Latest Automobile Mag: Neon SRT-4 vs Mazdaspeed Protege vs SVT Focus vs Mini Cooper S

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: bozack
Yeah, I agree that I personally could never own a Neon no matter how great of a car/bang for the buck..whatever it is simply because of its name, those old commercials, and the crap interior, personally would rather spend an additional 5K + if I had to for something else...maybe if Dodge changed the name and the styling a little bit it would be a consideration but why Dodge decided to make the Neon into this is beyond me, they should have brought back the Avenger, at least that is a somewhat respectable name....heck even the Focus SVT doesn't sound as bad as "Neon"

The New Avenger is the Stratus Coupe (it's built off of the Mitsu Eclipse)

 

[LAUST]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Mazda really pussed out on the protege speed. 170HP W/ a turbo? Pffffffft! The focus makes that without it.

yep, and anytime I can stay away from an engine compartment heater I'm all about it

 

[brtspears2]

Originally posted by: spacelord
besides the Neon being a speedy car for the price.. its still a Neon.
"Hi. I'm Neon!"

how cute. now get the hell out of my way, or I'll run you over with my truck.

This neon says Hi the best

 

[Angrymarshmello]

It's a damn shame the SVT Focus doesn't have more power. All the other SVT branded vehicles make sick amounts of power but the Focus makes less than even the Contour version from a couple years back. If it came in a turbo version like the RS in the UK that would be one sick car.

 

[CraigRT]

Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Originally posted by: Yield
Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

Mistakes happen

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Yield
Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

I don't even need to comment on that. But all of the jokes about F.O.R.D. certainly go through my head.

 

[CraigRT]

Oh yeah for all you name bashers of the neon, it's not called neon anymore.

it's called the Dodge SRT-4. so you can't say "it sounds better than neon" cause the SRT-4 is not called "NEON"
neither are the regular ones... they are SX2.0. and for your information, this is one of the biggest reasons they changed the name...

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: Yield
Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

Hey Yeild, Why would you like to see the Mini in last?? while I personally do not like the looks of the car, I must say the interior build quality is simply awesome, and IMHO puts at least the Mazda and the Focus to shame in that respect...haven't seen the new Neon but I can only assume that it is the same Dodge garbarge interior that we have all come to associate with their products...I have seen quite a few Minis and must say their engineering tolerences and materials choices seem to be a much higher quality than any of the other two...

 

[bozack]

Unfortunatley it still looks like a Neon though, or a Neon derivative, and many are referring to it as the Neon (this post being a good example)...they would have been better off ditching that whole ugly look and starting something from scratch so they lose the "history" assocaited with the Neon.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Yield
Oh yeah for all you name bashers of the neon, it's not called neon anymore.

it's called the Dodge SRT-4. so you can't say "it sounds better than neon" cause the SRT-4 is not called "NEON"
neither are the regular ones... they are SX2.0. and for your information, this is one of the biggest reasons they changed the name...

that is only in canada.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: Yield
Oh yeah for all you name bashers of the neon, it's not called neon anymore.

it's called the Dodge SRT-4. so you can't say "it sounds better than neon" cause the SRT-4 is not called "NEON"
neither are the regular ones... they are SX2.0. and for your information, this is one of the biggest reasons they changed the name...

Actually, the base model is still called the Neon but Dodge's page has a link to a survey on whether the name should be changed.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: Yield
Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

Hey Yeild, Why would you like to see the Mini in last?? while I personally do not like the looks of the car, I must say the interior build quality is simply awesome, and IMHO puts at least the Mazda and the Focus to shame in that respect...haven't seen the new Neon but I can only assume that it is the same Dodge garbarge interior that we have all come to associate with their products...I have seen quite a few Minis and must say their engineering tolerences and materials choices seem to be a much higher quality than any of the other two...

I just don't like the car really. I just think it's blah.
the interior on the SRT-4 is sweet. I sat in 2 of them at the auto show and I love the car. I wouldnt say it's a Garbage interior, I associate THAT with GM.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Yield
Oh yeah for all you name bashers of the neon, it's not called neon anymore.

it's called the Dodge SRT-4. so you can't say "it sounds better than neon" cause the SRT-4 is not called "NEON"
neither are the regular ones... they are SX2.0. and for your information, this is one of the biggest reasons they changed the name...

that is only in canada.

you gotta be kidding me.... oh well, in Canada they're all SX2.0 (which I think is good)

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth

Originally posted by: Yield
Oh yeah for all you name bashers of the neon, it's not called neon anymore.

it's called the Dodge SRT-4. so you can't say "it sounds better than neon" cause the SRT-4 is not called "NEON"
neither are the regular ones... they are SX2.0. and for your information, this is one of the biggest reasons they changed the name...

Actually, the base model is still called the Neon but Dodge's page has a link to a survey on whether the name should be changed.

Vote SX!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Yield
Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

The Mini handled better, cornered flatter, was faster and got better gas mileage than the Protege. 3rd seems fair to me...although 2nd seems more deserved IMHO given the performance numbers.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Yield
Damn, I am surprised the Mazda didn't place higher, I'd have liked to see the Mini in last

I tried to test drive an SVT Focus last year and when I turned the key, the engine went BANG... (my first and last time ever in a Ford) (drivers seat)
had that not happened, I am pretty sure it would have been fun to drive.. wish it would have worked.... it had 11.6 km on the odo.

The Mini handled better, cornered flatter, was faster and got better gas mileage than the Protege. 3rd seems fair to me...although 2nd seems more deserved IMHO given the performance numbers.

Doesn't the Mini also cost a couple thousand more than the svt?

 

[geno]

they would have been better off ditching that whole ugly look and starting something from scratch so they lose the "history" assocaited with the Neon.

No way, cause when you get your ass torn out on the highway by one, you'll feel that much more shamed when you say "I got beat by a Neon"