SRT-4 - production racing Neon

[CelicaDetective]

http://www.auto.com/industry/dodge4_20020104.htm

To sum it up, to be revealed at the Autoshow today, 1-4-02

Chrysler Group, trying to capitalize on the renewed popularity of compact race cars, or so-called pocket rockets, is introducing the 2003 Dodge SRT-4, a souped-up version of the automaker's Neon.

To be unveiled today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the SRT-4 is the second-quickest car in the Dodge lineup, accelerating from 0-60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds.

It has a 2.4-liter, turbocharged, 205-horsepower engine.

The car is priced at $19,995 and will be manufactured at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, home of the Neon. Chrysler will likely pitch the SRT-4 as the fastest car available under $20,000.

The SRT-4 comes equipped with Viper-style racing seats, 17-inch aluminum performance wheels and performance gauges.

The automaker hopes to target younger car enthusiasts, especially the type that made last year's cops-and-gangs, street-racing movie "The Fast and the Furious," such a popular Hollywood offering.

[ringthree]

Wow, that pretty cool. Turbo-charged, nice! Hopefully they and Subaru and the real lancer can restart the trend.

[djm221]

It is still a Dodge Neon, isn't it? No thanks.
And I don't want to here any, "respect other cars" crap. Speed isn't everything.

[racinjason]

I think it's awesome. I personally think the neon has always looked fairly nice. And I've seen some real head turners at shows and on the street. The Neon has an enormous racing history and has had huge success in racing period.

Now I'm not going to sell my GT-S to buy one. Even though it sounds like an easy low 14sec. stock car. Put some mods on it and your going to taking on the WRX, EVO, s2000, and the likes. And we all know these cars can handle with the best of them. Being under $20,000, low 14's it's going to draw tons of buyers. the SVT focus, Civic new Civic Si, are all 15 second cars. The more models the more we know the industry is listening to us and responding!!!

[Keyshawn]

I'm not a big fan of Dodge or the Neon, but mad props to those guys for stepping up and recognizing the emergence of the sporty compact enthusiast market. Too bad Toyota and TRD seems to lack Dodge's balls. This turboed Neon sounds awesome.

[zMaN]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
I'm not a big fan of Dodge or the Neon, but mad props to those guys for stepping up and recognizing the emergence of the sporty compact enthusiast market. Too bad Toyota and TRD seems to lack Dodge's balls. This turboed Neon sounds awesome.

I can't believe I am going to agree with you Keyshawn :)


I have respected dodge recently because they have been willing to take risks on cars that will not have a high volume of sales but are just fun (i.e. Viper, Prowler) They are planning to make a convertible P/T cruiser that looks pretty sweet. Not to say the P/T will be a fast car but the show car I saw was really easy on the eyes.

[Keyshawn]

"I can't believe I am going to agree with you Keyshawn"- ZmaN


I knew you'd get tired of being wrong eventually.j/k:)

[ceLL-ILL-cA]

4reals this suxs, but sad to say but good job chrysler, hopefully this will get TRD n toyota to build some turbo charged car, n like you all said this mite start up the turbo trend again, thas y i hope this car does make it and does become popular, then finally toyota will get the message.....boost

[zMaN]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
"I can't believe I am going to agree with you Keyshawn"- ZmaN


I knew you'd get tired of being wrong eventually.j/k:)


I am never wrong, simply misunderstood :) j/k

[WillyK]

It is still a neon, and while I wouldn't give up my GTS for one I still think it is not a bad car. If it keeps the looks of the pics I have seen of the SRT then it will look pretty badass. It's really nice to see that some companys are going back to making sporty cars instead of all SUV's and minivans. The more the better and competition is always a good thing.

[CelicaDetective]

It may be just a Neon, but 0-60 - plus the torque is probably much higher, so it will most likely beat a GTS 6-speed off the line. I have faith that the Celica will still be a better handling car.

So you might "look fast" but there's going to be Neon's, Eclipse's and Subaru's kickin your butt. All at what you had paid for your car or better.

Mike

[Keyshawn]

As much as it pisses me off, CelicaDetective is right. Just goes to show what a $hitty job TRD and Toyota has done of supporting our car.

[CelicaDetective]

here's a front photo of the turbo Neon:

[Fiero]

Here is the old website to it.

http://www.4adodge.com/inside/concept_vehicles/neon_srt.html

This one still says their using a supercharger.

