Redjake

Hey guys,

I'm interested in purchasing an SRT-4. Have any of you heard anything "through the grapevine" about this car? I test drove the one I want today and everything seemed fine. The shifting was a little rocky, but other than that, it was a blast. That thing is like a damn rocket.

I realize it's "just a Neon," so spare me those comments. The car is incredibly cheap ($17,500 with 18k miles on it and manufactorer's warranty still in effect) and it's good bang for your buck as far as I'm concerned.


Have any of you heard anything good/bad about this car? Any of you have one, or know anyone that has one? Thanks!

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la petite moi

Crash tests are rated as low or very poor. However, shifting is easy (at least for me), and they look pretty cool. Cheapness is definitely a pro. If you're interested in a car that can go fast, and don't care about a little noisiness, get it.

Lockjaw

You probably can get a better deal on that.

But they definately are quick and have great potential. Lots of street cred because there really isn't anything within 5k of it that will beat it in a race stock for stock. They take insanely well to to mods.
Pretty reliable as well. Quite a few guys are putting down 300 to the wheels as daily drivers and having little issues with them.


I hang out on this board a lot.

http://www.srtforums.com Everything you can think of is on that site. I'll just warn you. Use the search button because they hate the n00b question.

If I liked FWD 4 doors I'd definately get one. Only bad thing is you'll either have everyone trying to race you or nobody willing to bite. And a lot of those willing to bite will probably be a waste of gas (WRX, Civic Si,VWs,Scions) basically unless it's got 8 cylinders and RWD(which even then isn't a given) or it's also boosted...the SRT-4 is faster.

Redjake

Thanks guys. Keep the replies coming. THANK YOU for the forum link. That's good stuff.

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DEI37

That seems a little spendy. Not sure I'd call that cheap, to be honest. You can get a brand new Cobalt SS for about $4000 more. Don't know what your price range is, and $4k isn't chump change, I'll give you that. Granted, the Chevrolet is a 2-door, versus the Neon being a four door. Plus, if you're picky about brands, and don't care for GM, then that's another point to consider. Just my 2c. I'd have a hard time paying that kind of money for a car that likely was driven pretty damn hard.

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Redjake

True about the Cobalt, but the SRT-4 is crazy fast. Honestly that's the only reason I'm buying it. Can anyone confirm that a Cobalt SS is just as fast? For some reason, the SRT-4 has freakshow quarter mile and 0-60 times. How does the Cobalt SS compare?


Btw, not picky about brands at all. Just looking for the best speed per buck.

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powerclown

What about an older Camaro Z28? 2000/01/02-ish.
Corvette V8 power, T-Tops, 6 speed, RWD.
Shouldn't be over $15k I would think.

cj2112

What's the car's blue book value?

Lockjaw

They aren't. They CAN be made fast but an SRT-4 would destroy a Cobalt or a Redline.

As far as bang for buck though it's going to be hard to beat an LS1 F-body or a Foxbody Mustang. Though both might be a bit more money wise to make power out of. The have better potential but the cost compared to modding a forced induction car is going to be up there.

And lastly....
turbo > blower

Redjake

$18,705, I just priced it out


not bad ideas, but everyone in my area has one, I'd like something that slightly stands out - even if it's a turbocharged 4 cylinder make-over-mobile

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merkerguitars

The 2.2L supercharged ecotech in the cobalt can be made fast. I've seen some scary srt-4's at the track, just don't run 20psi of boost and a 75hp shot of nitrous at the same time in them .

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newtx

Considering its a Dodge and a Neon you should be able to buy the car for close to NADA trade in. I wouldn't worry about blue book prices since the dealers use NADA. A Dodge usually doesn't hold its value well and many times you can purchase for under trade in value. Im not knocking the car- just make them show you NADA values on it.
For the same money you can get a Saab 9-3 Linear with a turbocharged screamer of a 4 cylinder power plant and over 30 miles to the gallon.

cj2112

The problem with the Saab is trying to find somebody to repair ir when it breaks, and the cost/availability of parts. If you buy the neon, parts are inexpensive (relatively speaking) and typically easy to come buy.

Cynthetiq

you could of course get a MINI and turn it into a 300hp or 400hp beast...

