300hp front wheel drive?

wtf?

 

Hmm...300 HP, very good. Styling, absolutely horrible. Looks like a mini-mini-van to me. Possible weight issues, also very bad. FWD blows. Near $25k price tag, way too much. Overall I don't like the car very much at all. It doesn't look like a worthy successor to the SRT-4 to me. I'd take an SRT-4 over it any day. Also, for being almost $25k you can practically get a Mustang GT and hopefully a low end V8 Camaro in a couple years. I really liked the SRT-4 because it was a cheap, bare-bones performance car. This car seems to completely go against that...Which is bad. I don't see the intended buyers of this car, (presumably guys also looking at civics, rsx's, gti's etc), being too thrilled by it

 

The way I look at it, the Neon was no looker, either. But, this whole wagon thing for Dodge is asinine. Dealers were mad over only having the Magnum, so they got the Charger too. Now, they'll be just as mad over the Caliber, and maybe we'll get a 4 door version?

300hp in a tall wagon? I'll pass. I loved the old SRT-4, even though it was nothing to look at and the interior wasn't that great. This can be hands down a NICER car overall, but the whole wagon theory kills it for me...

 

I'll be one of the odd *****, I like the styling. The price is ok, nothing to write home about.. I like the fact that it hasBut the last time I looked at an srt-4 those around my area were about 28-30K. I'll take a look at it when they hit the dealers..

 

Agreed, for 20K you could easily have a low 14/high 13 sec. car with alot of performance potential and it looked pretty decent as well. Perhaps the only reason Dodge is throwing a 300 horse motor in that thing is because that is the only way they are going to possibly sell the damn thing.

 

I checked it out today. It's not quite so ugly in the flesh, but it's no beauty either. It has alot of cool features though.

 

Man, our IRL would be lucky to hit 250hp at the engine, and traction is such a problem, its almost comical. First is useless and 2nd isn't all that much better. Its alot worse this time of year too when its cold and the tires are hard or if the streets are kinda damp.


FWD FTL

 

Yep, this woulda made a badass awd car, but I can't see it going anywhere with just fwd...Maybe adding awd was just too expensive...

 

Actually a lot of chrysler's engines that are turbo since the mid 80's have been either mitsubishi or mitsubishi derivatives. Even non turbo ones.

And this new one that churns out this much power is still chryslers remake at combining a 4g63T and a 4g64. I love how they say its got piston oil squirters on cast pistons. Firstly thats not a new idea at all, and cast pistons are rarely something worth bragging about either

Exterior styling isnt too bad, but I wait to see the interior. Could be great or hideous. If its $25,000 fully loaded, expect an AWD variant to come in at $28,000 or so.

Makes you wish they stuck the s/c engine into the HHR and gave it AWD. I swear the young folks that bought the pocket racer coupes and hatches now want cargo room with all the power and punch. I see this as possibly doing well if its reliable and has a nice interior for the price.

 

The interior was pretty decent for a car in it's price range. The shifter is in a kind of strange position in the way it sticks out of the dash. The SRT seats are pretty awesome though.

BTW, as I was waiting to get inside it, there were acouple of people from GM snapping pics with their digicams of all the interior bits and details.

 

this should blow away the Neon in every category. I was skeptical when it was announced they'd only be doing a hatch initially, but now I see it was the right move. this is exactly the kind of vehicle that will drive Chrysler's sales up and more importantly give them "street cred". I say it will easily outsell the Neon's peak #s.

only thing remains to be seen is whether it will stay solid, or fall apart in typical Chrysler fasion...

 

Its also an aluminum block That was one of the biggest strengths of the 4g63, a closed deck iron block. You can run as much boost as you want in the 4g63 if you can get the head gasket to hold.

 

I know its an Al block, but looking at the SRT4 engine, evo motor and the 4g63's from the 90's its apparent quickly which ones are an evolution of the 4g63 and the 420a. Not that the 420a was a terrible motor, but it wasnt designed for the abuse the 4g63 was. Not that an aluminum block is the end of the world, it just means you're may not putting out 500+hp out with one.

 

Heh, ah yes....the CI's.

 

Yeah, I was thinking that it seems like a cool job.