Incoming new to me Hellcat Challenger

[thetalonguy]

Hello,

I’ve been hanging out and lurking here for awhile; commenting here and there, but mostly reading as much as I can.

Have been looking to step into a Challenger for the last couple of years...2020 threw a wrench into those plans. So stayed my ground and kept stashing some more coin away. I had planned to make a move this year, but take my sweet time. However, with Tim K saying the 6.2 Supercharged engine was numbered, and the SRT dissolution (don’t want to turn that into a discussion thread here) persuaded me to make a move soon.

Initially I was looking at a 2015 a couple miles away from me, but it sold a couple hours before I had a scheduled PPI. Then I had a deposit on a 2015 with Vroom, but pulled out after researching the company. Went back to the drawing board and took another look at 2017 Destroyer Grey (my personal favorite) on one of the used car websites...price was a tad high and there were only a few pictures on line. Probably something most people would just gloss over in their search. So I contacted them and it was still available, then a couple hour later I received an auto generated email from them that the price was dropped another $2.5k, which put it right my budget zone for a 2017. So I immediately put down a $500 deposit until I got there this morning (3 hr drive).

They gave me the black key and said have fun! Everything felt great, smooth and stable. Thank God there’s still another 200HP though, lol!

After the test drive I made them put it in the air and I checked everything out underneath and all looked great.

The dealer has a 7 day return policy and 60 day bumper to bumper. Car itself still has 19 months of power train warranty remaining.

The car itself was pretty much in great condition except for the standard 22k miles of street use, needs to be polished/buffed to clear up those light clear coat scratches and the brass monkey have some scratches. TBH, not entirely sure I like the look of gold on grey. AND they put brand new tires on it last weekend...however they’re a brand I’ve never heard of Ironman Imove Gen2 SUV A/S. I might just keep them as a cold weather set and put some Summers on. I was looking at Discount Tire Direct and they have Demon Replicas for only $175 a wheel. That just seems way too cheap to be true. Anyone familiar with those? I like the style and color.

Anyway, assuming all funding comes through timely, I should be picking it up at some point next week.

Here are a couple pics.

 

[Grape Ape]

Congratulations!

 

[2017 Redline HC]

Very nice!!!!!

 

[BULL]

Winning! Man stick!


For wheels, maybe the HR5s? Decent balance of quality and price.

 

[thetalonguy]

Winning! Man stick!


For wheels, maybe the HR5s? Decent balance of quality and price.

Hell yea...only way I’d go. Now I’ll own two Viper 6 speed Tremecs!

 

[jroyk]

Winning! Man stick!

What Bull said. Congrats!

 

[HellcatFan]

Congratulations

 

[greasy]

Banger car, love it!

Color is awesome and a nice detail will make her perfect. I wanted that exact color when I bought mine, but I didn't want to spend extra for the 2017's at the time. Settled on Go Mango.

Congrats on the new ride!

 

[thetalonguy]

Banger car, love it!

Color is awesome and a nice detail will make her perfect. I wanted that exact color when I bought mine, but I didn't want to spend extra for the 2017's at the time. Settled on Go Mango.

Congrats on the new ride!

Thanks, funny, I think it was the “old” forum in a color discussion thread and I said my two favorites were DG and GMG, my ying and yang.

Of the two dealers I reached out to Sunday night was this one and the other one was a GMG in MD. If the other dealer responded back quicker, I may have been there today.

 

[ACMAVRO]

Congratulations! Yes you can find good deals at discount tire. Check FR 73

https://factoryreproductions.com/shop/chrysler/fr-73/

 

[Slowpoke387]

Yeah whoever ordered that car with gold, gray, and red needs to get new eyeglasses lol. Those wheels def need to go but it sounds like you finally found yourself a keeper. Congrats and enjoy it, you‘re going to love it.

 

[thetalonguy]

Congratulations! Yes you can find good deals at discount tire. Check FR 73

https://factoryreproductions.com/shop/chrysler/fr-73/

Thanks! Definitely interested in those.

 

[AeroF16]

Glad you found one!

I think the brass monkeys look good with the grey, but they don't look good with grey and red interior. Just my opinion, I'd go for the HR5s too. I think PKAutodesigns is a well known vendor on the other site that gives decent prices and they'll mount/balance/ship.

Your brass monkeys could be a backup set (I kept some all seasons on my oem slingshot rims while running MPS4s on my oem 5 spokes) or sell the brass monkeys and recoupe a large portion of the cost of the HR5s.

 

[AeroF16]

I should add - the 5 spoke design is sooooooo much easier to clean the brake dust off of compared to the slingshot design too, so plus there. They are also decently lighter, 4 or 5 lbs if I remember correctly. I've had a few cold ones, so I might be wrong on the numbers, but I think I remember my OEM slingshots weighing somewhere around 32lbs and the OEM 5 spokes weighing somewhere around 27 lbs.

All the really cheap wheels will be cast, so heavy and not necessarily the strongest. Aftermarket forged rims are pricey, so if you can find a set of OEM takeoffs that someone is selling, for me that is the best bang for the buck. OEM forged wheel, light and strong, at a decent price. I think the next best bang for the buck would be rotary forged. They are definitely lighter than cast but I'm not sure I am convinced they are much stronger.

 

[thetalonguy]

Glad you found one!

