Corvette C7 vs Hellcat
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,146
Likes: 3,999
From: 2019 CMG Z06
My car, bone stock, wasn't even fully broken in, made it's one and only pass at 11.1. Wasn't exactly a great launch either, but I'd imagine now, 2k miles later (2,900 miles on it now), it should be better suited for making passes
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 247
Likes: 69
From: Texas
When I was doing a Twisted Sisters run in the Texas Hill country with some friends, we stopped for a bite to eat and came across another group with a Hellcat and they told us the Hellcat was having a hard time with the turns...
I was gonna buy a Hellcat, but when I actually made an in person visit I concluded it was an ugly ******* car the size of a school bus.
I was gonna buy a Hellcat, but when I actually made an in person visit I concluded it was an ugly ******* car the size of a school bus.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 10,398
Likes: 1,700
From: North Texas
When I was doing a Twisted Sisters run in the Texas Hill country with some friends, we stopped for a bite to eat and came across another group with a Hellcat and they told us the Hellcat was having a hard time with the turns...
I was gonna buy a Hellcat, but when I actually made an in person visit I concluded it was an ugly ******* car the size of a school bus.
I was gonna buy a Hellcat, but when I actually made an in person visit I concluded it was an ugly ******* car the size of a school bus.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 62
Likes: 30
From: Wichita
I had one for a couple years, it was a 2016. I really liked the car, ran very well, comfortable and a great looking car, never had any complaints. Got the itch for something else and went the Jeep route for a couple years, and now back in a C7. Hellcats are great cars for cruising cross country, and they handle quite well for what they are, but nothing like the C7. If I could afford to have them both, it would still be in my garage. Oh and yes, they are much more traction limited then the Z06.
Last edited by Z06MJ; Aug 21, 2020 at 02:33 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 806
From: Dallas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I would keep my Chevrolet SS sedan over the Hellcat.... Hellcat will outrun it in the straights but the darn SS has great handling through turns... Hell... half the time I think it handles as well as my C7 ! The SS is a car not a lot of folks know or talk about but it is an amazing car... Great for road trips of more than two.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 15,678
Likes: 1,097
From: birmingham Alabama
St. Jude Donor '09 and '13
I raced a Hellcat Challenger from a 10 roll. My A8 DEAD hooked up. Jumped him by about 2 car lengths off the start. We stopped around 80. I can tell you, he was coming around me FAST had we kept going. So the C7 is more than capable of beating a Hellcat in the short run. Long run NO CHANCE!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 806
From: Dallas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I raced a Hellcat Challenger from a 10 roll. My A8 DEAD hooked up. Jumped him by about 2 car lengths off the start. We stopped around 80. I can tell you, he was coming around me FAST had we kept going. So the C7 is more than capable of beating a Hellcat in the short run. Long run NO CHANCE!
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 15,678
Likes: 1,097
From: birmingham Alabama
St. Jude Donor '09 and '13
Had a heads up quarter mile run at Bradenton Motorsports Park with my factory stock C7 Stingray Z51 A8 against a Challenger Hellcat A8. I treed him, ran 11.76 @ 118 MPH to his 12.02 @ 124 MPH and had him by many car lengths at the finish line. Hellcats can't hook up with street tires, rendering most of their 700+ horsepower useless in a standing start race.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 125
Likes: 88
Hellcat owner here 
On the street it all comes down to the Trans. My hellcat cant keep up with my buddies z06's or Zl1 camaros, but there automatics. Every time I shift they put 1/2 a car on me. I can also confirm that my hellcat doesn't really start to move until 70mph, that's when timing is released and I have all 707hp(manual car). Never raced a c7Z manual, but it should definitely be fast as it has a 1000lb weight advantage. GS and Stingrays don't stand a chance, it'll be a close race till 70mph, but then I put like 5-7 cars on them in 3rd gear alone.
Ive driven both standard and narrow body challengers, the wide bodies make a MASSIVE difference in how they handle, yes its not at a corvette level (lets remember at the end of the day this car is based on a v6 rental car), but for such a heavy car it disguises it very well in widebody form.
