Dodge Is Cheating Somehow!!!

Post by **nlzmo400r** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

im sure you've all known about the srt4 dodge made. (2.4L I4 turbo and fmic 225whp 250wtq FWD 4dr neon) this car is based just under 20k, personally i think it looks like crap, its tires are too small, no camber so it doesnt handle that well, but in SCC comparisons it just kills EVERYTHING in its class, spec v, svt focus, mazdaspeed protege, everything, its just not fair. And some may say, so what about the power, we'll beat em in the twisties with our 240s spec Vs etc., but the car just desimates on the straights, and can almost keep up in the corners, making for an easy win, this car won nearly every test in everymagazine against every car in its class, hell 5.8 o-6o, 14.2 1/4 mile, thtas 350z speed for 20k and FWD, how do they do it!!???!!??, what do u think about this new dodge, and what do u think companies like nissan and mazda etc. should do to counter attack, or not counter at all??, cuz it is a LOT of bang for the buck

Post by **MaineExport** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

We speculated about this car about a year ago before they oficially announced it's production. Basically, they announced the turbo PT cruiser and since they are the same car it only stood to reason that the Neon would be next).

My thoughts are this; the car is awesome for the price. Plain and simple, I don't think you can buy performance like that in a brand new car for less (or even for close to that price). There are, however, two MAJOR problems!

1. The car is pretty much tuned to its extreme potential right from the factory. The HP specs are actually higher than they quote... but there is no where to go with it. You really can't upgrade the turbo much... it's some type of hybrid manifold design... and it's already an FMIC. There just isn't much more you can do with the car to make it better.

2. You have to wake up every morning and realize that you own a f'in Neon. Every day you have to be seen driving around in a Neon.... could you live with that? Enough said.

Post by **themadscientist** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

well that is one neon that can F-up the haters so it has to be infinately easier than owning a standard Neon. Lets look on the brite side, Dodge has just slapped the other carmakers including Nissan and said "bring it *****, wassup"? If they want to prevent people from buying the Neon they are going to have to step up and represent, that benefits lovers of other Marques.

Post by **MaineExport** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Well said TMS... this certainly can't hurt the overall performance car industry. They have raised the bar. But I'll stand by my number 2 reason until the end... it's still a freakin' Neon.

Post by **themadscientist** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

no argument there:puke

Post by **Rockenreno** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

maineimport wrote:2. You have to wake up every morning and realize that you own a f'in Neon. Every day you have to be seen driving around in a Neon.... could you live with that? Enough said.

NO:mad:

the new Neon is impressive in terms of stats, but when it all boils down, as you said, its still a Neon. Nobody deserves that, except maybe some Civic owners...

Post by **WDRacing** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Hmmm....a bigger FMIC, a boost controller, some suspension and a 350 dollar alcohol kit and your talking serious improvement. With those mods it'll keep up with most LS1's and even the new Cobra.

I give mad props to Dodge for having the balls to put that car on the market. The Neon has been givin a bad name. I bet with a nice body kit it looks pretty damned good.

WD

Post by **OneFastStanza** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

That car is pretty nice. I don't care if you like the styling or what but that is a hell of a car for the price. I have already seen dyno sheets on a new one from this one guy and it dynoed and 213whp but I forget the torque rating but that is pretty good. I wouldn't mind driving one.

Post by **syka24et** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

maineimport wrote:There are, however, two MAJOR problems!

1. The car is pretty much tuned to its extreme potential right from the factory. The HP specs are actually higher than they quote... but there is no where to go with it. You really can't upgrade the turbo much... it's some type of hybrid manifold design... and it's already an FMIC. There just isn't much more you can do with the car to make it better.

2. You have to wake up every morning and realize that you own a f'in Neon. Every day you have to be seen driving around in a Neon.... could you live with that? Enough said.

That is acutally incorrect they have three factory upgrades you can get from the dealer the last of which is not carb exempt and will bring the car up to 300 hp (claimed).

Post by **DenverQ** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I have a 02 neon and I actually like it, got a better deal and warranty then everywhere else I went and its pretty zippy has alloy wheels sport seats and a close ratio 5 speed its like a go kart compared to my Q but the fact that it has 0 maintenece costs is very very nice

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I'm with maine - It's a$$-ugly. AND it's typical Detroit build-quality, so the fit&finish will be rental-car standard. However, you can't argue with the performance #'s.

I suppose a wheel/tire upgrade, a 100-shot of NOS, and the mods WD mentioned would make this thing a threat to most anything on the road.

I guess if I owned one I'd spend my money making it look like the average Neon and use it to spank ricer a$$.

