When you're afraid to drive it, it's too much power for the street. Anything less and you're good to go.
The flip side is "contempt" where you're so comfortable with high HP that you fail to respect how quickly someone could get hurt by a mistake.

I don't think the Challenger is limited to a controllable horsepower figure - I think drivers are.
My 2 cents.....

 

With the 6 speed I feel like you have more control over the power and where it is laid down. Keep her in a high gear and your good to go! Taken mine out in the snow a few times, with snow tires of course.

Well said Challenger Dad.

 

When you're afraid to drive it, it's too much power for the street. Anything less and you're good to go.
The flip side is "contempt" where you're so comfortable with high HP that you fail to respect how quickly someone could get hurt by a mistake.

I don't think the Challenger is limited to a controllable horsepower figure - I think drivers are.
My 2 cents.....

Great answer. You said it better than I could have.

 

Since you said daily driver? Yeah I think my R/T even in stock form is too much for a daily driver. My normal not getting on it shifting is around 3000 rpms and it is too much for everyday traffic and speed limits around here. The SE would be a much better daily driver. With that being said mine is not a daily driver and there is no such thing as too much power HA. That is why I am installing my supercharger right now!

 

My R/T is a daily driver, but I do not commute.... I just have to drive it every day!!!

Good luck Willams rt! Post up some pics when your done!

 

Understood. I suppose I am referring to having a supercharger. I was reading on one of the Mustang forums about cars (05-10 GTs) with S/Cs where the owners are reducing boost because the wheels just spin. I figured it can happen with any other car as well. I don't want hijack my own thread and turn this into a Mustang discussion, just using this as an example. I intend on getting a S/C as well, just trying to figure how far I want to go.

 

Can you go to far? My R/T is a daily driver it will only get out of hand if you ( the driver ) lets it. I've known several people that drag raced and the only car they had was car they took to the track.

 

Understood. I suppose I am referring to having a supercharger. I was reading on one of the Mustang forums about cars (05-10 GTs) with S/Cs where the owners are reducing boost because the wheels just spin. I figured it can happen with any other car as well. I don't want hijack my own thread and turn this into a Mustang discussion, just using this as an example. I intend on getting a S/C as well, just trying to figure how far I want to go.

I understand. Power is good. However, for the most part, you are in control of that power. The only issue I see is during inclement weather. We all know how easily the Challenger will lose traction in the rain. Luckily, I have never had to drive my Angie in the snow--yet. But that is where Autostick mode has a use other than flat out having fun.

 

Understood. I suppose I am referring to having a supercharger. I was reading on one of the Mustang forums about cars (05-10 GTs) with S/Cs where the owners are reducing boost because the wheels just spin. I figured it can happen with any other car as well. I don't want hijack my own thread and turn this into a Mustang discussion, just using this as an example. I intend on getting a S/C as well, just trying to figure how far I want to go.

If you do go that route, I would go low with the boost at first. If that works out pretty well, you have the option to go higher...

 

I suppose I'm also wondering about this as I've never driven a 500+ rwhp car before.

 

Its too much when your car is tuned for 116octane to produce low knock on a 400 shot of nitrous:gy:

 

Im all seriounesss, to me its not the point in which your car produces too much power.......

You get to the point where you just dont feel as comfortable driving the car on the daily basis, whether you find it to have to not be as comfortable, the car not being reliable enough, car gets poor traction etc.....

 

If you do go that route, I would go low with the boost at first. If that works out pretty well, you have the option to go higher...

Also get one that is built for driveability, the SC that makes the most power is not always the best purchase. How it performs across the entire rpm band is important. Nobody drives around at WOT all the time and some of these SC are good for just that.

 

Also get one that is built for driveability, the SC that makes the most power is not always the best purchase. How it performs across the entire rpm band is important. Nobody drives around at WOT all the time and some of these SC are good for just that.

Which ones?

 

I think 09ChallengerDad summed things up nicely.

My opinion is that the driver needs to know what they can handle. In my case, the Challenger platform was MUCH faster than anything else I'd ever owned - my last two vehicles were both trucks and daily drivers for the past 15-odd years. When I started Challenger shopping, I knew I wanted more than just the SE for colors and options alone. I did find a used PCP SRT8 that the seller offered to sell me for only $500 more than I was looking at spending on the R/T Classic. Aside from being wary of how hard a 2010 had been driven by the previous owner, I also knew it was just too much car for me. The R/T Classic still has a hell of a lot of power, and I'm still getting used to it when I floor it

 

I think 09ChallengerDad summed things up nicely.

My opinion is that the driver needs to know what they can handle. In my case, the Challenger platform was MUCH faster than anything else I'd ever owned - my last two vehicles were both trucks and daily drivers for the past 15-odd years. When I started Challenger shopping, I knew I wanted more than just the SE for colors and options alone. I did find a used PCP SRT8 that the seller offered to sell me for only $500 more than I was looking at spending on the R/T Classic. Aside from being wary of how hard a 2010 had been driven by the previous owner, I also knew it was just too much car for me. The R/T Classic still has a hell of a lot of power, and I'm still getting used to it when I floor it

Yup, the RT is a great car and lots of power - I'm just seeking more. Simply a matter of preference I suppose.

