Contemplating a srt4, another option

[Tbirdkid]

Obviously, i will have to haggle the price a bit, but i am looking at one of those today... any items i need to be concerned with. its used...

Another option is a 2k4 altima s. Its black, has 25k on it, and is pretty much loaded except for no leather... whats the opinion on that one?

 

[iamwiz82]

It will have been driven very hard.

 

[Chunkee]

yeah, most peeps that buy those cars rag the crap out of em. does it have any warranty left on it?

jC

 

[Tbirdkid]

yep, plus i can get gap from my credit union... so i dont have really anything to worry about. i wont be going through any other financial institution. I would buy new, but the srt 4 doesnt qualify for any incentives right now. At least that i can find. I really dont want to pay new price either. Im a bit of a big guy, but a sedan is something my family wants instead of my huge truck. I can get gas mileage back, and be cheaper on my wallet.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
yep, plus i can get gap from my credit union... so i dont have really anything to worry about. i wont be going through any other financial institution. I would buy new, but the srt 4 doesnt qualify for any incentives right now. At least that i can find. I really dont want to pay new price either. Im a bit of a big guy, but a sedan is something my family wants instead of my huge truck. I can get gas mileage back, and be cheaper on my wallet.

You don't know much about what a turbo is capable of to your gas mileage do you

 

[SearchMaster]

If you don't drive like a fool, gas mileage should be fine. While it's a smaller car, I averaged around 26mpg with my 1st gen Turbo Eclipse. It certainly will be close to double that of a large truck, especially if it's an older truck.

 

[Desslok]

They are ok cars but several things you should be aware of.

1.)The "lawnmower" exhaust tone gets really old on the freeway.

2.)Very little sound deading

3.)Basically a one trick pony(ie a car for autocrosses)

Look at Subaru. VASTLY better build quality and AWD.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I'd go ask about it on a forum that actually knows something about them.
SRTforums.com or turbo-mopar.com
Last one is more geared towards the older turbo dodges but plenty of people on there have SRT4s too. People worry way to much about cars being driven hard.

 

[xanis]

The SRT-4 is a nice car, but I agree with thedarkwolf. I would go to a specialty forum, and they could answer your questions better.

 

[Tbirdkid]

People worry way to much about cars being driven hard.

Thats what i am thinking. Its a turbo car, i expect someone to drive it hard. Im going to be going full synthetic in it anyways... so i am not going to worry about it. I also, will be taking it to my mechanic, (good friend) and letting him check it out.

The dodge is supposed to be a good car, and dependable. I like the mazda 3 but i cant seem to find a decent one around here with a decent motor in it for a good price. Maybe i should look harder.

Either way, im a big guy, around 250 at 6 foot 4. I fit into a crx when i was younger, a little thinner, but just as tall. Im sure it will fit the same. If it doesnt, off i go. Like i said, im going to look at it. That will make up my mind. I cant really drive it today, since i have my 9 month old son with me. It will have to wait until monday morning to drive it. I work all weekend.

Plenty of time to read up on it...

 

[Chunkee]

YOu will NOT buy this car.

I said so

jC

 

[thedarkwolf]

Well one thing I have heard is the Viper style racing seats most of them have aren't very comfortable for bigger guys. You'll just have see when you test drive one.

 

[Wapp]

OP: Buy it new to support the dying american auto industry.







Edit: \/\/\/\/ I thought I read that he was buying it new but I see now that I was wrong.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: Wapp
OP: Kudos on supporting the dying american auto industry.

Buying a used car isn't exactly supporting the american auto industry

 

[NiteWulf]

Originally posted by: arcenite

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
yep, plus i can get gap from my credit union... so i dont have really anything to worry about. i wont be going through any other financial institution. I would buy new, but the srt 4 doesnt qualify for any incentives right now. At least that i can find. I really dont want to pay new price either. Im a bit of a big guy, but a sedan is something my family wants instead of my huge truck. I can get gas mileage back, and be cheaper on my wallet.

You don't know much about what a turbo is capable of to your gas mileage do you

My friend has an '03, I believe, and gets 21-22 mpg consistently. He drives it as hard as you would expect him to.

 

[JoPh]

go for it

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

Dude...talk about depreciation

you will get massively augered if you buy it and want to trade it a year from now.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid

People worry way to much about cars being driven hard.

Thats what i am thinking. Its a turbo car, i expect someone to drive it hard. Im going to be going full synthetic in it anyways... so i am not going to worry about it. I also, will be taking it to my mechanic, (good friend) and letting him check it out.

The dodge is supposed to be a good car, and dependable. I like the mazda 3 but i cant seem to find a decent one around here with a decent motor in it for a good price. Maybe i should look harder.

