13 Affordable Cars That Are Faster Than A Dodge Challenger Scat Pack (2024)

As Dodge prepared to end production of gas-powered muscle cars, it provided the automotive world with a final series of fast Challenger models, including the R/T Scat Pack. The Scat Pack features a 392 cubic inch or 6.4-liter V-8 churning out 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque. It’s enough to power the Scat Pack to a top speed of 174 MPH.

The Scat Pack is a fun car made for tail-happy action, wheel spin, and drag racing. It’s reasonably quick to 60 MPH, getting there in 4.2 seconds. The vehicle has a base price of $49,265, which is fair for a car with such performance. However, for considerably less, you can get a vehicle capable of beating the Scat Pack. Here are 10 affordable cars faster than a Dodge Challenger Scat Pack.

13 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

Top Speed 175 MPH

The seventh-generation Dodge Charger was a massive aesthetic improvement from its dull-looking predecessor. It featured huge scallops on the sides, an aggressive grille, angular headlights, a wrap-around LED taillight, a bulging hood, and a rear spoiler. Further, it looked fast, thanks to aerodynamic styling.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Dodge)

The SRT8 variant eschewed the 6.1-liter V-8 in the departing model, adopting a 6.4-liter V-8 good for 470 horsepower and 465 pound-feet. Consequently, the SRT8 went even faster than it looked. It sped to 60 MPH in 4.3 seconds and past a quarter mile in 12.8, quicker than a BMW M3. Flat out, the four-door Dodge maxed out at 175 MPH.

The Dodge shared plenty with the Chrysler 300 SRT8, including the engine, transmission, adaptive damping, steering wheel, and bolstered seats. However, the Charger featured stiffer suspension, tuned to enhance handling, stability and responsiveness.

12 2015 Maserati Ghibli S Q4

Top Speed 175 MPH

The 2015 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 featured a twin-turbocharged Ferrari-built V-6 churning out 404 horsepower, 59 more than the base bi-turbo V-6. It launched the all-wheel drive Ghibli to 60 MPH in under five seconds, while belting out a throaty, spine-tingling growl. Though S Q4 had the performance to match its illustrious competitors in the luxury sports sedan segment, it lacked the refinement of its rivals, especially those from Germany.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Maserati)

For instance, the Ghibli featured unpadded leather and cabin materials of inferior quality. Furthermore, the knobs and switches were sourced from other cars in the Fiat-Chrysler lineup, denying the Ghibli the exclusivity offered by its competitors. That lackluster interior may feel even more outdated about a decade later. Conversely, the 2015 Ghibli offers timeless Italian styling, a boisterous powertrain, and intoxicating speed at a bargain.

11 2002 Chevrolet Corvette C5

Top Speed 175 MPH

Some executives at GM considered the Corvette C5 a waste of money. Embroiled in a financial struggle, they opined that the resources would be better spent elsewhere. Despite stern opposition, GM suits greenlit the vehicle’s development. The vehicle’s designers were guided by a survey of potential customers who told GM they desired safety, performance, and quality construction from the new Corvette.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Chevrolet)

For performance, Chevy installed a 5.7-liter LS1 V-8 engine, which, in the Vette, produced 350 horsepower and 360 pound-feet. The C5 was light, facilitating acceleration and speed, and had near-perfect weight distribution, which boosted handling.

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It also had sturdy construction, preventing the vehicle from losing stability or breaking apart at high speeds. Furthermore, the C5 looked sleeker and more curvaceous than the derided C4 Corvette, which featured boxy, outdated styling from the 1980s.

10 2006 Maserati Coupe

Top Speed 177 MPH

Revived by Fiat and Ferrari, Maserati returned to the U.S. market in the early 2000s with the Maserati Coupe and Spyder. Maseratis are often design masterpieces, and the coupe was no different. Designed by ItalDesign, the Coupe was a sight for sore eyes. Under the Coupe's tapering hood lay a Ferrari-designed V-8 engine, tuned to produce 390 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Maserati)

Maserati offered a six-speed manual or an optional automatic operated by paddle shifters next to the steering wheel. Coupes fitted with the auto gearbox were dubbed 'Cambiocorsa', meaning 'racing gearbox'. A couple of decades ago, the Maserati cost around $80,000. The Maserati now costs around $22,000, a bargain for a Ferrari-powered grand tourer.

9 2005 Pontiac GTO

Top Speed 178 MPH

To boost GTO sales, Pontiac introduced an exterior design package with chrome-tipped exhausts, a revised rear spoiler, and redesigned front and rear fascia. Without the package, the 2005 GTO looked similar to the 2004 model, except for the slightly restyled rear fascia. The main difference between the two vehicles was the powerplant.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: GM)

The 2005 GTO featured an LS2 6.0-liter V-8 that made a healthy 400 horsepower, 50 more than the LS1 engine in the previous model, and 400 pound-feet. Sending power through a four-speed automatic to the rear wheels, the 2005 GTO launched to 60 MPH in under 5 seconds. The odd-looking, dual-scooped GTO has an incredible top speed of 178 MPH.

Despite its speed, however, the revived Pontiac GTO failed to capture the public's imagination like the original GTO. Nevertheless, it was a well-engineered car designed for track action, daily drives, and road trips. It was also quirky, displaying an odd image of a tree and park bench on the instrument cluster that reminded the driver to rest after driving for two hours.

8 1990 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1

Top Speed 180 MPH

The motivation behind the Corvette C4 ZR-1's speed was an engine co-developed by Lotus and GM and built by Mercury Marine. It was a significant mill because it represented the first time Lotus had gone outside GM to procure an engine for the Corvette. The power unit featured an aluminum block, aluminum heads, and 16 fuel injectors (two per cylinder). The C4 ZR-1 was the first Corvette to feature a non-pushrod V-8 and a DOHC (dual overhead cam) engine.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Chevrolet)

Thanks to the use of two fuel injectors per cylinder, the LT5 engine produced consistent power throughout the rev range: One worked at low RPMs, while the other activated at 3,500 RPM. Consequently, the ZR-1's power unit produced 125 horsepower more than the standard Corvette's mill.

Lotus also helped develop the model's steering, braking systems, and adaptive Bilstein suspension. Despite its brilliance, the C4 ZR-1 is not the most popular Corvette, which makes it relatively affordable compared to other ZR-1 generations.

7 2003 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG

Top Speed 180 MPH

The 2003 E55 AMG combined a sedan's practicality with a supercar's speed. Thanks to a supercharged 5.5-liter V-8, the AMG was only 0.3 seconds slower to 50 MPH than a Ferrari Maranello. It got to within five MPH of its electronically-limited 155 MPH in a smidge over 23 seconds. Without the limiter, the E55 AMG could hit a top speed of 180 MPH.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Mercedes-AMG)

The vehicle’s suspension settings allowed the driver to stiffen the car for track action or soften it up for regular road use. The E55 AMG was a multipurpose car - a track car on the weekends and a daily driver on weekdays. It was also built tough, making it one of the best cheap AMGs you can get today. Common issues you should look out for when shopping for one include air suspension and transmission faults.

6 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

Top Speed 182 MPH

The Dodge Challenger’s return in 2008 wasn’t as triumphant as Dodge expected. The age of muscle cars that were only fast in a straight line was over - and Dodge had seemingly missed the dispatch. As handling experts toiled to improve the Challenger’s cornering performance, the powertrain department conspired to give the car more power.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Dodge)

They introduced a 6.4-liter V-8 engine producing 470 horsepower and similar amounts of torque. The engine’s developers claimed they sacrificed horsepower for more torque. Challenger SRT8s with this monster V-8 were named 392 after the engine’s displacement in cubic inches. The engine turned the 2012 Challenger into an insanely rapid muscle car, masking its deficiencies, of which there were plenty, including a low-quality interior and poor visibility.

5 2008 BMW M5

Top Speed 190 MPH

The BMW M5 was the first production sedan to feature a V-10 engine - and what a V-10 it was. The vehicle’s 10 cylinders were each responsible for 50 horsepower. The power plus 383 pound-feet of torque traveled through a seven-speed automated manual or an optional six-speed manual to the rear wheels. Though the manual facilitated a more exciting driving experience, the automated manual handled the V-10’s fury better.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: BMW)

The M5 E60 was highly sophisticated, with BMW claiming that its MDrive system had 279 unique setup combinations. It was a one-of-a-kind vehicle with a beating heart that BMW abandoned in the next-gen M5. It’s a fantastic car to drive but a nightmare to own, given its myriad reliability gremlins. When running perfectly, however, the E60 M5 will remind you why it is considered a special M5 generation.

4 2001 Mercedes-Benz S600

Top Speed 191 MPH

The S600 featured a 5.8-liter V-12 under the hood producing 362 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Much to the disappointment of acceleration aficionados, the S600 was slow off the line - the engine, though substantially powerful, struggled to launch the heavy S600. It took around 5 seconds for the heavy Mercedes to hit 60 MPH.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Mercedes-Benz)

The S600 wasn’t made for drag strips but for the German Autobahn. It had a limited top speed of 155 MPH, like most Mercedes of the era. Unlimited, however, the S600 stopped accelerating at 191 MPH. Also, despite its size, the Mercedes-Benz handled well. The S600 demonstrates how far vehicle technology has advanced. Boasting a cell phone and internet connectivity, the Merc was considered high-tech; two decades later, we have a Mercedes model with a 56-inch infotainment interface.

3 2008 BMW M3

Top Speed 193 MPH

Like the M5, the 2008 M3 deviated from the usual powertrain and went for one it had never used before. For the first time, a BMW M3 had a V-8 engine. The ever-brilliant M3 blended perfectly with a 414-horsepower 4.0-liter V-8. Sending power to the rear through a six-speed manual, the engine effortlessly handled the bulkier M3, which was 300 pounds heavier than the previous generation.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: BMW)

Purchasing the MDrive package increased the vehicle’s top speed from a limited 155 MPH to 180 MPH. However, the M3 could go a lot faster. With all electronic restraints switched off, the car could hit 193 MPH. While not as revered as the BMW E46 M3, the fifth-gen M3 is worth serious consideration, especially given that it has a V-8 under its hood and costs around $20,000.

2 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Top Speed 195 MPH

The 2006 Flying Spur was essentially a stretched, luxurious, and powerful Bentley Continental. Despite being 20 inches longer than the Continental GT and featuring heavy luxury items, it was only 200 pounds heavier. Nevertheless, it still weighed 5,500 pounds. To make it go as fast as Bentley wanted, the manufacturer bolted a 552-horsepower W-12 engine to its chassis.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Bentley)

The idea worked - the Flying Spur hit 60 MPH in 4.8 seconds and accelerated all the way to 195 MPH. In terms of performance, it trounced every other luxury sedan. It lagged behind in terms of luxury, but it suited performance-oriented customers.

The current-gen Bentley Flying Spur costs upwards of $200,000, 10 times more than the average price of a used 2006 example. While the 2006 model can't offer the luxury of its contemporary sibling, it can offer comparable speed.

1 2009 Audi RS6 C6

Top Speed 200+ MPH

In 2009, Audi upped the V-10 game in theatrical fashion - the manufacturer took a 5.0-liter V-10 Gallardo engine and mated it to two turbochargers. Audi bolted the resultant 580 horsepower V-10 to an unassuming sedan/wagon and named it the RS6. The engine in an RS6 C6 was a supercar engine - it was Audi’s most potent car for years.

Specs, Performance, And Average Price

(Specs: Audi)

Considering the engine power, a 4.6-second time from naught to 60 MPH was disappointing. When chasing top speed, however, all 580 horses stuffed in that V-10 woke from their slumber. Unrestrained and fitted with the right tires, the RS6 C6 could reportedly surpass 200 MPH. The C6 RS6 is considered one of the most significant RS cars in history.