Ohthatguy
Well-Known Member
I also made the switch from an automatic Scat Pack Challenger to get the 2018. Background on a crazy car saga:
2015-2016-No car, fam used wife's SUV
Jan 2017-buy new 17 mustang GT base auto, low options, put 10,000 miles on it
July 2017-trade mustang in on deeply discounted Scat pack charger, low options
Sept-hurricane Irma totals the new charger
Oct 2017-buy Scat Pack Challenger auto, no options, put 5,300 miles on it in 90 days
New Years Eve 2017-trade Scat on a 18 Mustang base GT Auto , low options, 900 miles on it.
My take on all of this:
The 2017 GT was an extremely capable performance car all the way around. I put on wide wheels, 295/305 MPSS (huge improvement to an already great car)and did the resonator delete and H pipe (not sold on value of this mod for that car). Driving it in 'D' then swapping to 'S' and looking for trouble felt like you got an extra hundred horsepower. The new car does not give such a drastic difference in the two modes since the 10 speed already keeps it on the boil for you in D mode.
The Charger Scat Pack was a great 4 door muscle car with a fantastic stock exhaust sound. Intransforming a big sedan to be sporty, the factory suspension ended up being a little jarring.
The challenger was cool. EVERYBODY thought it was cool. I liked the car but have never subscribed to the Challenger extra magical cool factor. A lot of non hardcore car guys thought it was a hellcat, especially after very wide wheels and tires went on. It sounded great and after mid muffler delete it sounded great but twice as loud, which was perfect.
The scats are exactly what they were intended to be: big brawny, ballsy Blvd cruisers. In doing that mission very well, they don't get to be what the late model mustangs are-chuckable, lithe, highly responsive, corner carving all around performers.
I had a few minor gripes on the Challenger: terrible mpgs (like $350/ month in gas terrible), the doors would always try to swing closed back at my leg when trying to get out, very little interior storage space. And lastly, it was bright red-just not my thing but that's my wife's fault for picking that over black.
The 2018 GT
The new look struck me ugly at first but running 11's at 119 pulled me in. The leap from 112 traps to darn near 120 is just next level shit.
I sum the new GT as "easy". Mash the throttle and it sounds waaaaay better, throws you down the street in a drama free, smooth as butter way on a very compliant and comfortable set up. It does a bit more in every sense but comes off as not breaking a sweat in the process.
Better ride
Powertrain now a mix of combustion and Harry Potter type shit
Base GT audio now fine (vs "let's remind them they went cheap by making this distinctly sound like ass" in the 17 base GT)
The 10 speed auto does hunt around for gears a little bit
When you go cheap, it still comes with comically skinny tires but from the driver's seat they now they seem to let the car deliver amazing performance through them so they only let you down visually. Is credit due to a very well developed set of electronic nannies that lets you get the most out of a small contact patch? Not sure.
Base GT brakes-okay but not as distinctly impressive as I recall the 17s being (after the big tire swap, it was like throwing a huge anchor out of the window on the 17)
Sound-so good that I don't know about spending money to risk screwing it up, but do want it 30% louder
A gripe with the 17 is still there-The seatbelt position is uncomfortable and I have to use my hand to keep it off of me when it starts to bug me.
Bottom line, I would never have thought a refresh could transform a car like this.
2015-2016-No car, fam used wife's SUV
Jan 2017-buy new 17 mustang GT base auto, low options, put 10,000 miles on it
July 2017-trade mustang in on deeply discounted Scat pack charger, low options
Sept-hurricane Irma totals the new charger
Oct 2017-buy Scat Pack Challenger auto, no options, put 5,300 miles on it in 90 days
New Years Eve 2017-trade Scat on a 18 Mustang base GT Auto , low options, 900 miles on it.
My take on all of this:
The 2017 GT was an extremely capable performance car all the way around. I put on wide wheels, 295/305 MPSS (huge improvement to an already great car)and did the resonator delete and H pipe (not sold on value of this mod for that car). Driving it in 'D' then swapping to 'S' and looking for trouble felt like you got an extra hundred horsepower. The new car does not give such a drastic difference in the two modes since the 10 speed already keeps it on the boil for you in D mode.
The Charger Scat Pack was a great 4 door muscle car with a fantastic stock exhaust sound. Intransforming a big sedan to be sporty, the factory suspension ended up being a little jarring.
The challenger was cool. EVERYBODY thought it was cool. I liked the car but have never subscribed to the Challenger extra magical cool factor. A lot of non hardcore car guys thought it was a hellcat, especially after very wide wheels and tires went on. It sounded great and after mid muffler delete it sounded great but twice as loud, which was perfect.
The scats are exactly what they were intended to be: big brawny, ballsy Blvd cruisers. In doing that mission very well, they don't get to be what the late model mustangs are-chuckable, lithe, highly responsive, corner carving all around performers.
I had a few minor gripes on the Challenger: terrible mpgs (like $350/ month in gas terrible), the doors would always try to swing closed back at my leg when trying to get out, very little interior storage space. And lastly, it was bright red-just not my thing but that's my wife's fault for picking that over black.
The 2018 GT
The new look struck me ugly at first but running 11's at 119 pulled me in. The leap from 112 traps to darn near 120 is just next level shit.
I sum the new GT as "easy". Mash the throttle and it sounds waaaaay better, throws you down the street in a drama free, smooth as butter way on a very compliant and comfortable set up. It does a bit more in every sense but comes off as not breaking a sweat in the process.
Better ride
Powertrain now a mix of combustion and Harry Potter type shit
Base GT audio now fine (vs "let's remind them they went cheap by making this distinctly sound like ass" in the 17 base GT)
The 10 speed auto does hunt around for gears a little bit
When you go cheap, it still comes with comically skinny tires but from the driver's seat they now they seem to let the car deliver amazing performance through them so they only let you down visually. Is credit due to a very well developed set of electronic nannies that lets you get the most out of a small contact patch? Not sure.
Base GT brakes-okay but not as distinctly impressive as I recall the 17s being (after the big tire swap, it was like throwing a huge anchor out of the window on the 17)
Sound-so good that I don't know about spending money to risk screwing it up, but do want it 30% louder
A gripe with the 17 is still there-The seatbelt position is uncomfortable and I have to use my hand to keep it off of me when it starts to bug me.
Bottom line, I would never have thought a refresh could transform a car like this.
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