OMG a *must read thread*
Holy crap man those are impressive #'s for such a little machine 
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,000
From: Richmond B.C.
first off that car isnt what its cracked up to be, 300hp?! you gotta be serious,what were you smoking?! try more like 215 which isnt much, herea an article that shows some pros and cons of the car, RICE, and it sucks!
The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is one of the latest entries to the sport-compact market, a screaming yellow zonker with a boy-racer wing and a fake hood scoop. In my personal opinion I think the Neon is quite possibly the ugliest small car on the market. The headlamps are too big, the grille is disproportionately large, and the tail end just looks goofy, like it's sticking its butt into the air like some arrogant housecat. That said, I went to take an SRT-4 for a spin. The idea of a hot-rod Dodge that regular people could afford intrigued me, so I swiped the keys to the retina-burning yellow monster on the dealer's lot and took off.
Power delivery for the SRT-4 comes from a turbocharged and intercooled 2.4L four cylinder. The normally-aspirated version of this engine does duty in the PT Cruiser and Dodge Stratus as base engine. (The base Neon gets a wimpy 2.0L four). In SRT trim the motor makes 215 horsepower and over 200 lb-ft of torque, all channeled through a 5-speed stick to the front wheels only. Wheelspin is abundant--a bit TOO abundant--and it can be difficult to gain purchase on even dry pavement. Going around corners showed this car's biggest weakness. The car makes do with a fully open differential, which means all the power takes the path of least resistance. While this makes it cheaper to build, its omission is a serious mistake for performance enthusiasts.
This car corners excellently for a front-driver. It grabs on to turns and tracks evenly throughout, in a class where the cars are prone to heavy understeer. The tires are well-matched for the performance aspirations, letting you know audibly when you've reached the car's limits (which are quite high). The tires however do not seem to be made for all-season driving. While not a problem in the middle of the desert, those in colder climes may want to consider different rubber, as I nearly lost control when I hit a patch of wet road. Don't ask me how the road got wet, I haven't got a clue.
Fortunately there's plenty of whoa for all this go. Four wheel discs with ABS bring this car to a stop in VERY short order, and after considerable abuse by yours truly, they refused to fade. That definitely made me happy.
As for the interior, there isn't much to write home about. There's white-face guages (which I liked) and a lot of fake carbon fiber trim everywhere. I know it was fake because they'd never put the real stuff in a $20,000 econobox-turned-hotrod.
All this said, I don't think it's a car I could live with. Why? Well, there's a couple reasons. First off the exhaust, which the salesman described as "powerful" sounded more to me like the muffler was about to fall off. Loud does not equal powerful.
The other problem was the suspension. While it provides for a great-handling car, it also provides a harsh ride. While you sort of expect that in a car like this, it was rough on the relatively smooth New Mexico roads. Imagine owning a car like this in Pennsylvania? Your fillings would rattle out of your teeth.
There's also the matter of that stupid wing on the back. If only it was a delete-option, but it's not. At least on the Evolution you can get a more understated piece. This one has a tendency to impair your visibility and enhance others visibility of you. Specifically others who drive Crown Victorias with lights on the roof. The yellow paint didn't help either.
The final verdict? Well the final verdict is, I don't know. On the one hand it's a real fast car for not much money. On the other it's rough, loud and could be difficult to live with. I guess this one's a judgement call.
If this kind of car appeals to you, but you find the Neon is just too rough to live with, you've got a lot of choices. There's the Ford Focus SVT, Mazdaspeed Protege, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru Impreza WRX, VW Golf GTI, VW New Beetle Turbo/Turbo S, Mazda Miata, Nissan Sentra SE-R and Spec-V, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Honda Civic Si, and probably a few more that I missed. Jeez there's a lot of these things!!
(NOTE: I rated this car average in reliability due to Chrysler's reputation for less-than-perfect workamanship. A turbocharger adds complexity and could make this car more repair-prone than other models, especially as it gets older.)