All that being said, Im here cause Im currently in the GS market cause of how much better of a car they are lol
On the street it all comes down to the Trans. My hellcat cant keep up with my buddies z06's or Zl1 camaros, but there automatics. Every time I shift they put 1/2 a car on me. I can also confirm that my hellcat doesn't really start to move until 70mph, that's when timing is released and I have all 707hp(manual car). Never raced a c7Z manual, but it should definitely be fast as it has a 1000lb weight advantage. GS and Stingrays don't stand a chance, it'll be a close race till 70mph, but then I put like 5-7 cars on them in 3rd gear alone.
Ive driven both standard and narrow body challengers, the wide bodies make a MASSIVE difference in how they handle, yes its not at a corvette level (lets remember at the end of the day this car is based on a v6 rental car), but for such a heavy car it disguises it very well in widebody form.
All that being said, Im here cause Im currently in the GS market cause of how much better of a car they are lol
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,146
Likes: 3,999
From: 2019 CMG Z06
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 125
Likes: 88
Yes I can easily afford a Z, but IMO the hellcat just has to much power for what Im doing with it. Most driving below 80mph, It really doesn't need that extra HP. Swining a z06 would mean I would likely look for a 16-17, apposed to a 19 GS
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 240
Likes: 105
From: Dallas Oregon
My three sense. I had a 2012 392 challenger m6 for five yrs bought new. Traded it for my 2018 stingray new m7 new. IMO the dodge only had the advantage of more seating room, easier getting in and out. Lucky to get 18/20 mpg no matter how it was driven. Vette at 460 hp, dodge at 470. The dodge felt very quick until the Vette came into the pitcher. Weight and lack of traction kills all challengers, I’m 74, and have driven all sorts of fast cars, over my years. The Vette by far gives me the biggest grin when driven. I’ve never driven a demon, or a hell cat. But I can imagine it only gets worse with more ponies. I give them respect, and haven’t had a second look from one. However mustangs and Camaros are another Thing.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,626
Likes: 7,705
From: NJ
Hellcat owner here
On the street it all comes down to the Trans. My hellcat cant keep up with my buddies z06's or Zl1 camaros, but there automatics. Every time I shift they put 1/2 a car on me. I can also confirm that my hellcat doesn't really start to move until 70mph, that's when timing is released and I have all 707hp(manual car). Never raced a c7Z manual, but it should definitely be fast as it has a 1000lb weight advantage. GS and Stingrays don't stand a chance, it'll be a close race till 70mph, but then I put like 5-7 cars on them in 3rd gear alone.
Ive driven both standard and narrow body challengers, the wide bodies make a MASSIVE difference in how they handle, yes its not at a corvette level (lets remember at the end of the day this car is based on a v6 rental car), but for such a heavy car it disguises it very well in widebody form.
All that being said, Im here cause Im currently in the GS market cause of how much better of a car they are lol
On the street it all comes down to the Trans. My hellcat cant keep up with my buddies z06's or Zl1 camaros, but there automatics. Every time I shift they put 1/2 a car on me. I can also confirm that my hellcat doesn't really start to move until 70mph, that's when timing is released and I have all 707hp(manual car). Never raced a c7Z manual, but it should definitely be fast as it has a 1000lb weight advantage. GS and Stingrays don't stand a chance, it'll be a close race till 70mph, but then I put like 5-7 cars on them in 3rd gear alone.
Ive driven both standard and narrow body challengers, the wide bodies make a MASSIVE difference in how they handle, yes its not at a corvette level (lets remember at the end of the day this car is based on a v6 rental car), but for such a heavy car it disguises it very well in widebody form.
All that being said, Im here cause Im currently in the GS market cause of how much better of a car they are lol
My friend's hellcat redeye is about a door behind a stock C7Z A8 from a roll to 140. And he knows how to drive. Not that an auto car is so skill dependent but between reaction time and using the right gear to start and when to upshift matters. I suspect an average HC redeye driver would be even further back than his if the same C7Z driver caught him.
Which also goes the other way. If you don't know how to get the A8 in the right gear for the speed AND don't let the computer make the upshift on its own? You'll screw up the pull way more times than less.
Found the video. Thought he took it down.
Last edited by 24/Eray; Aug 22, 2020 at 02:39 PM.