Hello.

I have known about the SRT-4 for roughly 3 years, about a year before it was actually released. At the time, I thought it was a great idea. Finally, a throwback to the good old 60's and 70's when high performance street racers were actually affordable to the average consumer in the form of a factory hotrod.

When the oil crisis hit, that past was gone, and will never truly return. It was a major shock to the American system of harder, faster, better, stronger. Ford continued to produce the Mustang, with the laughable fox body (though the 5.0 and Cobra still had their hearts in the right place, the Mustang name will be forever tarnished), and Chevrolet had the Camaro and Corvette (both of whom became mere shadows of their early pony-car ancestry). Some manufacturers attempted to resurrect their ancient heritage, however the Cougar (HA!) was never the same, basking in its former glory. However, names such as Baracuda, Dart, Challenger, and Duster will never again return, and are lost to history.

Another revolution came, following in the wake of ever rising gas prices. It started with Honda and the CRX. A small, cheap, relatively peppy automobile. With some work, this innocent hatch became a raceway demon, with not only power to begin to rival American muscle, but handling to be able to carry its momentum through the corners where the domestics would fly into the tire-reinforced barriers.

Unfortunately, the CRX never grew to any significant degree of popularity, until Honda released the Civic. A mass-produced econobox that with Honda's Frankensteinian method of assembling cars allowed performance parts designed for one particular car to be used among many different models, including not just the Honda line but Acura line of automobiles as well, including allowance for the interchange of virtually all parts, including engines. This allowed consumers to pick and choose exactly how their car would turn out, and not just be stuck with another factory-issued performance piece.

Given the popularity of aftermarket modifcation, prices on accessories began to fall, to the point where significant performance gains can be seen for only a couple weeks' wages.

Eager to join in the fun the Asian automotive market was experiencing, domestic manufacturers have begun attempting similar feats. Ford has their Focus, with packages such as the SVT, allowing for a considerable factory performance increase, and the ability to easily acquire more. Chevrolet has tried (though seemingly half-heartedly) with the Z22, and Pontiac with the Sunfire GT. While mediocre, they are now experiencing more support from their designers and financiers than in past years, with concern to performance. Dodge has recently jumped on the bandwagon with the SRT series. Originally with the Viper, and now with the Neon and Ram pickup, this package has allowed Dodge to gain some recognition in the small-displacement performance arena.

The problem that differs between domestic and Asian manufacturing is simply quality assurance. Domestics are relatively more affordable, easier to maintain, and quite often better performing than their import counterparts. The difference is that a Honda is an established quality product. The Civic has consistently proven to be an exceptionally reliable automobile, providing value for the money. Their construction, while attempting to be economical, does not come across as plain "cheap". Domestics, on the other hand, are regarded (without too much inaccuracy), to be of inferior construction. Their engines contain more plastic than Michael Jackson's face, the interiors are often dreary (like a funeral home) and lack any unique or more importantly "sensual" characteristics. Whereas a Honda looks, feels, exhudes, and generally "is" a desirable car by most people, domestics are in comparison tacky, with artifical flashiness that attempts to belie their sub-par experience.

This is quite contrary to what domestics once were: reliable, cheap to repair transportation. Bumpers provided some distant semblance of the ability to protect the car from damage when encountering obstacles, rather than shattering and costing more to repair than the price of another automobile.. Door panels were generally made of wood, cloth, and metal, and were bolted onto the frame rather than adhered with Stick-It note paste. All this, at five times the price for one quarter of the car.

The question, after I get down off my soapbox, is simply the future of the domestic performance car market, and more specifically the SRT-4. Don't get me wrong, I love this car. However, my test drive gave me the impression I was driving a motorized shopping cart rather than a street-legal race car. A completely different feel than the carnal rush I felt behind the wheel of a Mazda MX-5 MAZDASPEED Miata. One felt like an aphrodisiac, and the other like I was going to the dentist.

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of the SRT-4, and after experiencing one on a real test track, I do have a new respect for them, and I'm considering taking it for another test drive (assuming the salesman will let me drive it the way I want to drive it), but the main thing turning me off is the overall quality of the car. It's too plastic, too artifical, and does not give the impression that it is a sports car. It looks like a pair of $14.95 Wal-Mart sunglasses in a rack full of Oakleys and Ray-Bans.

I would like your thoughts. Many of you own this very car, and have different views. I would like your feelings and experiences. I would like your dreams for the future, and what might actually come to pass for the SRT-4. Truly, if the SRT-4 could have the build quality of a BMW, the reliability of a Honda, and the performance it already has, I would purchase one in a heartbeat. But, is this just another pie-in-the-sky dream?