(EDIT: As of this writing, Dodge is apparently addressing some of the issues. Mopar Performance is making available several performance parts, including a limited-slip differential, short-throw shifter, ceramic-coated intake manifold, gauge packages, a blow-off valve, and a "stage 1" turbo upgrade, boosting the Neon's horsepower and torque to 240 and 260, respectively. The addition of an LSD will greatly improve traction off the line and in turns, and the extra power won't hurt either. Parts are due to be available at any Dodge dealer for install on any SRT-4 starting in late June/early July 2003)
The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is one of the latest entries to the sport-compact market, a screaming yellow zonker with a boy-racer wing and a fake hood scoop. In my personal opinion I think the Neon is quite possibly the ugliest small car on the market. The headlamps are too big, the grille is disproportionately large, and the tail end just looks goofy, like it's sticking its butt into the air like some arrogant housecat. That said, I went to take an SRT-4 for a spin. The idea of a hot-rod Dodge that regular people could afford intrigued me, so I swiped the keys to the retina-burning yellow monster on the dealer's lot and took off.
Power delivery for the SRT-4 comes from a turbocharged and intercooled 2.4L four cylinder. The normally-aspirated version of this engine does duty in the PT Cruiser and Dodge Stratus as base engine. (The base Neon gets a wimpy 2.0L four). In SRT trim the motor makes 215 horsepower and over 200 lb-ft of torque, all channeled through a 5-speed stick to the front wheels only. Wheelspin is abundant--a bit TOO abundant--and it can be difficult to gain purchase on even dry pavement. Going around corners showed this car's biggest weakness. The car makes do with a fully open differential, which means all the power takes the path of least resistance. While this makes it cheaper to build, its omission is a serious mistake for performance enthusiasts.
This car corners excellently for a front-driver. It grabs on to turns and tracks evenly throughout, in a class where the cars are prone to heavy understeer. The tires are well-matched for the performance aspirations, letting you know audibly when you've reached the car's limits (which are quite high). The tires however do not seem to be made for all-season driving. While not a problem in the middle of the desert, those in colder climes may want to consider different rubber, as I nearly lost control when I hit a patch of wet road. Don't ask me how the road got wet, I haven't got a clue.
Fortunately there's plenty of whoa for all this go. Four wheel discs with ABS bring this car to a stop in VERY short order, and after considerable abuse by yours truly, they refused to fade. That definitely made me happy.
As for the interior, there isn't much to write home about. There's white-face guages (which I liked) and a lot of fake carbon fiber trim everywhere. I know it was fake because they'd never put the real stuff in a $20,000 econobox-turned-hotrod.
All this said, I don't think it's a car I could live with. Why? Well, there's a couple reasons. First off the exhaust, which the salesman described as "powerful" sounded more to me like the muffler was about to fall off. Loud does not equal powerful.
The other problem was the suspension. While it provides for a great-handling car, it also provides a harsh ride. While you sort of expect that in a car like this, it was rough on the relatively smooth New Mexico roads. Imagine owning a car like this in Pennsylvania? Your fillings would rattle out of your teeth.
There's also the matter of that stupid wing on the back. If only it was a delete-option, but it's not. At least on the Evolution you can get a more understated piece. This one has a tendency to impair your visibility and enhance others visibility of you. Specifically others who drive Crown Victorias with lights on the roof. The yellow paint didn't help either.
The final verdict? Well the final verdict is, I don't know. On the one hand it's a real fast car for not much money. On the other it's rough, loud and could be difficult to live with. I guess this one's a judgement call.
If this kind of car appeals to you, but you find the Neon is just too rough to live with, you've got a lot of choices. There's the Ford Focus SVT, Mazdaspeed Protege, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru Impreza WRX, VW Golf GTI, VW New Beetle Turbo/Turbo S, Mazda Miata, Nissan Sentra SE-R and Spec-V, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Honda Civic Si, and probably a few more that I missed. Jeez there's a lot of these things!!
(NOTE: I rated this car average in reliability due to Chrysler's reputation for less-than-perfect workamanship. A turbocharger adds complexity and could make this car more repair-prone than other models, especially as it gets older.)
