Automotive News, Media & Press - Imports lose at own game (SRT is Sport Compact of the Year)

Sport Compact Magazine's "Car of the Year" is the Dodge SRT. Ricers aren't even at the top of their own market. Buy American (even if they can't afford a V8, LOL). :usa: :usa: :usa:

It's actually a pretty cool little car, Turbo charged and puts down 220hp stock for I think they said a $20,000.

Yes, but it's FWD. Horrible decision by Dodge to keep it FWD. A car with that much power is going to have terrible wheel hop and torque steer. It won't run what it should in the 1320. It really needs AWD. If Dodge could throw in AWD and 30-40 more horses, it'd be right up there competing with the Evo and STi. Then again, it'd be more expensive... I personally think they should havean SRT-4, and then a package with more power and AWD for the SRT-4. Just imo...

I don't know so much about the wheel hop and torque steer. Dodge seems to have pretty stable FWD performance. My friend has a '91 Spirit R/T that is turbocharged and FWD and whoops up on LT1s and some LS1s with no wheel hop or torque steer, and it has an all stock suspension.

Well just as a fact, I've never driven the car. That's only what I've read in magazines. So you can't really take what I've said completely to the heart, I guess.

I think Dodge did pretty well with the SRT. They are marketing these cars to cannot afford to spend 30K plus on a performance vehicle.

Personally, I would buy a used LS1 before getting the SRT but that is me. The SRT is alot of performance for the money. Heck, the the dern thing runs low 14s {13.9 is the best I've seen in the mags}. That is better than any other car in that price range. You would have to spend at least 5K$ more to match it.

Another plus with the SRT is that you will be able to dealer option higher levels of HP. You will be able to finance the upgrades and they will be covered under the factory warranty. The only legitemate gripe is a lack of a limited slip for the differential. That will be fixed next year I've heard.

Is it RWD drive? No. Is it AWD? No. Would it perform better if it was RWD or AWD? Most likely it would but then the price would be higher {most likely up in the 30K range or more.

I like the idea of being able to buy a easy and cheap to mod 14 sec. econobox in 3-5 years for 5 grand or so.


I liked it better when I could by a 13 sec. Z28 for 20-22 grand though! :(

I liked it better when I could by a 13 sec. Z28 for 20-22 grand though!



Exactly. I bet one of the reasons Dodge went after that price/performance range is becuase the F-Body is out, now.

I liked it better when I could by a 13 sec. Z28 for 20-22 grand though!



Exactly. I bet one of the reasons Dodge went after that price/performance range is becuase the F-Body is out, now.



I disagree with that.

Its pretty obvious the money is in the sport compact scene.

Ford has the NEW SVT Focus with 180hp, from what I take is a lot of HP in stock form for a low cubed motor. Out of curiosity I picked up a mag which read on the cover "180hp WITH BOLT ONS!!!!", ya know with big bright bold letters on an Integra or something like that. If thats a lot then 180 from the get go is good and its an econobox with some tweeks.

Now Dodge has the NEW SRT-4 with a TURBO and you know that screams performance all over it for the ricer crowd......um I mean Sport Compacts. And with Dodge offering these new stage packages from the factory, well you know they are targeting the younger crowd.

GM hasn't really come out with a platform to compete just yet but you can get a Cavalier with a jackson supercharger and still have it under warranty and it should put you in the 220hp range.

again I guess anything above 170 is alot in the import...I mean sport compact world out of an econobox?

Its just where the money is at, and I don't think its going away soon.

From what I've read about them... with a minimal amount of investment and the factory-sponsored Mopar Stage 1 upgrade, a lot of those SRT's are running mid-high 13's. They're quick and I applaud Dodge for doing what should have been done a long time ago.

I think it's pretty cool that they made a Neon that fast...but then again, it's still a Neon. Just like a fast MR2 is still an MR2 :D.

Having owned a turbo FWD 4 cylinder before (Plymouth Laser) I can honestly tell you they are a blast! It's hard to believe how many people still don't know the capabilities of a DSM. The Neon is a lot flashier but I'm sure there are many people that don't know the potential. Here's some info you may (or may not) be interested in:

* SRT4 is currently rated at 215 hp and does not have a limited slip diff
* 2004 SRT4 will be rated at 230 hp and come with a Quaife limited slip diff
* There are already people running low 12's with these cars! Not many yet, but a few.

For the comment about the GM not having a sport compact platform, they will be introducing the "Red Line" addition Saturn for 2004 that will have a 200hp supercharged 4 banger.

Also on a side note, Car & Driver ran a Subaru Forester Turbo (SUV) to a 13.8 second 1/4 time, which I believe is even quicker than they got out of a WRX. Watch out for those little SUV's!

Cool cars for sure, I would buy one if I was into the import scene and did not have the money for the Evo or the WRX