I think the brass monkeys look good with the grey, but they don't look good with grey and red interior. Just my opinion, I'd go for the HR5s too. I think PKAutodesigns is a well known vendor on the other site that gives decent prices and they'll mount/balance/ship.

Your brass monkeys could be a backup set (I kept some all seasons on my oem slingshot rims while running MPS4s on my oem 5 spokes) or sell the brass monkeys and recoupe a large portion of the cost of the HR5s.

Yes, definitely agree and with @Slowpoke387 . Chief Nitpicker inCharge, AKA wifey, noticed it right away. At any rate, I figured I’d need new tires at very minimum . Don’t mind having them as a complete back up cool weather set.

Just saw your follow up post...and definitely agree weight matters to a certain point. I forgot what the name of what the 2017 standard wheel was...was it Vapor? Anyway, 5 star, which has usually been my favorite type. Would like to keep things OEM looking for now.

As a LAST resort, I could plastidip them black, which I SWORE against ever doing again. Or have them power coated which will cost some bucks and add some weight.

I already have a set of Viper tires and Wheels in the man cave (my coffee table with a glass top), plus a new set of rear Toyo 335 R888rs (which became unobtainable over winter) as a make shift side table with glass top. Works well for my make shift home office these days.

I wonder how well another set of wheels and tires will go on the basement...garage is not heated, so warm weather tires remain in-house.

 

[AeroF16]

Yes, definitely agree and with @Slowpoke387 . Chief Nitpicker inCharge, AKA wifey, noticed it right away. At any rate, I figured I’d need new tires at very minimum . Don’t mind having them as a complete back up cool weather set.

Just saw your follow up post...and definitely agree weight matters to a certain point. I forgot what the name of what the 2017 standard wheel was...was it Vapor? Anyway, 5 star, which has usually been my favorite type. Would like to keep things OEM looking for now.

As a LAST resort, I could plastidip them black, which I SWORE against ever doing again. Or have them power coated which will cost some bucks and add some weight.

I already have a set of Viper tires and Wheels in the man cave (my coffee table with a glass top), plus a new set of rear Toyo 335 R888rs (which became unobtainable over winter) as a make shift side table with glass top. Works well for my make shift home office these days.

I wonder how well another set of wheels and tires will go on the basement...garage is not heated, so warm weather tires remain in-house.

"Vapor" wheels are the same 5 spoke design but have the grey/silver finish instead of the matte black finish, I think (someone correct me if I am wrong). Both finishes are thin but guys have complained non stop about the Vapor finish chipping and what not. My matte black ones didn't seem to chip too bad. Maybe it just wasn't as noticeable because the Vapor appears to just be a grey/silver finish over a black wheel so, when they chip, it's really obvious.

One thing I was disappointed about with the wheels was that the finish on the inside of the barrels was crap. I mean, it stayed black in color, but it was rough and the finish was definitely to the order of "nobody will ever care how this looks". I was eventually going to have a shop redo mine just for that purpose and then ceramic coat the face and the barrels, that would have been awesome.

 

[Hunter]

Beautiful car.
Love the DG color.
Since you have put a deposit down, demand a red key test drive.

 

[Hayabusa]

Beautiful car.
Love the DG color.
Since you have put a deposit down, demand a red key test drive.

Agree with Hunter on a red key drive. Make sure it isn't too scary . Only kidding...I've had Vipers in the past. You are familiar with how the hotdog cart suspension and zero nanny tech can be on the street. Loved the Vipers but the Hellcats are the schizznit. You'll be squeeling like a baby pig when you give it the beans.

The Destroyer looks great! My current rims are black but my prior 2 Hellcats had Brass Monkey wheels. My recollection and pics always registered them as more Bronze Monkey. I'm wondering if they darkened when I had them CQuartzed or if the Granite Crystal and Phantom Black cars I had just made them appear darker than the Destroyer.

If you want to change the red interior, remember that Katskin is always a cost effective option and, last I heard, they are a Mopar partner. Perhaps a matte black hood wrap to consider also?

Here's a pic of my '16 GC with Monkeys and satin hood for reference. Hope it all works out the way you want it! Keep us posted please.

 

[thetalonguy]

Thanks for the input Hayabusa! Your HC looks amazing! Definitely worthy of the HCOTM.

Definitely looking forward to ragging on her a bit on the 3 hr ride home next week. The weather is supposed to be in the 50’s around here.

I do like the red interior...usually I don’t like that kind of contrast, but at least it’s not the FULL interior as being red. I could live with it and the suede material was definitely my number 1 choice.

As far as changing the exterior, definitely thinking matte black wheels. Also considering stripes; I LOVE stripes. My Viper has silver stripes on Graphite Metallic paint. I’d say a the color is a mix between Granite and DG, but definitely metallic flakes. I was wondering if silver would look good to sort of match my Vipers scheme. Although black would probably make the most sense. I’d also consider wrapping the hood flat black. I like that look as well.

Will do my research on what tire will work best for me. Not looking drag with this car. If anything, I may give it a go on an AutoX track just for fun.

Will keep you posted and will have other questions along the way. I’ll be doing all my own wrenching, so I’ll be referencing various fluid questions and such.

 

[Taxinator]

Congratulations and you picked the best color! The stock slingshots weigh 29 pounds and these do take a little more time to clean. You may want to consider a dark graphite or gloss black for the wheel color. I think dark graphite looks good on destroyer grey but I’m a little biased: