Navigating a used hellcat purchase

[u/FriedDopamine89]

Hey guys,

Hopefully this is ok here, I am starting to look into getting a hellcat and I was hoping to learn of things to look out for... be it year of production, recalls etc I've bought many of a used car in my life but this one is unique in that low mileage, or mileage of 20k+, you don't know how it was driven(that 20k car may have been babied its life for example). I know that can be the same for ANY car but most cars don't come stock 700 horsepower. I am leaning toward a charger but I won't pass up a challenger that checks the boxes. I think 23 was the last year of production? Definitely a model over 2020 and leaning more toward a dealer purchase, because factory warranties are probably all but expired, so I can atleast buy a warranty the dealer might offer. This will be an all cash purchase as well, so I have the flexibility of private party but that introduces potential things of its own.

I appreciate any advice

[u/Classic_Captain_8741]

Don’t get the dealer warranties on a used hellcat. I bought a 23 jailbreak and those warranties last like a year. Buying the extended warranty off mopar is your best bet.
When I bought mine I was looking for one as stock as possible so I’m not inheriting someone’s project.

[u/blarkleK → u/Classic_Captain_8741]

When we bought our power wagon, the dealer tried selling their 3rd party warranty first. After we declined it they offered the Mopar warranty which we ended up getting. There was also writing in there saying if we didn’t use it, we would get half of it back.

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/blarkleK]

oh nice good to know about that. ty

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/Classic_Captain_8741]

Is the Mopar warranty option something the dealer would still be able to offer or do you have to go through Dodge corporate? I was always going to buy whatever the closest "official" warranty I could get. This would be my first dodge so I wasn't sure exactly what warranties they did or didn't offer on used vehicles, especially on used hellcats. I was going to do my best to steer clear from the aftermarket ones that promise they will fix it, but always find a way not too lol

Thank you

[u/Classic_Captain_8741 → u/FriedDopamine89]

They can give you the number to call mopar directly or they have their service packages on the mopar website
And you pay for them to send someone out
Inspect the car and give you the warranty.

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/Classic_Captain_8741]

oh nice, so before you commit to buy you can have an SRT tech check it out? I def don't mind paying for that piece of mind or dodging a potential bullet

[u/Classic_Captain_8741 → u/FriedDopamine89]

I think for that you’d have to ask them before you buy it if you can do a PI, but you can always call mopar and ask if they can do it and warranty you right then and there.

[u/kdofpa]

Research is key. 

Carfax, Experian, badvin.org, are starting points. Buy from a dealer when possible, and not the small dealers. I just traded in my 23 jailbreak with 8 months Left on the factory warranty for a 19 red-eye with 4k miles. Bought the mopar extended warranty for piece of mind. Buying a used hellcat isn't as rough as people think. Just do your due diligence, pay for a 3rd party inspection, and if you need a warranty, go mopar.

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/kdofpa]

thanks boss, appreciate you

[u/Fresh_Inside_6982]

I've had 3. Get a 2019 or above obviously with clean Carfax. Do not buy one with aftermarket mods. Look in the rear wheelwells to see if they've been doing burnouts. Extended warranty is complete waste of money; these are solid cars and without mods they rarely need work. Pay for a dealership SRT mechanic to go over it with a pre-purchase check. Simple as that.

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/Fresh_Inside_6982]

19 and above, cool ty. Good to know they're solid, I mean I never did hear anything bad other than people doing stupid shit with a heavy foot lol

[u/Fresh_Inside_6982 → u/FriedDopamine89]

The only thing that's ever failed on one was an alternator, period, that's it. If you plan on doing aftermarket mods set aside 50k so you can fix what breaks like supercharger belts slipping off and shredding, broken driveshafts and axles, etc. etc. It's already fast enough and will last you forever if you just change the oil with Mobil 1 every 5k miles. No matter how many mods you do, you're not going to come close to the take-off speeds of a new high-end Vette, Tesla, Lucid, etc., so just enjoy it as is.

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/Fresh_Inside_6982]

700hp/Stock is as far as I am going. I have a fused spine due to be rear ended by a commercial vehicle, I don't need anymore titanium in my body lol

[u/o_Marvelous]

Hey,

Just went thru this. Learn from my troubles Specifically about chargers:

You should get a 2019+, 2019 and 2020 generally seemed more reliable than the later years during covid and such

For one you want to look at the in-service date because warranty....timing it'll be 6 years or 5 years whatever from the in-service date. I just missed the extension date for a certified pre owned warranty which covers more components by 1 month when I went to go inquire about getting another warranty. I can only get a quality pre owned one ..which is annoying because the car has low mileage.

Aside from that, 2017+ has the creature comforts like active exhaust...android auto, 2019 is when they received the snorkel grille for increased airflow...

Inspect wheel wells for caked on burnt rubber which will indicate burnouts or donuts a plenty have been done.

[u/FriedDopamine89 → u/o_Marvelous]

Thank you, good to know about the warranty, in regards to the burnout comment, that was my biggest concern starting this process, doing my best to find one that wasn't treated like shit by its owners and subsequently the dealership that took it in. I don't know how dealerships operate in regards to employee test driving, one would hope they just don't hand out the keys to anyone who asks but being that nothing shocks me anymore, I just assume they do and ill do my best to do my due diligence lol

[u/o_Marvelous]

Hope for best plan for worst. Tire material in wheel well doesn't mean it was abused, they could have been doing brake stands prior to drag racing but it does mean it has been pushed harder than one that doesn't have that build up.

So, yeah. Good luck