Taken from the Jan/Feb Neon Notes at the Belvidere, IL assembly plant meeting (taken from www.neons.org):

2003.5 Dodge SRT:
We recently completed building three F-1 Pilots for the Dodge SRT. The
exciting feature on this model is the new 2.4 litre turbo engine which
has 225 horsepower. The pilot build went well, as many new processes were
successfully performed on the moving assembly line. The plant identified 178
build issues, which are being tracked and targeted for correction by the
time of the F-2 pilot build on Feb 18. The offical launch of the SRT will
take place in Feb of 2003. Some of the feedback on the SRT by engineering
staff and other employees here were that the SRT is fun to drive and
shifts very well. Also, the new hood, door and sill moldings give the
vehicle a very distinctive look.

 

I'm sure it will be fast, I'm not sure its driving dynamics with be good. 225 hp through the front wheels is going to equal a crap load of torque steer. I also highly doubt that the handling will measure up to the SVT Focus or Protege MP3.

Maybe I'm just talking s*** because I'm worried about my MR2 getting outrun by a stock Neon! Time to dial up my boost...

 

If dodge actually builds this all the little civics and wrx's will run screaming for cover. He he. I'll still be able to out handle it on the twisities (with both cars ) Anyway when the tour eventually dies this may be a car to look at. Unless the new MP3 variant is close.

 

I don't think any WRX will feel too intimidated by this Neon. Wth AWD, much better handling and a better, more reliable, engine. The WRX is still the sh*t.

 

Until you blow your tranny! In all fairness the SRT-4 should be about 4K USD less than the Subie.

 

the neon may well be a great handling car, and it's engine may have a wallop of power, but i just can't get past the fact it looks like a turd i have been working on for the past few hours.

 

right!!! damn trannys are a joke.... and when are they going to do something about those damn window seals... and the fact that they look more fuggly then when they first came out.

 

Are you talking about the Impreza or the Neon??? The window seals have been solved by having full frame windows. They did that in 2000. As for looks, it's a personal thing.


In response to other posts, there's rumors about an LSD coming with the car, to help with the torque steer. As for the handling, I don't think you guys have ever autocrossed or drove an R/T or ACR. My R/T outhandles my sister's P5, and ACR's pull some great numbers on the skid pad (don't quote me, but Ibeleive it's .89 or .9 g's). I'm sure the SRT will have an excellent suspension. As for engine reliability, the 2.4 is a basically new form of the engine, so I'm sure it'll hold up well. As for price, the SRT is $19,995, and i think the WRX is 25k or so...so it'll be more like a $5k difference.

 

oops my bad... i was talking about the neon. the trannys arent built for long term. but you are right about the neon handling well. better then the p5 well i will take your word on that. i dunno.
for me the 5k is well worth the extra money to get a subaru.

 

I dunno bout that tranny thing. I have 81,500 miles on my still OEM 5-speed (and no slippage), and the ATX is fairly strong. You can't do nuetral drops all day, but there aren't many ATX's where you can.

 

I saw the SRT at the Chicago Auto Show... impressive. New front and rear fascias, & looks like the steering wheel and front seats from the eclipse/sebring cpe/stratus cpe to replace the cheap interior bits on the stock Neon. I only wish I'd known this car was coming 8 months ago- I may have held off on buying my MP5. They build the Neon's at the Belvidere Assembly plant about 10 minutes away from my house... those things are gonna be EVERYWHERE around here. They're all gonna want to race & sadly I won't be able to hold my own... unless they want to compare who can hold more crap in their car. Oh well

 

IT IS A DODGE PRODUCT, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO SAY,

 

Nah, they just don't feel as raw, but then again, thats what refinement will do....



Well the first post is taken from the Belvidere Assy. Plant monthly meeting notes...so take it for what it's worth (Press or horse's mouth?)

I'm sure the suspension will be good ;-). And yes, it gets 4 wheel discs. It'd be silly not to.

 

Viper

 

If you can afford a viper why are you driving a Neon?