Dodge SRT-4 and my 240SX

[BadMojo]

I'm ordering the first upgrade kit soon, and I'm sure I'll be real happy with that.

I've been reading about the Mopar Stage 1 kit. Seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding the warranty issue. Are you getting the dealer to install the kit? Did they say anything about the warranty?

[gibbo80]

i like the neons styling. For those saying neons are crap all the neons around here have been beat the hell out of and once the head gasket is replaced they have no problems. My cousins just went 250k and never to the mechanic. oh and I have never been in a car that cant handle flying down gravel roads and/or dirt roads. My 240 had to be my hunting vehicle last year and even in our iowa winters i was driving 20 miles on gravel/dirt to get to my spot. I am not easy on my car and I could always fix it if i broke it (which i didnt) so i always fly around on gravel and dirt. Mud would be a little different. Oh and the suv around here most of them wouldnt been pulled away. I dont like either cars so im not pushed either way.

Im glad you like the neon, i think it will be a great car for you and with mods coming out before the car was even out i think you will have no problem with modifing. Good luck.

clutches going out would be driver abuse

[KoukiS14]

]all depending on driver of course, but 9/1o times, yes

Driver is a big factor, but given the same driver in both cars. . SRT-4 is generally faster. I doan like 'em tho.

[4cefed]

BadMojo: People are freaking out over the warranty stuff. The way it works is, the performance upgrade parts themselves don't have a warranty, BUT, the rest of the car will be covered under it's original warrantly. I'm going to get this in writing of course before I upgrade. The "stage 1" kit is only $400 and it's just injectors and a computer. The parts don't even have to be dealer installed to be covered under warranty.

gibbo80: The clutch actually has a 1 year / 12k mile warranty. Another thing I noticed when looking at these upgrade kits. None of them mention a clutch. The "stage 3" upgrade is good for 300 hp and 300tq. so the stock clutch will handle at least that.

[Mayhem_J30]

Glad you like the SRT-4 (almost said the Neon). What all is different in the chassis between the Neon and the SRT-4?

To whomever said the Neon will be a rebadged Lancer is incorrect. They'll share the same platform, period.

Clutches...clutches, clutches and clutches. I think everyone is having problems with these things. All the AWD guys are having problems, but you can't help it. If the tires aren't burning the clutch is. I wouldn't expect anything different from something like the SRT-4. Just think of it as a good excuse to upgrade. I'd rather have a replaceable item like a clutch go anyway...say versus a rod through the hood.

[nlzmo400r]

yea, a rod through the hood will piss me off much more than a blown cluthc, but whats all this about neon being a rebadged lancer and what not?, does the neon have the same motor as the regular lancer or something?

[warwick5s]

i think they should of come up with a new look and use that engine.. like.. something along the lines of an NSX look or somthing.. just somthing new.. why use the same old neon body on their "preformance" car.. but thats just what i think.. i dunno

because the neon is CHEAP. if you want their true performance car isn't the srt-4, it's the viper. the srt-4 is meant to be the most speed you can get for the least money. the neon has always been a really good cheap speed platform because of its light weight and low cost, this just finally gives it some power too. same thing with the evo and the wrx and the mustang and the se-r, etc etc etc...manufacturers are way more willing to hop up a cheap car platform nowadays then design something new because it's so much cheaper - they can cheap out on things like interior materials and shared components. the japanese supercar race between the Supra, 300ZXTT, and RX7 showed that regardless of how fast the car is - if it's expensive it won't sell well.

one thing that's cool about today is how cheap speed comes. in 86 the 140hp V6 200SX cost 14g's!!! the last 240sx cost 18-25g's. 17 years later, you can get 217hp awd for 23k, or 220hp FWD for 20k. i'm down with that! :ylsuper

[Mayhem_J30]

yea, a rod through the hood will piss me off much more than a blown cluthc, but whats all this about neon being a rebadged lancer and what not?, does the neon have the same motor as the regular lancer or something?

Not completely sure. Would have to get a better clarification of what 'platform' designates. Sounds like the Lancer platform was going to be used on several Dodge vehicles, Neon, Stratus and some SUV thing.

[BadMojo]

The SRT-4 Experience

A short story by BadMojo.

On a whim, I stopped by my local Dodge dealer last night. I was standing in the new showroom (they just relocated) and was staring at a Neon SXT when a salesman approached and asked if I needed anything.

I told him I was curious if they had any SRT-4's and, as it happens, the dealership just got one in stock this week. I told the sales guy that I wasn't looking to buy right now, but just wanted to take a look at the car and see if it interested me.

We went out to the lot (for some reason the only SRT-4 at the dealership was outside while a lowly Neon SXT was in the showroom) and checked out a shiny red SRT-4.

First Impression: IMO, the car looks better in person AND in a color other than yellow. The front end looks pretty good, and the glimpse of intercooler visible behind the large mesh grill is pretty badass. There are some very large wheels and serious brake hardware on this car. The "basket handle" spoiler isn't really my style, but it's not as big as I thought it would be.

The sales guy popped the hood after I commented on the intercooler. There's a hell of a lot crammed in to a small engine bay. I don't think the intercooler could be much bigger and still fit in the car. I also didn't realize that Neons had transverse mounted engines. Not a big deal, just didn't know that.

