Manual vs Automatic Scatpack.. which is really better? 

Got my sublime scat with a manual a month ago, it’s so much fun. I’d be happy with either transmission but shifting yourself is just really fun with this car.

When I went looking for my 392 T/A, my wife wanted me to get an automatic. I told her I'd rather not have a Challenger if I couldn't get the manual. Stick shift cars are 10 times more fun to drive.

I just can’t get one one of these without a manual. I don’t let anyone, even if I had a wife drive my car. Autos are good for consistency but if you can drive a manual you can keep up. I have a 2018 5.0 manual and I’ve beat 8 speed scatpacks. Now I will say the the 10 speed Camaros and 10 speed mustangs give me hell but that’s really because at times I can be inconsistent. When I shift perfectly I’m in the game. That’s why I like manuals. I have to be my best to win. In an auto anyone can win by pushing the gas.

Thank you for the video. I would like to add to this. Go Manual: if it will be a Non daily driver Go Automatic: if it will be a daily driver Go Manual: if you love control of the car, burnouts, powerslides Go Automatic: if you love to race while driving Go Manual: if you know how to shift perfectly Go Automatic: if you just want to drive and have fun without any worries Manual Mods (in order): Barton Shifter Air intake with Hellcat headlight mod 275 tires

Thanks for the manual review. I agree that the factory shifter does not have the ideal snap and precision of an after market shifter. I upgraded to the Barton short throw shifter and it really put the torque of that 392 directly into my hand and totally improved the driving experience!

Thanks so much for making this video! Makes me even more grateful I got a manual 392 and went further by installing a Barton quick shifter with the weighted knob! Well worth the price of a monthly car payment! I gotta agree with all your talking points of the manual version! It's spot on! Appreciate you!

Finally a compare auto vs manual!!! Let’s gooooo:)

Great video RacerX. Being an old school foxbody Mustang guy for so long I never thought I’d want an auto in a performance car. Dodge definitely changed my mind. The A8 is awesome.

Your assessment is spot on. Once transmissions like the THM400 and 727 came out, automatics got the nickname “dial-a-win”. The advantages of the manual have continued to decline since. Still, there’s something special about feathering the clutch and banging gears. Thank you and stay safe 👍

I've watched a few of your videos sometime back but now about to finally upgrade to a SCAT PACK! So I really appreciate this info right here specifically. Manual has been what I wanted, so food for thought. I'm in Frisco, so we should have a beer one day!

My 2019 Scat Shaker is a manual....that's the way I ordered it!💯 So much fun to drive and you feel so connected to the car‼️ Yea, I Like to Row My Own Boat‼️💯🤟😁✌

Will be looking at getting one when I get out of school in a year or two thanks for the comparison.

I own a 2015 SRT 392 with the 6 speed and absolutely love it. Its my daily. I will say a couple of negative things about the manual though. Compared to mustangs, camaros, and Corvettes (LT1 or the supercharged LT4) the challenger has a much stiffer clutch and the clutch delay valve delete is a must if you want more consistent clutch engagements. Also for some reason I've always had the 1st gear nibble when coming to a stop and going from neutral to 1st as well as a 2nd gear "pop out" when downshifting to 2nd and it is bothersome but I've gotten used to these quirks as frustrating as they are. I've owned 2 manual 6 speed cars and they both did that so I'm assuming that it's just something that they do. But all in all, since I don't visit the track often, I love rowing my own gears. I've had the chance to drive an 8 speed car and the car is quicker, but only on the shifts. In a straight line run in 3rd and 4th, the 6 speed actually pulls away from the auto at the same relative gears (like 5th and 6th). Both are great transmissions. They do different things better. At the end of the day, driving experience and being physical connected to the car is why I love manual. Also the 6 speed cars exhaust is superior lol. Got catless mids and the burbles, crackles, and pops put a huge grin on my face. Autos don't do it near as much. Not to mention my (basically stock 6 speed) will pop a blue flame from the tailpipes on a good mid rpm downshift lol.

Thank you for the review. Ended up going with a manual on my 2021 scatpack widebody shaker build. Just waiting for it to be built.

