from the Shaker hood to the 20-inch alloy wheels, shouts “if you turn ME on, I will turn YOU on.”

Oh my yes.

The car arrived with the admonition: “remember — any tickets are yours!”

That means picking my spots, knowing when to put my foot down, knowing when to rein in my urge to whip those horses contained in the 6.4L HEMI V8 under the hood.

Good for me. It’s been a week. No tickets. But I’m still grinning a month later as I’m writing this.

This beauty is all business and that business is to face all challenges – quickly. Drivers of a couple of Mustangs, a BMW and a tricked out Japanese product learned that. See ya later, boysI Like the look of a Challenger rear end? Like the sound? Look, listen and learn, it’s only gonna take a couple of seconds!

This car is NOT an appliance, it is conveyance for enthusiasts. The power available at the mere touch of the gas pedal is huge, visceral.

There’s a terrific audio system in here, but why would you want to tune into that when you have the muscular music of that big V8 to listen to? In my time with the Challenger, I only had the audio in the interests of this review.

Otherwise I’m entertained by the sound of 485 horses urged on by 475 lb-ft of torque. It’s not overly loud, but it’s a sound that penetrates, invigorates.

Power gets to the rear wheels through slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission that’s worth every penny of its $1,000 option price.

I took my grandson and granddaughter for a quick ride. The looks on their faces said it all…not EVERY teen is disinterested in vehicles. They loved it, especially when I briefly showed them what launch control could do…it only took around 4 seconds to impress all three of us. I took my wife for a similar blast and she was a little less enthusiastic, but only a little. She loved driving it, albeit for reasons different than mine. Could it be she’s a closet car person?

In a nod to fuel economy, the HEMI will shut down four of its eight cylinders, when cruising. It works seamlessly and did help me beat the city/highway fuel consumption estimate of 16.8 L/100 km in the city and 10.4 on the highway. I averaged 12.8 L/100 km for the week.

On the road the Challenger is stable and quiet save for that lovely rumble and a tiny bit of wind noise. In the corners, the chassis betrays the heft of that big engine and the handling is on the heavy side if you decide to push it. Humps and hollows of prairie pavement don’t perturb passengers, though (and even if this car has only two doors, there’s decent space for two people in back although their visibility isn’t great).

Seats are leather faced and folks up front have heat for their butts. It doesn’t matter where you sit, you are comfortable, but the power adjustable driver seat is the best perch in the place.

Keeping things safe are features like rear park assist, backup camera, traction control, stability control, hill start assist, rain brake support with ready alert braking, halogen headlamps, automatic headlight control and rain sensing wipers. The latter two are a $250 option.

Of course there are all the usual power-operated features along with a Uconnect 8.4-inch touch screen and a 5-inch driver information screen.

R/T Scat Pack pricing starts at 48,895. The test vehicle carried something called Preferred Package 23Y which brings a Shaker package of heated and ventilated Nappa leather faced seats premium floor mats, graphite pattern instrument panel bezel, Shaker hood and air intake, Shaker and Scat Pack badging, black rear spoiler, performance steering and black fuel filler door, all for $3,000. The driver convenience group for $595 includes body-colour power outside mirrors, blind spot monitor and rear cross path detection, remote start and universal garage door opener. The Uconnect system with navigation rings in at $700, while the Scat Pack appearance group costs $695.

As it sits in my driveway, this Challenger rings in at $57,030.

While going from A to B may take only a short time, it’s far more fun from A to B via the rest of the alphabet.

It takes longer, but getting there is way more than just half the fun—it’s all the fun.

2016 Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack
Price as tested (before taxes): $57.030.00
Freight: $1,795
Configuration: front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 6.4L HEMI V8/ six-speed manual
Power/torque: 485 hp/ 475 lb-ft
Fuel (Capacity): Premium (70L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 13.9
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 12.8
Warranties: 3-years/60,000 km (basic), 5-years/100,000 km (power train)
Competitors: Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang