Ok, for those who don't know me (the majority), I'm a Honda fan and my brother is a die hard Neon fan. He has owned from the early Dodge Neon Sport, through the Neon R/T with the Magnum engine, to now the infamous SRT4 turbo. No doubt Dodge have thought of the spirited sport car driver a lil much better this time.

Very protuberant bolstered bucket front seats. I might say these seats hug and squeaz you too much if you have some extra pounds like me righ know...The boost gauge well located and easy to read. The gauge cluster with white faces, nothig out of the ordinary now a days but, looks cool.

The turn down, aestethically speaking, the cheessy plastic shift ****. Looks like aluminun and like a Lambo shifter but to the touch you can tell it's plastic. The finish of the vinyl upostery, uh, nothing compared to the refined Japanese sport cars. Looks a lil faux, IMO.

Anyway, I tell my brother "let's go for a spin and I want to drive" He said, "Ok" but showing some concern... My brother is very **** when it comes to his cars, just like me.

Ok, I start the engine and the first thing I notice is the sound of the dual exhaust. It resembled the one from a V6 with Flowmasters but a bit toneddown. Ha ha.

The car is way torquier than my R even at low rpm and no boost. It took me some time to get used to the torque and the clutch feel. At this point, I already notice my broher a little nervous. He said "Don't rev up the car too much on first gear, just shift to second and puch it". I listened to his advise and did so. Yeap, the car pack some puch and sink you in the seat.

The red line is exactly at 6 grand. My brother got mad because I got the revs up to 6k in second and third and said not to do that again. I understand him, the Neon only has 1,200 miles and still breaking in. I explained him I was used to rev up to 8,200 and, in the Neon, rev up to 6k is too fast and the fun ends soon. Couldn't avoid it, got to test the car, ya know...

He explained me also, at this poit the Neon won't boost more than 10 psi until it pass the 3k miles mark. Then, after this, the ecu will let boost up to 15 psi and the car is supposed to unleash the beast inside. Even like this, the best feeling is when you smash the gas pedal to the tin from low rpm and then being catapulted to high speed in a few secs.

Handleing is pretty good but could test it rigourously enogh to compare it with the ITR due to street conditions. I still doubt it being better handeler than the Hype Rrrrr. Brakes are ok but definitely not better than the the R's. Road noise is lower due to more insulation and sound deadening.

Well, after the short test I still stick with my ITR. To me, vt3k reacts quicker and got more madz powerz y0! It's just a matter of a lil more tuning...

I love my R and in my world nothing compare to it

Eric

 

I love my R and in my world nothing compare to it

Eric[/QUOTE] thank you

 

Thanks for the unbiased comparison! Just kidding mang, nice review.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> got more madz powerz y0! </TD></TR></TABLE>
just wondering what your type r has hp wise at the wheels......
the shift **** is cheesy (easy to replace but why not get the short shifter?) the suspension is a little soft (mopar offers 4 different coilover kits and adjustable sway bars) but the exhaust sounds really sweet due to the fact of NO mufflers.
i think dodge has really raised the bar in the market and a lot of companies are going to have to really catch up to compete with this car in this price segment &lt;$20,000 and i dont think the civic type r is going to do it......find me another car that will stomp on mustang gt's, 350z's, wrx's, z28's, gti's, and anything honda makes short of the nsx and cost 20g's with a factory waranty...oh yeah and 3 stages of upgrades available from your dealership.
about the only downside besides the cheesy shift **** is 1st gear is pretty much useless once you are over 10mph you are bouncing off the rev limiter. short sift into 2nd and you re gone!

 

U know that Dodge has far better quality then Honda..............

Neons suck.........I don't care if they make 700whp. I had a Neon ACRwhich was suppost to be a great car.....it sucked.

 

and honda has the best build quality on the planet, give me a break
what do you drive now by the way?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cletus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">find me another car that will stomp on mustang gt's, 350z's, wrx's, z28's, gti's...</TD></TR></TABLE>

The SRT4 will hardly stomp on any of those cars... at best, it would be a good race... save for the Z28 which should be faster. The SRT4, Mustang GT, 350Z and WRX are all around 14 second cars.

The GTI is slower (I think, but I'm not sure on this one).

 

[QUOTE=SoCal ITR]

The SRT4 will hardly stomp on any of those cars... at best, it would be a good race... save for the Z28 which should be faster. The SRT4, Mustang GT, 350Z and WRX are all around 14 second cars. QUOTE]

...not all "racing" is in a straight line.

 

i have witnessed all except the z28.....srt4 is a 13 second car if you can drive. the z28 would be close but the rest is no problem. i know not all racing is in a straight line...its just how people compare cars easily. but the srt will hang with the others on a track too no doubt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Def &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">[QUOTE=SoCal ITR]

The SRT4 will hardly stomp on any of those cars... at best, it would be a good race... save for the Z28 which should be faster. The SRT4, Mustang GT, 350Z and WRX are all around 14 second cars. QUOTE]

...not all "racing" is in a straight line.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the heads up, I wasn't aware that there are any other types of "racing?"

You're right though, however most of those cars he mentioned will also outhandle (or at least be comparable to the SRT4; that still does not make the car stomp on anything, though it may be cheaper by several thousand dollars. It sounded to me like he was referring to straight line, but perhaps I mis-interpreted it because from the impressions I get, the handling is not superb.

 

hahahah "racing"
anyways the only downfall of the srt4 is the stock suspension....but isnt that the case with most cars?? one of the first mods most people do is to the suspension. the suspension is still very much improved over previous neons and current cars. i just think it is amazing dodge has the ***** to release a car like this, with a waranty that is miles ahead of other "sport compacts". the best part though is the mopar parts available for it. mazda and nissan have caught on with the availability of mazdaspeed and nismo but where is honda in all this???? if i could go into a honda store and buy 3 different stages of parts for my car, adjustable sway bars, short shifters, 4 different coilover kits, and all kinds of cosmetics it would be great but it is not a reality. i love my honda but when i go to work and can drive an srt4 it puts a smile on my face!

 

the srt4 can not beat a 350 or a wrx, hell i have beaten them several times, and my R is basically stock, if acura were to throw a turbo kit on the type r it would take that thing out all day

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PlikityPLAH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the srt4 can not beat a 350 or a wrx, hell i have beaten them several times, and my R is basically stock, if acura were to throw a turbo kit on the type r it would take that thing out all day</TD></TR></TABLE>

dont kid urself fool. unless ur hype R is running 13s ur not beatin those cars. all 3 including the neon are low 14 second cars bone stock. if u beat them its cause u drove better, not cause ur R is faster.

o yeah nice write up. my friend works at a dodge dealership. replace that shift **** cause as soon as ur brother slams it into second gear hard its goin to pop off. its held in place by a ****** C clip thing. dodge, ha. the rest is right on though. plastics are asthetically seats guages could b better, but look remotely modern and exhaust . i didnt ride in the car or drive it so i cant review the suspension

 

Good review. The power of the SRT-4 is undeniable.... then you begin to remember, it has a 101mm stroke, tons and tons of boost, and too much weight. It's like comparing James Bond to the US Army... they both get the job done, except one is way overkill (2.4L 15psi, still not 100hp/L.)

 

whats this with "if honda did this, or honda should of done that for the sport compact market?" HONDA MAKES QUALITY CARS!!!! and the neon is not a quality car.

ask AAA what car is the most towed car in 2003....NEONS!!!!! LOL

 

I can tell this thread's about to go south.