Great comparison ...tons of manual purist out there still .......You have a .spot on assessment again... impossible to beat shift speed of the auto for racing ....but for car/person connect and feel... manual wins .

Great video! Now I don't regret getting my Scatty Challenger in Auto. I do miss manual every now and then but I have my older Mustang to fill that void. I love how fast the 8 speed is and puts the same smile on my face as you every time I punch it lol.

I have had the pleasure of owning both. First a 2016 scat shaker with the 6 speed. Really hard to launch, especially with the 245 tire it came with. I traded it in on a 2019 scat with the 1320 package. Hands down, I will take the 8 speed and the 1320 package all day long. And I have always been one to love shifting my own gears. But i dont miss it at all with the 1320. Thanks for the compare. Steve

I just picked up a 2022 Scatpack manual in Go Mango. Love it! So much fun to drive! Last of the V8s

I really love what you're doing here. I'm a Norwegian Mopar dude, with a 2009 Challenger 6.1(with just little over 3000 mi) and a six speed, since i love the manuel cars. But again, love what's you're doing, and looking forward to more american goodness...😊❤️👌👍

In my opinion, you're not driving if you're not shifting...true control of the car and its performance. #ManualTransmission #6Speed

I've had lots of both and it used to be manuals were faster. I think this started changing about 5 years ago, although the manual in the Camaro is still about identical in times to the auto. In the Challenger, the auto is definitely quicker, but the main thing for me is the remote start you get with the auto. So much better, esp in the winter.

I hear ya. I love the manuals & when it comes wrapped up in the 50th Anniversary model, you've got a real winner there!

Another awesome video. Glad to see you trying the Mustang GT. I love my 19. The Chrysler cars are also great vehicles. Two different ways to get to the same end, speed. God bless💪🏼🇺🇸

Love your videos bro. Got my first 2021 scatpack Automatic in March. She is triplenickel silver with the bumble bee stripe across the trunk. I named her (nickellette) I really love this car. Always wanted to be a mopar owner. Im so excited i joined the sctapack rt club on facebook and its good to know im not the only person that smiles and gets giggly evryetime i Drive it. I did watch your video last night of the new unveiling of mopar products for the future. I really like the hornet for everyday driver. The convertable car was cool as well. Keep up the great work on the videos.Great stuff. peace out

Another phenomenal video! Liked and subscribed 👍🏼👍🏼

Had a 2016 scat manual and loved it. For fun and enjoyment manual is way to go. Mine was pretty consistent at 4.5 sec 0-60 and was different using launch control.

Thank you for doing this! This was very well put together. Yes the Autos are faster but I personal feel you are more in tune to you vehicle driving a manual. I definitely will be looking at the manual version when I trade in the R/T.

I've had both types. I Have a 2015 392 challenger scatpack manual now and I love it.

My first ever manual was my 2019 scat pack and I love it! Sure it may not be as fast as the autos but its always fun to throw in that driver skill part to it and you get a lot of respect from auto guys even if you lose because they know lol. And just as you said its such a fun daily driver being in control of all that torque. Although I need to go from the 245's to the 275's 😆.

I have a SRT 392 with the M6. Even though the auto is faster, I'm never giving up the stick shift.

Another great video!

You hit the nail on the head with Manuel trans it was different back in the day I’m a trucker and I went automatic hellcat cause the difference, it was more with being faster back in the day but automatic is stepped up theses days

I agree with your take on this issue. I've had manuals before on some fast cars, including a Corvette. But I'm older now and my left knee doesn't want to operate a clutch anymore. My 2019 Scat Pack has the 8-speed auto, and I couldn't be happier with it's smooth, quick shifting. Tremendous fun on the street.

I just picked up a manual scat pack I’m sooo in love i love the all the crackels

I love both! Thank you! 🙂❤

I really enjoy your viedos.I have a 2019. 1320 in sublime green with 1710 miles on it. I really love this car.

That auto looked like my old scat! Awesome cars! love the 3.09s!

