Which performance upgrades are essential for a new Dodge Challenger?

Question

What are the absolute must-have performance upgrades for a new Challenger R/T that wont immediately kill my warranty or make the car unreliable? I just picked up a 2023 and honestly i'm kind of terrified of messing something up but the stock setup feels like it could use a little more pep. I spent hours reading stuff online and everyone says to get a catch can right away to stop oil vapor from gunking up the intake but then i see other people saying its a total waste of money and Dodge would have installed one if it mattered. Then there is the whole cold air intake debate... i was looking at the Mopar one because it looks cool but some threads say the factory air box is already optimized and aftermarket ones just suck in hot air from the engine bay. I live in South Florida so it is basically a furnace outside 24/7 and i really worry about heat soak at stoplights. My budget is pretty tight right now, maybe 1500 bucks tops to start with since the car payment is already eating my soul lol. Should i focus on the exhaust first or maybe some better tires since the stock 245s feel like they are made of hard plastic? I just want it to feel faster without the dealership flagging my VIN the second i go in for an oil change. What would you guys do first?

tloolnlstx · Accepted Answer

I noticed nobody mentioned the rear end. In my experience, the differential housing is actually pretty vulnerable during hard launches. To keep things reliable, definitely bolt on a Per4Mance Development P4D Rear Differential Brace. It stops the diff from twisting and snapping its mounting tabs. Also, look at the Z Automotive Tazer Dodge Challenger Programmer. It unlocks SRT menus and better cooling fan triggers without a PCM flash, which is huge for Florida heat.

iedfiwkeqx · Answer

Congrats on the new ride! Since you're in South Florida and dealing with those skinny 245s, I'd honestly skip the engine mods for a bit. Power doesnt mean much if you're just spinning at every green light. The absolute best bang for your buck is gonna be some wider rubber. I'd grab a set of Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 Plus 275/40ZR20 to replace those slippery stock tires. It makes the car feel way more planted and actually lets you use the Hemi power instead of just making noise. Regarding the catch can... yeah people argue about it constantly, but for a hundred bucks or so, its cheap insurance. I run the Billet Technology Signature Series Catch Can and seeing the oil it stops from entering the intake makes me feel better about the long-term health. Dont worry about the Mopar intake yet since the factory one is actually pretty good. A fancy tube wont fix heat soak in Florida humidity anyway. Stick with the tires first.

mmsxnvditz · Answer

Honestly, most open air intakes are kinda disappointing in our Florida heat. I had issues with major heat soak even with the Mopar Cold Air Intake System 5.7L HEMI... it just wasnt as good as expected for the money tho. If you want a safe bump, get the Mopar Hellcat Lower Air Box Housing 68175064AD. It pulls actual cool air and wont flag your warranty. Good luck with the ride.