First post:

Four weeks ago, I purchased an SRT-4. This was a long time coming. I decided to wait until the Cobalt SS came out, just so I could be certain that the car I wanted was what I thought it was. I had looked at the SRT-4 for the past year and a half. I kept hoping that I could get a "deal" on one, but most dealers would not negotiate. When I found out the Cobalt SS was offering dealer invoice pricing, I was hoping that I would like it as well, because of the potential better pricing.

I test drove the SRT-4 about a year ago. I fell in love with it before I left the dealers lot. It was like it was designed for me. The seats fit. The steering wheel was just the right distance and height. The pedals felt right. The shifter was in the exact spot that it needed to be. Everything felt right.

When I pulled off the parking lot, the sound of the exhaust was intoxicating. A touch of the throttle gave an immediate response. I was darting and moving through traffic like a rabbit would through brush. Just looking into the back window and seeing the wing staring back at me, gave me the feeling that I was in something special. The test drive didn't last long, but the memory of it stayed with me over the next year.

Every so often, I would drive by the lot so as to see what new colors they had in. At first, I thought I wanted red, but that changed when I saw a blue one, and changed again when I saw the black. It didn't matter what color they were, because every color looked right. I wanted to buy one then, but the timing just wasn't right.

What was it about this car? I had a mustang GT convertible. It was a nice looking car, but there was something about this car that just wouldn't let go. I would tell myself that it's "just a neon." What kind of guy would want to trade in a GT convertible for a neon? I started researching the car. I started reading reviews. They said it had a cheap interior. They said it was loud. They said it was unrefined. They said it was front wheel drive. But above all and everything else, they said it was the fastest.

A couple of months ago, everything seemed to fall into place. I had heard that Dodge was discontuing the SRT-4. Chevrolet was employee pricing the cobalts. If there was a time to be buying a new car, this was the time. I went to look at the Cobalt. It was a nice car. I liked the way it drove, and I like the way it handled. It didn't seem as quick as the SRT-4, but it was a nice car and seemed like a good value. I stood outside of it and walked around it. I wanted to like it. I had a better trade in offer on it. I could buy it at a better price. As I looked it over, the car looked like it was designed in pieces. It had all the parts, but it just didn't seem right. The spoiler looked like an add on. The front end didn't distinguish itself. It just didn't seem to flow.

I went over to the dodge lot again and had them pull out the SRT-4 and looked at it one more time. The SRT-4 looked like it needed "that" spoiler. It looked like it needed "that" front end. Everything was designed right. The car just fit. Even though I wanted to like the cobalt, I felt like I had to have the SRT.

I finally narrowed my choices down to either silver or white. I chose the white, because the sublte lines seemed to stand out more on the white one. I'm 46 years old, and possibly too old to be driving sport cars, but I just loved this car. I've had many cars throughout my life, but I've never had a car that made me feel the way that this one does. I don't know why, either. So many people have asked me why I traded in the mustang, and I don't have a short answer that I can give them, and honestly, I'm not sure many of them would understand if I did try and explain it. I just know that something about this car inspires me. I spend as much time now reading about it as I do driving it. I want to learn about the modifications for it. I want to find ways to make it better and faster.

Most times, when you buy a car you just buy a car. When you buy this car, you feel like you buy an experience. It is almost a process. The car is only a starting point. You buy the car only to personalize it. The car is your statement. I sometimes go out and just look at it. I'm glad that it doesn't have rear power windows. I'm glad that it doesn't have cruise control. I'm glad that the interior looks exactly like it does. Dodge gave us exactly the car that we should have. They gave us a beautiful canvass, and then have offered us the brushes to do with it exactly as we want.

Been a month now and I love the car more now than I did on the day I drove it home.

 

I was in the same boat as you. I was looking at the cobalt ss or the srt4. I just fell in love with the white one when I saw it at the dealer. I test drove it and bought it on the spot and have nevr thought twice about it. It reminds me of my motorcycle. Everytime I get in and start the engine I remember why I love it so much

 

Bravo! Bravo! Well put. Our sentiments exactly.
It sounds like you "get it".
Hey I'm 40 and I figure I deserve this car. It's fun!
Age should not be an issue here.
I looked at it for a long time too before I bought.
I've "modified" and "hopped up" other cars too, but this is the first car I really feel driven to customize and am doing so.
BTW, black looks just sooo nasty. ;-)

 

Sounds like you like the SRT-4.

