Neon SRT-4
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From: taneytown, md
we all just disagree. there isnt anything wrong with that. talking about it might make people realize that i am right 
as long as there isnt name calling for no reason **cough cough collegef1racer cough** then debate is good.
as long as there isnt name calling for no reason **cough cough collegef1racer cough** then debate is good.
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If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
I hate to rain on your parade, but the SRT-4 is a Neon, plain and simple.
Excerpt from Autoweek, 11/4/2002, p.22 ->
"Dodge's PVO group beefs up a NEON for the budget buyer"
"So think of the SRT-4 as a Viper on an extraordinarily tight budget. How extraordinary? The sticker price is $19,995. You won't see the name "Neon" anywhere near it (who knows why marketing people think the way they think?), but the SRT-4 IS ESSENTIALLY A SOUPED UP NEON."
Granted, this car has lots of upgrades, but it IS a Neon. I would be willing to bet my right arm that if you looked up the NHTSA registry information on this car, Chrysler categorized it as a Neon. If they attempted to officially categorize it as a different car, they would have had to run separate crash tests on it, for instance.
Another way to look at: car companies like to play games with their official categorization of their cars. For instance, if Mitsubishi would have simply admitted years ago that the Lancer EVO was "substantially similar" (NHTSA legal phrasing) to the US Mirage (which it was) then importers could have been bringing in EVO's for years and doing some (comparatively) minimal modifications to bring the cars to US compliance. Main hurdle would have been EPA certification. However, a guy I've spoken to with MotoRex (US Skyline importer) stated that this would have been fairly easy, using US 4G63 engine parts.
Some food for thought....
Excerpt from Autoweek, 11/4/2002, p.22 ->
"Dodge's PVO group beefs up a NEON for the budget buyer"
"So think of the SRT-4 as a Viper on an extraordinarily tight budget. How extraordinary? The sticker price is $19,995. You won't see the name "Neon" anywhere near it (who knows why marketing people think the way they think?), but the SRT-4 IS ESSENTIALLY A SOUPED UP NEON."
Granted, this car has lots of upgrades, but it IS a Neon. I would be willing to bet my right arm that if you looked up the NHTSA registry information on this car, Chrysler categorized it as a Neon. If they attempted to officially categorize it as a different car, they would have had to run separate crash tests on it, for instance.
Another way to look at: car companies like to play games with their official categorization of their cars. For instance, if Mitsubishi would have simply admitted years ago that the Lancer EVO was "substantially similar" (NHTSA legal phrasing) to the US Mirage (which it was) then importers could have been bringing in EVO's for years and doing some (comparatively) minimal modifications to bring the cars to US compliance. Main hurdle would have been EPA certification. However, a guy I've spoken to with MotoRex (US Skyline importer) stated that this would have been fairly easy, using US 4G63 engine parts.
Some food for thought....
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Regarding interiors (cupOZnj's post)....
As the owner of many a car, almost everyone's interiors have improved vastly over the years. However, most American car's interiors have remained the same plasticky caves they've always been. And while some people might wish to link Subaru to GM via the fact that GM owns a small portion of Subaru, I dare say Subaru's interiors are still far better than comparitve GM car's interiors. Sadly, Nissan has come out with some GREAT exteriors lately, but their interiors are HORRIBLE!
BUT, regarding the Audi A4 versus the Lexus IS: I can allow for one's personal preference, which is fine. But you are the first person I have EVER heard even allude to the Lexus interiors being nicer than Audi's.
It's generally regarded by everyone in the automotive media that Audi/VW interior materials and designs are the class of the industry. And while I personally REALLY like the IS 300, it's interior is at least a full notch below my S4's interior in almost every way. (I will grant you that the 1.8T's seating surfaces are not as nice as an S4's - Alcantara & leather and all - but at the same time I've read several reviews in US & UK mags that referred to the Lexus leather as feeling cheap.
Just my .02.
No reason to fight about things here. We all like really cool cars. Let's just keep buying them and NOT trucks and SUV's! I would trade all the trucks and SUV's out there for Neons ANY DAY!!
Smiles!
BUT, regarding the Audi A4 versus the Lexus IS: I can allow for one's personal preference, which is fine. But you are the first person I have EVER heard even allude to the Lexus interiors being nicer than Audi's.
It's generally regarded by everyone in the automotive media that Audi/VW interior materials and designs are the class of the industry. And while I personally REALLY like the IS 300, it's interior is at least a full notch below my S4's interior in almost every way. (I will grant you that the 1.8T's seating surfaces are not as nice as an S4's - Alcantara & leather and all - but at the same time I've read several reviews in US & UK mags that referred to the Lexus leather as feeling cheap.
Just my .02.
No reason to fight about things here. We all like really cool cars. Let's just keep buying them and NOT trucks and SUV's! I would trade all the trucks and SUV's out there for Neons ANY DAY!!