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DhO2--cFTDY"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DhO2--cFTDY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

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catback

Now that's my kind of MINI. The video would have made a good myth busters episode--"300 HP FWD is undrivable, myth busted"...Nicely made video too, liked the night shot of one of the mini's bouncing it off the redline.

Redjake

yep. I had a '91 Cavalier I bought for $900 that lasted me 3 1/2 years of driving every single day. Had like 180,000 miles on it, and it did break down every once in a while. And it costed like $50 including labor to fix cataclysmic shit that happened in the engine


A new SRT-4 (2004-2005 is very new to me) would be reliable and in case it ever did break down early, it would be relatively inexpensive to fix.

I just want to know if it's a turd or not. I know Neons don't have a perfect track record, but this isn't a regular Neon, so hopefully it will be better and more quality. I just want to go fast and go reliable

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Cynthetiq

I have a regular 2001 Neon. Never had any mechanical issues. I did have the window motor die and it was warranty replaced.

As far as anything of the sports segment is concerned anything you drive that you push harder than conventional stop and go/highway traffic, you'll experience more maintenance. Evo and Subaru's have some pretty hefty maintenance when the things that normally would last longer in other vehicles like clutches and brakes get worn faster.

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Lockjaw

Got a feeling that would cost more than doing the same in an SRT-4.

Heavier less power and likely slower. Don't see the appeal to it honestly. And aren't those things a bit pricey?

3Z3VH

Sweedish Automobiles Always Break.

Redjake

I bought the SRT-4. I'm really happy with it so far! I got the extended warranty that covers the turbocharger and all that. It's a blast to drive as well. Fastest car I've ever driven by far. I was checking some quarter-mile times and this car is faster than a lot of old model Testarossas hahahahaha. I'll let you guys know how it goes in the short run and long run. Thanks for the advice!

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powerclown

Hey congratulations....can you take me for a spin?

Any plans to modify it?
What color is it? Options? Mileage?
Any pics?



Drive Safe.

MSD

From heavily modded cars I've seen, I'd say the practical limit is around 550.
Because something pulled from a list of acronyms insulting every automaker out there is certainly a valid argument against buying a car.

Redjake

Well, it broke down today. 18,000 miles and it broke down. I hope this isn't any sort of indication for things to come. It's under warranty, so they towed it and will fix it for free, but I bought the damn thing for performance AND reliability. I haven't even been driving it that hard. I was driving to my part-time job this morning (full-time, "get fired if you're late" job starts next Tuesday) and it just started uncontrollably sputtering and misfiring. It's undriveable. The authorized dealership is going to get to it today but I know I won't have it 'til tomorrow or Wednesday. I can't fucking believe this! The whole "HONDAS AND TOYOTAS ARE SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER AND ARE 100% RELIABLE WHY WOULD YOU EVER BUY A DODGE!!!!!!!!!!" argument from my friends and family is beginning to come true. This better be a fucking fluke.

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Cynthetiq

but you were driving it harder than if you just bought a little non-performance run-about to get you to and from work.

I do hope that it's a fluke.

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Redjake

true, but the car is supposedly manufactured to be driven somewhat "sporty." It should be able to be being driven a tad bit harder than regular econoboxes because of the way the car is built. I most CERTAINLY didn't drive it hard enough to warrant a break down. From what I've heard from most SRT-4 owners (mostly judging from the forum members at the big SRT forums linked in this thread), I was driving the car pretty soft. I hope it's a fluke as well. What's the point of having the SRT-4 if you can't accelerate and have fun?

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Cynthetiq

I don't doubt it. I'm sure that I'll freak out in the future myself once I finally get that sports car...but for the moment, I'm more about reliabilty and low cost than performance and fun. I don't need any more drama or trauma in my life at the moment.

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Redjake

I got it back. Bad spark plug for one of the cylinders. Nothing major. Hopefully this was just something that needed to be replaced.

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laconic1

Huh, odd for a spark plug to go out after only 18k miles, but that is why they have warranties I guess. Hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here on out.

Cynthetiq

nice! glad that it's up and running... good luck next week.

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merkerguitars

For some reason I've seen on two other newer neons. Its the weirdest thing.

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3Z3VH

But, do you disagree ?

I hadn't quoted the Dodge one or Honda one, or any other one, because they weren't nearly as true.