[Fiero]

And here are some more pics of the Yellow Turbo one.

Not bad looking actually (though, it's still a Neon). Let's just hope that this is some incentive for Toyota and TRD to get off their ass and get to work on some GO FAST parts instead of just Looks Fast crap.

http://www.autoweek.com/specials/2002_la/srt4/1.htm

[HilfigerCelica]

Seems like the Si just gone more competition. I hope this makes the sportcompact scene even bigger. With Toyota lazy butt not wanting to making any parts for our car, I bet a lot of kids are going else where. Hope this makes Toyota take notice.

[larryd]

more competiton for the SI..hah try for the Celica.. 205hp in that little car is ALOT.. that car is just as light weight as the Celica is :)

[2kgtx]

Sorry Dodge I already Wrapped a neon around a tree because the Crappy "Lower Coupler to the steering Colum Detached" I was almost killed car flipped and everything won't even ride in a neon 5 years later.

[Fiero]

I had a Slushbox SOHC Neon Gen 1 for 2 years and can tell you that even if they were to make a 500hp W6 AWD Turbo Neon with built in seat massagers and complimentary super models for $5000, I wouldn't buy it! I have never had a car I hated so much.

First off, the Dodge dealer lied about the car being in an accident. They even tried to save a buck by putting two different size tires on front of the car!

Second I had to repair the window seal (driver side) FIVE TIMES!!! I got rained on in a car wash because of that piece of crap.

Third..oh screw the counting: The carpet faded and ripped, the CV boot cracked, the air conditioning system had to replaced...TWICE, brakes faded within 5000 miles (and I didn't even brake hard), the transmission "broke" as the mechanic told me, the muffler system rusted through, the hood rattled, the speakers one day just popped, the driver door had to be realigned three times, the radio simply died, and much much more.

This was all before 30,000 miles! I had to fight the dealership the entire way just to get them to look at my car anymore. One of the guys said "this is our lowest end car, you can't expect everything to work"! WTF?!

On a side note: DONT SHOP MASSEY-YARDLY Dealerships!!!!

To anyone considering getting this car, make sure you remember IT'S A F*CKING NEON!!!!!!

[gts24]

I will never buy it, but it doesn't look that bad and it will be fast.... why can't toyota/trd pull their head out

[Blk00SS]

Originally posted by larryd
more competiton for the SI..hah try for the Celica.. 205hp in that little car is ALOT.. that car is just as light weight as the Celica is :)

200 Or So Horsepower.. 250+ lbs of torque... That car is gonna be nice... Pity the Neon is ****ing Ugly

[gts24]

Originally posted by Blk00SS


200 Or So Horsepower.. 250+ lbs of torque... That car is gonna be nice... Pity the Neon is ****ing Ugly


exactly

[Fiero]

Gen 2 Neons sort of remind me of a 4 Door RSX ;)

[Keyshawn]

I am not satisfied with looking better than this Neon. As it stands, the only thing we'd see is its tailights anyway. I want my car to be able to compete with this thing performance-wise (without NOS). Even if it is supposedly "ugly", our cars will be bitch-slapped left and right on the roads by this car. Looking better is just not good enough.

[gts24]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
I am not satisfied with looking better than this Neon. As it stands, the only thing we'd see is its tailights anyway. I want my car to be able to compete with this thing performance-wise (without NOS). Even if it is supposedly "ugly", our cars will be bitch-slapped left and right on the roads by this car. Looking better is just not good enough.


Excellent point. I would love to see an N/A package from SOMEBODY for my car.

[Keyshawn]

I'm doing whatever I can to get some parts for our Celi's: contacting companies, donating parts for development, etc. It's just frustrating that Toyota and TRD are too slow and stupid to support Celica enthusiasts like us, especially when companies like Dodge, Ford, Honda, etc are making moves to appease the sport compact market.

[gts24]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
I'm doing whatever I can to get some parts for our Celi's: contacting companies, donating parts for development, etc. It's just frustrating that Toyota and TRD are too slow and stupid to support Celica enthusiasts like us, especially when companies like Dodge, Ford, Honda, etc are making moves to appease the sport compact market.

Exactly and the worst thing is, current neons have the potential to bitchslap us because they do have a working breathing aftermarket anyways.

