The motor is actually very strong. SCC did a write up on it in one of their past issues. If the motor didn't last long you wouldn't see Mopar putting together factory backed upgrades. It's a very stout engine. There's even a dragster that's running 800+ hp.

The only problems I've heard about are all owner related. Some of the cheap mods they're doing at SRTforum are down right scary. Some are throwing boost controlers on there and cranking the boost without any supporting mods or gauges.

 

In its price range... and class (COMPACT CAR)... it is the best.... people come up with the lamest excuse not to like it..its still a NEON... You know for 20 grand its one of the best cars you can buy if your in the market for performance... its better Focus SVT.. MPS protege... Sentra SE-R... SRT-4 is king... This car is one nice @SS Neon... ME.. im young... i like it...

 

Guess you had a bit too much crack and booze before the test drive

 

yeah if youre buying new. if i had 20 grand for any car i would get an e36 m3, or a porsche 928 or 951, or toyot mr2 turbo. they may not beat the srt4 in a drag but at least i wouldnt be embarassed to tell people what i drive.

 

SRT-4 = Moped
Lot's of fun to ride until your friends see you on one

As for the looks of the SRT-4, I say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And in this case beauty is only a light switch away

Seriously, the SRT-4 is a damn good performance bargain. I probably would have bought one over my SE-R back in '92. Yes back then I would have sacrificed all the stuff discussed above just to have the more HP.

However, 12 years later it's a different story, I drive an 8 and couldn't be happier that I finally got my rotary--I've wanted one since 1982 and a SR-4 won't be coming between us

For those of you that didn’t grow up during the era of the Mustang II, Gremlin, AMC Pacer, Chrysler K car, Ford Pinto, Chevy Cavalier and Chevette etc. you don’t know how lucky you are to have SRT-4s to bash. Gads, next thing you know I'll be talking about all the snow I had to walk through on the way to school

 

I've seen quite a few srt-4's they don't look as bad as everyone say it does. But when you take a look at the front and hear that engine you know it means business. I've seen in action and this thing is a monster and sounds like one too. Plus you can't compare a 20,000 that $19,999 was spent on the engine and the rest to the interior to a more balanced car like the rx-8. Apples and oranges folks.

 

It's faster than the 8 yes.
It's cheaper thatn the 8 yes
It does sound good.

Great but it's still a POS Neon.

I know that the general public is going to respect an RX-8 before they will give anyone driving a Neon any attention.

Now if Dodge would take that motor and technology and stuff it into a rear drive vehicle with an entirely new name and an entirely new design and you'd have something to talk about.

 

I test drove a SRT-4 and as far as comparing the acceleration. I thought the SRT-4 had better acceleration but not so much as to persuade me to purchase on this factor alone. Considering it was Aug of last year and 98 degrees somewhat killed the potential of the intercooled charged air but heat is as noticeable a difference in the RX8 as well. I do have to get a 7000+ launch to get the RX8 going, but it is deceivingly quick due to it's smooth flat torque curve and noticably more so at night or the cooler months. Using a good quality octane boost is a + as well a rev matching, which is a big advantage in the RX8 due to the ease of it. Hey this is and N/A car folks, and I could say if it only had a turbo, but that would just **** off IkeWrx. And he would say something like Blah...Blah...Blah!:D

 

The srt-4 is a great car, as is the ion redline, much bang for the buck, and I am not going to bash either one. But how well do they corner? The 8 has a very low center of gravity as well as a low polar moment, ie the weight is concentrated toward the center of the car, and can turn on a dime. And can stop on a dime. Going 30 mph, I can stop in 10 feet. It's amazing.

 

I raced an srt-4 last night, on the track of course. From a 20MPH rolling start the SRT-4 is not all that much faster than the RX-8. I was in first gear and my friend in his srt-4 was in first doing about 20 mph. We both hit the gas at about the same time. he started to pull ahead by about half a car length. He shifted into third much sooner than i did and when he hit third my front bumper caught back up to his front door. I continued slowly gaining on him. I hit the second gear rev limiter on accident and then shifted into third. By 90 MPH he was about half acar length ahead of me. After that he let me drive it. I was definetly impressed with the interior styling and the all arouund feel of the car. But I was not impressed much with the speed. Yes it is fast than the rx-8 but is nothing compared to the EVO or the STI. I ened up getting pulled over while driving it doing 70 in a 45 but the cop was cool and just gave me a warning. For the price the SRT-4 is unbeatable. But is will always be a NEON.

 

The SRT-4 traps over 100mph and runs high 13s consistently with a good driver. That translates into a lot of carlengths so either your friend can't drive, there's something wrong with his car, or your story is complete BS.

 

Well, whether you have an RX-8, or a Ferrari, it all comes down to *****; you either have them or you don't. I wouldn't be too quick to call it BS.

 

First of all I never said the RX-8 was faster than an SRT-4 so what it does in the 1/4 mile or what it traps has nothing to do with my story. From a 20 mph rolling start in 1st gear would be getting the 8 right into its power band. Obviously the srt-4 is faster fomr a dead stop. Mainly beacuse of the torque issue. Rolling however is where the RX-8 shines.

 

Wrong again, a FWD car such as the SRT-4 would have an even larger advantage from a rolling start since they have such a hard time hooking up from a dig. Also trap speed has a lot to do with your story as it can be a decent indication of how well a car would do from a roll, cars that trap about the same and weigh about the same are usually pretty even from a roll. I don't even know why I'm arguing with you about this since you posted something that you knew was in violation of the forum rules.

 

Some of you don't like the way it looks?

I like a good looking car, I do... but you can't admire the exterior while you're driving, so who gives a hoot about the looks?

And the only way to safely, legally push any performance car to the point where the limitations of FWD are a problem is on the track. Even then, an unskilled driver will run into his own limitations as a driver before he runs into the limitations of his car.

So the SRT-4 is just fine for a lot of people. I'd definitely take one over a Sentra, Civic SI, Jetta, Ion Redline, or Mustang V6.

 

I can't argue with that. But, on the other hand the RX-8 is obviously faster rolling at 20 mph than it is from a dead stop. I beleive what I said is that "20 mph in first gear puts the RX-8 right in its power band." or something similar. That you cannot argue with. I really could care less if you do not believe my story or not. I never said that i won the race but it was much closer than i ever expected.

 

I DO!!! Becuase you argue with everyone

 

Well it is possible if he has a rarely tuned RX8 that gets 25 mpg and runs leaner and the SRT-4 is not tuned so great. On a hot day, the power is going to be killed off more so then a N/A car. Besides drivers, there are many other factors that could make it a close race. WE want FI RX8... WE want FI RX8... WE want FI RX8! But I'm tired of holding my breath!

 

^^^^^^
Well, I get about 16 MPG

 

I dont care much for SRT4 either but for dollar you get alot. If the seats where more comfortable, handling was better, and it wasn't a neon more people would buy them. Downing an SRT4 probably feels the same to there owner as someone downing our 8's.

 

dodge should just make a new body for that car with a new name........ i think it would sell better........wouldnt it be nice to have a Mazda 3 with an SRT4 motor =) AWD....ohhhh yea!

 

He let you drive it after you said the word "bro"? :p

And that car is much faster than are cars.

 

it is a good bang for the buck if you're on tight budget. i just don't get people that dump a ton of $$ into them

".....that's a nice neon".... it doesn't sound right