The purchase of a Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 demonstrates that having the financial resources to acquire a limited-production drag racing special does not automatically confer the driving ability needed to safely manage one, as the latest crash involving one of the rare muscle cars illustrates with painful clarity. The Demon 170, which represents the pinnacle of street-legal Dodge drag racing capability with over one thousand horsepower, is a vehicle that demands a level of skill and experience that money cannot buy, and the gap between financial qualification and driving qualification has once again produced a damaging incident.
The Demon 170’s combination of extraordinary power, rear-wheel drive, and a power-to-grip ratio that requires expert throttle management makes it one of the most unforgiving production vehicles ever sold in America. Dodge sells the car with full knowledge that most buyers will experience it well within its limits, but the minority who attempt to access its full capabilities without appropriate preparation create the incidents that generate coverage. The owner will need to work through the insurance and repair process for a vehicle whose limited production numbers make parts availability and replacement cost particularly challenging.
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