(Caution, this test is bull sh*t and is Asian/import biased)

In this article, they compared 5 cars that were $25,000 and had over 200 hp. (It was going to be 6 but Volkswagen did not want to supply a Jetta GLI)

5th - Saturn Ion Red Line:
Highs: Confident chassis, strong brakes, manageable price.
Lows: Thrashy above 4,000 rpm, plasticky interior, say-nothing steering.
The Verdict: We want so much to love thee, Saturn, but you're still not ready to commit.

4th - Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged:
Highs: Solid and rattle-free, three-passenger rear seat, accomplished long-distance cruiser.
Lows: See Saturn Ion Redline
The Verdict: Competent and fun but not likely to launch a cult.

3rd - Dodge Neon SRT-4 ACR:
Highs: Big dirty speed, astounding brakes, an autocrosser ready for the immolation.
Lows: Noisy at all speeds, vibration at all speeds, overly agressive front seats.
The Verdict: A one-trick pony you'll want to save for SCCA weekends.

2nd - Subaru Impreza WRX
Highs: Long-traval suspension, four-wheel grip, superior sightlines.
Lows: Wait-till-tomorrow turbo lag.
The Verdict: An endearing, confidence-inspiring hunting dog that never lets you down.

1st - Acura RSX Type-S
Highs: Luxurios cockpit, world's slickest front-wheel-drive shifter, balanca and agility of a ballerina.
Lows: Always revving, always shifting, always busy.
The Verdict: A showcase of engineering, style, speed, and grace


The main reasons stated for C&D not giving the SRT-4 ACR 1st place over-all... engine vibration, noisey cabin, uncomfortable seats, strut and anti-roll bar groaning, directional spare tire and manual rear windows.

My thing is, for a car to be fast, isn't manual rear windows a good thing, thusly lighter? Spare tire, who the hell cares about the spare tire. Noise, I would expect more noise from the car that beat out all the others in every single racing and speed test..... come on. Also as I look at the dBA rating for noise, they are 16, 7 and 2, ove the 1st place rated, not that bad

Autocross Course Results:
1st: Dodge Neon SRT-4 ACR - 40.81 sec
2nd: Saturn Iono Red Line - 40.86 sec
3rd: Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged - 40.96
4th: Subaru Impreza WRX - 42.26
5th: Acura RSX Type-S - 42.77

Dodge Neon SRT-4 ACR's Awards
Best 0-60: 5.6 sec
Best 0-100: 14.5
Best 0-120: 21.7
Best Rolling 5-60: 6.2
Best 50-70: 7.0
Best Quarter Mile: 14.3 sec
Best Quarter Mile Speed: 99 mph
Best Top Speed: 150 mph
Best LBS per HP: 12.9
Most Horsepower: 230
Most Torque: 250
Best Braking 70-0: 161 ft
Best Powertrain Performance Ranking: 20 points (perfect score)

Acura RSX Type-S's Awards
Best 30-50: 9.6
Quietest Cabin at 70 mph: 72 dBA
Best EPA City: 23
Best EPA Highway: 31
Beat EPA 700-mile trip: 24
Best 300-ft Skidpad: .88

Saturn Ion Red Line's Awards
Quietest Cabin at Idle: 45 dBA
Best Lane Change MPH: 67.2

Subaru Impreza WRX's Awards
Quietest Cabin at Full Throttle: 75 dBA

 

Good writeup, midnight.

I like the breakdown at the end. It shows how biased they are. How does the car that won literally every performance category except skidpad (by .01 g)not win the test?

It actually pissed me off when I read the article. Beat by "the ballerina".[:@]

And VW was smart, the GLI would've been demolished.

 

Yeah, when I see tests like this, it's worth it to share the bull crap with you SRT-4 owners. I would have written the over-all results, but it was WAY too much to type, lol.

 

we already went through this... but here we go again...

just for the record - did it change your mind on your car?? are you going to sell it now because C&D didn't pick it to be number one?? didn't think so! don't let it bother you... I had a guy just this weekend roll up next to me - he was sitting passenger seat in an SS Crap-aro and his fat girlfriend/sister was driving... he looks over and says "Nice rice" with a sarcastic tone... I just laughed at him and said "Yeah, I guess Dodge isn't domestic anymore"... he just glared... whatever... don't let little things like this beat you down.

 

well if you REALLY think of it, and not trying to get flamed on this BUT remember the SRT-4 is F/I, and the rest are N/A. so If they were all f/i, i dont think the neon would of been close to it! And NO i still LOVE me SRT-4!!! Second they arent rating it on speed or anything, is based on a DD car not a track or one quick thing! Yet again I STILL LOVE MY SRT-4 ABOVE ALL!! So think about the whole article again! its not a speed test it was about a comfy DD test! MAN didn't we go through the thing already?? I thought so, it is "kinda" bias but if you really think about, you can't really sit in an srt-4 for more than 6 hrs without ur butt hurting? Honestly I can't!! And on gas, to think about it it drains my paychecks down just for gas!! and the Traffic, i hate it with my SRT-4, but HEY i will love it above all, even bimmers, except the M3's..heheh..but just think about it before Flaming the Magazine! And as said before this topis was covered already! Sorry! Still behind the SRT-4 all the way!!

 

The only N/A car was the RSX. And it was by far the worst preformer.

 

opps sorry i dont know much about the other cars!! hehehe..i didnt read much of the whole post SINCE it was covered before, i take it back about the N/A part but anyway! just think of a DD car not a fast car! If C&D wanted to rate on speed i am sure the srt-4 would finish on top!!

 

Acually the title of the Artical suggessted it was. Thats why were alittle baffled.

 

Wrong botton. sorry

 

the article did title itself as "best bang for the buck" or "best performer under $25k" or something like that... and if you read the article it says the Neon is just that - - the best bang for the buck... so maybe C&D should have re-titled the article as "best fast daily driver that you could still drive in 5 years" without a headache... haha....