Think Twice Before Buying A Used Hellcat | Powertrain Problems & Nightmarish Dealerships

If you're considering buying a used Hellcat, you should see what I've experienced so far before making your decision.
If you can't be bothered to watch the entire video, the TLDR is;
- Vet your local dealers before and make sure they're competent
- Don't buy without a warranty, if you buy an older model, extend the warranty through MOPAR Max Care
- If buying used, assume it was driven hard unless you know the owner
- All issues experienced with my vehicle have been resolved
Big thank you to Safford Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat of Fredericksburg for taking great care of me.
Front & Rear Z26 Brake Kit: amzn.to/3xJnGQj
Carbon Ceramic Brake Pads: amzn.to/3aNSg2e
Hellcat Oil (6Pack): amzn.to/3aQCHXw
Hellcat Oil Filter: amzn.to/3aKxws3

[@SpunkyBoyy]

That is so annoying when u take a bike/car somewhere to get it worked on for a SPECIFIC thing and then they hit u with...oh need this and that blah blah.. looks so much better without the front tag in my opinion. great video!

[@GasSmileage]

I don’t mind honest guidance but around here it’s hard to trust the majority of these shops! I love not having a front tag. I have the Sto N Sho so I can attach it whenever, I just hate hearing it scrape.

[@fncjaydontplay4695]

This was a nice video. You taught me a lot. Thanks

[@GasSmileage]

Thanks for watching!

[@TRC_WA]

Hey... just found your channel. Subscribed. I upgraded last week from a '15 Challenger R/T to a '22 Challenger Scat Shaker widebody and am loving the new ride. I wanted to comment on the whole front license plate thing... I agree with you 100%. It's the law out here in WA but it gets the middle finger from me. I didn't run the front plate on my '15 and am not running one on my '22... mainly because it just flat out uglies up the front of the car. That nice Challenger front end with a license plate bracket across the middle of the front bumper? Yuck! When I first got the '15 I got the Sto N Sho front plate holder that mounts underneath the front end but even that looked goofy so I just quit using it. The one time I was pulled over in the '15 I got let off with a warning for speeding (10 over) and he never mentioned the lack of a front plate. That was 6+ years ago... so yeah... to hell with front plates. Not on my rides.

[@GasSmileage]

Thanks for subbing! Not only does it look better without but I absolutely hated hearing it scrape on stuff which the cars are already low enough.

[@markurbancowboy]

I had two 2015 Hellcats and both used oil, about a half quart a month.I would always check them and top it off, heck the owners manual will tell you to check the oil at every gas fill up. My 2019 Redeye and current 2023 Hellcat dont use a drop. I think Chrysler fixed this problem in the later models.

[@kornstory]

I park my hellcat the same way at walmart. When i come out someone is always next to me. I bought a b5 blue 2019 with 4500 on it. At 12000 now no troubles yet. Good video 🤘

[@GasSmileage]

I love the b5 blue and it doesn’t matter how far we park does it? Someone always finds the perfect spot right next to us 😂

[@fairfax_fran5109]

@@GasSmileage I just hit 21000

[@richardcerritelli9657]

Me too pisses me off I almost feel like waiting there for the guy to come out and then beat the fuck out of him. Mine is a ZO6 Corvettes.

[@fairfax_fran5109]

I'm having that problem noise come from the rear also some say it can be the rear cv axle idk yet I'm taking to get it check out covered by the 4 year 40,000 mile warranty

[@GasSmileage]

If it sounds similar my bet is on the driveshaft, these cars put too much power down to have such skinny driveshafts

[@gm4ulkill]

I’m in the dmv who do you recommend for a mechanic and auto body Also could it have corroded because there was coolant leaking in?

[@GasSmileage]

I have had good experiences with G&C auto in Manassas. They have a shop in Chantilly too. For auto body, I recommend Boggs Body out of Warrenton. I’m not too sure what other causes could have been, just going off what they told me it was an issue due to driving on salted roads in the winter.

[@unclecharles]

I’m not a professional mechanic by any means, but I’ve seen some pictures of some rusty spark plugs on forums being attributed to octane booster additives in the fuel.

[@lifeofrico]

Hey man I’m looking at this 2016 hellcat with 26,000 miles went for a ride with the owner and he accelerated to about 75-80 mph and the rear started th move from left to right I think it wobbled back and forth left to right it would only be when he would accelerate to those speeds of 75 80 mph that it would do it have you heard of this and do you know what the issue to fix that is you should make a good 10 minute video on that that’s a pretty common issue iv heard of the challenger hellcats and also have you ever experienced anything like that with yours ? Would love to see you make a video on this issue

[@GasSmileage]

What tires did he have on the vehicle? From what you’ve described I’m not sure if it’s a major mechanical issue or the tires/rear end getting loose. Was it something the owner acknowledged too?

[@Coltsfanboy1997]

Just found your channel. I’m from MD. Looking at getting a used hellcat next year with low mileage. Sold my 392 a couple months ago. Kind of nervous to buy a used kat just because I know how people drive these cars.

