Dodge Demon 170 Real World Test - Driven and Dragged

The Dodge Demon 170 is the most powerful Challenger ever released. Actually it's the quickest, fastest and most powerful mass-produced vehicle ever made. But does the reality match the marketing?
We took a totally stock Demon 170 to Orlando Speed World to try and match Dodge's 8.91 pass that they say is possible. Can we get there? I will say this - the wheelies/wheelstands are even BETTER than we saw from Dodge. I can't believe you can drive this vehicle off a dealer lot. The noise from the Hemi is spine tingling on the drag strip.
Whether you are a seasoned drag racer or a total newcomer, you can't help but be impressed by this car.

[@johndoran3274]

I’m so glad you bought one of these Tom. Most people would have them stuffed in a garage and taken to the occasional show, but it’s a car. They are meant to be driven. For what you pay for these cars, Dodge should send a tech guy to help you set it up.😬

[@monroefive-o40]

Heck the Fiat techs can’t figure it out. Very glitchy software.

[@funnyguppygaming2012]

yeah until people follow you home and try to steal it lol. theres reasons you dont take these things out.

[@c103110a]

The key word it "try". lol!@@funnyguppygaming2012

[@Bierowski]

Didn’t seem to look at air pressure in the tires. Maybe not that big of a deal?…

[@livinginavwvan207]

@@monroefive-o40 They've always been glitchy, and its almost always a safety nanny. I remember in the 392 days if you went over 4500rpm during your burnout it would instantly retard the timing, yank about 65hp and botch your run. This still isn't a widely known fact about these cars. Watch the fast runs in these, the burnout is always done at low RPM, thats for a reason. Something for Tom to try, he was letting it rip. The torque management during shifts (more timing pull to safe the trans) is also worth ET after you get rid of it, car is still technically stock too. The transmission likely has multiple electrical bandaids in it to survive. IMO their 8.90 cars had NONE. You're buying the version that went through the safety dept.

[@peep39]

I love that you bought one of them. I know you're a really serious car guy, so this is definitely in good hands and that makes me happy

[@ScatPackRob]

I'm so jealous of everyone who was able to land a Demon 170. It's really saying something when a guy who has gone 5 gets excited to go low 9's. I can't figure out why the right rear stopped turning on the burnout. Also some shifts don't sound as good as they should. Anyway, one hell of a car.

[@michaelwynne4346]

I said the same thing, it looks like he isn't in the water and it's slipping the posi unit.

[@rangerst_870]

factory posi unit for street driving almost NEVER fully locks the axles together like a full spool or a mini-spool does.

[@ScatPackRob]

My nearly stock Scat Pack will spin the DR's mercilessly, same tire as on the Demon 170 which has 600 HP more than mine. There may be a glitch with traction control keeping Tom's 170 away from 8"s.@@michaelwynne4346

[@michaeljones3827]

Maybe there is a traction control feature in the software doing that in the box?

[@michaelloth5870]

I saw the right rear wheel stop also. I was thinking it was the speed of the wheel and the sample rate of the camera causing an optical illusion?

[@scotthansen1287]

Great video as always Tom. Now you have a reason to get back to the track and create more content on your quest for the 8's. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family and crew.

[@dougpendleton1266]

Great first effort, I am looking forward to your next runs!

[@briananderson5284]

Awesome love the content keep up the Amazing Work 😊 can't wait to see more!!!!!

[@just_some_internet_guy]

Thanks for giving us rain input, plus the video of it and the tires. It's probably not advisable, but it certainly can be safe.

[@michaelthomas9991]

What an awesome video! I love that car! Your demeanor throughout the video is perfect. Instead of getting angry or depressed over not reaching a lofty goal, you are respectful and appreciative of the opportunity you’ve been given. Thank you for sharing this!

[@drivebigmuscle8080]

What a brilliant video!! Thank you Tom for taking the time to do this. I just got my 170 and it's so refreshing to see someone with your resume not only explaining how the car works, runs and drives, but also demonstrating how much true skill it takes to get these cars to the next level. No question there is a learning curve, but you really broke it down in layman's terms for those of use are truly excited to use these cars, so again, HUGE thank you Sir!

[@tripprogers4814]

No doubt, great comment.

[@farmerkevin]

Road trip in a sweet car by yourself? You're living the dream. Keep them coming.

[@PatandDoopypoopy]

Man oh man the pass at min 22 looked wicked. Epic fun stuff.

