Ike

I haven't driven one since before they added LSDs. I must say the LSD makes a nice difference and the grip for being a higher hp FWD car is pretty impressive. The car was even better than I remember. Sure it's kinda cheap inside, but the seats are nice and the important things are adequate. A short throw shifter and a new shift **** would be a big improvement. If I ever have to cut my car payment down to size I'd seriously consider one. I'd feel like a douche driving it but I'd still be having tons of fun and saving money.

I also found out the ACR package is now available, and available in white at that, which makes it kind of tempting for me. I'm convinced that anyone that just dismisses this car as just a Neon or a POS has never driven one, they're damn fun.

PPen131

it's a great bang for the buck car

BoxerGT2.5

Please keep the subie!!!! :D

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

Sure it may be fast as hell, but I can't see pulling up to the ladies at my office in my Neon rocket and see if they want to go to lunch. Above all else, it really just IS a Neon, with a nice engine in it. Maybe it appeals to the teen drivers, but the 21+ crowd seems to not want to be caught dead in one.

Sorry.

PaulieWalnuts

The only time it's not just a Neon is when your foot is in it. Other than that, when you're cruising on the expressway it's a Neon. When you're at a stoplight and you take a look around at the interior, it's a Neon. When you walk away from it and take a glance back, it's a Neon. I respect it for what it is - an economy car that has been modded into a great handling and amazingly fast car that still looks like an economy car - a sleeper.

For those people who don;t care about anything else other than high performance and low price, that's great. I prefer a more balanced overall experience.

Ike

If fun when driving in #1 on your list, and inexpensive is #2 on your list, you can deal with or overlook some of the other stuff. It's really not just a Neon with a nice engine, it really drives well and handles well.

I could care less what any female thinks of my car and have always felt that way, in fact if any of them have ever been seemingly interested in what I drive it's been a turnoff. I drove away knowing I liked my WRX better, but if the SRT-4 was all I could afford I'd be happy, at least from a driving standpoint. This is coming from someone who swore to never own a high power FWD car again, but I could live with the application in the SRT-4.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

I guess if it were possible to drive with my eyes closed, driving the SRT wouldn't be so bad. But if driving is #1 on my list, and I have to sit and live inside the car I am driving, I wouldn't choose the cheapness of the Neon just because it is fast. There's more to life than speed.

I actually thought like you Ike, until I saw and sat in one at this year's NY auto show. I sat in the seat, looked around, and realized that, yep, I am sitting in the cheapest 0-60 rocket money can buy, and THAT'S IT. The speed factor for me would last, oh, about a week, and then reality would set in.

Ike

It's all plastic... sometimes it's just a little nicer plastic. To me it's silly to care about that stuff and I've never really unerstood why people care about their car interiors so much. My A4 had a nice interior, but the only thing I really cared about was the squisy clutch pedal and the sloppy shifter.

Steiner

I know exactly where you're coming from Ike. What the WRX lacks in power it makes up in balance, composure and surefooted-ness.

I love the Evo but I do miss the SRT-4 at times. I'm closer to 30 than 20 but I couldn't give 2 $hits about what other people think about me out on the roads. I looked forward to driving that car every morning and the sound of the exhaust barking at you when you fire it up always brought a goofy adolescent smile. That car was affordable, reliable, fast, easy to work on and very inexpensive to modify. Dodge scored a 10/10 in my opinion. I put 25k trouble free miles on that car without a single problem. If that's what owning a "Neon" is all about so be it. This car is well made despite what people might say. The engine is over-engineered and the transmission is right off a Dodge truck. Off the showroom floor I don't think any other car can claim the performance per dollar of the SRT-4. That performance and tuneability is sorta like a catch 22 though...300whp/320wtq can be had for less than $1,000, but no matter what you do to the suspension putting that type of power to the ground w/FWD is nearly impossible in a streetable application. Maybe the next SRT-4 will be RWD or AWD. If so watch out. If Dodge could pull that off for around $25k-$28K they'd have another winner on their hands. I wouldn't put it past them either.

