new srt-4
- Thread starter ccann26
- Start date
Low Blow! I'm getting outta this thread before things get ugly!!!! (inout) (drive2)
4 years ago, Dodge came out with the original SRT-4 Look-wise... the car was just downright weird. Even though it wasn't a blatant rip-off (afterall, I think the Neon actually had them first) the buy-eyed look did seem a bit too similar to the 1st gen WRX. Unlike the WRX (with it's large and in your face hood scoop) this car had a tiny little slot... that went well with the hundreds of other air inlets it had scattered across its face. The sides were pure Neon garbage... and the wheels were as fugly as can be. The spoiler (though they claim it was functional) resembled a basket handle more than anything else. In short... the car looked like s***. The inside was also a disaster. Cheap plastic craptastic abounds... The seats were supportive and the boost gauge was a first... and a nice touch. In the end, despite all of these drawbacks, the car flew off the lots. Priced about the same as the MSP at the time, this car offered WRX performance. On top of that, Dodge promised to offer a ton of factory aftermarket parts.
Despite the fact that this car matched up well with the WRX in terms of performance, because of it's pricepoint, I feel it actually competed more with the MSP. Because of this, MSP owners/Mazda fans got quite defensive and started honing in on the SRT's shortcomings. Since the original didn't have a LSD, that was an obvious target. It also lacked rear electric windows. (I'll never understand why so many people made a big deal about this. I think someone has rode in my backseat once. Most people who buy cars like this don't have family to lug around. The backseat is nothing more than a padded shelf.) But I digress. Obviously its awkward styling, cheap interior bits and notoriously bad reliability were also key targets.
Fast forward a few years and... my oh my, how things have changed. Or... have they? The MSP has grown up to become the MS3 while the Neon SRT has become the Caliber SRT. Powerwise, the 2 cars are about equal. Weight and dimensions? Despite what everyone is saying, the 2 cars are pretty equal here as well. (They both weigh in about the same while the SRT is about 2 inches taller.) 2 inches... I mean really people!! This isn't a truck... it's a tall wagon.
Looks? Obviously looks are subjective. Most of the car magazines are actually praising Dodge for the exterior styling. I personally agree. I think it looks badass. Certainly a HUGE improvement over the Neon. Unlike the MS3, this car cannot be mistaken for anything else. For some, that's a good thing. But again, looks are subjective.
Interior? Maybe Dodge is superstitious. Afterall, the cheapo interior of the last gen didn't seem to slow down sales one bit. Why mess with what works? Clearly Mazda continues to have an advantage here.
I guess my main point is... Despite all the negativity, if the past is any indicator, Dodge is going to sell a ton of these cars. It may not be perfect... but if you're a young buc with aspirations of going really fast (preferably in a straight line) and have a budget around $22k... there are worse cars you can buy.
Despite the fact that this car matched up well with the WRX in terms of performance, because of it's pricepoint, I feel it actually competed more with the MSP. Because of this, MSP owners/Mazda fans got quite defensive and started honing in on the SRT's shortcomings. Since the original didn't have a LSD, that was an obvious target. It also lacked rear electric windows. (I'll never understand why so many people made a big deal about this. I think someone has rode in my backseat once. Most people who buy cars like this don't have family to lug around. The backseat is nothing more than a padded shelf.) But I digress. Obviously its awkward styling, cheap interior bits and notoriously bad reliability were also key targets.
Fast forward a few years and... my oh my, how things have changed. Or... have they? The MSP has grown up to become the MS3 while the Neon SRT has become the Caliber SRT. Powerwise, the 2 cars are about equal. Weight and dimensions? Despite what everyone is saying, the 2 cars are pretty equal here as well. (They both weigh in about the same while the SRT is about 2 inches taller.) 2 inches... I mean really people!! This isn't a truck... it's a tall wagon.
Looks? Obviously looks are subjective. Most of the car magazines are actually praising Dodge for the exterior styling. I personally agree. I think it looks badass. Certainly a HUGE improvement over the Neon. Unlike the MS3, this car cannot be mistaken for anything else. For some, that's a good thing. But again, looks are subjective.
Interior? Maybe Dodge is superstitious. Afterall, the cheapo interior of the last gen didn't seem to slow down sales one bit. Why mess with what works? Clearly Mazda continues to have an advantage here.
I guess my main point is... Despite all the negativity, if the past is any indicator, Dodge is going to sell a ton of these cars. It may not be perfect... but if you're a young buc with aspirations of going really fast (preferably in a straight line) and have a budget around $22k... there are worse cars you can buy.
Excellent post.
I only disagree with one thing:
Was I the only one who actually liked the SRT-4 wheels and the front fascia?
The solution? A big ol' Mitsubishi TD04 turbocharger. The turbocharger, along with a freer-flowing intake, an intercooler and a fat 3-inch exhaust system bring an additional 113 hp to the table. The original Omni GLH (non-turbo) made a whopping 110 peak hp.
- they get 3inch exhaust out the box..we have 2.5 inch..thats where they get some extra numbers as well..... im sure it has a 3 inch downpipe too which leaves no room for improvement unless ur gonna run 4inch and push like 40 psi
- they get 3inch exhaust out the box..we have 2.5 inch..thats where they get some extra numbers as well..... im sure it has a 3 inch downpipe too which leaves no room for improvement unless ur gonna run 4inch and push like 40 psi
This time the MS3 is prepared to answer the call! There will be no free lunch!
