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SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Old Apr 7, 2005 | 11:39 PM
  #16  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by stereomandan
Yeah, I can't see any muscle in that car, no matter how much HP it could ultimately generate. A muscle car definately is not just about HP. When you get to the point of bolting on big slicks to a fwd car, you start to look pretty silly to me. (not that the neon in this review absolutely needed slicks) Should have started with a better platform from the beginning if it ever gets to that point in my opinion.

By the way, beautiful SS you have there.

Dan
hey man thanks u have nice ride to , lately i havent been able to appreciate what i have, its just that time where u have to rethink what ur doing with ur life u knwo what i mean

anyways about teh SRT-4 i do find myself getting to appreciate the car a little more and what dodge is trying to do to influence consumers but i really dont c this turning into the the new muscle car, hence the reason they call imports "tuners" i mean u cant call it a muscle car lol , maybe im just taking this way over the top lol

bobbyd

byw i dont know y i said tercel lol i just thought of the worst random car and that came into mind lol
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 07:58 AM
  #17  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Thanks. My OEM SS hood is getting finished at the paint shop today. I'm extremely excited. I've always loved the look of the SS hood, and finally get to put one on.

Dan
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 10:23 AM
  #18  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Its cool but the aftermarket must have ways to get to 355 hp that dont cost $5/gallon. The factory warrenty is still nice, though.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 10:38 AM
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by Chuck!
Its cool but the aftermarket must have ways to get to 355 hp that dont cost $5/gallon. The factory warrenty is still nice, though.
About the warranty, it's a bit tricky. It is actually treated like any other aftermarket part. If the part causes engine/mechanical failure or if you use the car for competition purposes, the factory warranty will not be honored. Sucks.

Off the Mopar parts site.
Mopar Performance parts are sold "as is" unless otherwise noted. This means that parts sold by Mopar Performance carry no warranty whatsoever. Implied warranties, such as warranties of merchantability, are excluded. (An implied warranty of merchantability means that the part is reasonably fit for the general purpose for which is was sold). The entire risk as to quality and performance of such parts is with the buyer. Should such parts prove defective following their purchase, the buyer and not the manufacturer, distributor or retailer, assumes the entire cost of all necessary servicing or repair. Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep® vehicle and parts warranties are voided if the vehicle or parts are used for competition. The addition of performance parts does not by itself void a vehicle's warranty. However, added performance parts (parts not originally supplied on the vehicle from the factory) are not covered by the vehicle's warranty, and any failure that they may cause is also not covered by the vehicle's warranty.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 11:18 AM
  #20  
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Thumbs down Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Whatever...

a) Sub $30k price tag - I could buy a nicely optioned, far better looking RWD Mustang GT for that.
b) 310 HP on 93 octane non-race gas (the stock stang makes more HP on 87 octane with plenty of room to spare for aftermarket tweaking on 91 octane gas).
c) big turbo for such a small engine - it's going to be peaky.. please don't anyone claim otherwise... the laws of physics, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics are well known.
d) it's FWD..
e) it's not street legal - this for off road Race use only (uhuh ). But there really is nothing clever about stuffing a big turbo, adding more fuel and a new ECM progam onto a small engine steup so that it can no longer pass emssions (since big boost == big heat == lots of N0x). Making big HP AND keeping it street legal is more impressive.
f) it's a freaking NEON with a giant spolier, i.e. an econobox!

Next...

Last edited by Z28Marcus; Apr 8, 2005 at 11:25 AM.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 11:32 AM
  #21  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by Z28Marcus
Whatever...

a) Sub $30k price tag - I could buy a nicely optioned, far better looking RWD Mustang GT for that.
b) 310 HP on 93 octane non-race gas (the stock stang makes more HP on 87 octane with plenty of room to spare for aftermarket tweaking)
c) big turbo for such a small engine - it's going to be peaky.. please don't anyone claim otherwise... the laws of physics, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics are well known.
d) it's FWD..
e) it's not street legal - this for off road Race use only (uhuh ). But there really is nothing clever about stuffing a big turbo, adding more fuel and a new ECM progam onto a small engine steup so that it can no longer pass emssions (since big boost == big heat == lots of N0x). Making big HP AND keeping it street legal is more impressive.
f) it's a freaking NEON with a giant spolier, i.e. an econobox!

Next...
I agree with you on all accounts except "C". Just look at the dyno. The thing has fairly flat tq curve. It is making 200+lb of tq at 1,700rpms. With the premium octane tune, it'll hit peak tq (325lb-ft) at just 2,800rpms and put out 300+lb-ft of tq till 5,200rpms. With 100 octane, it'll hit the 365lb-ft of tq at 3,200rpms and maintain 300+lb-ft of tq till 5,800 rpms. This thing has grunt. Of course, i'm sure there's some lag issues to deal with early on, but this thing can belt out tq at low rpms and is not another peaky turbo 4.