[@GasSmileage]

I completely understand your concern. My suggestions would be to a. Shop low mileage, b. Shop private seller, an older gentleman if possible (not guaranteed but younger individuals like myself will probably have a different risk profile with a car like this), you want to find a Garage Kept Gregory who only took it out on the nicest of weekends and spent way more time polishing the car than his wife. Now she tells him to get rid of it or the marriage is over and she takes it anyway. That’s your in. c. Extend the warranty through Mopar if it expires, and d. Have a mechanic you damn near love and trust inspect it for you. Look deep into the rear wheel wells for left over tread. In the front, you may see rub marks on the inside wheel well if they were drifting it hard. If you do your due diligence and have proper expectations, you’ll be more than fine and will likely score a great deal.

[@bobfish3176]

I have a 2019 Hellcat with only 5K miles on it. Put there a 1/4 of a mile at a time. : )

[@thaddeus46]

Plugs rust for two reasons. They are attached to a cylinder head made of aluminum ( a dissimilar metal ) or the environmental conditions are not favorable. The most common is environment. Driving on salted roads in the winter will cause the salt to adhere to the plugs and rust them out.

[@GasSmileage]

Thank you for taking the time to comment! Excuse my limited knowledge on the subject but how does salt from the road find it’s way to the spark plug? Is that rather common for winter driven vehicles or does it indicate a different issue potentially?

[@thaddeus46]

@@GasSmileage The road salt gets picked up in the air as fine particles as it breaks down. Mixes with humid/wet air and gets and sticks everywhere. Basically it becomes part of the atmosphere. I was surprised that you drove that beauty on salted roads at all! But no biggie. Just keep an I on those plugs.

[@GasSmileage]

Thank you again for sharing. It definitely makes me rethink things!

[@superbird2814]

I put anti-seize compound on spark plug threads and silicone grease on the wire rubber boots. Rarely is rust on the plugs an issue.

[@tiltedtoken1450]

I bought a 2016 B5 Blue Scat Pack a year and 3 months ago for 36K. Financed 72 months and will have it paid off within two years (72 hour work week for a year so far) At a cross road to keep it and mod it or use the trade in towards a Hellcat or Redeye.

[@GasSmileage]

It’s hard to argue with 700+hp with a warranty. I’ve also never seen a modified scat pack with a supercharger that sounded as good as the hellcat. The hellcat in my opinion is a great cruising vehicle but you will rarely get a chance to use the power like it’s meant to be used. I think that’s the appeal of the scatpack, more usable power. Used car market is hot right now, could be a good time to make the swap

[@VanishingPoint]

Did you get warranty through Carvana or somewhere else?

[@GasSmileage]

Carvana offers a limited warranty for 180 days after purchase but I went with an extended warranty through Mopar directly. Was roughly 160 a month

[@jody2949]

So I’m almost 15 and I really want the hellcat but I know that they will stop making it. So do I get a used one or do I pay a one that is stored?

[@GasSmileage]

Trust me, whether you drive a used cat or one that’s been stored your soul will be beyond happy

[@lansing66]

I got super lucky ,bought my HC 2018 charger used back in March, zero issues!

[@GasSmileage]

I’m just seeing this, how’s the cat holding up?

[@lansing66]

@@GasSmileage Its good, no issues :)

[@seth2429]

@@lansing66update please, how many miles when you bought it and how many now

[@lansing66]

​@@seth2429I no longer have it, when I sold it, it had 47k miles of which I put 20k and it was reliable and stock except the 1794 mufflers. Financial circumstances caused me to sell it, my heart hurt me doing that. I will be back in one someday this year. Hope ur well !

[@seth2429]

@@lansing66 thank you for the speedy response and glad your experience with it was smooth. I am rooting for you, you will be in one maybe even better! I am hoping with time I am able to find and cash out on a nice used hellcat. Not picky about the miles as I am the previous/current owner(s). Would rather save a few $, but also willing to spend that extra for something low mile. Hope all goes well for you.

[@aux14]

i’m looking at a widebody 2018 but it has 65k miles is it a bad idea?

[@GasSmileage]

If you know how it was driven I’d consider it but if not expect repairs

[@444LOS]

I am in Va what dealership was it

[@GasSmileage]

My experience was with Lindsay CDJR in Manassas - by far the worst I’ve ever dealt with

[@jpate89]

How many miles are on your car?

[@GasSmileage]

28,000

[@bobfish3176]

Why when I fill my cat up it says 150 miles till empty? : )

[@GasSmileage]

How heavy is your foot? Lol, I notice mine fluctuate depending on my driving behavior but typically it’s 220 til empty after my fill ups

[@bobfish3176]

@@GasSmileage I know I lose some due to warm ups. The rest are just smiles per gallon! : )

[@Motorsportsgeek]

8:57 good thing that wasn't an undercover ford Taurus, would've been kinda funny

[@GasSmileage]

There’s so many of them around here, it’s just a roll of the dice! I’ve been conditioned to look for the signs as soon as any Taurus is spotted 😂

[@peterbiltpapi]

What was dealership C ?