[@MrJudges4u]

What an excellent video Tom. I especially like the hardware store run! Congrats and be safe in the last super Muscle car ever to be produced.

[@mrd.808]

Now this is what's up. Automobile review by an actual Pro Racecar Dragster Driver. Cannot wait to see more. Many blessings Mr. Tom 🤙🏽🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@jasonkowalski662]

Tire crinkle wheelie machine 😮 Nice to see it go through the paces as intended vs sitting in someone’s garage

[@mikelugo848]

But the important thing is you experienced it. You had fun. You learned it and you are honest. Great job

[@natejames5720]

That is such a beautiful and amazing car!!

[@garthrogers2176]

Tom you're a maniac, driving that car down to Florida is hysterical and something I would do. Just got my deomon, my sixth hellcat. Moved down to East TN couple years ago and love it down here.

[@DavidYuen]

Your video's are great quality man

[@brooks74silverbee]

Put the shifter in manual mode in 2nd gear for line lock then roll out & put back in auto mode. Use the power chiller in between runs. Lots of stuff going on & to figure out on that monster! Absolutely amazing car!!! 💯🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

[@UKDrew]

Awesome as Always Really cool content Thx Guys Season Greetings from the UK

[@tennaj1367]

Great video , Seems like a cool guy. You have a new subscriber. Can't wait to see you hit that 8 ! 😁😁

[@srt8rocketship241]

I had the pleasure of growing up a few hundred yards from the finish line of this track. Had to live it. Got alot of information walking around the pits and asking questions. Learned much. Miss being there every weekend. Remember the WDIZ street nationals? What fun with Baxter and Mark(DJ's). Huge turnout. My neighbor brought his V8 Vega wagon and lost his run for 3rd place to a crotch rocket. A ragtop GTO won it all if i remember correctly. Those were good times.

[@vehdynam]

That is one amazing car ; way above my pay grade , and knowledge , but very , very cool! Hats off to Mopar !

[@orlandogranda5469]

Enjoy your beautiful car my friend this is the most beautiful demon challenger I’ve seen 🙏👍🏻

[@Sigrafix]

It was cool to see this thing get faster and more violent with each pass.. Lol. Awesome car, cool video. 👍

[@ksdxx1]

So far it seems that it's pretty hard to get an 8 with the 170. Just saw Racer X try and was able to get a 9.3. Thanks for the video Tom and keep trying!

[@h-townautomotivetraining8219]

Still did real well thanks for sharing what Mopar couldn't !

[@orlandogranda5469]

Love that decal on the side 👍🏻

[@buzzshavinutts8898]

Yeah to that notion!

[@stevesmith6236]

I've watched today ( Dec 25th) two other KZbin vids with the Demon 170 racing at the drag strip the two other ones both did a 9.39. So , your 9.37 is the quickest but not the fastest. All three are so close. You can bet the "supposed" 8.91 at 151 mph was with MANY runs under perfect conditions. A 170 with just one seat, the carbon fiber wheels, base ( houndstooth, cloth seats) and a 140 pound ( fully suited female at the helm).Plus plenty of Dodge support on hand.

[@dirtbagliberalsnake5729]

Ron Silva gpt into the 8s not sure if it was all stock

[@tbone7353]

So close 4 tenths is a mile away that's 400lbs min to get out of the car to get there everyone talking about wheels that's un sprung weight the car isn't pushing the tires there weight basically means nothing maybe easier to spin them 400 lbs is a lot more than just seats back seats are like nothing front is decent but all together nowhere near 400lbs the car never ran those numbers or they would have showed it live instead of that phony reveal

[@dirtbagliberalsnake5729]

@@tbone7353 or 4-500 more hp

[@mfr440]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! 6.000 in the 1/8th?! Holy crap!!

[@HouseLightweight]

Man for being 100% stock that thing is super rowdy on the launch

[@choochoothelilsavage9573]

Sick for the first time out Tom!

[@tfriesen3866]

I’m glad you’ve got this car, Tom. But, I love the part where I don’t have all of that OEM Dodge computer steps to even get to the line lock or trans brake. Should be simple change the tune and have a two switch setup to keep the trans brake and line lock from being engaged on the street. When do you turn the chiller on? I’m waiting to see where you notice the right rear isn’t spinning in the burnout.