Post by **Repo Man** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I'll be interested to see how it holds up in the long run. Keep in mind that it comes with a 7/70 warranty, and if I'm correct, the Mopar mods will be covered if dealer-installed. Any truth to this?

Import owners can piss and moan about how it's a Neon, and when it smokes their bag they can piss and moan even more. Hehe...

Post by **big jon's 240** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Yes its fast, but still ugly as sin (IMO). I wouldnt buy one.

Post by **GatorS14** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I hope they will have the 7/70 but i read a Q&A w/dodge and they said it would depend on the dealership(otherwords they are probly about to do-away with that warranty or exclude srt-4)

and about the dealer installed mopar parts.......they said we would have to read the warranty voids and mopar's part garauntee (they might try to get out of it somehow) but yeah that would be good if all this was a go though.

Post by **Former_240_s14** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Yeah, they have to give that kind of warranty cause they know its gonna need it, especially with such a reputation.

My girl has a 01 Neon, and it brakes down more than my 89 Accord Se-i did!!!! Thank god its only a lease!!!

Next car for her is gonna be a Nissan!

Post by **GatorS14** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I dont like the spoiler or the hood scoop,if they wouldnt charge me for those parts i'd push one in silver.(if it had the warranty)

but the spoiler is standard:(

Post by **Sopdadope** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

This car, along with the WRX, Protege and upcoming Lancer have totally changed the what I think of budget 4-door performance. IMO, this is the SE-R Nissan should've built... For the price this thing does a 187 on its competition. I can see a great performance car for what it is, regardless of it's marque. Big props to Dodge!!

YouTube · Post by **EZcheese15** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Sopdadope wrote:This car, along with the WRX, Protege and upcoming Lancer have totally changed the what I think of budget 4-door performance. IMO, this is the SE-R Nissan should've built... For the price this thing does a 187 on its competition. I can see a great performance car for what it is, regardless of it's marque. Big props to Dodge!!

:withstup

Post by **nlzmo400r** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

well of course i give props to dodge for putting out this car, however, its not the fact that its a neon, and as far as a few MOPAR mods giving u 300hp, well step one GET RID OF THE OPEN DIFF AND GET AN LSD!!, and it still doesnt handle greatly, but so what, these will become street racing cars most likey, and so what if u 'cant go anywhere with it', hell, most people wont ever see 220whp in their integras, civics, or (tear drop) se-r, i just dont understand how dodge made it for under or right at 20k, i mean if it were about 25k or so, id see it a lil differently, but hell, WRX, gone, why why why, nissan needs to make a comeback, the se-r has been reported slower than expected, as well as the 350z, so nissan needs to do sometihng in my mind, not that they're screwing up now, but imagine the kick in the a$$ this is giving to all other comapnies

Post by **Bubba1** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I've had 3 leased chryslers (2 LHS' and a 300M). Same deal with all three. Well designed, comfortable, wonderful performance/handling, but built CHEAPLY. I had more warranty problems with each Chryler than all of my japanese cars combined. I'd recommend a short lease (if you can get past the ugly looks) but I'd advise against buying one.

Post by **Lepchitz1** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I think the new neon looks like a retarded WRX

Post by **SCOOTER240** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

:rolleyes BEING A CHRYSLER TECH(GO AHEAD AND LAUGH) I CAN TELL YOU FIRST HAND THAT THE NEON IS A CHEEPLY BUILT VEHICLE THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUT INTO IT IT WILL NEVER HAVE THE CONSISTANCY OR LIFE SPAN THAT EVEN AN AVERAGE DOMESTIC WOULD HAVE-BETWEEN WEAK transmission DESIGN, HEADS THAT WARP EASILY AND INTAKE PROBLEMS THE CAR IS A MONEY PIT-FROM THE PT TURBOS THAT WE ARE GETTING OFF TRANSPORTS WE ARE HAVING TO REATTACH INTAKE TUBES BECAUSE THE FASTENING SYSTEM IS WEAK-THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FAD---JUST LIKE THE PROWLER-IT WILL BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY DISCONTINUE IT-BESIDES HAS CHRYSLER(NOT INCLUDING MITSU OR OTHER HALF BREEDS) EVER BUILT A STRONG RUNNING TURBO CAR???? I THINK NOT!!:pface

Post by **skydragoness** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

boring! i can agree what most of you guys said, Maine, AZ, Lepchitz.

yes it's fast. and that's about it. can it be fast reliably? i think not. why? because it was built to be under $20k. the saying: "you get what you pay for" --holds true here more than ever. if it's under $20k and that seems the slightest unreal to you, then obviously it's because Dodge cut corners.