[2kgtx]

Originally posted by Keyshawn
I am not satisfied with looking better than this Neon. As it stands, the only thing we'd see is its tailights anyway. I want my car to be able to compete with this thing performance-wise (without NOS). Even if it is supposedly "ugly", our cars will be bitch-slapped left and right on the roads by this car. Looking better is just not good enough.

We only have to worry about out-performing these cars if they are actually on the road before I totaled my neon it spent half of its time in the shop because of some POS part would break the Transmission had so many probs it wans't even funny. It was parents car and they actually Knew the mechanic at dodge personally becasue they took the car in so many times He even would drive my parents to work for the occasional the car died in the middle of the road. I totaled the car after 2 years and 40,000 miles.

[GreyFox95SOHC]

"I had a Slushbox SOHC Neon Gen 1 for 2 years and can tell you that even if they were to make a 500hp W6 AWD Turbo Neon with built in seat massagers and complimentary super models for $5000, I wouldn't buy it! I have never had a car I hated so much.

First off, the Dodge dealer lied about the car being in an accident. They even tried to save a buck by putting two different size tires on front of the car!

Second I had to repair the window seal (driver side) FIVE TIMES!!! I got rained on in a car wash because of that piece of crap.

Third..oh screw the counting: The carpet faded and ripped, the CV boot cracked, the air conditioning system had to replaced...TWICE, brakes faded within 5000 miles (and I didn't even brake hard), the transmission "broke" as the mechanic told me, the muffler system rusted through, the hood rattled, the speakers one day just popped, the driver door had to be realigned three times, the radio simply died, and much much more.

This was all before 30,000 miles! I had to fight the dealership the entire way just to get them to look at my car anymore. One of the guys said "this is our lowest end car, you can't expect everything to work"! WTF?!

On a side note: DONT SHOP MASSEY-YARDLY Dealerships!!!!

To anyone considering getting this car, make sure you remember IT'S A F*CKING NEON!!!!!!"



Wow, you must not know how to take care of a car.

I have a 1995 Plymouth Neon SOHC with 65,000 miles on it. I've had one problem with it. The headgasket cracked a little while ago. Chrysler was kind enough to take $600 off the bill so I only had to pay $200.

I just got the brake rotors and all 4 pads replaced too. This is the first time the rotors and pads have been replaced in the existence of this car, which once again, has 65,000 miles on it.

The car has driven all these miles in Southeast Michigan with bad winters and poor roads.

So to tell you the truth buddy, you unfortunately got a Lemon. The Neon isn't all that bad as you depict it to be. As a matter of fact, the second gen Neon has been rated in quality to the Honda Civic.

[SlasherX]

that neon is going to kick ass. a friend of mine down here in teh club has a 99 r/t with just Induction, underdrive pulley, mopar racing chip, and catback exhaust and he dynoed at 142hp and pulls 91, 92mph traps and cuts 15.0's all day long on street tires. not to mention hes almost ALWAYS finishing in the top 3 at every single one of our autocrosses. those cars can be made quick really easily, and with a turbo and that level of hp, i could see low low 14's all day long, cuz of something called TORQUE.

Edit: and about the reliability issue, get off of it, the new celica has just as many problems, if not worse...dave's neon has been flawless and he BEATS on the thing....poor car! :D

[Slade_Templar]

toyota made really good turbocharged 4banger cars from 1990-1999... they are called the MR2. They also had a more potent 6banger... im sure you all know it as the Supra, that they still sell in Japan.
I am confident that they will get a clue (sooner than later i hope) and start putting out some factory turbocharged vehicles again.

[larryd]

yeah thatll be the day )

[Fiero]

Originally posted by GreyFox95SOHC
[

Wow, you must not know how to take care of a car.

I have a 1995 Plymouth Neon SOHC with 65,000 miles on it. I've had one problem with it. The headgasket cracked a little while ago. Chrysler was kind enough to take $600 off the bill so I only had to pay $200.

I just got the brake rotors and all 4 pads replaced too. This is the first time the rotors and pads have been replaced in the existence of this car, which once again, has 65,000 miles on it.

The car has driven all these miles in Southeast Michigan with bad winters and poor roads.

So to tell you the truth buddy, you unfortunately got a Lemon. The Neon isn't all that bad as you depict it to be. As a matter of fact, the second gen Neon has been rated in quality to the Honda Civic. [/B]


Greyfox,

HAHAHA! Well, "buddy" I do know how to take care of my car. The problem is that when a car is crap to begin with, you can spend a million bucks trying to maintain it and it will still crap out on you.