[@vegaswould]

I don't think you have to ice the blower. you have a "power chiller" that uses the A/C refrigerant to cool the blower. I was hoping you were going to show us the chiller feature lol

[@notthunderr4069]

Gotta flip the air cleaner lid.

[@TmcIIIvideo]

🤣 did that many times….always loved the sound of it…..

[@perryalexander5868]

Awesome video

[@BMracing0804]

Add 1/2 to full quart of trans fluid and it should fix the shifting issue .. it’s common on the hp90 to bog shifts from sloshing on the launch .

[@roadman14]

Wow this was way too cool, I went to Death Week with my 20 Mustang Gt. It has the factory drag pack on it, complete with line lock and launch control. Trying to figure out all the capabilities of it was a bit overwhelming. We will figure it out before Sick 66.

[@investorjeremymetcalf]

Hi Tom!!! 😀😀😀 I am really grateful that you put up this video!!! AWESOME CAR!!! 😮 It seems to me that something is going on with the launch, maybe a setting you are missing that needs to be on or something else. The reason I say this is that the time at about 19:45 that you did a better burnout, you also had the better launch and time of 9.44 or so. I don't know how to explain that with an automatic, but with a manual I would say somehow not enough break and gas and then not enough timing/release on the clutch, almost like the clutch is still being engaged too much on the first 3 launches, or there is not enough foot on the gas, or both. That is only way I could describe it in my mind because of years of a stick shift. EDIT: Tom, did you ever push the "Activate Launch Control" option at 30:08??? I am pretty sure that should be on to give you the best launches.

[@ljkking622]

Did any of you guys posting actually watch the video? He talks about the DA, he shows taking air out of the tire, he talks about icing down the blower, he talks about the seats being in the car.

[@johnnygt6039]

Great video! Was there some sort of traction control on during the burnout? That one wheel kept stopping.

[@JohnRoberts71]

Great content thanks for sharing

[@nyplantings2420]

Good video bud. I would have no quams about daily driving the D170 commute to Manhattan and back.

[@johnw.brunson9400]

Cool video Tom

[@is3180]

Nice ride....looks 🔥🔥🔥🔥...✌️

[@usmclee65]

Great vid and car, you will get it in the 8s with a little more time THANKS!

[@handymatt1970]

Hi Tom love the car and the launches. Just wondering if you could benefit from a foam spacer between the headrest and your helmet just to reduce neck strain and fatigue from those multiple hard takeoffs.

[@AJUSA1]

Awesome video! What fuel was in it? Pump E85? If so you gotta put some Ethanol made for racing in there.

[@ROCKO633]

I love that Demon 170 decal, This is the first car I've seen with it

[@jayceecombs6887]

Thanx for the comment! I agree. I have:(unfortunately down with engine failure) that has 900 rwhp... that has gotten into the 9's. An older Gen (4) TA. Looks good doing it/or did! Cannot wait to get the funds together to get it back on the road! J

[@travishinton4755]

AWESOME!!! we're you using the chiller?

[@mareo187]

The original Dart Demon logo with the 170 is 🔥

[@absolut7769]

Tom is one of the few using the car the way its supposed to be, not sitting in a garage

[@brandonUwanawich954]

Racer X and camacat too

[@bdogjr7779]

Badass《☆》Luv the Demon 170 Billboard Stripe👍🏾😎☯️

[@terrykaz5095]

Tom, your doing great. It'll come.

[@frankcastle2045]

Dam I love that car the wheelies are epic

[@billtaylor8871]

Hey Tom watching ur burnout almost looks like the traction control was on by looking at the pass.side it wasnt spinning freely.with the other back tire ...My Shelby doesnt like it all with traction control on on the line lock....lol

[@LearningFast]

Your 60 foot is decent. I know it can do it better but that isn’t hurting you as much as the trap speeds. Your 6.0 1/8 mile times are fine but your sub 120 mph trap speed there just isn’t going to do it. It just isn’t making full power for some reason. I have seen someone take a Plaid straight off the showroom floor on all season tires and run a sub 9.30. The Demon should be able to match that.

[@mrd.808]

Dodge needs to share everything what Dodge did so that it is repeatable by the consumer end. Other than that it is just false advertising.

[@DodgeandGMkiIIingFurdDaiIy]

Wrong. Ron Silva who has a demon 170 think he ran 5.7 1/8th mile which anyone in drag racing knows that’s an 8.8-8.9 1/4 mile

[@MrJudges4u]

Ron ordered the optimal factory drag 1/4 mile car (passenger and rear seat delete plus all of the insulation was deleted when you order the factory drag optioned Demon) that Dodge engineers intended for the 8..91 seconds. Only 50 Demons of the 3300 were ordered as true factory drag 1/4 mile cars; the remainder are frills cars with much more weight.