and even if Chrysler has the 7year warranty, you'll be going to the dealer a lot for constant repairs. rental car quality Neon with a turbo and FMIC, IMO. not worth the hype. it's much more worth your time/$ to get a WRX or the new Sti or any other car for that matter. anything besides the srt-4.

nlzmo400r, i totally agree about the lack of an LSD. a car with that much power should have an LSD, and bigger brakes and a suspension that can handle it. this is car is going to bomb. it will be a money pit for Chrysler because the people dumb enough to buy them will also beat the crap out of them too, and will be returning to the dealer for repairs. which will set back Chrysler. i'm sure of it.

nice try Dodge. nice try. i'll give a C- for effort!:rolleyes

Post by **syka24et** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I have to agree my cousin worked for chryslers finance department and it was just general knowledge that the cars they were selling were junk!

Post by **AZhitman** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Sky's right. Daimler-Chrysler is gonna have the same problems with these that Acura's having with the RSX: Cheap car, affordable to the F&F crowd, kid misses shifts or otherwise abuses car, motor goes, has to be replaced (under warranty), company loses money.

My buddy owns the largest Acura dealership in AZ - He says they're starting to "profile" RSX buyers AND they're DENYING warranty repairs, figuring few "kids" will be able to successfully sue them. It's that bad.

Post by **Blackbob** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Lepchitz1 wrote:I think the new neon looks like a retarded WRX

I agree

~Blackbob~

Post by **Simmsled** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Impressive performance, low sticker... it seems to me that the warranty period (7/70) will most likely be the life of the car, especially considering the demographic of the people that buy these type of cars, (us). Well, at least they are building it. I hope that because of this car, and also the turbo Mazdaspeed Protege, that other manufacturers will follow suit. If Nissan were to turbo something, it would almost have to be the sentra. Nissan would have to do their homework to turbo the QR25. Torry might be able to shed some light on what he thinks about this engine.

thats my 2 cents.

YouTube · Post by **EZcheese15** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

SCOOTER240 wrote::rolleyes BEING A CHRYSLER TECH(GO AHEAD AND LAUGH) I CAN TELL YOU FIRST HAND THAT THE NEON IS A CHEEPLY BUILT VEHICLE THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUT INTO IT IT WILL NEVER HAVE THE CONSISTANCY OR LIFE SPAN THAT EVEN AN AVERAGE DOMESTIC WOULD HAVE-BETWEEN WEAK transmission DESIGN, HEADS THAT WARP EASILY AND INTAKE PROBLEMS THE CAR IS A MONEY PIT-FROM THE PT TURBOS THAT WE ARE GETTING OFF TRANSPORTS WE ARE HAVING TO REATTACH INTAKE TUBES BECAUSE THE FASTENING SYSTEM IS WEAK-THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FAD---JUST LIKE THE PROWLER-IT WILL BE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY DISCONTINUE IT-BESIDES HAS CHRYSLER(NOT INCLUDING MITSU OR OTHER HALF BREEDS) EVER BUILT A STRONG RUNNING TURBO CAR???? I THINK NOT!!:pface

Yo, turn your CAPS off

Post by **burgy240** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

I think it is ugly as well, but you can always change that. The big factor is in scooters post.....nough said. I would count on a neon to be reliable over time let alone one with a turbo, FMIC and NO LSD.:rolleyes

YouTube · Post by **EZcheese15** » Wed Apr 02, 2003 7:18 pm

Simmsled wrote:Impressive performance, low sticker... it seems to me that the warranty period (7/70) will most likely be the life of the car, especially considering the demographic of the people that buy these type of cars, (us). Well, at least they are building it. I hope that because of this car, and also the turbo Mazdaspeed Protege, that other manufacturers will follow suit. If Nissan were to turbo something, it would almost have to be the sentra. Nissan would have to do their homework to turbo the QR25. Torry might be able to shed some light on what he thinks about this engine. thats my 2 cents.

To reliably turbo a QR from the factory, they need a beefier crank, beefier rods, lower ring lands, stiffer valve springs, and some under piston oil squirters would not be a bad idea as well. I think they can get away with leaving it as an opendeck. Afterall, the VQ35DETT is an open deck, and it apparently works. That, and Hondas take plenty of abuse before bending stuff.

It would be different if the engine was engineered as a turbo engine first, then cheapened for U.S. production, but it wasn't. The QR is simply not meant to be turbo'd. Doesn't mean I won't try it though

Dodge Is Cheating Somehow!!!

Dodge Is Cheating Somehow!!!

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