No...no...no...I didn't 'race' an SRT4...just had my first occasion to drive 'with' one...had my 2nd occasion, too!

The other day, enroute home from my office, I take the turn to a side-road, off the highway, but most of the road is out in the boonies, at a brisk clip. It's a pretty hard right, which passes as expected - nose-dive, body roll, little shake.

As I straighten out, I come upon a slower-moving vehicle in front of me. I pull out to pass and make the move. As I'm just about completed my pass I notice a black Neon behind me, also passing. I get over, quick, then move to the far-right of the lane, and wave him by; he was haulin ***. I was finishing my pass around 50-60mph; he must have passed me at close to 100mph.

We both turn left at the next cross street and I notice him scooting off with authority. I keep onto the gas, but he pulls away at an alarming clip.

"This sucks" I thought...

The Neon and I both turn right at the next light, and travel thru traffic. As I make my turn off that road, I wave to him with a 'thumbs up' sorta jesture. I'm not sure if he noticed.


So...this morning...turning LEFT onto the street where he pulled away, I'm waiting for the light to change when I see a black Neon swoop in behind me.

"ah-ha" I thought...

Green light I get on it pretty briskly and make the 1-2 shift around 7500. He's behind some distance...maybe a couple car-lengths. As we approach the right hand-turn, to the road where I waved him by, I set up in 2nd gear - around 35mph, for the 90 degree right onto that road. He's now about a length behind me...

"not for long" I muse.

I take an early apex, and get hard on the gas trying to induce oversteer/reduce understeer.

As I exit the turn he's fallen back - and oh! OH! I see the front of his car washing out, and he slides into the on-coming lane...

"You may be faster, but at least i only need ONE lane.."

On that straight-away, I take off pretty briskly but nothing too-dangerous. Maybe 5-10mph over the limit...

He and I both pass a slower car - then, after the manuever, he sucks up right under the tail of my car - I could barely see his headlights...

I am NOT going to flat-out race this guy...It's not even worth it. I know his car has more power - probably 50hp more. Mountains of Tq, too.

At the left onto the highway, I roll up to the stop line. No cars. I launch about 4500-5000 rpms, and slide the back the car out a little bit...He pulls out immediately after I do, about 2 lengths back, before he gets straight. I hit 'beeeeeeeeep' thru two gears. As I shift into third he's catching up quickly, so I settle in, and move to the right side of the lane. he gets close, then backs off. Traffic prevents him from attempting a pass until we got onto the installation, where he pulls out, and passes THREE Of us going 50mph in a 45 zone. By the time he's done with his pass, he's at least twice our speed.


Anywho - I guess I'm telling this story for two reasons:

1) I've never had a real-world encounter with an SRT4 - was quite impressed with how soundly he pulled away from me
2) I was not impressed with how many lanes he used to make his turn.
3) I really dont have a third reason - I just hate lists with only 2 bullets.

 

even though they are based on the neon I would still take one.

 

Yup - I'd take one....for sure. I can't think of a fwd car which may be MORE fun, except perhaps the Mini Cooper S.

 

When I went to an HPDE at Pocono Raceway (first track event for me and my RX-8) there was a modified SRT-4 (boost controller, springs, shocks, better tires...) in the same run group. I figured that our cars would be pretty equal on the track but when ever the track straightened out he would easily pull away from me. It was a bit embarrassing to say the least. The RX-8 was a little bit faster in the mid to tight corners but it wasn't enough to close the gap.

I'd like to have another go at it, now that I have a few mods of my own (CZ, coil overs, intake, exhaust...) and more experience with track events. I'm pretty sure that I could close the gap by being faster in the corners but I still think it would be a challenge to make up for the lack of power.

 

Actually - on 2nd thought, I'd never own an SRT4 - their forum is chock-full of asshats. Seriously vulgar, bitter little people.

 

Sounds like the driver was a bag of ****.

 

Why cause it couldn't keep up with the 8 in a corner?

 

I guess that was the final outcome of his craptacularness. More so because he plowed through his lane into another, on the street, on a corner he has obviously taken before. This = bag of **** driver.

 

Agreed - multiple 100mph+ (observed, estimated) attempts on two-lane roads...crossing the double yellow...tailgating....

Course...I did a little burn out, and a bit of sliding-the-rear-end out...at speeds slower than 30mph, mind you. :D

 

I don't know about their forum but I would still drive it. To get my forum fix i would just keep coming here. :D

 

^^^^^wha their forum is the shizzy

 

I respect the SRT-4 and I'm glad Dodge made it, but next time I hope they go RWD! It's not as good looking as the RX8...but what it was made for, it does it well!

It's a fast little sucker...

 

not my type at all
I dont really like american cars
especailly neon's

 

It was probably stock 205/50 17. Nice.
Are they really only 6" wide?

 

Actually the 6s is fun to drive too, has double wishbone front suspension (the Mini and Neon doesn't) and a higher power to weight ratio than a Mini Cooper S.
Also the 6s is available at Invoice and you can't get a Mini below MSRP.
With the price difference between 6s and Mini Cooper S, you can add a CP-E intake ($490, 200whp), lowering springs, sway bars and a nice set of rims and tires and outperform all other cars (stock set up) in an autocross (including a stock RX-8).

 

How was this not racing?

 

I never been on their forum before. Guess i need to check it out. :D

 

...pretty easy to see...

Nobody was trying to 'win' or 'beat' the other...It was not staged nor spoken of...it was two cars driving quick in the same direction.

(shrug)

 

Yeah...

 

Let's face it, folks. A lot of people dislike the SRT-4 because it's a neon. I've seen one on a track and they are not slouches. They can get corners and they can embarass an EVO, STi, or 350Z on a straight with little modding. They don't weigh much and they are pretty cheap.

That makes for a young persons dream. If I was 18 to 22 years old, I'd roll it too.

 

OK, so it was the same as driving on the highway with other cars then.

 

What gives you that idea? Breaking the speed limit in proximity to another guy breaking the speed limit in MUCH GREATER quantities, after and before tail-gating, and attempting to match me (at the speed limit) around a corner is NOT racing.

 

As long as you are OK with that definition. I just hope it works for you when it turns into a legal issue one day.

 

Who pissed in Chrisbert's cereal? :p

 

This sounds suspiciously like an event I saw once in Talladega, Alabama. :D

I'm not trying to bust your *****; just if you are "engaged in a contest of speed" (no matter the top speed) then don't try to call it something else.