(EDIT: As of this writing, Dodge is apparently addressing some of the issues. Mopar Performance is making available several performance parts, including a limited-slip differential, short-throw shifter, ceramic-coated intake manifold, gauge packages, a blow-off valve, and a "stage 1" turbo upgrade, boosting the Neon's horsepower and torque to 240 and 260, respectively. The addition of an LSD will greatly improve traction off the line and in turns, and the extra power won't hurt either. Parts are due to be available at any Dodge dealer for install on any SRT-4 starting in late June/early July 2003)
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,842
From: BC, Canada
that article was the stupidest thing i've ever read .. the guy obviouslt didnt know jack and he was talking about a base 03 model... the 04 model comes with LSD stock and yes u can get them with 300 hp FROM THE FACTORY .. jason, go read an official document before u pass judgement not some amatuer movie review type article from a guy who only says the negatives!
sorry man .. the dyno tells the truth .. 378 wheel hp and 396 wheel torque sounds big enough to slice most modded Fbodies (including urs and mine) and every other NA fbody on this board.. so dont be jealous
im not .. i'll have one soon 
sorry man .. the dyno tells the truth .. 378 wheel hp and 396 wheel torque sounds big enough to slice most modded Fbodies (including urs and mine) and every other NA fbody on this board.. so dont be jealous
im not .. i'll have one soon
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 578
From: Vancouver, BC CANADA
Why is this a "must read" thread? 
This vehicle is just a fad and the hype will pass just like the 300ZX of the past, and WRX of the present. The price is reasonable and the performance speaks for itself...but what about the reliability? The resale value? Suspension geometry? Options? The fact that every second person and their dog will probably own one? IMO, the styling sucks...it looks like a hopped up Neon. For all these reasons, I think I'll pass...
But to each his own...and if Payam is lured by the Mopar charms of tomorrow, then we should let him and laugh behind his back.
This vehicle is just a fad and the hype will pass just like the 300ZX of the past, and WRX of the present. The price is reasonable and the performance speaks for itself...but what about the reliability? The resale value? Suspension geometry? Options? The fact that every second person and their dog will probably own one? IMO, the styling sucks...it looks like a hopped up Neon. For all these reasons, I think I'll pass...
But to each his own...and if Payam is lured by the Mopar charms of tomorrow, then we should let him and laugh behind his back
.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,842
From: BC, Canada
Originally posted by LuCiFeR97Z28
But to each his own...and if Payam is lured by the Mopar charms of tomorrow, then we should let him and laugh behind his back.
But to each his own...and if Payam is lured by the Mopar charms of tomorrow, then we should let him and laugh behind his back
.
and im not just talkin about the camaro here
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,238
From: Wet Coast
Wow, when someone in a Honda bashes the f-body, the f-body guys get mad. "All those Hondas guys have to argue about against the F-body is it's reliability, gas mileage and interior"
Now that the SRT-4 poses a threat to the F-body, it's all of a sudden attacked on the same points as the Honda buys attacked Camaros about.
Wow, it has bad resale value? It runs high 13s, low 14s stock.
Wow, the interior "sucks" It can be modded for so cheap.
Wow, it's a FAD? It's fast ,what's your point
The f-body could be a "fad" too
Now that the SRT-4 poses a threat to the F-body, it's all of a sudden attacked on the same points as the Honda buys attacked Camaros about.
Wow, it has bad resale value? It runs high 13s, low 14s stock.
Wow, the interior "sucks" It can be modded for so cheap.
Wow, it's a FAD? It's fast ,what's your point
The f-body could be a "fad" too
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 246
From: Surrey
You guys and your 'schooling the Honda boys'... LOL... most Honda guys LOVE the SRT-4! Why? Because it's competition in the marketplace! Unless everyone pulls their head out their A$$E$ this Dodge thing is gonna walk away from everyone! Heck, if I had any need of a new car I wouldn't even consider buying anything else! Like most Honda guys we're sick of overweight, overpriced, underpowered crap coming out lately! The only Honda worth buying is the RSX Type S because the K-series engine shows promise, but that car's freakin' expensive compared to an SRT-4!
to Dodge for big *****!
to Dodge for big *****!
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 246
From: Surrey
This just in:
http://cnn.heavyplasma.com/www/cnn/2...8987index.html
Actually I just heard it was a joke. *sigh* Some joke.
http://cnn.heavyplasma.com/www/cnn/2...8987index.html
Actually I just heard it was a joke. *sigh*
Some joke.
Last edited by raene; Aug 6, 2003 at 04:20 PM.
It is a cool toy and for the price can't go wrong, would be a great daily driver 