[@DJ_Driven]

@@MrJudges4u That's how I would have ordered the car 💯💯

[@karanpatel7815]

@MrJudges4u taking that stuff out of the car isn't difficult. People really drag racing this car will take alot more out of the car they just couldn't do at the factory level. Like taking the airbags out and going for an even lighter driver seat.

[@MrJudges4u]

@@DJ_Drivenconcur!!! That’s how I did order my 170! It’s the lightest of the 50 built.

[@dougkreutz7701]

Awesome video and great car. Really to bad you didn't hit that high 8 second pass, I know you will get there.

[@jhundley2009]

We found doing a system learn reset for the trans after breakin on our Hellcat got rid of wierd shift fueling issues. We believe the tables were not learning fast enough even though they are supposed to be different maps from the break in learning the system taught itself. May want to explore that for the Demon as well

[@LastCallDemon170]

Nice runs! How did your decal guy get that cool old school demon graphic?

[@Rusty.1776]

Seems like a torque limiter in the trans tuning. I think the DA has it making the power for an 8.9#, but the "safety" is just killing it that bad...

[@Prairie7777]

The science of this stuff is just nuts!

[@gbitsbitsg5447]

The fact that guy ran a sub 9 off the Helicopter launch demo is just insane!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸those wheelies were badass!!!

[@FunYoKaBunYo]

Wrong that car didn’t even run 9 secs the Drag timer was off lol

[@maxfastest]

I wonder how quick that drivetrain would be in a 2800 pound car .

[@user-rq9ky7ch9z]

Thanks Tom wish I could have one

[@GoatPilot04]

Those boggy shifts reminded me of how a Smart car shifts 😂. That's so weird like it's protecting itself from a harsh shift or a mode and/or setting went to "comfort" instead of race

[@mrd.808]

So after watching the official video by dodge , done at a track in Vegas, looks like a really nice prep track. Used the oem carbon fiber wheels (lighter than full race wheel, 17" probably helps). However looking at the video there's also a parachute and some roll cage. No clue on the specs of the roll cage. Boost was set to max. This debate must go on. Awesome KZbin channel as always Mr. Tom . 🤙🏽🙏🤙🏽🙏🤙🏽🙏

[@markurbancowboy]

That event was just for show, they didn't have the time clocks on.

[@rangerst_870]

@@markurbancowboy exactly what I was about to say. I looked at the clock on that youtube video and that Vegas pass was about like most of Tom's first 4 passes. mid 9's if they were lucky.

[@DodgeandGMkiIIingFurdDaiIy]

Ron Silva who has a demon 170 think he ran 5.7 1/8th mile which anyone in drag racing knows that’s an 8.8-8.9 1/4 mile

[@tbone7353]

That was a show run the board didn't even come on they just put out the bs clame it ran a 8.90 certified by the nhra no assembly line version of that car is going to run 8.90's the car is awsome but it's just not happening

[@eazymoneyracing]

Car is awesomene!! I was happy when my SRT Magnum ran its first 13 and that was with a ton of mods

[@tylermallory2504]

I like those cars but that's funny. my 7500 lbs powerstroke diesel runs a 13.9 at 6000' in altitude with only bolt on mods... intake, exhaust, water-meth injection and a hard chip with canned tunes!

[@eazymoneyracing]

@@tylermallory2504 Another reason someone else in Michigan owns it now 😅

[@garymyers416]

Doesn't that car offer the A/C chiller mode, where the a/c cools the supercharger or does it do it by itself without having to set it.

[@luv4life1]

Definitely a great run overall! The wheelies are crazy! And I agree with most, Dodge should drop some hint on what it did, or was it a 1 time situation? 🤷🏿‍♂️

[@spankthemonkey3437]

They lie🤷😆

[@robertruiz5417]

Your times are very fast check tire pressure and etc. you're looking excellent out there and very fast

[@brodykranendonk6082]

It seems like there is a torque limit kicking in, in the trans tune but would need to see a data log to know for sure. Good luck

[@bzamski17]

Pretty sweet ride

[@Fighterofthenightman_]

Love the no acknowledgment to the go mango scat at Lowe’s , demons on a whole other level 😂

[@nedunonnyp704]

Sheez, That's a Brutal Acceleration. I Think they did it right this time, Even the Original Demon Does not Launch As Quickly as this 170. I've always Felt the Hellcats weren't that Quick as the Hype suggested.

