What settings do I have to disable to get the ScatPack(or SRT392) to drive loose and free?
I've test driven the ScatPack Sedan twice and coupe once. I know that I am supposed to love this car but my test drives leave me feeling disconnected and that shouldn't happen in a car with 485+hp and a sport mode button, lap timers in the cluster etc,etc So, I'm trying to figure out what has separated me the newb from feeling the burn and wanting to buy it.
Ok, heres the history. I drove a white ScatPack 2 months ago but had no idea about its super track pack settings. So, my test drive was rush hour slow with a brief highway blast and most likely the steering was in its firmest setting. So, the car never felt loose, it felt heavy and cumbersome and square. And the acceleration was good at best.
2nd was the Challenger, Plum Crazy, similar experience, extremely brief highway blast in a police heavy area. The acceleration was visceral and the sound matched the power. I did feel connected to the car and the steering was good, but all i got was an on ramp, a blast and an off ramp. So, still not a full experience but more connected than the Charger and certainly more of what I need in power than the 5.7LV8 R/T. It didn't feel fast but it definitely didn't feel slow.
3rd test drive was yesterday. An absolutely gorgeous Metallic Steel with red/cloth interior. Much the wiser after youtube watching so I found the sport button and the super track options. Toggled everything to the 'I know how to drive a car fast without nannies' modes and off we went. Salesman was cool, he runs a Stang at the strip, so he was alright with my need to check the power and handling. OF we go to a winding road, and [drum roll].... blah. The car hauls arse, of course,its just that I couldn't feel it. It made big noises and the digital numbers ran high as we were doing shy of 3digits but it felt like not that. it felt like the car wanted to slow down without me applying effort to the pedal(made comfort mode would give a more relaxed throttle pedal to maintain speed. Is this engine braking in sport mode? ...engine braking was nice in the corners, it held the gears well. But in general, It almost felt like the car was sorting itself out, id toss the car so that I could cut tight to the line. It would comply and then it felt like the cabin was righting itself on top of the chassis, it almost felt like I was sitting in the perfect balance point to feel the car pitch and roll but it seemed automated,mechanical and not like a function of my inputs. So the car handled but it seemed heavy and tight as opposed to somewhat open and crashable. Like a kids amusement park ride that has a steering wheel, is on rail, goes fast but rotates of its own accord, speeds up and slows down of its own accord. OK, I felt disconnected. And that made the sound feel disconnected from my control of the car. What the heck? I turned it all off right? The gauge light showed traction off, little green checkered flag was green. This is supposed to be drive well or crash mode right? The car seemed sluggish (disclaimer: I ride a 1300cc touring motorcycle 165hp and 700lbs wet with me on it) is something holding the car back? DO I really need 707 overkill hp in order to feel like the sound, feel and power are strong. This new car had around 650miles on it already.
I get back to the dealership and THEN, the GM discusses the features,hoping to impress me and convince me (like a good salesman), that this was the car for me…auto lane assist was on. DAMMITTT! What does a man have to do to experience the genius of the platform before purchasing. What do I have to do to experience the car? Its a sedan, its a super sedan, it can be a highway yacht, it can also run a road course faster than some race cars of a couple decades ago but everything I've done so far feels artificial, hyped sound and hyped power on top of what is arguably a very well designed base automobile. No argument that the base is awesome. I couldn't even break the wheels loose. So, did traction control actually turn off. Is there a secret dealer mode, limiting power to prevent hoonage? Or is the sedan as much a pig(for driving harder than family mode) as I've already felt and it gets no better? Would I do better with the coupe? Is the $10k more for the SRT392 where the magic resides for a road course minded sedan guy or will I have to get 707hp which is too much for the chassis, in order to experience the sweet zone of the chassis and proper suspension?
Sorry for the long post but I'm working hard to get to the magic of the ScatPack and it hasn't happened so far. I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to feel great when driving this car. I'm not ever going to the strip. I am going to a road course. Thanks.
