for those who dont know exactly what the srt neon is:
http://www.dodge.com/srt-4/index.htm...epage&type=top

Srt is actually Dodge's high performance department, kind of like toyota's TRD or nissan's NISMO. I also have an article on the SRT-10 Viper, which is like some whooping 600 hp. There is also rumors of a SRT-6 stratus coming out; supposedly, it will be turbo charged v-6.

 

srt-4 is nice, so it's STI, i dont care either how fast both cars are...
i will always be driving mitsu's since iam fan and proud owner..

 

no doubt.. i think evo is very good looking car.. wrx's can look good.,. but i think the evo looks better still..

 

i think the srt-4 is a nice car, but ... like someone brought up earlier, would never hold up in some twistys, ya if u wanna just go strait, but ... how often do races just go strait unless its at a track?

 

Yeah your right. The last street race I was in we ended up racing around tight twisty corners and around mountain curves in the city. I couldn't keep up...

 

One thing I really love about owning the SRT-4 is the fact that we have factory backed performance parts straight from Mopar. With products currently available like Stage 1 turbo kit, Stage 2 and 3 coilovers, short shifter, bov, and cat-back exhaust. And coming in the future, Stage 2 turbo kit (Jan-Feb 04), Stage 3 turbo kit (Summer 04) Stage 1 coilovers, optional wheels, lowering springs and much more.

Mopar Stage 1 Turbo Upgrade Kit

240 hp @ 5200 rpm
260 ft-lbs @ 2400-4400 rpm

- Fuel Injectors -- 577cc/min*
- MOPAR Performance Powertrain Control Module (PCM)




Here are the turbo toys that will be included in Stage 2. The blue button is for the intercooler sprayer. The button has an auto, manual and off setting. The red button is the high octane switch. Empty out your gas tank and fill it with 100 octane. Press the button and the system calibrates for higher performance. And the last switch which is one of the two black ones in the middle, I can't remember, is a high/low boost setting. Allows you to drop the boost in heavy weather conditions such as rain and snow.

 

Well, I have driven both since im in the market for a new car. I have to admit I love both cars, obviously my first choice will be the Evo (actually waiting to see if my deal goes through...mon/tue) but if my deal falls through I am getting a Neon. Lol...my wife says she wont drive my car if I get the Neon. I can live with the looks of the Neon as long as its fast, and I wont be keeping it stock. I respect any car that is fast no matter if its a Neon or not.

 

Yeah but there have been quite a few rally races where the srt-4 is up in the top 10 so far in America recently. The SRT-4 also has a better stock slalom speed than the WRX. It's got darn good handling, I wouldn't underestimate it. Especially good for front wheel drive. A car being front wheel drive, rear wheel drive, all wheel drive doesn't mean much nowadays with newest differential and weight technology. It used to, but obviously not anymore, with Audi's high tech front wheel drive giving AWD owners a run for their money.

You had a first generation regular neon. Those do suck. This is built first of all with a transmission that is tough enough to support a bit over 300 lbs/ft of torque (a 55 upgrade) and maybe more from what some testing shops are saying. The transmission in the SRT4 doesn't even fit in any of the neons right now. Also it's engine is from the PT Cruiser GT. The only problems I have heard of yet is a clunking noise in the clutch, and that's in the 2003 (the first year). The first generation neon, was a first generation car, and that's why it sucked. Plenty of them suck. How many transformations has the base version of your Mitsubishi gone through? Try and tell me a 1994 Mirage is any good rather. Not trolling, just saying that anybody trying to judge the 2nd gen neons obviously has no grounds for what they say. The other models haven't had any major problems that were universally common with other owners yet as far as I know. Saying it's just a neon is pretty lazy if you ask me.

 

Yeah that "but in the end its just a neon" **** is getting REAL old.

I see it as their only arguement or comeback to a car that has more plusses than minuses.

Top SRT-4 hater comebacks:

1. "in the end its just a neon"
2. "the interior is cheap"
3. "its a Dodge"
4. "its just ugly"

 

As far as the "total package" goes, the Evo is definitely hard to beat...and the mod potential of the 4G63 engine speaks for itself...as far a 4-bangers go, that thing is a monster...500 HP on the stock internals is no problem. But, damn...only $20K for the SRT-4??? I might have to roll down to my local Dodge dealer and check it out just for the hell of it...

 

I totally agree!

I believe the ones that will make the 500 hp first will be Psi-Fi Motorsports. They are currently working on a new turbo kit for the SRT-4 as we speak. They guesstimate their test car is pushing about 400 now. At a recent trip to the track they snapped both axles on the first launch.

 

I completely agree. We evo owners actually get the same kind of crap when we beat BMW's, Porsches, Audi's, etc. "It's just a Lancer, etc."

I totally dig the little neon. But remember, it is not 10 grand less, it is 8 grand less. That is still a lot less, but when you start adding up what we have for the 8 grand the evo is WAY is worth it.

 

IMO I feel the Evo styling and AWD has the better advantage over the SRT-4. That's IT.

Anything else, the aftermarket will fill in the void.

 

Clearly the EVO driver didn't get a good launch. A good number for that car is all in the launch, which requires a high rev start that IS hard on the clutch. And as others have pointed out the EVO wasn't designed for drag racing, it was engineered to win in WRC and SCCA Pro Rally, which it has done. Either car is an awesome deal based on performance for the buck, but the EVO does offer a more balanced package for the additional dollars. And to those of you that say the SRT-4 is just a Neon, lets not forget that the EVO is really just a Lancer, albeit a worked one. I've driven both and the EVO is the only choice for me, but I'll give the Dodge its due praise.

 

TRUE the evo is a worked lancer BUT.... the stock lancer vs the stock neon... um the lancer still kicks its ***... i think the stock lancer looks better than the srt-4 lol.. that car is just fugly no matter what color they paint it or what body kit they may add....

im sure it does perform well....it just looks so bad though....