I got the 6 speed manual because I've never owned an automatic. I plan to keep it that way lol. It's more fun to drive and you're more into the feel and spirit of the vehicle

@Lewis Shepard I hear ya loud and clear bro. Racing is cool and all with the automatics with all of the new technology involved. But my first car was a 1990 LX Mustang 5.0 5 speed manual. And my father always said , "you ain't driving unless you're driving a stick!" lol. And I'm not knocking anyone who can't drive a manual. But trust me, once you learn, you're hooked!! SAVE THE MANUALS!!!!!

I'm with you I like a manual transmission. I would try the car on a road course ..I re watched the video waiting for you to go live tonight. Did I miss it?. I just got the magnaflow 3 inch X pipe system on the Drag Van. Sounds great.

Nice vidio. Agree completely with your review. I have the 2021 Scat Pac manual and frankly l would rather have the auto for all the reasons you pointed out. The car is still fun though.😁

Clutch delay delete. A must do from what I've been told and seen on other vids. Much more crisp, cleaner and quicker shifting. Easy process

I drag race all the time, but don't think I'd ever go any other way than a manual. They're just honestly too much fun, I love my 6 speed! Worth pointing out too that in an R/T the 6 speeds come with LSD's in the back as opposed to the open diffs in the autos in the 5.7s for those debating which to get in an R/T trim level. I've driven a 392 T/A in an automatic, it's a great transmission and they are damn quick! Probably the best auto I've ever driven. But driving my car for the past 11 years and also getting to drive a manual Hellcat, I've gotta say, it's just too much fun and a different experience with the manual and being that connected to your car. To be honest though both transmissions are great, you can't go wrong, it's a great time to be a Mopar guy!

Just got one in mango orange..love it

Just got a 22 smoke show scat with a manual. Love it so much, so much more connected to the car than in an auto. I have so much more fun in a manual.

There is only one thing that drives me crazy with the Challenger and that they install those tiny lil 245’s which is crazy IMO , but the feel of a manual is the best and suggest everyone to own at least 1 manual . What a great comparison Racer X , I’d love to own either car . Cheers

2020 Indigo Blue Widebody ScatPack with manual transmission has been a dream for me... I cant say I would have a challenger any other way. I test drove an automatic in the scatpack before I purchased and had never driven the manual. I was so happy with my decision to order the manual.. It is not the fastest, but it is by far the funnest way to drive these cars.. I may race the manual for fun, but I don't think it wil lever compete with automatic scats.. but it can definitely play with some other automatic cars for fun.

I love my 6 speed scat pack shaker I did the barton short throw with pistol grip big difference from stock

How does the acceleration feel with 3.90 gears? Probably pretty amazing in a dig or 20 or 40 roll !

Great content! I like the TF 8 Speed better, it's quite a bit faster than the manual. But for the old school feel, the Tremec is the way to go, just depends on what you are looking for in performance. The 392 is the sweet spot in the Challenger line up..

Manual's are alot of fun if you like to row. Auto 8 speed will keep you in the power curve and are a bit faster, torque multiplication. I have both, hell cat and an srt8 stick.

Auto for me.. had manuals and a blast to drive in my old 350z and mustang gt but I wanted the best performance possible and that ZF auto is downright amazing. If I want can shift with the paddles or on the shifter.. not exactly as satisfying as the manual but damn good in itself.

I still enjoy rowing through the gears in my '15 SRT 392 6-Speed .... but I can see a day not too far ahead when my left knee is going to force me to get an automatic. BTW ... switching to a Barton Shifter takes out all of the sloppiness in the shifter. Even better with the extra weight of a Speed Dawg shift knob. The stock shifter seems to be at its worst going from 2nd to 3rd ... and that's dangerous. But if I was doing any racing at all, I'd definitely opt for the Automatic 8-Speed.

Manual vs Automatic; Racer- X excellent assessment of both. The automatic is a precision version while the manual one of personal skill and Old School. It's good to know on the track which is the better option since one of them is slightly slower. Well I was not aware of that detail interestingly enough. I am not a track person, Old School fan yes! Those days were manual an automatic was unheard of PRACTICALLY. I have a 5.7 2012 R/T and it although paddle shifter mode it's great on gas mileage an on Sport for the street it is fantastic and is a sweet spot..not to strong but enough to get one into trouble if your not aware of its capability. Thanks! From the Caribbean.

