Now don't laugh to hard.

[Big E]

Not at all thinking about it mainly because I know my fat ass wouldn't fit in it, but give me your opinions on the SRT-4. 2.0 liter turbo, 230hp, 250lb/ft

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2004&make=DODGE&distance=50&max_
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[Mike]

Fast for the buck, but it's still a Neon. Resale value on those things is a joke.

[Chris]

Like Mike said, it has some attractive features but its a neon. I can't bring myself to them.

*edit* I do like it in blue though, much better than the yellow! :lol:

I'd be careful of this car since its used and the car just came out. Whoever bought this had to be on a waiting list from a dealer and would most likely be an enthusiast. Those 8k miles could be driven very hard.

[G.Irish]

Actually 2.4L Turbo.

But yeah I think its an awesome performance value. It doesn't handle particularly well but with its tremendous power output it can more than hold its own. The added value of the Mopar upgrades that carry the factory warranty are icing on the cake.

As for the resale value, I think it'll be much, much better than the regular Neon, the same way a Civic Si has better resale than a regular Civic.

[Big E]

oh my bust on the 2.4, considering it is written on the engine

[CaptainHenreh]

In two years I'll go find one with a blown headgasket, replace everything, and go pounce on shit.



Yes. And I will beat the living shit out of this car, because it's a neon after all, and I will yell out the window in my most redneck voice: "YEEE-HAAAAW!!! It's got a hemmmiiiiiii!!!!", knowing full well it doesn't have anything of the sort, and I will have shitloads of fun in my 3000 dollar turbo neon.

Oh, yes.

[KPWSerpiente]

Dont let these fools talk you out of it. 2.4, turbocharged, lsd on the 04's and factory upgrades that carry a warranty? Under 20k now I believe? There is no reason not to give it serious thought.

And the only thing I hate more than people who talk about resale, is people who drive Acura RSX's.

I'm angry that you even brought something that stupid up. It is a brand new car, there arn't even enough of them being resold to talk about that.

It does not say NEON anywhere on the car for the sole reason that it is NOT a Neon. Gah.

A WRX is not an Impreza, an Evolotion is NOT a lancer, a Lightning is NOT an F150, and a SRT-4 is not a Neon.

-T

[Dave]

pretty good price, though I'd be wary of buying one. You have no idea of thier long-term reliability or how hard it has been driven, so beware of that. Although those 8k miles may be hard on it, G had a lot more track miles than that on the Geezer and some fool stole that thing .

Honestly, if I was going to buy an SRT-4, I'd wait and buy it from the dealership with the Mopar upgrades, although I would never buy a Neon anyways, so I guess I won't have to worry about this decision.

[.RJ]

And the only thing I hate more than people who talk about resale, is people who drive Acura RSX's.

Dodge's and Neons traditionally do not have strong resale value, and who knows whether the SRT-4 will be any better... I think its a pretty important consideration when buying a car. I wouldnt want to buy a $20K new car if its going to be worth less than $10K in 2 years.

It does not say NEON anywhere on the car for the sole reason that it is NOT a Neon. Gah.

A WRX is not an Impreza, an Evolotion is NOT a lancer, a Lightning is NOT an F150, and a SRT-4 is not a Neon.

Its still the same chassis, body, interior just like the WRX, Evo, Etc...

[Maengelito]

A WRX is not an Impreza, an Evolotion is NOT a lancer, a Lightning is NOT an F150, and a SRT-4 is not a Neon.

-T

i dont believe this. my STi is an impreza and i'm not ashamed of that. an srt-4 is a neon and i personally dont like them. just my opinion.

[Big E]

yeah, i just looked at some of them on cardomain, and it is funny that most of them say it isn't a neon. i mean who really gives you power windows in the front, but not in the back, but i am sure it is there to cut costs. i guess it is sort of like del slo's, 93(and 94, i think) they called them civic del slo's, but 95-97 they were a totally different entity. but screw the SRT-4, i got my eye on a WRX

[Mike]

A WRX is not an Impreza, an Evolotion is NOT a lancer, a Lightning is NOT an F150, and a SRT-4 is not a Neon.