Smiles!
Hey everyone,
I have been hovering over this site for some time now just reading....but I have to comment on this. Call it what you will, neon - srt-4, who cares...it looks like a neon and thats all that matters. If it didn't look like a neon, then this debate would not be happening. In my opinion, it's a neon.
But the reason I am writing this, i was at work today. And in some african american magazine i was looking at during my break. I saw an ad for it(srt-4). It said 215 hp. 0-60 in 5.9 sec. And somehwhere in the vicinity of like 240ft lbs of torque. I am sorry but I am stickin with the ad.
I have been hovering over this site for some time now just reading....but I have to comment on this. Call it what you will, neon - srt-4, who cares...it looks like a neon and thats all that matters. If it didn't look like a neon, then this debate would not be happening. In my opinion, it's a neon.
But the reason I am writing this, i was at work today. And in some african american magazine i was looking at during my break. I saw an ad for it(srt-4). It said 215 hp. 0-60 in 5.9 sec. And somehwhere in the vicinity of like 240ft lbs of torque. I am sorry but I am stickin with the ad.
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Right, a "souped up Neon"
So what is the arguement here?
Your contention in your posts has been that the SRT shares just a few itty bitty teensy tiny bits here and there with the Neon to "save money." You've flamed at people telling them it is NOT a Neon, that it IS A SRT-4. You make it sound like comparing a Neon to a SRT-4 is an apples to oranges comparison.
You won't get an arguement from me that the SRT-4 is highly modded. Hell, I think it a really great car (and I usually LOATHE anything Chrysler makes). I was just talking to someone at work today and telling them that if you want cheap speed, this car is redefining the art.
My reason for popping in with a post is that this whole debate over whether it's a Neon or not is getting out of hand. It is a Neon. Calling it an SRT-4 is simply marketing strategy by Dodge. More power to 'em, too. I hope it works.
But it is a Neon.
Another point to mention regarding the SRT-4:
Autoweek didn't think the lack of a LSD held the car back while blasting it around the Streets of Willow. They stated that they didn't notice any wheelspin from the inside wheel on their laps.
Ya gotta realize something about me - I have no trouble giving credit where credit is due and Dodge has hit a home run here. I simply don't trust most American car products. Within a few years, SRT-4's will be running around with their paint chipping off, rust developing, interior switchgear falling apart and the entire chassis rattling like box of rocks.
I could be wrong, but probably not.
Your contention in your posts has been that the SRT shares just a few itty bitty teensy tiny bits here and there with the Neon to "save money." You've flamed at people telling them it is NOT a Neon, that it IS A SRT-4. You make it sound like comparing a Neon to a SRT-4 is an apples to oranges comparison.
You won't get an arguement from me that the SRT-4 is highly modded. Hell, I think it a really great car (and I usually LOATHE anything Chrysler makes). I was just talking to someone at work today and telling them that if you want cheap speed, this car is redefining the art.
My reason for popping in with a post is that this whole debate over whether it's a Neon or not is getting out of hand. It is a Neon. Calling it an SRT-4 is simply marketing strategy by Dodge. More power to 'em, too. I hope it works.
But it is a Neon.
Another point to mention regarding the SRT-4:
Autoweek didn't think the lack of a LSD held the car back while blasting it around the Streets of Willow. They stated that they didn't notice any wheelspin from the inside wheel on their laps.
Ya gotta realize something about me - I have no trouble giving credit where credit is due and Dodge has hit a home run here. I simply don't trust most American car products. Within a few years, SRT-4's will be running around with their paint chipping off, rust developing, interior switchgear falling apart and the entire chassis rattling like box of rocks.
I could be wrong, but probably not.
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Stats
Per AutoWeek:
The 2.4 liter turbocharged four cylinder makes...215 hp at 5200 rpm and a flat torque peak of 245 lb-ft from 3200-4200 rpm. Redline is 6240 rpm.
This is the same engine as in the PT Turbo.
These numbers are nothing to sneeze at in such a car. No need to embellish or exaggerate.
I find it VERY hard to believe that D-C would supply and install go fast parts to bring the hp to 290+. Maybe I'm just so outta touch being an Audi owner (read: Audi frowns on all mods, especially power mods, though my dealer hasn't hassled me for mine - yet.)
I just wonder all the time - whatever happened to all those legal excuses that ALL manufacturers used just a few years ago stating that the liability is just too great to sell such high powered cars for street use. That arguement never made much sense and it looks plain ridiculous today. Hell, if auto manufaturers were really worried about liabilities stemming from the danger of their products, they would cease production of trucks and SUV's tomorrow, considering how many people these vehicles are killing every year (and getting worse every year.)
