Best Muscle Cars
Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye Bests Ferrari 812 Superfast as All-Rounder
By Dave Ashton
‘…What!’ I telepathically hear many of you exclaim, the ultra-refined pedigree of a Ferrari is beaten by the rough-and-tumble of a Dodge Hellcat Redeye. The boy is out of his mind. Well, if you read the full article comparing these two vehicles over @ motortrend.com you are treated to not only full coverage of these two machines, but also a rare Ferrari comparison, something the company rarely lets happen.
But ironically, with both vehicles being lined up against each other, they say it’s not a comparison, but more a delve into 800 horsepower territory and a revel in our times before EVs take over the world and turn the roads into boring silence. However, stating one is better than the other in some form of comparison is stated definitively with, ‘The Ferrari 812 Superfast is a much better automobile than the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye. It just is.’ Hmmm, seems like the contest is over before it starts, but read on…..
To some, the only similarity between these two vehicles are there roundabout power levels. So let’s check out some basic stats –
Power
2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye
Drivetrain: Front-engine V8, RWD
Displacement: 376.3 cu in/6,166 cc
Power: 797 hp @ 6,300 rpm
Torque: 707 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm
Wight: 4,451 lb
2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast
Drivetrain: Front-engine V12, RWD
Displacement: 396.4 cu in/6,496 cc
Power: 789 hp @ 8,500 rpm
Torque: 530 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm
Weight: 1,630 kg
Although these cars are like comparing chalk and cheese, they are both the most powerful street cars to currently buy. The Redeye is a weighty beast, being more like a super heavyweight boxer and the Ferrari a light middleweight, but with roughly both having the same punching power. (how dare you…..) Ferrari will engineer things to the nth degree, while Dodge simply whack in more power (there is no replacement for displacement) which is so old school muscle car, but still gets the job done.
The 812 Superfast in reality won’t even have the Redeye on its radar. It’s lining itself up against the super cars of the world like Chirons, Koenigseggs and the McLaren 720S, not the down and dirty antics of a Dodge Redeye. The 812 Superfast can do 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds, the quarter mile in 10.4 seconds at 138.6 mph. The Redeye – 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds at 203 mph and a quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds at 125 mph. Strike one to the Ferrari. Still the Redeye can do 0-100-0 mph in 11.8 seconds, just 0.3 seconds from a McLaren F1 LM.
Driving
The big surprise from the comparison is, ‘the Dodge is a far superior grand tourer.’ The 812 Superfast is said to be ‘much less comfortable, louder, has seats that don’t recline and the list goes on.’ However, with the Ferrari the driving experience was, ‘Utterly astounding that Ferrari’s front-engine ‘GT’ is this sharp and capable. I find it slightly depressing that spending all that money is genuinely worth it.’
The whole thing concludes with the two vehicles shown as they couldn’t be more different. ‘The Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye is an extreme taken to an extreme. It’s as ridiculous as it is wonderful, as unnecessary as it is desirable.’ Even to the point where they recommend a 900HP version just for the sheer hell of it, pardon the pun. The Ferrari – ‘the 812 Superfast is an all-singing, all-dancing virtual impossibility of a supercar.’ A car that is at the top of its game, so to speak.
As a comparison, they conclude the Ferrari as the winner, BUT those on ‘Redeye budgets’ don’t have to concern themselves with half million-dollar Ferraris and that’s the main point here.
What you get for your money
Throwing stats. around all day long and even direct comparisons for who has the best in whatever areas is fine, but rarely spoken is what you get for your money. Anybody buying into a Ferrari will focus on pedigree and performance, with probably no consequence to cost. The rest of us will be weighing up what we can get for our money.
A 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye costs around $69,995, the Ferrari 812 Superfast has a MSRP of $335,275. A big price difference. In any other product review, 2 items having a price difference of nearly 5 times wouldn’t even be looked at together. So it’s really testament to the Redeye that its being tested or compared against a Ferrari in the first place. Although both vehicles have more or less similar power levels, the Redeye is the one as a tourer or daily driver, but definitely gets bested in performance. Then again, which would you choose for enjoying a few burnouts?
This all means that the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye should be firstly judged on what you are getting for your money. In that way I declare it being the best all-rounder considering the money. A car costing five times the price of the Redeye should be better in all areas. I would be disappointed if it wasn’t if it was my money. But, the Redeye is at least in the ballpark for power and performance and possibly a better choice for long journeys.
So, the Redeye is still flying the flag for the muscle car ethos for insane power levels at an affordable price and these days with respectable handling for its weight. The Redeye is like a quality burger compared to a Michelin starred meal. Both are yummy and nutritious, but they will always attract different crowds and never the twain shall meet.
0 comments