mysql101

I don't like to generalize about car owners based on their car, but in the last 3 days I've seen a half dozen SRT-4 neons around my area, and EACH AND EVERY ONE of them had either a personalized plate, or plate holder that said stuff like "HAHAHAHAHAHA YOU LOSE", "BLOWING YOU AWAY", or "2FAST4U" type stuff. Also they all speed away from every stop light. The car appears to bounce considerably when hitting bumps, it really looks like a cheap car with a bolted on turbo.

Not sure if I had much of a point, other than if there was one car to stereotype, I think I'd pick the SRT-4 neon.

btw, my first car was a neon.

RXE16T

We don't get the SRT here in Australia, but from what I can remember when they sold the Neon here, they were an absolute POS.... not sure whether that has changed?

shigginsrx8

haha. I had this discussion with an intern at my office. He drives an SRT-4 and peels in and out of the parking lots. I asked him why and he said, and I quote "it just has a lot of power, hard to put down sometimes" Hey douche bag, throttle modulation.

Then we got into an argument about the vaidity of his car. I think they are pretty queer, he thinks it is gods gift to the automobile community.Yada yadem, he asked me to race him, knowing I don't have a car right now...I guess he thought he was hurting my feelings. he was shocked to find out, that the downpayment I just put on a car is more then his stupid neon is worth. I offered up my RC51 in the meantime, if he could beat it he could have it, he said no .

He also saw me surfing this site one day and told me that 8's are **** cause they lied about the hp.

shorty911

i drove the srt-4 and thought it was the biggest pos ever i hated everythign bout it doesnt even seem fast i hate it i hope it and i hope everyone who owns one dies soon i hope all their engines explode at 40k miles and they are inside

XDEEDUBBX

well they had many problems since last year...numerous recalls...the 8 has recalls to but they are having engine reliability problems... seems that some of those engines are blowing up after 10 grand..hahha

RXE16T

I sense a strong dislike for this particular vehicle? :p

mysql101

I don't know. I don't hate them or their owners... It just occurred to me one afternoon after watching a neon peel out from the stop light, looking at his "J00 got 0wn3d" plate that all the other SRT-4's that I've seen were all driven by people with exactly the same mindset. Completely oblivious that their car really isn't the fastest thing on the road - it just happens to be pretty fast, and very cheap.

RX8-TX

Maybe because they enjoy driving it as much as we enjoy driving our 8's? Don't know, just a wild guess.

XDEEDUBBX

the car is basically a hooker..fast and cheap..the 8 is a more refined machine with looks and intelligence...

mysql101

I think it has to do more with insecurities. Needing to pull out as fast as you can in order to show everyone around you that your car isn't slow.

I know what it's like to go fast, but what I was seeing was an attempt at an olympic race.

mysql101

heh. Maybe your car is like Kit (knight rider), but mine is dumb as a block.

RX8-TX

Well, I don't know. I started to drive in a....friskier manner once I got my 8. I don't think it's a showoff attitude -not all of them at least.

RXE16T

.... so the 8's a high class one then?

Ike

They also have more HP to the wheels than an RX-8 has to the crank. I used to squeal in my Maxima all the time when I didn't want to, I just wanted to drive fast for no other reason than fun.

XDEEDUBB I'd like to see some proof to back up your claims about engine failures. That engine can handle very high horsepower on stock internals and was overdone from the factory with much higher quality parts than it really needs.

mysql101

But did you also have "HAHAHAHHAHA YOU LOSE" on your licence plate holder?

RX8-TX

Yep....friggin' underrated engines....

Ike

That is pretty stupid, but you certainly are generalizing. I've met some really cool SRT-4 owners and I've met some douchebags. The douchbag population does seem to be a bit high on that car but no worse than so many other cars that have drivers that get stereotyped.

mysql101

Thats my point of this thread, I saw 6 of the SRT-4's, and *every* single one had plates basically saying they were faster than everyone else. Do they really think no one else can get a $20,000 neon if they wanted?

mysql101

btw, consumer guide says the 2005 SRT-4 has a 0-60 of 5.6 sec, is this underestimated? Because for a car with so much "it's fast" hype, it doesn't strike me as all that great.

..and you're right, I don't think all SRT-4 owners are ********. Someone linked to a neon site where they were discussing the RX-8, and they were very civil about it, actually pointing out things they liked about the car. That's 100% better than what I saw on the crossfire forums

Ike

It's a FWD car with a lot of power so the traction issues keep it to mid 5s 0-60. But if you were to race one to 100 with an RX-8 the deficit would be around 2 seconds which at 100 mph is a ton of carlengths. If you want to go fast on a budget it is great and faster than a Z in many straightline situations. The street start 5-60 on the SRT-4 is also about 1.5 secs faster than the RX-8. These are also numbers for the 03 SRT-4 which has 15-20 less whp than the 04+ models.

mysql101

oh, right. I forgot about the FWD part. When I was given a loaner car (rx-8 was in the shop getting new pads), I was putting the nissan maxima to the test. Making noise by stomping the gas while turning was fun for a while, but that got boring quickly. That car had some pep to it, but FWD seemed to take all the fun out of it.

Ike

Exactly why my Maxima experience was short lived. I loved the engine and for a big car it was pretty fun but I just missed my AWD turbo cars. I don't know why but I always got a kick out of chirping going from 1st to 2nd, now I just have to settle for chirping 1st no matter how much I stomp on it :D

Xyntax

I like the SRT-4's performance, no questioin about how fast they are. I just don't like the crowd developing around that car. It is becoming the next Civic (only faster). Cocky drivers and loads of "more HP for the money" arguments and think they have the best of the best. Please, it's fast and that's about it. They need to wake up and realize what a big compromise they had to take to get a fast neon.

goforwand

Not to totally generalize, but the Neon is a kid's car. Think about it...any kid that's saved up a few grand or has help from the 'rents can plop a quick downpayment on an $18,000 low mileage used '04 SRT-4 and be a speed-freak hero while working part time at McD's to make the monthly payment.

It's totally harmless unless they are complete morons and threaten the safety of others on the road.

I'm just surprised that I don't see more of these wrapped around telephone poles or in ditches given the demographic that's driving them.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

I just had some moron in one try and get me to race last night, homedude kept revving his engine and then he started accelerating, so I kept my speed right beside him as he was trying to speed up, the funniest part is the whole time my car was mildly accelerating he was shifting like crazy,I think I was still in 2-3rd(and I have an auto) and he was going nuts, blowoff valve screaming and all. He finally got a bit aggravated or whatever and then went wot and passed me and cut me off, missing the car in front of him by millimeters, but then hanging on the cars **** for about 5 seconds (yep, real winner) the whole time trying to show me how fast he was etc. All I could think was "wow...er....it's still a neon...yup dude, your car might be fast but it's still just a neon". I really had a hard time being impressed, speed alone doesn't make a car. I think it's a package deal, looks,speed,having some mystique or heritage is prestty cool too. (ex. vette,rotaries, rally racing etc.) What does the srt-4 have other than it being a crazy fast hairdried neon? I'd love to talk to the dude that was driving like an idiot last night, probably has fast and the furious memorized word for word...haha