And so much for all the anti-environmentalist crap from a decade ago which said that all sporty cars would be dead soon (referencing an article from Autoweek circa 1992, i.e. Clinton-era) because of the treehuggers and the EPA. We're in the middle of a horsepower orgy with no end in sight.
The 2.4 liter turbocharged four cylinder makes...215 hp at 5200 rpm and a flat torque peak of 245 lb-ft from 3200-4200 rpm. Redline is 6240 rpm.
This is the same engine as in the PT Turbo.
These numbers are nothing to sneeze at in such a car. No need to embellish or exaggerate.
I find it VERY hard to believe that D-C would supply and install go fast parts to bring the hp to 290+. Maybe I'm just so outta touch being an Audi owner (read: Audi frowns on all mods, especially power mods, though my dealer hasn't hassled me for mine - yet.)
I just wonder all the time - whatever happened to all those legal excuses that ALL manufacturers used just a few years ago stating that the liability is just too great to sell such high powered cars for street use. That arguement never made much sense and it looks plain ridiculous today. Hell, if auto manufaturers were really worried about liabilities stemming from the danger of their products, they would cease production of trucks and SUV's tomorrow, considering how many people these vehicles are killing every year (and getting worse every year.)
And so much for all the anti-environmentalist crap from a decade ago which said that all sporty cars would be dead soon (referencing an article from Autoweek circa 1992, i.e. Clinton-era) because of the treehuggers and the EPA. We're in the middle of a horsepower orgy with no end in sight.
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From: taneytown, md
so is the u.s. evolution just a souped up u.s. lancer? by your definition it is. dodge doesnt call it a neon because it isnt a neon. just like the evo is not a lancer.
second i am not "flaming" anyone. you are throwing that term around pretty loosely.
"SRT-4's will be running around with their paint chipping off, rust developing, interior switchgear falling apart and the entire chassis rattling like box of rocks. " how many people here are having problems with their paint on the lancer? the people with yellow lancers are complaining that it is beginning to look green in spots and numerous chipping complaints. so much for japanese paint superiority.
you are basing all of your speculation on what?previous neons? what does this car share with neons exactly?
"You make it sound like comparing a Neon to a SRT-4 is an apples to oranges comparison."
well, it is. completely different engine, suspension, transmission, seats.
the same as lancer (apples) to evo (oranges).
second i am not "flaming" anyone. you are throwing that term around pretty loosely.
"SRT-4's will be running around with their paint chipping off, rust developing, interior switchgear falling apart and the entire chassis rattling like box of rocks. " how many people here are having problems with their paint on the lancer? the people with yellow lancers are complaining that it is beginning to look green in spots and numerous chipping complaints. so much for japanese paint superiority.
you are basing all of your speculation on what?previous neons? what does this car share with neons exactly?
"You make it sound like comparing a Neon to a SRT-4 is an apples to oranges comparison."
well, it is. completely different engine, suspension, transmission, seats.
the same as lancer (apples) to evo (oranges).
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From: taneytown, md
Originally posted by favre95
Call it what you will, neon - srt-4, who cares...it looks like a neon and thats all that matters. If it didn't look like a neon, then this debate would not be happening. In my opinion, it's a neon.
Call it what you will, neon - srt-4, who cares...it looks like a neon and thats all that matters. If it didn't look like a neon, then this debate would not be happening. In my opinion, it's a neon.
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From: taneytown, md
Re: Stats
Originally posted by TurboAWD
We're in the middle of a horsepower orgy with no end in sight.
We're in the middle of a horsepower orgy with no end in sight.
im just waiting until the horsepower in normal cars gets back up to the hp of the 60's cars. 300 hp was low. i can live with that. we need some more 400 + cars (454 big blocks). i cant wait.
Sure the Evo is still a Lancer...it looks like a lancer in and out. Hence...LANCER EVO!!! Whether it is the same car as the 120 hp lancer...who cares again! These cars share similar looks. Hence the similarity in the names.
No I am not saying they are the same car all around(body, build, engine), but they are by similarities from the looks inside and out.
Your just trying to distiguish the neon and the srt-4 as 2 totally seperate entities. And they are not, neither are the lancer and the evo. They both share similar qualities in some respect.
No I am not saying they are the same car all around(body, build, engine), but they are by similarities from the looks inside and out.
Your just trying to distiguish the neon and the srt-4 as 2 totally seperate entities. And they are not, neither are the lancer and the evo. They both share similar qualities in some respect.
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From: taneytown, md
well what does the evo share with the lancer besides body style? and gauge cluster? i think it is arguable that the evo is not a souped up lancer, but a completely different car. the same as the srt-4. but that is just subjective opinion.
"They both share similar qualities in some respect. " so what about the new lancer sharing the platform with the neon. will you say that the new lancer is a neon too?
"They both share similar qualities in some respect. " so what about the new lancer sharing the platform with the neon. will you say that the new lancer is a neon too?