VRRocket

I just got in from driving one. My impressions were:
Pros:
Very fast, minimal turbo lag, good handling, good exhaust note (not fart cannon-like), well bolstered seats, Great bang for the buck, easily and cheaply upgradeable

Cons:
Difficult shifter, extreme wheel hop all the way through first and into second, bolstered seats might be a pain for when you're not driving 9/10's, adding manufacturer installed stage 2 or 3 kits voids warranty immediately

Bottom line: Fast and fun, but I think it would wear off and I'd still feel like I was driving a Neon. It's not your basic Neon, but only car lovers know that. Faster than the 8? Yes. Handles better? Probably not (felt top heavy). Would I trade my 8 for it? Not a chance. I am glad I drove it so now I have an informed perspective on the car. If you're on a budget and want to go fast, it's a great choice.

VRRocket

That performance and tuneability is sorta like a catch 22 though...300whp/320wtq can be had for less than $1,000, but no matter what you do to the suspension putting that type of power to the ground w/FWD is nearly impossible in a streetable application. [/QUOTE]


I agree - I don't think the SRT can put 300 hp effectively to the pavement from a dig with front wheel drive. With "only" 230 hp I had a lot of inside wheel spin on turns and huge wheel hop. If they put AWD on it, they'd have a huge home run.

Also, I told them I was looking at Evo's and they told me that the dealership group had so many problems with Mitsubishi that they opted to shut it down in our market.

Steiner

That's BS just like the part the sales guy told you about stage 2 and stage 3 voiding your warranty. Those sales ***** say anything that comes to their mind.

I agree about the shifter being crappy. First thing I did after I got mine was put on a Mopar short throw and a polished aluminum replica shift **** (the OEM is plastic) made by Modern Performance. It made aggressive shifting twice the fun.

Ike

That was the first thing I disliked about the car. I felt like if I was too rough with the shiter I was going to snap it off, the throws were way too long, and the little plastic ball shifter **** has got to go. But $150-200 and that's all taken care of.

Steiner

The other thing I didn't like is the how high the ***-end of the car sits. I lowered it with Eibachs less than 2 weeks after I bought it. It looked much better, but if I had to do it all over again I woulda saved up a little longer for some Mopar stage 2 or stage coilovers. I told the guy I sold my car to the same thing. He just emailed me and said he bought some Hotchki's sway bars, 8" rims, and Mopar S2 coilovers and now the car handles almost as well as his 2000 BMW M-coupe. He was very impressed.

Ike

That has always bugged me as well, I wonder if the ACR package does anything to fix that.

Mugatu

iTrader: (1)

For a NEON? A Dodge Neon. Cmon. No matter what numbers it put out, I would NEVER sink nearly $30k for a Neon.

Ike

I don't think he was refering to a Neon. Besides Chrysler is eliminating the Neon designation last I heard. Mainly because of people who can't get past the name of something at look at it for what it really is

Steiner

It's been a while since I've been on the SRT forums but I'm pretty sure the SRT-4 ACR will ride on 16x7 BBS rims and adjustable shocks. I guess that would mean you could drop or raise the ride height. People were surprised that they didn't just slap on the Mopar coilover kit and call it a day.

Exactly. I think the replacement for the Neon will share the same platform of the Mitsubishi Lancer replacement. Rumors are that the Evo 10 will be rebadged as an SRT-4 for sale in the USDM. Who knows though. We'll have to see. The Neon is definately gone though. I believe all Neon production ends in a few weeks.

m477

Nope, the Neon/Lancer sharing plans ended when DC broke things off with Mitsubishi.

Ike

Nope, it's still happening and they've never broken things off with DC, DC jusr decided to not bail them out.

Ellar

Just saw on the Speed Channel today, the concept that's supposed to replace the Neon is called the Caliber. It's kind of like a nicer looking Focus 3-door hatch.

BlueEyes

I thought the dodge caliber was an suv

Ellar

http://www.autointell.com/nao_compan...-conc-2005.htm

Ellar

I still wish they put out the Razor at the price they were floating out there. If they did, I'd certainly be posting to a Razor forum right now.

Ike

I agree, and as for the Calibur I had almost forgotten about that. To me it looks like an MP5 and a Dodge Magnum mated :p