P.S. I apologise for any misrepresented information. This information is garnered through memory and observations of the automotive market. It's simply a testimony of what I see, and not meant to be God's Truth.

 

I bought this car for one thing.. HP.. this car is following the true roots of Dodge. Build a strong motor and shape a car around that motor. Sure the interior can do better, but I like it the way it is... I don't need to be pampered with this car. Its not the style of this car. Some say its just a Neon, you bet it is.. a damn good one at that. Besides this is a TUNER car.. you change what you want to how you like it. So Dodge just left the interior (somewhat) alone. There are so many options you can do to this car. Its just up to you to make it ..your car.

I have been with many SRT-4 owners, and what I have seen what these owners have put the SRT thru makes me a proud owner. They beat the hell out of these cars and it keeps coming back for more. Its like picking up a dog from the city pound. Its not the nicest dog in town, but its tough and is always there for you.

Now sure there will be people having problems with their car. ALL makers have there problems.. I even had a BMW 735I that was a lemon.( you'd think for a car over $50,000 you shouldn't have ANY issues)...But the number of SRT-4 owners and the low number of issues tell me this car is built and built to last. There are SRT's out there with over 40,000 miles and still hit the drag strip every weekend.

Pound for pound, this car is a great deal.

 

Apparently you have never heard of the Omni GLH and GLH-S. America was well on top of the performance trends even in the worst times of the car market. These cars were around from the early 80's on up, and they had the Super Coupes, Aspen R/T's and Volare Road Runners up through 1979, followed up by the Mirada after that. They were cheap little econo-cars that were retooled with performance in mind. They were turbocharged little boxes that dominated the likes of the Mustang GT & Cobra, Z-28, T/A and for 2 or 3 years it even bested the Corvette. There was also the Shelby Chargers, Daytona Turbo Z's, Daytona Shelby Z's, etc. from the early '80's through the early'90's that were some of the best performing cars of their times. All of these cars were running anywhere from 13's to 16's in the 1/4 mile stock. Most all of these cars could also handle very well, especially the Shelby models. When the CRX came out at a whopping 76 horsepower the turbocharged Dodges were pumping out almost twice that at 142 horsepower. The CRX was very light at 1,819 lbs. which at it's 76 HP made it 23.9 lbs. per horsepower. The turbo Charger/Daytona/Omni were 2,400 lbs. or less which at 142 HP made it only 16.9 or less lbs. per horsepower. So as you can see here the CRX never had anything over the American economy/compact cars performance.

If I had twice the money to spend on a new car, I would still go with the SRT-4. I do however really like the STi's. As far as the plasticy interior that I have heard from not only you but numerous magazines and reviews, ever car that I've seen and been in are nothing but plastic clad interior. I cannot even remember the last time I had seen an interior that wasn't much more than walls of plastic. I feel that at least my SRT-4 is up to if not above the build quality of most cars that are out there within $10,000 of it price wise and I have been in most that are out there. Just about everyone I know with a BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes, etc. loves to boast at what a great car it is, but they spend most of their time in the shop getting ultra high priced repairs. As far as reliability goes, I have not had any problems and only time will tell on how they hold up. Most people are always judging the newer Neons by the older ones history. The new Neons have different engines than the 1st generation Neon's and do not have the head gasket blowing problem, which was the only problem they had. The magazines that have taken the SRT-4's engine apart simply rave about how strong and well built they are, even the foreign biased magazines are saying this. The only failures I have heard of so far are from racing, either from a driver error or improper modifications. My step-father has had 3 Honda Accords and they are all currently scrap. The first one was broke down with one problem or another 70% of the time, the second one only broke down a few times until the rusted frame broke in half and the last one is sitting right outside after many breakdowns and has been sitting dead now for over 4 years.

If you are looking for SRT-4 performance with BMW build quality and Honda reliability, I suggest you buy an Acura NSX. This way you get damn good performance with an extremely high price tag and it will be in the shop alot. I know of far too many people that have had Fords and they absolutely hate them and have had nothing but trouble with them and would rather walk than own one again. But then again I know of an '89 Mustang GT convertible with over 360,000+ miles on it's original never rebuilt engine and it's still going strong. I also knew of a '72 Plymouth Satellite wagon with it's original 400 big block that had over 450,000+ miles and still going strong until rust destroyed the body finally after 25 years. Most all of the reliability and quality issues come down to the owner and their care and maintainence of the vehicle.