Uhhh I disagree.

[Mike]

Dodge's and Neons traditionally do not have strong resale value, and who knows whether the SRT-4 will be any better... I think its a pretty important consideration when buying a car. I wouldnt want to buy a $20K new car if its going to be worth less than $10K in 2 years.

I saw one for sale last year w/ around 10k miles going for 11k :?

[Chris]

yeah, i just looked at some of them on cardomain, and it is funny that most of them say it isn't a neon. i mean who really gives you power windows in the front, but not in the back, but i am sure it is there to cut costs. i guess it is sort of like del slo's, 93(and 94, i think) they called them civic del slo's, but 95-97 they were a totally different entity. but screw the SRT-4, i got my eye on a WRX

yeah 93 and 94 (like mine) say civic on them, incase anyone cares...

[G.Irish]

It does not say NEON anywhere on the car for the sole reason that it is NOT a Neon. Gah.

A WRX is not an Impreza, an Evolotion is NOT a lancer, a Lightning is NOT an F150, and a SRT-4 is not a Neon.

-T

Hmm, so if I take the badges off my Integra its no longer an Integra...interesting.

FYI, the WRX is the Subaru Impreza WRX and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. In the US the Evo does not have 'Lancer' in its name but everywhere else it does. The Lightning's full name is the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning.

While many of these cars are much higher performing than their plebian brethren they ultimately amount to a trim level in all but the most extreme case, the Evolution 8. I suppose by your logic the Integra Type-R is not an Integra.

At any rate, I agree the SRT4 is a pretty good deal. As for the resale value it can work in two ways. If a car has great resale value it means you can get back a lot of your money when you sell it. If it has poor resale value you can get one in a couple of years for a gangbuster price.

I don't think the SRT4 is going to have any major reliability problems given its over-engineered engine. Maybe its tranny or drivetrain is the weak link but that remains to be seen. Either way its a car that's hard to ignore.

[CaptainHenreh]

If it has poor resale value you can get one in a couple of years for a gangbuster price.

I don't think the SRT4 is going to have any major reliability problems given its over-engineered engine. Maybe its tranny or drivetrain is the weak link but that remains to be seen. Either way its a car that's hard to ignore.

G, I like the way you think.

The engine is remarkably over-engineered. They've been running that engine in Mexico for going on 5 years now in some different things, with no major difficulties. But as a rule, isn't the drivetrain ALWAYS the problem with high powered cars? It's the transmissions that take abuse, not the engines.

Anyway, neons or not, they're neat cars, and I'm looking forward to my $3000 turbocharged grocery getter in 2 years.

[.RJ]

There was an article in sport compact car I think on the Neon, er, SRT-4 motor and it looked to be stupidly overbuilt - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=754256">http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=754256</a><!-- m --> (for example) - 500 whp on a stock motor. Disgusting.

[ButtDyno]

There was an article in sport compact car I think on the Neon, er, SRT-4 motor and it looked to be stupidly overbuilt

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The SRT-4 drag teams are rumored to be making between 800 and 1200 hp on the stock crank (and stock block and bedplate), so we figure it's strong enough.

Anyway, if you think you can resist the urge to buy another car a few years later, and you are not one of those people who like wood grain trim, it's a pretty good deal...

john

[BLINGMW]

from that Sport Compact article:

"The connecting rods are forged in one solid piece, machined, and then broken in half. That's right, the rod-bearing cap is created by simply snapping off the bottom half of the rod bearing."


huh. Learn something new every day. My gut reaction is that this would be a horrible idea. Of course, I know very little about engine building. How do they 'break' it without causing any deformation near the break or weakening of the metal elsewhere? And they're saying it's a common practice on cheapo rods... but does that mean it's a good idea on forged rods? All I know is that BMW rod bearing caps are machined, not just broken off, so that must be the best way. :wink:

[.RJ]

Ford used this technique on the SVT contour engines as well.

It provides a precision fit of the rod and cap, less chance for bolt stretch later.

I have no idea how they break it without causing localized stress risers though... maybe cryogenics?