Either way, im a big guy, around 250 at 6 foot 4. I fit into a crx when i was younger, a little thinner, but just as tall. Im sure it will fit the same. If it doesnt, off i go. Like i said, im going to look at it. That will make up my mind. I cant really drive it today, since i have my 9 month old son with me. It will have to wait until monday morning to drive it. I work all weekend.

Plenty of time to read up on it...

It isnt a bad car. Its a very good at what it does...but ask yourself this.

You are only going to be able to drive the car the way its meant to be driven 10% of the time. I love fast cars as much as the next guy, but in reality, we only get to push our cars only so often.

I used to own a neon. It wasnt a terrible car to be on the inside of, but it wasnt great either. I dont care what you say, the SRT-4 is essentially a neon with a turbo and a body kit.

I personally wouldnt pay over 10k to have a fun, fast car 10% of the time and a neon with even less sound deadening the other 90%. If this is going to be your only car, you are going to get sick of it VERY quick, as its basically a one trick pony and no matter how fast it is, you are going to get used to it, and then it wont be special anymore...and then youre left with the neon, which is good, but you can do better for the money.

 

[Syrch]

Originally posted by: Wapp
OP: Buy it new to support the dying american auto industry.







Edit: \/\/\/\/ I thought I read that he was buying it new but I see now that I was wrong.

 

[CtK]

you mean a neon?? hehehe

 

[CraigRT]

I like them. I'd buy one if I wanted a small car that was horrible on gas. the 2.4T engine is brutal on fuel. I know about 10 people who have those cars.

It's a stupidly fast car, and for most people, problem free so far (after only being available in Canada for 2004 and 2005)

If the price is right, I'd do it... Then again I am bias, I have a 2001 R/T and I have had no problems with the car so far, and it's fun to drive

 

[Tbirdkid]

Im gonna get augered on purchasing my dodge ram that i did. Probably going to lose somewhere around 3 or 4k. The trucks are just not a resale item now. Either way, i have to get something with better gas mileage. I do not want a damn boat, and do not want a piece of junk sedan. I want something sporty, as well be a sedan in case i need to take my kids around with me. I would prefer a maxima, but i am not paying that price for one.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
Im gonna get augered on purchasing my dodge ram that i did. Probably going to lose somewhere around 3 or 4k. The trucks are just not a resale item now. Either way, i have to get something with better gas mileage. I do not want a damn boat, and do not want a piece of junk sedan. I want something sporty, as well be a sedan in case i need to take my kids around with me. I would prefer a maxima, but i am not paying that price for one.

I wouldnt expect the SRT to be much better on gas than the truck. First off - premium only. On top of that, as far as small cars go, the neon/srt just isnt in the same class as the rest for mileage.

If your commute is short - forget about it. The neon/srt-4 run SO RICH while the engine is warming up its not even funny. I commuted 1-2 miles each day for school. Doing that combined with the occasional 5-10 mile drive for an astounding average of.....18 mpg. And thats the non-turbo. All highway I could easily pull 30+, but they get TERRIBLE city mpg, not even close to the EPA estimates. On my celica gts, under the same conditions, I get 24 average.

If you've got kids, you dont want this car. It is going to entertain your kids more than you after the first month when youre eventually used to the speed.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid
Im gonna get augered on purchasing my dodge ram that i did. Probably going to lose somewhere around 3 or 4k. The trucks are just not a resale item now. Either way, i have to get something with better gas mileage. I do not want a damn boat, and do not want a piece of junk sedan. I want something sporty, as well be a sedan in case i need to take my kids around with me. I would prefer a maxima, but i am not paying that price for one.

Man you can get a Maxima real cheap right now. a 5th gen (2000-2003) hold their value worse than an Altima of the same generation. I was looking at an 02 SE 6 speed with 47k on it (kms) for $17,995 (Cdn!) It was a freaking steal!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Tbirdkid

People worry way to much about cars being driven hard.

Thats what i am thinking. Its a turbo car, i expect someone to drive it hard. Im going to be going full synthetic in it anyways... so i am not going to worry about it. I also, will be taking it to my mechanic, (good friend) and letting him check it out.

The dodge is supposed to be a good car, and dependable. I like the mazda 3 but i cant seem to find a decent one around here with a decent motor in it for a good price. Maybe i should look harder.

Either way, im a big guy, around 250 at 6 foot 4. I fit into a crx when i was younger, a little thinner, but just as tall. Im sure it will fit the same. If it doesnt, off i go. Like i said, im going to look at it. That will make up my mind. I cant really drive it today, since i have my 9 month old son with me. It will have to wait until monday morning to drive it. I work all weekend.

Plenty of time to read up on it...

My son was with me when I test drove the STi. He was 2 then. I romped on that car pretty good (it was the dealer's son's car and was broken in...and modded...and fast as hell).