Next year is to be the last year for the SRT-4 as the '06 Neons will be on a Mitsubishi Lancers frame and using a Hyundai sourced motor.[:'(][:'(]

 

these guys are right, you can't judge a $30k + BMW or such against a $20k Neon... and as for Honda and such being better cars... I think they do make a good car, but as RR stated, it depends on the driver... think about it, most people who can afford a "nicer/pricier" (sp) car can afford to get things fixed on them... so it appears their quality is better... there have been studies on this (if you want more info I can try and get it, I have an old roommate who works for Honda R&D in Ohio)...

as for plastic interiors... nothing beats early to mid 90's grand am's... mine was nothing but a plastic cladded crap fest of more plastic... hated it... !!

 

I could not agree with you more, DJ_Mittens...

The SRT-4 is a steal when it comes to HP for the $. But I wanted more...I wanted an inexpensive, fast, reliable car with good looks and quality parts...I did not find that in the SRT-4...the interior left much to be desired with all it's plastic parts and "wannabe" style...don't get me wrong, I have a greater respect for the car and for Dodge seeing as this car could beat more than 1/2 the cars on the road at a fraction of their cost, but they could have done wonders for the SRT-4...
I personally went a different route...I bought a used Dodge Stealth TT with over 450 HP for well under the price of an SRT-4...low miles at 39K, flawless paint, parts, etc. And this thing moves...if the interior styling of the SRT-4 was anything like the Stealth, I'd probably have taken one in an instant...hopefully they'll do a little more for the SRT-4 in the future to regain my interest...

*Please don't bash me on this...just an opinion...thx...

 

the only problem is, they won't change the interior in the future... rumor is the last SRT-4 will be in 05... and you have to think, if they make the interior different, cost goes up... then you lose the "cheap" car price...

zinger, not to hi-jack a thread, but quick question, I've heard changing the spark plugs in the stealth are a nightmare (including - removing the upper intake to reach things, then having to spend $$ on new gaskets, etc. which makes a typical plug change expensive and hard)... any truth to these claims?? I have not spent any time under the hood of a Stealth, and these are only rumors...

 

I don't look at my interior. I watch the road and tac. Sorry but when a honda is tricked out for track or drag the interior comes out. And when they want the Honda to go fast they put a different motor in it. I don't see alot of bmw's at the strip. I can alsto understand your driving experience in the miata. If I could redline everygear on an SRT-4 test drive the salesman would of kicked me out of the car and made me walk back. I didn't even test drive my car before I bought it. Much like the STI and EVO they let only serioes buyers drive the car because it's not a Honda. I like all cars and I don't judge them by interior or reliabilty. If it's fast and looks good than I will buy it. If it saves gas then people will buy it for that. I believe that people buy a specific car based on only a few things the car has. To each his own.This is just my opinion and I don't know the full history of the automobile indstry but you did say it yourself," I love this car." You and thousands that have tested or bought it wouldn't of said it if it the SRT-4 didn't make you feel that way.
Kris H.

 

SRT-YA....

I own 2 stealths now...I recently changed the plugs in my R/T non-turbo....it really wasn't that bad...the front 3 are a snap...the rear 3 were a little more difficult...you have to remove the plenum in order to reach the rear ones...not too bad tho...as far as the gaskets go, the only one I saw was the plenum gasket, which really isn't all that expensive...
I don't know how difficult the plug change will be on my turbo stealth...I imagine a little more difficult simply b/c there are a lot more parts to deal with...

 

So, it seems that the SRT-4 future is bleak. However, the Lancer frame might be good, though Hyundai in any form disgusts me. That's a whole other issue. Come graduation time, the new SRT-4 might be interesting to look at.

At this time, the SRT-4 has a place. The two cars byebye listed - the STi and Evo - are two of my favorite cars. In fact, once I graduate and own a house, with the leftovers I will be purchasing an STi. Subaru is my second-favorite automotive manufacturer after BMW. Unfortunately, I can't afford one right now what with school and all. $1000/month cdn is hard to bite off.

It's nice to hear some opinions on the reliability. True, it has only been two years, but that's enough time for some problems to start cropping up. In three years time we should have a much better idea.

The interior is fine as plastic, it's a matter of what the manufacturer chooses to do with it. I feel that Dodge has gone tacky in their approach, making the interior spartan and cheap-looking. Most cars nowadays do use plastic interiors, but not all of them have this same approach in mind.

 

still the same point... the neon already has an interior (which I agree is not "up to par")... changing the SRT would just heighten the cost more... again, to sound like the broken record, after driving my "falling apart" plastic trap Grand Am the interior in my SRT is fine with me... I wish it had a little more color personally though...

and as you state, the future is bleak for the SRT (not from performance stand points or quality, but from the fact DCX is changing the line up)... rumor is the STi is done in America after this year... looks like used cars are on the market after graduation and the house (by the way, where do you go to school at?? I am assuming college??)