I won't argue that the EVO isn't a better all around car because it clearly is....but just for the record the SRT-4 is actually a whoop-*** rally car.......in SCCA Pro Rally this year the new SRT-4 2WD really car put a whippin on STI's and EVO's at a few events......it actually beat all of the non-open class AWD cars at Pikes Peak....check the results. Pretty good stuff......although you won't see my SRT off-road......a stock SRT or EVO would fly apart in some rough stuff no doubt.....

http://www.scca.org/amateur/performa...003/index.html

 

I too looked pretty hard at the SRT-4 before settling on the Evo. What I liked about the car:

Fairly nice interior
Pretty good interior space, with decent headroom
Good driving position
Nice, clear guages
Subtle, hunky looks
Good, strong acceleration
Decent handling for a front wheel drive car
Low price
Lots of manufacturer-supplied mods

What I didn't like:

The driver's seat didn't fit me at all -- very uncomfortable
Manual window cranks for the rear doors (all Neons are this way)
Busy, nervous ride
Dreadful depreciation rates (39% after 36 months, although the Evo is not much better)

The SRT-4 is a good deal for the money. It destroys its main competition, the SVT Focus, with exceptional performance and should build a legion of fans. The Evo, nearly $10,000 more, brings even better handling, all-wheel drive, and better acceleration. Both are cult cars that will go down as important milestones in the performance car history books.

Lee K