2003 Dodge SRT-4 Dodge?s PVO group beefs up a Neon for the budget buyer

[NFS4]

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=reviews&loc_code=index&content_code=09489109

 

[CraigRT]

My next car..

 

[StageLeft]

This is good for people who are willing to buy and be seen in a neon. At that price it must be the best bang for buck that you can now buy. I'm sure it will be picked up by domestic ricers and made to look even nastier than it already does, God help us. Still, 215 HP for $20k ain't too bad.

 

[ohtwell]

I like neons usually but that spoiler just ruins it for me. :disgust:


: ) Amanda

 

[CraigRT]

the ride height sucks... that's the worst part... that's what they said in the article too.

and the lowering springs i already have for a 2001 woudln't even fit this car cause of the new susp. setup.... SUCKS!!!!!

 

[BoberFett]

Didn't we already argue this one into the ground a few weeks ago?

 

[CraigRT]

Yeah, there is an older thread on the matter.... but NFS4 is the "Ace Reporter" so we'll just leave it at that.

 

[bubbadu]

i could get one of these at cost from my dad, i dont have any money though .... i guess i could lease or finace one, to me it looks like a fun car to drive and if i could get a deal on one i would

-Bubbadu

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Don't be too suprized if aftermarket, or even MOPAR Performance comes out with lowering kits before the car makes it to the street.

 

[ElFenix]

the neon should have a hemi 4!

 

[Thegonagle]

Sorry, I wouldn't be seen in a $20,000 Neon. That seems about $7,500 too high for a Neon.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Garfang
Sorry, I wouldn't be seen in a $20,000 Neon. That seems about $7,500 too high for a Neon.

haha, when you release a 2.4L turbo car with performance numbers matching this car for $12,500 WITH a 7 year, 115,000 km warranty, then i'll agree with you.. this car is not overpriced.

 

[geno]

I like how they compare it to the GLH and the Shelby GLHS, it's a great parallel. They took their bottom of the line econo-box and stuffed a turbo motor into it and helped the suspension/brakes out some too. The result? The fastest damn FWD car you could get at the time - ran high 14's and handled like a slot car. It was the original Type-R The point is, people who buy this car are getting it for the speed - and don't care what anyone thinks of the looks, so your gripes about the car "just being a Neon" are going unheard by the potential buyers

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Garfang
Sorry, I wouldn't be seen in a $20,000 Neon. That seems about $7,500 too high for a Neon.

Hehe, I'll take a Mini Cooper S that is only 1 second slower 0-60, handles like a go-kart, has BMW quality, has more standard features (content and safefty like front/side/head curtain airbags), and it doesn't look like a $12,000 Neon that you can rent from Avis.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: Garfang
Sorry, I wouldn't be seen in a $20,000 Neon. That seems about $7,500 too high for a Neon.

Oh god, would you turn down a Corvette just cause it's a Chevy?

Hehe, I'll take a Mini Cooper S that is only 1 second slower 0-60

ONLY? Oh cmon man, don't try to downplay it - 1 second is a huge difference in 0-60. I agree with everything else you said - but the Mini can't even hold a candle to the SRT-4 in the performance dept.

 

[CraigRT]

and it doesn't look like a $12,000 Neon that you can rent from Avis.

ahh you must be confised with another thread... this one is about the SRT-4... which DOESN'T look like a $12,000 Neon.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Yield

and it doesn't look like a $12,000 Neon that you can rent from Avis.

ahh you must be confised with another thread... this one is about the SRT-4... which DOESN'T look like a $12,000 Neon.

it looks like a $12,000 neon with funky body kit and a giant wing

 

[fonzinator]

Not a bad package for the money but for the love....that steering wheel is butt ugly!

 

[CraigRT]

it looks like a $12,000 neon with funky body kit and a giant wing

okay, i'll give a go... a BMW M5 looks like a souped up 3 series with bigger rims.

what's your point? of course it still looks like a Neon.. you just have a hate against rice and want to make yourself hate this car that's all.

 

[LAUST]

factory burgered

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Yield

it looks like a $12,000 neon with funky body kit and a giant wing

okay, i'll give a go... a BMW M5 looks like a souped up 3 series with bigger rims.

what's your point? of course it still looks like a Neon.. you just have a hate against rice and want to make yourself hate this car that's all.

There's a difference. The M5 is tastefully done. No extreme hood scoops or silly looking rice wings. The M5 has a tasteful front air dam, rear apron, a subtle lip on the trunk, and 18" wheels. Understated, yet effective. You see one in your rear view mirror and you move over to the right and let the mutha through.

Also, souped up 3-Series?? That's the M3, not the M5.

The Neon SRT-4 however looks like your typical west coast rice. You see one of these in your rear view mirror and the first thing you think of is a punk kid in a rice burner. I don't so much blame Chrysler, but the ricers that have given this "look" such a bad rep. You don't need to add scoops and wings and sh!t to make a base car look good in "hopped up form." Examples of tastefully done upgrades:

Mercury Marauder
M3
M5
Any AMG car
Corvette Z06
SVT Focus

Originally posted by: LAUST
factory burgered

Hahaha I can always count on LAUST for a good laugh

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: NFS4

and it doesn't look like a $12,000 Neon that you can rent from Avis.

LMAO, I'd say you got me beat with this though

 

[geno]

I REALLY think Chrysler should've left the car looking more stock though. I could care less about looks, as long as they're not offensively ugly (like the Celica). However, the car shouldn't have been so bold, a more stock look would've looked nice. While I think the "It's just a Neon" people need to shove it, I agree that the car is too bold for it's own good - should be understated a little more as well.

 

[Thegonagle]

Here's the deal: I'm probably not one of Dodge's potential customers for this particular Neon. The reason? Because for $20,000, I can move up a step in quality and engineering for the whole car. For $20,000, I can look at so much more. For example, I can look at a Civic EX or Si, an Acura RSX (new base or used Type-S), an Accord, a Mini, a Protégé (?5? wagon, and Mazdaspeed sedan), a Corolla, a Camry, a Celica, a Matrix or Vibe, a Mustang GT, an Imprezza, a Legacy, a Jetta, a GTI, a Camaro 5.7L (used), a Prelude SH (used), an S2000 (used), an Audi A4 (used), a Maxima or Altima with a 3.5 (used), and more.

If I had only $8500, I?d buy a 1-2 year old Neon, why not? But a Neon for $20,000? Na.

 

[geno]

it looks like a $12,000 neon with funky body kit and a giant wing

So, the WRX looks like a base Impreza with a kit/wing
The Sentra Spec V looks like a base line Senta with a kit/rims
The Focus SVT looks like a rentacar with extra trimmings
A Camaro SS looks like a base V6 with extra trimmings
An Integra Type R looks like a regular Integra with rims/lips

the important thing to learn here is how different the top of the line model is from the base model.

How can you possibly single out the Neon here?