Stage III Dyno
http://automobilemag.com/reviews/sed...on_srt4_80.gif
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:00 PM
  #22  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by Gold_Rush
I agree with you on all accounts except "C". Just look at the dyno. The thing has fairly flat tq curve. It is making 200+lb of tq at 1,700rpms. With the premium octane tune, it'll hit peak tq (325lb-ft) at just 2,800rpms and put out 300+lb-ft of tq till 5,200rpms. With 100 octane, it'll hit the 365lb-ft of tq at 3,200rpms and maintain 300+lb-ft of tq till 5,800 rpms. This thing has grunt. Of course, i'm sure there's some lag issues to deal with early on, but this thing can belt out tq at low rpms and is not another peaky turbo 4.

Stage III Dyno
http://automobilemag.com/reviews/sed...on_srt4_80.gif
When you are downshifting and braking, then go to accelerate there are going to be times of annoying lag. One that comes to mind is when you come to merge onto the freeway where the on-ramp is very short and there is a significant, constant traffic flow (i.e. you have to slow way down or maybe stop altogether and wait for a chance to accelerate cleanly into a safe gap). This is when you want predictable and reliable instant acceleration, not bog and then a kick in the pants. For this reason I detest the low-rpm torqueless v-tec 4 clylinder in my 98 Accord grocery getter .

And of course, after reading your comments, I have to concede that one cannot compare an Accord to the SRT . Even with the lag, the Neon has still has ample power low down for it's weight and size. Personally though I just dislike lag and much prefer the predictability of a setup that has enough engine cubes to go with the turbo and avoid lag altogeher. But I see you point.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:14 PM
  #23  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Forget Mustang and GTO, that's Mitsubishi Lancer Evo and Subaru Impreza WRX territory


Seriously though, 310 hp and 325 lb-ft at the engine isn't that impresive. I'm pretty sure that there are alot of SRT's puting out numberst bigger than that. You would have thought this car was touched by the hand of god the way the article was written.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:19 PM
  #24  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by Z28Marcus
When you are downshifting and braking, then go to accelerate there are going to be times of annoying lag. One that comes to mind is when you come to merge onto the freeway where the on-ramp is very short and there is a significant, constant traffic flow (i.e. you have to slow way down or maybe stop altogether and wait for a chance to accelerate cleanly into a safe gap). This is when you want predictable and reliable instant acceleration, not bog and then a kick in the pants.
Lag only occurs at low RPM. If you want to merge, downshift so your reving in the 3-4K range and it will just take off. If you leave it in 5th and try to take off around 1500rpm, then you will run into the situation you just described.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:20 PM
  #25  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by slt


Seriously though, 310 hp and 325 lb-ft at the engine isn't that impresive. I'm pretty sure that there are alot of SRT's puting out numberst bigger than that. You would have thought this car was touched by the hand of god the way the article was written.
I know. And what 1/4 miles have the STi's and EVO's put out that the Mustangs and GTO's haven't already?

Just found the whole "forget mustang and GTO, that's STi and EVO territory" part overblown. As if an ls1/ls2 GTO, Cobra, Mach-1, or well driven new GT is significantly slower than a stock STi/EVO.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:21 PM
  #26  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

We are talking about a factory performance vehicle here. Let's not get into aftermarket modifications here . We're talking bone stock factory spec.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 12:26 PM
  #27  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by Z28Marcus
We are talking about a factory performance vehicle here. Let's not get into aftermarket modifications here . We're talking bone stock factory spec.
I think the Stage 3 is dealer installed, not factory installed, and it voids your warranty. Either way, there more impressive packages on the market for the SRT than this Mopar stage 3.
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 05:12 PM
  #28  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by stereomandan
Thanks. My OEM SS hood is getting finished at the paint shop today. I'm extremely excited. I've always loved the look of the SS hood, and finally get to put one on.

Dan
your car is gonna look pimp with that SS hood , next u should get a 98+ SS spoiler , i like em better than mine , and some rims and ull be set
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 05:26 PM
  #29  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by CamaroSS30thAnn
your car is gonna look pimp with that SS hood , next u should get a 98+ SS spoiler , i like em better than mine , and some rims and ull be set
Thanks! I already have the OEM SS rims on, with Goodyear GS-D3 tires. I love them. I'm not a big fan of the SS spoilers though, so I probably won't put one on.

Back to the original topic, another thing that impresses me about the SRT4 is how fast they have got that car to run the times is has. I mean the thing wasn't out very long, and factory parts have it in the mid 12's and trapping a high mph too. Like others have said though, any car can be fast, and it's definately not a car the I would want to be seen in. Just seems so juvenile to me. Like if someone complimented the car, I would feel compelled to have my response sound something like "yo, thanks dawg. Yeah, it's tight yo" That's just my opinion though.

Dan
Old Apr 8, 2005 | 05:37 PM
  #30  
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Re: SRT4 Stage 3 mag review

Originally Posted by stereomandan
Thanks! I already have the OEM SS rims on, with Goodyear GS-D3 tires. I love them. I'm not a big fan of the SS spoilers though, so I probably won't put one on.
Sorry to hijack here, but where did you get your OEM SS hood and wheels? I can't seem to find any hoods that look identical to SS production hoods. How much did the paint job of the hood run you?

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