ZoomZoomH

actually, there would be no torque steer, because, as shown on zeriak's post about its spec, it will have EQUAL LENGTH DRIVESHAFTS, which eliminates torque steer in a FWD car.

and handling, it might be a rough ride, but based on what they did with the ACR Neon, it should actually be a very capable suspension system.

this SRT4, if (a big IF) it can avoid major build quality problems, it'll be a very good sport compact performance wise, albeit a very unrefined performance

Patio

the twisties, the twisties, the twisties, honestly WHO GIVES A **** ABOUT TWISTIES IN A DRAG RACE?

"turns are for fast drivers" talk about excuses for having a slow car.

frankly, im dissapointed in what i bought, believe me i love my car, maybe next time ill do way more research.

from what ive read so far, our Tranny wont hold much power before giving out good driver or not, there goes all your hopes and dreams of being fast.

zeriak

We shall see in 2003 my friends. If you put a turbo on the Protege and push some PSI you too can get about 205 horse. I don't remember if this is wheel horse or crank horse. Most likely crank horse. Anyhow, I see this Dodge SRT-4 becoming a problem in the future. Perhaps even an arch-enemy. The sad part is, it's pre-riced for your convenience.

We must eliminate this threat with a desperate plea to Mazda to fashion us bigger ***** to hook up to the Protege. Nightly raiding parties to eliminate local Dodge SRT-4 will also have to be arranged.

If you read up on the SRT-4 the concept was actually supercharged pushing about 3 more horse than the SRT-4. I wonder why they went with Turbos instead?

Sorry to say but Mazda's Zoom-Zoom may get ousted by Dodge's Vroom-Vroom in the near future.

ZoomZoomH

uh, when you're NOT in a drag race on a strip, but actually on a REAL race track, complete with turns and elevation changes, and the car actually goes left, right, up, down, and occasionally airborne???

(can't you tell I despise drag racing? )

it's even worse to cover up a BAD DRIVER with a fast car.

besides, what's so special about fast cars, if you have the $$$$$, any john doe can have a fast car, but a good/fast driver takes years and years of practice and dedication to develop. So tell me which one is more valuable, a piece of machinery, or the human being controlling it ???

anyways, that's the end of my off-topic rant, back on topic, everything that's said about the SRT4 is still only on paper, until it goes head to head with the MS Protege in a shootout, everything we say basically means diddly poo except for ***** and giggles

arl240

Well the MP3 wasn't top ranked b/c of its power now was it Patio? I agree with zoomzoomh. When critics compare cars they compare whole cars, not just how fast the thing moves from a to z. If I wanted something that I could pull hard on, it would be a V8 mustang, and you could mod the heck out of that. Then comes the fact that they blow around corners, as do rolly polly neons unless this SRT has some big suspensions tweaks. I will continue....

rodslinger

Lotus only worked on the head on a few of the motors. Form there down it was all Chrysler. Even now, most of the high HP Chrysler turbo cars left are the SOHC setup. More reliable and more parts available. I would take a guess and say that the motors will be just as strong. The bore centers and head stud spacing on the Neon blocks are the same as the older 2.2/2.5 engines. Probably a lot of the basic block geometry remained too.

azrakain

With some suspension mods the mustangs handle very well. And the ACR neon ruled the autoX ranks. It wouldn't surprise me if they do very well now. The only problem I see with the SRT4 is the interior quality. I see a lot of them at work for windshield repairs and the interiors are falling apart. If everything goes right in my job hunt, I will be getting a new car anyways. I like my car, but want more power and don't want to spend $6-10K to make my protege stronger. Oh well. Like somebody else said, should have looked into my options a little more, but who could resist the Zoom Zoom comercials???

leungwingkei

IMO how can you compare the cars? I bet the same discussion came up when the Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec V was released. People saying that the Sentra has 180hp etcetc will kill the MP3, etcetc, because it has thicker anti-roll bars blahblah, down with the MP3.