I have been to hundreds of junk yards getting parts for my cars, and the most common cars I see in those junk yards are Saabs. The funniest part ? They are pretty much the only cars in those junk yards that didn't have any major damage (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea).

Any time I see SEVERAL of the same type of (comparitively) late model car in scrap yards with no damage, the only conclusion one can draw is that they aren't exactly on the more reliable side of the car spectrum.

If I was just trying to be funny, I would have spouted off the Dodge acronym in this thread, but simply stated, Dodges are actually OK for reliability, as long as you don't go for their truck lines, or care that they burn out indicator bulbs as if they ran on blinker fluid.

The OP was asking for a sporty car that was RELIABLE, and simply stated, Saabs do not fit that bill.

Cynthetiq

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Nope, I disagree.

I know several people that own Saabs that are 100% reliable. The only time my parents Saab was in the shop was when they ran over something that severed their fuel line.

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Redjake

Jesus. Now something else is going wrong. Here is what I posted on those SRT-4 forums linked earlier in the thread:

I purchased a 2004 SRT-4 about 6 days ago. It has 18,000 miles and is stock with no mods whatsoever. Factory warranty has 6 months or so left.

2 days ago, the car started violently bucking and surging and popping from within the engine and was undriveable. I had it towed, and the Dodge dealership replaced a sparkplug they said was "cracked." I got the car back, and now when I accelerate from around 2500 RPMs, the car bucks, pops, and misfires or something similar. It's not very violent, only the most picky about engines would notice it, but it's definitely there and definitely slows acceleration down. It used to only do it when you floored it from around 2500 RPMs, but now, even in 2nd gear going 10 MPH or so, if I floor it, it does it. Anytime I mash the gas to the floor the car surges and bucks and all that. I'm afraid it's going to get worse. It seems as if it is. I would normally just replace all of the spark plugs, since that seems to be the general consensus of what this problem is. But the dealership just put a new one in! Could more of the plugs be bad? Please help, I'm afraid I purchased a lemon. I love the car to DEATH, it's such a fun car, and I want to keep it. Please respond with anything you guys know I should try and thank you in advance!


By the way, there is no engine light on at all. Thanks!

NEWFLASH: Just drove it some more on some back roads and let her loose a little. Now the car is popping/slightly surging even what I don't floor it. It does it mostly when I mash the gas down pretty hard but it did it 2 or 3 times when I had the accelerator 2/3 down. ???



^^^^^^ That's what I posted on the other forum. I can't believe this car is acting up again! It's not as bad as the first time, but the car definitely hesitates and pops and bucks/surges when you accelerate hard. Ugh. I'm sure if I took it to the dealership right now they would say nothing is wrong. I don't know what to do.

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DEI37

Not if they are smart they won't. Drive it with either the tech or the service advisor in the car.

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Cynthetiq

sorry to hear that...

I'm not trying to be an old man, but you mentioned that you have that "can't be late job" starting next week... you didn't need to be worried about the new job and this car.

hopefully it works itself out quickly and easily. good luck.

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Redjake

trust me, this is most definitely going through my head right now....


I'm going to check the spark plugs tomorrow, then possibly take it back to the dealership - hopefully they could get it done by Monday if they can find anything wrong with it

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Cynthetiq

yeah, when you first mentioned looking at this, I thought you were already working there until you mentioned you started next week.

I would have suggested you still wait. I know you're excited and all...eh, live and learn. It's just a little more excitement

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Redjake

I couldn't have waited. My current car has no AC and isn't reliable. The last thing I need is to be sweating bullets on my way to work in a full business suit and be broken down on the expressway. Admittingly, I didn't think whatever car I chose as my first 'new' car would be any sort of problem. However, I need a car now. I start Tuesday. Else I most definitely would have waited, saved up more for a bigger down payment, etc.

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Cynthetiq

how has the car been?

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Halx

Ok, not trying to be an ass, but where does one equate the words "Dodge" and "Neon" with "Reliable"? It's painful to watch people put thousands of dollars down on machines that don't do their job. If I had seen this post earlier, I would have warned you not to be lured in by this car's "performance" because you can't go fast while the car is on a jack.

Mini, Civic Si, RSX... anything but a Dodge Neon.

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