I am rather disappointed with the new SRT-4. With it's late arrival in the hot hatch catagory. I suspected it would produce alot more power than it's nearest rival. The first gen SRT-4 made more power by a wide margin over anything in it's class. Today the folks at dodge settled for the status qou. Deciding to only "match" the performance of the Mazda. The MS3 will only be in production for roughly another 10 months. The cobalt SS supercharged is already gone. Dodge will soon have the last car available for the entry level enthusiast. How can dodge NOT sell alot of these?
BTW: the MS3 is 57.7 inches high, the Caliber comes in at 60.4 inches. The Chevy HHR is only 65.2 and is classified an SUV. The caliber might be closer to a truck than you think.
BTW: the MS3 is 57.7 inches high, the Caliber comes in at 60.4 inches. The Chevy HHR is only 65.2 and is classified an SUV. The caliber might be closer to a truck than you think.
Last edited:
GirlieGurl
Member
- :
- Mazda 3 Hatchback
i have yet to see any car that can compete with the speed3 when it comes to price AND performance. Hell the one person I knew that had an SRT got rid of it...too much trouble.
Gota agree with you there. The neon srt4 was just that, a neon with a good engine. At think this is less nauseous.
Man I've got no beef with you but that comment seems a little ignorant. If someone wants to buy American because they believe in this country and want to support an industry that once helped build this nation, then more power to them. It's their money and they can spend it as they wish!
I for one am really hoping the Pontiac G8 (yes I know its a rebadged holden but Austrailia is a great place and they are an ally so there!) is a huge hit so I can someday own a high quality 400hp rip snortin RWD american sedan!
I love imports, but I think its kinda harsh to use the term "Patriotic s*** head" to describe someone who wants to buy products made in the country where they were born.
some people will only buy imported brands, what does that make them?
People will buy what they want. Period.
I do agree that the HHR is ugly no no amount of SS badging will ever make me want to buy that thing.
Last edited:
- :
- 03 Protege ES 5spd
I think i just puked a little in my mouth...... It looks like a truck.
///M Compact
Member
I agree, but I do think that it's a bit moronic to buy an inferior product just because it is-or isn't-built in a particular country.
I don't know what they were thinking when they designed the caliber. Such horrible lines all over. No grace whatsoever. And that dreaded dodge grill. Judging from the general response on the srt forums, I don't think this thing will have the same following the neon did. It's too much of a departure from the previous design. I could be wrong though and I agree competition is good but.......
maybe you just really prefer that product? (shrug)
Woot another G8 fan, personally I think that thing is one of the sexiest cars around.
Oh and when i do run into a new SRT4 at a light I'll certainly answer the call. My MS6 may be fat, but shes always ready.
Guess it's time for me to post this once again:
While I appreciate the time/effort that went into creating this... it's patently ridiculous! Simply change the gender of the people pictured above and your argument holds no water. Let's see... do I want to drive a car that looks like a wimpy, albeit good-looking guy or some jacked-up dude with roid-rage?
All I know is, the new SRT may not have the clean lines of an exotic sports car. But so what? Not every car has to be drop-dead gorgeous. In fact, some (myself included) actually prefer cars (like the Element, last gen WRX and even Hummer) which certainly would never win a beauty contest... but are at least different and "cool" in their own unique way.
Most of us are obviously fans of imports. Why else would we own a Mazda (or belong to a Mazda board) At the same time, I seriously doubt any of us would kick a Corvette, Viper or Mustang GT out of bed. While this new SRT obviously isn't in the same league as those cars, I feel we should still appreciate it for what it is... just like we do with those cars. Until recently, the Vettes interior was pure crap. Did anyone give a s***? Not really... the car still drove about as well as the exotics (costing twice as much) it competed with. To a certain degree, this car is no different. So why isn't it getting ANY respect?
A point that needs to be hammered home is the fact that, despite the perception, this car proportionately very similar to the beloved MS3.
SRT (L x W x H) 173.8 68.8 60.4 3189lbs
MS3 (L x W x H) [SIZE=-1]176.8 x 69.5 x 57.7 3163lbs
So the MS3 is 3" longer... nearly an inch wider and 2.7" shorter. 2.7 inches... That's like the length of your thumb! Oh and... it's 26lbs heavier. Big deal!
As some of you may recall, Dodge under-promised/over-delivered on the original SRT. Not only were the hp #s understated but the car delivered performance #s far better than what people had originally expected. Will history repeat itself? Probably not... in comparison to the last gen model, this car IS pretty damn big/heavy. But then again... in comparison to the MSP, the MS3 is pretty damn big/heavy as well! With most publications testing the MS3 at about 5.8 seconds... a "low 6 second" (I don't know... call it 6.2 before the #s come out) isn't terrible. Everyone gets so hung up on #s... especially 0-60 times. Unless you're doing burnouts, those times mean s***. And even if you are... are you really going to notice a difference between .4 seconds? It's all psychological.
Just like defending the nerd from the school bully at recess, this is no different. I didn't particularly care for the nerd back then and I don't particularly care for this iteration now. But fair is fair... and nobody (or nothing) should be picked on unjustly.
[/SIZE]
///M Compact
Member
If someone really prefers that product, fine. What I'm referring to is the doofus who says, "Yeah, that XYZ is great, but no way will I buy one because it's built in _____ . The ABC may not be as good, but at least it's made in _____ ." Doesn't matter if they are boycotting the US, Japan, or Germany- they are morons.