But after it did come out, all the hype died away. No car magazine out of all I read praised the Sentra for being the better car. Motor Trend compared the MP3, and not the SE-R Spec V to the supercars. CD in it's pocket rockets comparo put MP3 first. The exception is Edmunds.com who placed the SE-R first, but I do not consider it to be credible anyways.

It's all hype guys, until it comes out and people runs tests against others with it, I'm not going to say it to be superior or inferior to any other car, not yet.

Maniac8888

Maybe the good news is the MP Protege will be priced less than $20K USD. With so many competitors in this segment it might also be difficult for the dealers to command the dreaded "dealer markup" irrespective that Mazda in their infinite wizdom is making the MP a "limited production."

RebelRacing

IMO the Neon is a fad. Yes it has some power, and I won't say I'm safe from a spankin', but hear this!

How many years did ChryCo. make the turbo cars (the cheap ones) like the Omni GLH and Shelby Charger? Only about 5 yrs. then they were axed, and IMO the Shelby GLH-s was the only real "out-of-the-box-killer"
Also, the insurance companies will kill the Neon owners, just like the Mustang owners! Think of how many wannabe brick-foot racers are gonna crack up these things? The rates are gonna kill them if the car dosen't.
I also have issues with ChryCo's quality too. I think 50% of the Neons my friends own/owned have needed oil pan gaskets or head gaskets. And paint peeling...don't get me started!
Besides, how much fame does someone get from racing a stock car, it's the tuners that get my WW!
My cure is to add a KL-ZE to my Pro with MP3 susp!

don668

I donno, my Shelby GLH with the aftermarket Mopar head, computer (15psi) and stock suspension would unfortunately KILL my P5 in all aspects including handling, not to mention how much I had to modify my 5.0 to equal the Shelby's performance. The only thing I wouldn't try to race back then was my buddies GN. My friend works for Chrysler here in town, I may have to look at one for a second car.

Don

proman

i'm quite afraid of this new neon. they are actually pretty good hanling cars also so i think it is gonna be a great all around car for the price. you can't beat that. we'll just have to wait and see how it really is when it hits the market. We all know our proteges aren't fast cars and it wasn't built for the drag strip, so there's no point in complaining about acceleration times. just MHO

carguycw

Uuum, did you know that Chrysler has built more turbocharged cars than any other carmaker in the world, ever? Or that they built the fastest accelerating stock FWD car ever sold in the United States? (The 225 hp Dodge Daytona IROC.)

The "K" and Omni-series cars may have been pieces of crap in almost every respect other than the engines, but the turbo 2.2/2.5's are some DAMN good engines. They are capable of so much power with so few mods that it's not even funny. Even some of the lamest applications for these motors (such as the minivans) are capable of 13-second quarter mile times with less than $1000 invested.

If the new Neon motor is ANYTHING like the old 2.2/2.5, the Pro (and almost all other 4-cylinder imports except maybe turbo DSM's) are in trouble These cars may not be super high quality, but they WILL be fast. Watch out

DodgeRT99

Your statement that the SRT4 will have crude handling is very misguiding. First off, the SRT4 will be based on the Neon ACR suspension set up, and will be improved from that setup. Oh, and the ACR suspension setup has been championship caliber for the past several years as Neon's have dominated SCCA Class C as well as auto cross events. Not to mention, even ordinary Neons handle fantastic. Eh, drive the car before you judge it. I'm not about to judge the Protege's handling, although I hear it's very good to. Besides, SRT4 rally cars are out already and they are doing rather well too.

As for mad torque steer, people that have actually driven the car as well as other sources who have reviewed it, as well as from Dodge itself, says that torque steer is kept at a minimal because the SRT4 will have equal length halfshafts.

And besides, I think the SRT4 would rank just a tad higher on that poll. Come on now buddy, lose your Neon hatred, the performance is mindblowing for a car UNDER 20,000.

Just felt like I should correct a few misunderstandings.

Good luck with your Protege, the new models are wicked looking.

blades242

Actually the Spec-v did quite well in SCs Eight Great Rides review...

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/ar...e01_0402.shtml