Have a couple quick questions I need answered by SRT gurus.
1. Does the car require premium gas?
2. What's the deal with HP/Tq ratings. Is it 215 or 230 or 245 HP? Even the dodge factory website has different values in different places.
3. Anything special to look out for on a 0-10,000 mile 2003-2005 in a pre-buy?
4. Are there any must have options like sunroof/keyless entry/etc.?
Thanks in advance for your feedback

 

1) all f/i cars that i can think of require it.
2)03's have 215/240ish and 04's and 05's have 230/250ish
3) try to find an adult seller that has taken proper care of the car. i wouldnt buy the car from a teen used.
4) whats your preference? nothing is a must have. all come with keyless entry and only some with sunroof.

 

Premium gas, For sure!

HP/TQ ratings are to be taken with a grain of salt. If you go to www.modernperformance.com and read their excellent write up on the SRT-4, they admit the SRT-4 probably has closer to 250 HP........stock. DCX has continued their practice from the 1960's of understating the performance figures of their hot cars.....what better way to get a break on the insurance and blow away the competition at the same time?

Check the plug wires for possible melt down.....get some MSD's for better performance..

The SRT-4 has a few options like a sun roof, a louder stereo, and side air bags.......take your pick.

Dusty

 

1. They recommend premium gas, but you can run regular though it will suffer reduced performance.
2. The factory rates the '03 SRT-4's at 215 HP and the '04-'05 SRT-4's at 230 HP, the difference being that the '04-'05's have the Stage 1 injectors in them from the factory. The SRT-4's are severly underrated from the factory, dyno testing shows them to have from 223-246 HP at the wheels.
3. The factory plug wire for #4 on most SRT-4's have a straight boot from the coil just like all the other plug wires, this causes the #4 wire to sustain damage from the turbos heat. They changed this on the later models switching them to an angled 90 degree boot. Either way it is highly recommended that you replace the factory plug wires with the MSD Super Conductor plug wires, they withstand far more heat as well as getting far more spark energy to the plugs.
4. If you can, get an '04 or '05, they have a limited slip differential, the '03's do not. The '04-'05's also have the sunroof option and the better stereo option.

 

Thanks for the facts guys. I test drove it last night. Steering feels super stiff. Power on cornering (I like to autocross) would be very very tricky and take lots of practice. Seats RULE!!! Back seats won't even fit my 2 year old in her child seat. She'll have to sit behind mommy. It was a black '04 with the sunroof and 9k miles. I have a silver 05 with 5k miles to drive this weekend. I'll keep you posted.