I ask if the sales guys have had an opportunity to drive the car, and he says that they have. Without missing a beat, he asks if I want to go for a ride...

Hell yeah! :ylsuper

The interior is fairly austere. The white face guages aren't really my style, but the rest of the interior is pretty stark, businesslike. The gauges all seem to be nicely placed. A boost gauge mounted to the right of the steering wheel reminds me why I'm here.

The seat bolsters are pretty prominent. I'm a fairly thin guy (6' 2" and about 190lbs) and the seats were hugging me pretty tight. Seems like it would be great for some spirited driving, not so good for a road trip.

The sales guy fires up the Neon-inspired beast and comments on the lack of a muffler. The exhaust note is verrrry nice. I'm not a "fart can on a civic" kind of guy. The SRT-4's exhaust sounds just about right to my ear. Not too loud, nice and deep.

We pull out of the dealership and hit the highway. The sales guy says "they hate it when we take this thing out."

Holy ****! The sales guy is obviously taking it easy on the car (I didn't see the odometer, but I'd imagine the mileage was in the single digits) since it needs to be broken in but...

The car's quick, really quick. I don't really notice any turbo lag and the car seems to have power all over the place I'm watching the boost gauge and checking out all the car's interior stuff while listening for any squeaks or clunks. Everything feels and sounds pretty solid. I look back at the gauge cluster and we're going 80mph. It didn't feel like we were going that fast, which is a good thing. My girlfriend's Ford Escort feels like it's going 100mph as it struggles to hit 65. Everything feels good in the SRT-4 so far.

We hit the twisty back roads and the car seems to handle pretty well. Not too much body roll. The sales guy isn't really pushing the car, but we do almost leave the ground going over one small hill.

The sales guy asks if I want to drive, but I reluctantly decline. I just don't feel right driving the car if I don't intend to buy it and I tell him so.

We head back to the dealership and get out of the car. The bolstered seats seem reluctant to let go of the somewhat portly sales guy. I even have a tough time pulling myself out of the car.

Summary: I left the dealership pretty impressed. Hell, I don't know if the car will fall apart after 20K miles. It seemed solid to me, but I don't have much experience with Dodge cars.

Was it a fun ride? It was fun as hell.

Would I buy the car? Don't really know yet, but I've seen enough to make the car a serious possibility for me. I most likely won't be buying a car this year, but hopefully the 240SX will get a new friend some time early next year. The 2004 SRT-4 has ditched the IMO hideous yellow color and added a stock LSD (no details on this really).

[MaineExport]

The SRT-4 Experience

A short story by BadMojo.

I also didn't realize that Neons had transverse mounted engines. Not a big deal, just didn't know that.

Ummmmmm......

How many FWD cars built after 1985 are NOT in such a configuration? But anyway... thanks for the review... that is totally cool.

[BadMojo]

How many FWD cars built after 1985 are NOT in such a configuration? But anyway... thanks for the review... that is totally cool.

Oops, sorry about that. :oface

I can't think of any FWD cars with longitudinally mounted engines. These front wheel drive monstrosities confuse me. Errr...except for that bit, I'm glad you liked the review.

[4cefed]

Mayhem_J30: I'm not real up on neons, but I'm pretty sure the only difference between the neon and the SRT is the hood and front fascia, the engine (of course), and some interior stuff. I've heard that you can order the SXT with the same basket handle and the 17" rims, although I haven't seen any yet. The seats in it are borrowed from the viper, and all of the guages are made by autometer. I've noticed a lot of parts-binning on this thing already, even some stuff that dates bach to the turbo dodges I'm used to. I've also notieced that the front windows are powered and the rears are manual. Its things like this that allow them to put out this car for under $20k.

As to the platform thing, they only thing I thought was real funny was with the '95 to '99 talon/eclipse. If you bought one that was not all wheel drive or turbocharged, you bought a neon. Except yours is heavy, expensive, has no interior room, and is underpowered. Basically they plopped in the 2.0 with transmission out of the neon.

BadMojo: Glad to hear about your experience. I can't stand that yellow either, mine is black and looks much better. It doesn't say "Hi" either, more like "F you" I love the stock exhaust and the lurking intercooler. They actually ran the turbo pipe under the engine to get to the intercooler without running a mile of piping.

[Blackbob]

you must die...

:help

~BB~

[Bubba1]

Hi all. I just bought an SRT-4 and I have to say I'm pretty happy with it. Plenty of horesepower and room for improvement. It can haul the family, and it's almost worth having one just so you can use the line: "Nice WRX, my neon is faster."

So I've been driving it around for a week and then I got back in my 240 and remembered how fun it is. It may be outgunned, but I get an ear to ear smile every time I drop the hammer in the Nissan. Besides, it's hard to powerslide a FWD. AND... I'm sure in a few years the Dodge will disintegrate and be just like all the other barely drivable turbo dodges in my yard, but the Nissan should keep going.

Enjoy your SRT-4. I may not a big Chrysler fan (I've actually leased 4, last one a 300M), but I gotta admit Neons are fun to drive. I was smiling when I turned some hot laps at Lime Rock in a stock Neon a few years back. I'll bet having one with real grunt is a total hoot.