BFgoodwrench KDW? Drag racing type tires? Dont know much about the KDW2...I heard its improved compund/tred is suppose to help in cornering. But I never used KDW and they were always the tires recommended for drag racing/
"street racing."
Its one think to make a 2.0L engine handel. Its another to make a 2.4L engine handle. Dodge did a good job but I have yet to see performace...just specs...we'll see.
Not very sold on the ACR SRT-4. It just has bigger tires, lighter rims and thicker sway bars. Everything else is cosmetics. Its a bit differnt compared to the ACR neon in the past....this is my thoughts on the ACR SRT-4
Given the current price of a SRT-4 looks like the ACR package will be alot...which is a big turn off. Why go for FWD when you can have RWD? There are advantages in cornering with FWD but RWD will just give you a better comprimise in all situation. ACR neon was hot back in the day because it was a TRUE ACR car...barebone with nothign. The price was also low. When I think of ACR I think of race breed like the ACR Viper. Not a SRT-4 with coilovers, ACR vinyl, tires and rims. That sounds close to a Stage 2 mopar suspention upgrade or whatever it is. I would have like to see more underbody braces but apparently they gone the thicker sway bar route.
my guess is that this will be priced slightly higher then the EVO VIII RS...which means I will most definately take the EVO VIII RS over a ACR SRT-4. maybe the best handling FWD car but for that price you can get one of the best handling AWD car...4 wheels is better then 2. Unless you are a GT racer then you want RWD.
The old RS was alot cheaper but the new one is around $28K (2004 models have more suspention goodies)...im predicting all this ACR SRT-4 will be around $24K. I dont know its a tough decision...im a huge fan of the EVO...HUGE
Amatuer racing doesnt count...so you can leave all the amatuer type SCCA auto-X stuff out. Give Micheal Shumacher a Geo Metro and he could probally smoke me in a ferrari enzo. In amatuer racing it almost always comes down to the driver and driving skills...not vehicle. its like that in almost every racing. i.e. look at what Schumacer did. He one a GP with one gear gone. Man is amazing when it comes to driving that they need a Schmacher handicap...i.e. saw his legs and hands off
As for the MSP handling...one of the best and still compteively priced considering MSRP was around Type R ITR and 03 SRT-4 range....but only one had this kind of comparision:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=221&page_number=1
look at the sloam #, skid pad, breaking and etc form any magainze and compare the 2. MSP has the advantage on stock setup. Just like the SRT-4 has an advantage on power setup. 2 cars built for 2 different purpose.
Dodge and Mazda philosphy on cars are different too. One focuses on power the other focuses on Handeling and fun driving cars. Look at what mopar offers and look at what Mazdamotorsports offers. 1st thing that pops up on mopar website is a stage 2 or stage 3 upgrade (engine not suspention). 1st thing that pops up on any mazda related site is handling. There is a tuner section on Mazda site devoted to the science of handling. Even what mazda uses on its rear suspetion design is unique and specially chosen to tighten up the back end.
God forbid you mention a weakness in a stock SRT-4. Alot of them think there cars are perfect and flawless. I dont care what you drive but it isnt flawless nor perfect unless it is worth $500,000 and badged as a Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT, PAgani Zonda C12, McLaren Mercedes SLR or anythign short of F1.