I've test driven the ScatPack Sedan twice and coupe once. I know that I am supposed to love this car but my test drives leave me feeling disconnected and that shouldn't happen in a car with 485+hp and a sport mode button, lap timers in the cluster etc,etc So, I'm trying to figure out what has separated me the newb from feeling the burn and wanting to buy it.
Ok, heres the history. I drove a white ScatPack 2 months ago but had no idea about its super track pack settings. So, my test drive was rush hour slow with a brief highway blast and most likely the steering was in its firmest setting. So, the car never felt loose, it felt heavy and cumbersome and square. And the acceleration was good at best.
2nd was the Challenger, Plum Crazy, similar experience, extremely brief highway blast in a police heavy area. The acceleration was visceral and the sound matched the power. I did feel connected to the car and the steering was good, but all i got was an on ramp, a blast and an off ramp. So, still not a full experience but more connected than the Charger and certainly more of what I need in power than the 5.7LV8 R/T. It didn't feel fast but it definitely didn't feel slow.
3rd test drive was yesterday. An absolutely gorgeous Metallic Steel with red/cloth interior. Much the wiser after youtube watching so I found the sport button and the super track options. Toggled everything to the 'I know how to drive a car fast without nannies' modes and off we went. Salesman was cool, he runs a Stang at the strip, so he was alright with my need to check the power and handling. OF we go to a winding road, and [drum roll].... blah. The car hauls arse, of course,its just that I couldn't feel it. It made big noises and the digital numbers ran high as we were doing shy of 3digits but it felt like not that. it felt like the car wanted to slow down without me applying effort to the pedal(made comfort mode would give a more relaxed throttle pedal to maintain speed. Is this engine braking in sport mode? ...engine braking was nice in the corners, it held the gears well. But in general, It almost felt like the car was sorting itself out, id toss the car so that I could cut tight to the line. It would comply and then it felt like the cabin was righting itself on top of the chassis, it almost felt like I was sitting in the perfect balance point to feel the car pitch and roll but it seemed automated,mechanical and not like a function of my inputs. So the car handled but it seemed heavy and tight as opposed to somewhat open and crashable. Like a kids amusement park ride that has a steering wheel, is on rail, goes fast but rotates of its own accord, speeds up and slows down of its own accord. OK, I felt disconnected. And that made the sound feel disconnected from my control of the car. What the heck? I turned it all off right? The gauge light showed traction off, little green checkered flag was green. This is supposed to be drive well or crash mode right? The car seemed sluggish (disclaimer: I ride a 1300cc touring motorcycle 165hp and 700lbs wet with me on it) is something holding the car back? DO I really need 707 overkill hp in order to feel like the sound, feel and power are strong. This new car had around 650miles on it already.
I get back to the dealership and THEN, the GM discusses the features,hoping to impress me and convince me (like a good salesman), that this was the car for me…auto lane assist was on. DAMMITTT! What does a man have to do to experience the genius of the platform before purchasing. What do I have to do to experience the car? Its a sedan, its a super sedan, it can be a highway yacht, it can also run a road course faster than some race cars of a couple decades ago but everything I've done so far feels artificial, hyped sound and hyped power on top of what is arguably a very well designed base automobile. No argument that the base is awesome. I couldn't even break the wheels loose. So, did traction control actually turn off. Is there a secret dealer mode, limiting power to prevent hoonage? Or is the sedan as much a pig(for driving harder than family mode) as I've already felt and it gets no better? Would I do better with the coupe? Is the $10k more for the SRT392 where the magic resides for a road course minded sedan guy or will I have to get 707hp which is too much for the chassis, in order to experience the sweet zone of the chassis and proper suspension?
Sorry for the long post but I'm working hard to get to the magic of the ScatPack and it hasn't happened so far. I'm pretty sure I'm supposed to feel great when driving this car. I'm not ever going to the strip. I am going to a road course. Thanks.