[@mikeyc8139]

I wonder if the wheelies pulling the front tires on/off the pavement is causing the traction control or torque management to kick in... and that's what is causing the little bogs?

[@revelare_xvii6269]

When you realize Dodge now holds the record for least expensive 1000+ HP production car ever produced.

[@poneklr]

Just watched the end of the video. Your IATs and IC Coolant Temp are through the roof. Did you use the Chiller?

[@pro5.019]

The Chiller comes on automatically when in drag mode.

[@jayceecombs6887]

Great video Tom! Just to think about buying, picking up your car, getting on the track; having all the computer advantages to be able to adjust/play with: & Do What? Try Dialing it in: & Do What; Wheelies Off The Line All Day!!! THAT IN ITSELF: "IS JUST SO BAD ARSE!"/JUST SO NOW BELIEVABLE! Thank You Tom! J

[@Prairie7777]

Dang that's amazing!

[@billybarrow426]

Why are the rear wheels stopping when your in the burnout? Is there traction control hindering the burnout and the pass?

[@lowbudgetbob1155]

I noticed that too. It acts like an open diff and it floats back and forth between the tires. You'd think that tires would both spin continually...

[@LukeSportsman]

Probably an electric locker. Computer controlled? Mercedes heritage ? My SL500 does weird things but can do great short times in ideal situation.

[@michaelwynne4346]

To me it looks like he isn't in the water and the RPM is low so it's slipping the clutches in the Posi unit, when he increases the RPM the tire starts spinning.

[@ShawnGilbert1967]

That 180 IAT seems high with an interchiller, thats some power right there depending on what it does after the burnout and staging...i actually would have liked to see it iced down probably would have helped during this particular sessions, and a fan on the trans...

[@MrDerekRobinson]

I wouldn't call it aggressive shifting. It's very much like a sport mode. My Pontiac G8 does that in sport mode the same exact way. Stays in a gear much longer instead of shifting up to improve fuel efficiency. Now I do have a Trans tune but all its there for is to shift out 1st a little premature in D because the Trans is still stock but pushing quite a bit over the stock power limit for a 6l80 which recommended not going over 600wheel long term

[@MultiCrazyMoments]

Does the car come with those yellow demon stickers? It’s a nice touch

[@michaelloth5870]

Tom, Thanks for sharing it with us. I think 100LBs removed from the car is a 0.1 second decrease in 1/4 mile time. The wheelies are cool and I think it pulled the wheels again on the 1-2 shift!!! I don't think wheelies improve your time. You are going to have to tune those out. Anyway this is a great car, a thing of Legend.

[@nolt4024]

If you’re ever in the louisville/lexington KY area most Thorton’s stations have e-85.

[@shoominati23]

I'd suggest a diff brace if you intend on doing aggressive launches like so for the indefinite future

[@midwestlee-iw8nl]

what a beast

[@jefffogle8983]

Good thing it's low production numbers. That thing is more car then most people can handle. Remember when my car first pulled front tires. What a feeling.😮

[@user-si6vz6ry1c]

where did you get the demon 170 decal i want one for my 170 let me know if u can thank you loved the video

[@scottbaker1018]

Thanks for letting things seat in before railing the beast. Nice job

[@captjack2112]

The Sir for showing this model as I had not heard about it yet. MOPAR has reclaimed itself as a leader of factory bad-azz cars. Awesome car!

[@rustymopars]

That’s a really cool daily 😬 and slightly more fuel efficient than the toter home

[@jeffboyer8214]

My caprice ppv all stock mpg. 13 .5 on it hard Easy on it 18 to 19.2 Avg mixed driving 15.3 You aren't that far off & you have 1000 plus hp on hand where I have 355 hp. or less due to high mileage and a worn-out 6l80e. It's definitely a nice car you have there.

[@TokyoCraftsman]

Cool car!

[@mrthtv8021]

@tom bailey is it ok that the tires don’t spin as smoothly when warming them up? Or maybe you had to much on the breaks

[@Rebar77_real]

Kickass. Needs a quick scramble button though. :p

[@yodaddysaidso]

Do you have a shop in waterford?Waterford? I see your tower all of the time on Dixie I believe