I understand your feelings as well. After looking at and driving many cars, I ended up test driving an SRT-4. I tried Mustangs, 350z's, BMW's, Audi's, Honda's, Toyotas... You name it...I could've bought a BMW or Porsche, but nothing beats the feeling of having a car that they don't even consider in the same league that will leave them in the dust when the occasion arises. More importantly, nothing felt like the SRT-4. The car affords a combination of Muscle and compact size that nothing else has ever really presented. The 4-cylinder trumps most 8's. The simple neon platform has been optimized to the point where it can hang with an M3 on the road course, and beat a mustang at the strip. Pretty amazing. And that is in stock guise.

IMO, Dodge has created one of those cars that define a segment. There has never been a FWD car that has the ability and capability of this one. There may not be another. I plan to keep this car for good. It will be a second car when I want a more civilized ride. Maybe a third if and when I can afford an exotic.

This car fits my personality and has become a passion for me. It is now faster than a 'vette, can smash a Boxter, and makes 911's wonder why they spent 80,000 on their car. I can't wait until I have time to customize the next part.

Anyway I am half asleep and rambling, and I can hardly write a sentence, but yeah - I hear ya'. Heck I can't even shut up about this car and I am typing with my eyes closed - goodnight.

-Adam

 

overall the car is second to none I think it has a nice look clean body lines the wing gives that sporty look along with the scoop in the hood the interior is comfortable ( at 6'3 310 lbs ) and alot of people just love to under estimate it. 05 red

 

im probably one of the tallest owners around at 6'7" but i love it i did the same thing test drove it once for like five minutes traded in the honda and drove it home, with a grin all the way (till i realised i forgot my garage door opener at the dealer) but that was just more drive time for me. You know what i love is that its 20000 cheap enough for people to buy but they pass over it constantly. Dumbasses, i guess we just rub it in thier face whent they eat our exuast. Their loss is our gain!

 

Very good and well put. We all feel the same way and bought our SRT-4's for the same reasons. I read and researched about them before they were even OK'd for production, back when it was supercharged and simply called SRT. I was put off by them being 4 doors, but their performance won me over.

 

In my area I have seen about seven different people with srt-4's and me and the wife made it a point to pull up to people and find out how they like it how the car is and any problems that they have had and almost all of them (except the stock guy) with problems were self indused.

 

I am 44 and I feel exactly the same as you. I fell in love with the car when I first read that it was going to be produced. I waited an extra year because the 03s weren't sold in canada. The more I read about the car, the more I liked it. I was so delighted to find out that the 04s would be sold in canada and with an extra 15 hp and LSD. I have had my 04 for a year now and it still puts a big smile on my face every time I drive it. Like you, I feel like PVO built the car for me. It has everything I want in a car.

I think it's great that the only weak points the critics can find are, " Its just a Neon" or "It doesn't have rear power windows". If my SRT-4 holds up like my last Neon I'll be quite satisfied with it. As far as the power windows go, they are looking at it the wrong way. It HAS power windows in the front and I have no intention of riding in the back.

 

They can make fun of those rear manual windows, but when your in the backseat, and well ya know....you and your mate need a bit of air....no need to interupt or turn the key....and you have instantaneous ventilation!!!

They can call it just a neon all they want. Its more than that to us, and its sad that people cant respect it for what it is, but thats too bad. Their the ones missing out. Let them miss out, all the more fun for us.

And that post was extremely well put. I didnt like them when they first came out, but I started working at a Dodge dealer sometime around last June. I stared at that car for almost a month. The little black one in the showroom, the ONLY one we had. And I just knew I NEEDED one and it HAD to be black. July 30th 2004 I had my baby towed in from another dealer in MA, with sunroof, kicker and viper seats. And even with all his problems, there isnt another car in the world that id want to be driving right now.

Congrats on the purchase, feel free to go broke from modding (or gas prices....). And welcome to DF.com

And your never too old to do anything. If you've got that spirit at your age thats kickass, keep it that way.