 

Even at 425 hp (stock SRT8) unless the traction conditions are good, you can't put it down.

If the ground is damp from rain, forget accelerating fast, even with the computer on.

My direct answer would be that anything in near the 500 bhp range is pretty hard to use in anything less than ideal traction conditions.

 

I drive a 10 year old Durango everyday for now. I wouldn't want to use my PCP SRT8 everyday because there are more opportunities for someone to hit it and I do not want to rack up a lot of miles on it in case it becomes a collector's item 20 years from now. But, I do love driving my Challenger and every time I drive it, it feels like the first time I sat behind the wheel.

 

I take mine to work all the time which is about a 15 to 20 minute drive all highway. And to be honest, having too much power has never been a issue. In fact, its a welcome change from the 4 and 6 cylinders I've own my whole life. I'm actually thinking about trading in the Challenger and maybe getting a Viper sometime next year. Its either that or install some serious upgrades to the R/T, because owning the slowest muscle car on the market is unacceptable.

 

I've used 'daily drivers' ranging from a whopping 65HP diesel Mercedes 240D sedan to a 2000 Z28 with something like 325-345HP......stuff like Plymouth Horizons to Ford F250 diesels I've driven as personal daily drivers too.

My opinion on how much is too much...If you seriously comprimise your fuel economy, safety, and comfort by driving a big or overburdened with HP buggy around daily...then better look for something else. An example of which would be some of the jacked up 'super mud-wagon' trucks I see 'daily driving' in my area. Same goes for underpowered 'crap-box' cars....if it ain't got enough power to get out of it's own way...it ain't safe..my opinion!

And really..honestly, the Challenger SE is probably the best choice for a daily driver as far as Challengers are concerned. However..a car is a car and you Jokers stuck with a RT or SRT8 Challenger will just have to make do....nuthin' wrong with high HP as long as it doesn't eat your wallet, and it's tame enough to drive.:4-looney:

 

All good points. It is true about power and the person. The husband and I ride sport bikes. Mine is a 636 his is 1000cc. I've ridden his, and as much as I love to have one, I know it would get me in trouble. My 636 is fast enough for me and so is the R/T. And believe me, I have a need for speed lol.
On a side note, he would LOVE to put in a super charger and a blower in ours lol.

 

How much is too much? If you can't handle it then it's too much....

 

I suppose I'm also wondering about this as I've never driven a 500+ rwhp car before.

I'm within 20 rwhp of 500 in the cousin to your silver one in the picture and it all depends on that right foot and I'm getting 14.5 in town and 23 hwy gas mileage. My problem is wanting to hear that Eaton supercharger sounding like an angry vacuum cleaner when it winds. Still, I will use extreme caution when it's wet outside and don't take extreme chances when its dry.

If you are a competent driver you have enough good sense to learn the car and to drive according to conditions no matter the hp. A vehicle is a machine and the driver must master it safely.

 

If you take off like a normal person, and not gas it, you should not have any problems. I've got a buddy with a 700 hp supercharged Mustang, with 4.10 gears, he never has any problems taking off, but if he tacks it up, then of course the tires will spin. I've heard people say, every time I shift gears the tires spin, of course if you drive like a ass-hat, then of course, they'll spin.

 

I've used 'daily drivers' ranging from a whopping 65HP diesel Mercedes 240D sedan to a 2000 Z28 with something like 325-345HP......stuff like Plymouth Horizons to Ford F250 diesels I've driven as personal daily drivers too.

My opinion on how much is too much...If you seriously comprimise your fuel economy, safety, and comfort by driving a big or overburdened with HP buggy around daily...then better look for something else. An example of which would be some of the jacked up 'super mud-wagon' trucks I see 'daily driving' in my area. Same goes for underpowered 'crap-box' cars....if it ain't got enough power to get out of it's own way...it ain't safe..my opinion!

And really..honestly, the Challenger SE is probably the best choice for a daily driver as far as Challengers are concerned. However..a car is a car and you Jokers stuck with a RT or SRT8 Challenger will just have to make do....nuthin' wrong with high HP as long as it doesn't eat your wallet, and it's tame enough to drive.:4-looney:

I came out of a Jeep cherckee 4.0L, & with my foot planted to the floor on my R/T it gets better fuel economy. I don't know but I'd say I'm getting close to what your getting. You can under power, therefore your fuel economy goes down also. My kids are not living at home so I have a little more money floating around. When I bought my car I wasn't looking for fuel economy. I was looking for the hottest thing around, PCP Challenger R/T fit the bill. I would have bought the SRT8 but the budget wouldn't let me & theres the popping white stripes. I think they make the car even better so another 11 grand wasn't worth the money to me. Just for 50 HP, I thought I could make that up with mods.