Gotta say, it's manual for me. There is no way to replace the joy of shifting through the gears. I just bought a 2017 Challenger T/A and have to say I have had nothing but a smile on my face every time I drive it!

Been thinking about moving towards north Richland Texas when I go back home soon.

That factory shifter blows! The Barton flat stick shifter has a 44% throw reduction. A must have if you got a manual. Also need to get the skip shift eliminator for it. Rowing gears just makes the driving experience so much more enjoyable! 😉

I have an 18 rt with a shaker, great car and a lot of fun. It has a 6 speed and its really an easy car to drive!

I knew what you were going to say before I even watch the video. I still like my manual. I learned to drive a stick long before driving an automatic.

I forgot that these cars even come with manuals. I think once you get to a certain power level, autos are better and the Scat falls into that category. Ive heard from different sources that the Scat gas pedal is very touchy. Not sure if its the same with a stick and auto, but that would make it harder to drive on the street.

Depending up the driver the manual with similar weight can keep up with the 8 speed but thing is the ZF8 spd is amazing in every way. It is insanely responsive to paddle shifting unlike fords 10 speed which lags. The ZF is instant. You hit the switch and it shifts. The 392 mated to the ZF freight trains through the gears and pulls hard all throughout the rev range. Off the line, its ferocious with that combo and if you don't catch it out of the hole then chances are you aren't gonna catch it period -- she's gone! Those new 10 spd 5.0s are fast but if u have a 392/zf car and know how to launch it have no fear. Chances are you'll smoke'em stop light to stop light easily. And especially the 6 spd.

Forgot to mention the auto uses MDS (4 cylinders) when cruising and 6speed runs on all 8 cylinders all the time. The 392 can switch from 4 to 8 cylinders very quickly and isn't noticeable but my old 5.7 Charger had a lot of lag when you step on it.

I LOVE my manual Scat Pack!

I could never disrespect a manual but the Dodge 8 auto is still fun to drive with the selectable drive modes and the manual option to get your own gear.

I have a 2015 6 spd scat pack, got a pedal commander a few days ago and wow, it feels like a completely different ride. It makes me content with the power I have saving me a few thousand bucks

I purchased a 6 speed manual Inaugural Edition Challenger and I never get any traction on the street. I purchased another Inaugural Edition Challenger with the auto and it was a lot more controllable on both the street and the track. I just traded it in on a 2021 R/T Scat Pack Widebody Challenger with the A8 trans. It isn't bad on the street but no traction on the strip. My 305/35x20 Nitto Drag radials will be in Friday and they sound take care of the traction problems.

I owe a manual and luv it thanks Racer X

Both are fantastic!

I love my manual scat, being manual was a must for me.

To each is own guys, different strokes for different folks, just enjoy, it's not a competition, I prefer my old school manual as well, a dying breed, in my 2018 scatpack challenger

Yeah I love both but definitely would be the manual for me, sense I only go too the track 3 time's a yr.

Got granite manual R/T and it is super fun.

My 2019 Challenger Scatpack has the 8speed auto and its definitely fun!!

I’ve had them both manual and automatic in the 392 Scat and Hellcat. The manual is fun to drive because you can hold the gears and enjoy the car, but the 8-speed auto is just as much fun when you put it in “Track Mode” because it holds the gears and gives you a firm shift (it will chip the tires going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd). Driving the 8-speed auto in regular mode is boring as heck because it is designed to save on gas so it goes through the gears real quickly to get you into the high gears as fast as possible. Driving around town in regular or default mode the car feels like it's lugging sometimes, it never feels like that in track or sport modes. I never drive my 8-speed auto in regular/default mode unless I’m on the highway.

like to see a 60, 1/8, 1/4et with the auto vs manual 392!

A Barton shifter makes a HUGE difference in shifting...no more sloppy missed shifts from 2nd to 5th. If I ever sell my Challenger that Barton is coming out of it & the stock shifter is going back in.