[@GasSmileage]

Dodge dealership in Manassas va

[@abbas674]

Also I've worked at a dealer honda . The master techs abuse the customer cars. Even for a basic oil change they abuse it drop it in park before it even stops horrible. Take it to a trusted shop performance shop.

[@GasSmileage]

Damn I believe it. I think an internal/external dash cam is a must these days

[@abbas674]

@@GasSmileage that's the first thing the techs would look for

[@GasSmileage]

@@abbas674 true, it's pretty simple to disable I imagine. Must be a setting though to let you know it was disabled but either way. can't trust anyone these days. Best to do the work yourself if you're fortunate enough

[@mr.300blkout]

your supposed to put it in manual when doing burnouts/sliding

[@abbas674]

Every sports car in my opinion has and is being driven super hard.

[@GasSmileage]

And if it isn’t, it should be lol. It’s just a bonus that they look so damn good

[@nick__cars]

I just subscribed, you still have the cat?

[@GasSmileage]

Unfortunately not, the cat got stolen last November. I’ll have an update video on it soon with the footage I have and best ways to protect it. I’ll get another one when I have a house, some land, and a garage to protect it 😈

[@nick__cars]

@@GasSmileage dam! Where was it at? I’m about to get the viper security system.

[@GasSmileage]

From right in front of my house in Northern Virginia. The viper is good but I think I’d go with Ravelco too if I had to do it over.

[@radsdad1]

Dealer B must be idiots. That's clearly a u joint sound. You're smart to get the extended coverage.

[@mexitechnology7838]

So are you still recommend it buying from carvana or nah?

[@GasSmileage]

I would still recommend Carvana, the car buying process was extremely smooth and their guarantees are solid. I have no reason to believe they were aware of any issues with this car as I think these are just hellcat problems you could experience with ownership

[@mexitechnology7838]

@@GasSmileage Thanks for the reply, You are a real one

[@nicholaswidlewski8876]

Seems to me that with a car like this, don't try to go used just to save 4-5 grand(In a normal market, anyways; right now, with the crazy prices of the used car market, you'd probably save about eleven bucks on used over new). it's already 61k msrp base. If you're willing to spend 56k, you should also be willing to spend 61k and know that no one else beat that car like a rented mule & f**ked with it. Just my two cents. Also, with my old Mustang GT, I had an old dealership burning me left and right on a car that was overall very good to me. I sort of know what you've went through. I say sort of, because my car didn't cost anywhere near what this monster of yours did lol

[@GasSmileage]

I see what you’re saying and in hindsight, this would have been the better route. It’s hard to beat the peace of mind that comes with brand new. As far as dealers disrespecting our rides go, it’s less about the money to me (it does matter) but more so the principal of it. Getting mistreated professionally just hurts 😂

[@imHim710]

Watching all these "used hellcat" videos makes me wanna get a Daytona or widebody scat instead.

[@GasSmileage]

I feel a scatpack would see more abuse but I’m probably biased. Low mileage used is the way to go regardless and with EV regulations on the horizon, I wouldn’t sleep on the hellcat experience just for the fear of what the last owner did. Shop smart

[@p.l.fanning3447]

This is why I'll never buy a used Hellcat ever. The way he was sliding around is exactly what someone did to it with only 500 miles on it I bet. #smh

[@GasSmileage]

I’m glad I could help, Perry. To each their own I guess. Unless you never sell the hellcat you buy brand new, there will always be someone like me waiting to buy it after you take the haircut on price and drive it the way it begs to be driven. My thought process was to learn the vehicle completely with a used model and then if I’m blessed enough in the future, upgrade to a newer model that I get to maintain correctly right from the start. Even with a brand new hellcat, your chances of a problem-free hellcat is 1 in 20, at least that’s what I found during research. I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@Thros1]

@@GasSmileage not likely with them discontinuing this power train, car deserves to be driven but expect values to sky rocket especially when most of them are totaled ;p

[@ali-k]

His name is gas smilage 🤣🤣🤣 , bet you don't know what that's like mr hellcat driver that drops in value every single day

[@GasSmileage]

Lol, my hellcat was stolen during peak prices. I was forced to cash out

[@ali-k]

@@GasSmileage that must've felt horrible

[@billymania11]

This is an amusing post. No sane person would take a chance on buying a second-hand Dodge or Chrysler product. Especially if the cars are Challengers or Chargers. We've all seen videos of these things being driven by African-Americans at street-takeovers. Better to let sub-prime customers try their hand.

[@ECKOLIVEFIT]

Stop doing donut you obviously not taking care of it

[@GasSmileage]

You’re right, it’s taking care of me 👍🏼

[@richarddeason1845]

Looks like you drive hard to me

[@GasSmileage]

You’re not wrong, I drove it like I stole it before it was stolen from me. My biggest regret is not driving it harder lol