YOU are actually the first person I have ever heard of that doesn't curse when they talk about their Neon. I have known 6 people who owned them, and every single one had as many, if not more problems then I did! One even succesfully sued Dodge for the horrible paint problems Gen 1's have. So tell the truth, and admit you GOT LUCKY with yours.

BTW- As I stated, I owned a GEN ONE! Not a Gen two.

[GreyFox95SOHC]

"One even succesfully sued Dodge for the horrible paint problems Gen 1's have."

I knew nothing of these paint problems.

All it takes is a few good wax jobs yearly and your paint should be fine. My Neon's body and paint still looks fresh and brand new.

[Neo]

I don't want to look like a prick, intruder, etc here.. but

It really upsets me that people can't be enthusiastic about cars in general--why people find it necessary to declare certain vehicles crap defeats me.

The reputation on neons is fortunately completely wrong. I agree that there are some lemons out there, but there are also some brave individuals who have taken one of these 'econo slushboxes' and really turned them into something none of us would ever expect.

They aren't the sleekest, most luxurious, most comfortable, quietest, troublefree beasts on the road, but they have a good deal of potential. In fact, I've seen mostly stock neons (maybe an intake, pulley and stiffer engine mounts or less) break into the 14's on street tires.

I've had a neon for 2 years, and I really flog the hell out of it. I've compromised the original (questionable to some of you) integrity of the car with modifying it, yet it has given me only one problem... the infamous leaking headgasket, which my dealer happily fixed under warranty (they even overlooked my intake, header, etc..hehehe). If any neon should fall apart, I feel like it should be mine--but it has 60k HARD miles and is still very dependable.

So.. anyway. Sorry for you guys who had big problems, but you shouldn't condem them all. For a boatload of enthusiasts that will not curse driving a neon check out www.neons.org

Thanks for your time.. or wasting it, whatever :)

[scotty01]

I too am skeptical on the reliability of the Neon. A friend of mine purchase a 2001 Neon R/T brand new a few months back. It has been in the shop as much as it has been on the road. The transmission was just replaced about 2 weeks ago with only 30,000KM. I think he regrets the purchase and tells me he should have got a Celica.

[xdannyx25]

hey i saw at the miami beach convention a dodge neon just like that one but with a different body kit, (bit bigger) and it was superchargered, really nice lokks better then those pics, it was a coupe, but the turbo one look at tha the standard neon is a 2.0 pushing 150 hp & 135 torque, at a 2.4 litre it should be able to push 200 hp easy without a sp, or turbo, the rsx can push 200, torque maybe different story but still, nice car tho and it looked good, soud system an all, but neons dont have the best performance history. awesome car to look at, but for me to buy it nah, if it was givin to me free yeah why not, but theres alot of cars out there that i believe are way better at that price. :D :)

[larryd]

i honestly cant say any one car is more reliable then another.. i seem to ahve problems with all my cars..

[Fiero]

The Gen 1 Neons were painted with some sort of primer paint combo. Or at least a good portion were. You can get Dodge to pay for a large part of the repainting job, which you may or may not need. Most do...


"Slushbox" is a referance to Automatic transmissions.

[carnutt]

Hey, as much as everyone may not like it, the SRT-4 is going to hand a bunch of people their butts. 5.9 seconds 0-60 with a top speed of 140 is nothing to sneeze at. All for less than 20K.

I own a Celica and a Neon, and while the build quality and reliability of the Celica are above that of the Neon, with mods I've done the Neon makes the Celica look pathetic any day.

With an aftermarket to support it to boot.

Shame Dodge bailed on the coupe, they're all 4 doors.

[gts24]

Originally posted by carnutt
Hey, as much as everyone may not like it, the SRT-4 is going to hand a bunch of people their butts. 5.9 seconds 0-60 with a top speed of 140 is nothing to sneeze at. All for less than 20K.

I own a Celica and a Neon, and while the build quality and reliability of the Celica are above that of the Neon, with mods I've done the Neon makes the Celica look pathetic any day.

With an aftermarket to support it to boot.

Shame Dodge bailed on the coupe, they're all 4 doors.

I agree with you completely. I love the look of our cars but our aftermarket is a pitiful show ......