Hey brotha I just bought a 2020 scat pack challenger automatic and I love it. If I was to add naturally aspirated power(cam, long tube headers, intake etc, what tire would u go with?

The manual is so much more fun to drive though, unfortunately with my hip problems in the last few years I wound up having to sell it and get an automatic. I wound up moving down from the Scat Pack to an R/T in the process but boy I miss shifting, it just aint the same!!! I can tell you though, that R/T with an auto is pretty dang quick, I think it would definitely be a drivers race if you put the two up against one another, my 0-60 times are about point on! LOL!

i may end up trading up for a ScatPack end of the coming year, when deals start on 2021s next fall.. so i have a question, is the Widebody worth the extra money? i know you get wider tires, but other than that, there's really no other performance advantage right? although the looks are killer, and i like the more aggressive looking front fascia

Would be cool if the charger came in a manual as well

On the auto, did you notice when it would drop the cylinders, or can you turn that off in track mode?

Why is that fifty not a shaker and not got gold wheels. All the info online i find says they should be shakers. I have a black 50 just like the one you drove. Love it!

I love my manual Scatpack I have a Barton shifter on it with a Hurst Tee handle. The shifter is a nice up grade but the transmission will not shift fast . If you mash the gas through in the clutch yank the shifter back it will grind the gears I'm talking foot off the gas clutch in if you shift fast not even not letting the clutch back out it will grind the gears. Many years ago I had a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 / 375 with a muncie 4 spd. Hurst shifter , it would go through the gears as fast is you could punch the clutch in and out , slam the shifter to the next gear including 2nd to 3rd which was a straight line on a diagonal . I don't recall ever missing a shift. I don't race and love a manual, which is a lot more fun driving to me but Racer X is right automatics are faster today that wasn't the case when I was young.

hey old school ( NAPLES NY 9 toe lightning ) mine might be here today 2021scat pack hoping

What kind of clutch would you recomend if someone was looking to change the factory one on that car

I hear a lot about the scat being the sweet spot in the challenger lineup. One of the reasons it seems most of all the reviews talk about usable power. Whereas the hellcat is over powered. But one thing always negates that opinion is that It the black key or valet mode. In that setting the 500hp the hellcat is essentially a scat and a hellcat. It’s like you get both cars. Of course for 20k more, but then again it’s like two cars.

What was the difference between the two cars, off the line at full throttle, as the rear gears were so different?

I have a Dakota R/T 392 6 speed and it's amazing. 100% FUN

Everyone always talks about how much faster the automatic is,because they shift so much quicker. And I do realize that. Their always quick to tell ya that the manual has a 390 or 370. What ever the case may be. And the author has a 3.0 whatever. They don’t tell you the auto has like a 4 something first gear,and the manual has like a 220. And I’m speaking like in a Hellcat,for example. Give me like a 297 first gear in a manual,and I would give a automatic a run for the money. But good video.

I had two challengers with the eight speed auto then I ordered 2019 scat with the manual like you said the automatics are faster but the manuals are funner especially if they’re not your daily driver

I had an RT with the manual. It had horrible wheel hop off the line. Couldn't really launch it

What are your thoughts on the bullitt mustang vs a challenger R/T scat pat MT ? Thanks

Manuals are fun to drive I grew up driving manual’s, they’re not as fun in California traffic but still fun nevertheless

I have a 18 srt 392 6 speed and love it no other car is better I don’t think

i would have got a manual if they offered the charger with one that would be awesome

Does the manual have active rev match and hill hold like the Camaro?

upload a video for challenger parallel parking.. Because the usual/standard view points for the parallel parking dosent work in a Challenger

I wish I can find a manual scat pack on Turo. Compare daily driveability and fuel mileage and if I can live with it. Wish they made it for the Chargers from the factory, I'd be sold.

I would have never thought automatic was the way to go. I guess the advancing of technology has left manual and the dust. Great review on the best of both worlds though.

Is there any worries about the MDS with Lifter and Cam Premature wear ?