probably would have bought a Spec V or a RSX-s. those were the other cars I test drove at that time. But who knows because I really didn't like those cars that much. probably would of kept the tank (1994 Dodge Shadow) for a while. The first test drive in the SRT-4 though,......SOLD!!!!
I think the reason Dodge went bankrupt is because they quit making the Neon platform. Probably be driving like an '05 Evo.
agreed the 03-05 base neons were great cars with some interior styling a more creature comforts...leaving the engine and trans alone ...that was a good car for middle class america....reliable and cheap to own its like they finally were starting to get it right....then nah we are cancelling it...i really think they had too much faith in the world engine and cvt combo ...which imo was no better mileage wise then the base neons...and the calibers werent as reliable...
o and to awnser the question i wanted a s10 extreme blazer .....and i was going to do the 4.3 to 5.7 swap......would have made a sick truck imo show and go
I didn't know you have a Shadow. I've been a big P-body guy ever since I bought an '88 Sundance way back then and drove it for almost 14 years. I've had a few others, and currently have '87 and '89 CSXes.
haha, i forgot about my previous plans..
I still have the totaled Spirit R/T sitting at the family farm, with that beautiful 2.2 DOHC motor with the Lotus head.
Maybe someday.... hmmmmmmmm heheh.
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Quote: Originally Posted by al2683
One of the most realistic parts of this video is that it shows two guys riding together in the Subaru, they are in love, I think it is a touching and realistic portrayal of Subaru owners and I applaud them for it.
agreed the 03-05 base neons were great cars with some interior styling a more creature comforts...leaving the engine and trans alone ...that was a good car for middle class america....reliable and cheap to own its like they finally were starting to get it right....then nah we are cancelling it...i really think they had too much faith in the world engine and cvt combo ...which imo was no better mileage wise then the base neons...and the calibers werent as reliable...
The problem is that the VAST majority of people dislike the Neon because of the problems the freaking first gens had, which is unfortunate. It is why, despite most of us on this website thinking it is a good idea, the name "Neon" is forever going to be dead to the Chrysler nameplate.
The biggest issue with the Caliber wasn't that 'it sucked', it was that it was not a good replacement for a compact car. The Caliber is actually not a bad vehicle (although the interior is crap when compared to the other vehicles in its class) but too many people compare the Caliber to what it replaced which while expected isn't exactly fair.
The world engine wasn't all that bad in terms of higher performance (EVO X is currently pushing 500 horses on stock internals) but that CVT transmission is a complete and total joke and is the reason why two different people I know IRL did not buy a Caliber. They loved the vehicle but HATED the tranny. The biggest knock on the world motor is poor gas mileage when compared with other four bangers, even though most of the others are considerably smaller, the N/A all world motor just doesn't have the hp to justify the gas use.
Would be driving the red car more. And spending more money on it.
I should really consider selling my 91 Daytona IROC (2.5 turbo). Motor is bad (rebuildable though) and the car is just sitting there, again at the family farm, and I have no plans for it. When I rebuilt it the first time, oh wow she was pristine. Black interior, mediterranean blue paint with baby blue gaudy lettering *L* Wish the photos I had would not have gotten destroyed
We are getting set to move this one, the 91 Spirit R/T (totalled), an 87 (I think?) VNT turbo shelby daytona, and my 87 Plymouth Sundance (one of the early turbos from that gen motor) into an old barn to try and keep them at least a little bit from falling totally apart.
A lot of nice cars mentioned, but realistically back when the SRT-4 was new the low $20k price range was what I could afford. When I was ready to buy my first new car late in '02 the SRT-4 was still who knew how may months (or year) out so I bought the first of three SVT Focus I've owned/own over the years. At around that time I shopped the Mazdaspeed Protegé, the Tiburon GT V6 6-speed as a nice highway cruiser, the SE-R Spec V, and the Focus. It was pretty much down to the MSP and the SVTF and I happened to find the Focus first and loved the way it drove. So if there were no SRT-4 back around '03 when they finally came out I'd say I would have probably ended up in the Mazda, another Focus, or if the prices weren't so sky high at the time, a Mini Cooper S. A year or two later an Ion Red Line would also have been in consideration.
Nowadays I can technically afford to buy a lot nicer car but its good to have a bunch of fun cheap stuff paid off rather than stuck with one car (although a new M3 or CTS-V can be tempting sometimes). I think a lot of the original owners who bought the SRT-4 new and still have them probably enjoyed the car as much as I did, but time and personnel choices change over time so getting an accurate take on what people would have bought at the time might be tough. My answer today is probably different than what I would have chose back then.
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Eric H. - '04 Neon SRT-4 (eBlue/S2)
'92 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T - '91 Dodge Spirit R/T
'89 Caravan SE Turbo - '08 Cobalt SS Turbo
'04 SVT Focus (EAP ZX3) - '02 SVT Focus (Vortech)
'81 & '85 Chevy Citation X-11 - '93 Olds Achieva SCX W41
plus a couple other turbo Dodges, a turbo GM, and a bunch of other stuff...
Last edited by blackbird_R/T : 11-06-2009 at 06:02 PM.
Sunroof
Other than that no problems, just wished all the windows were power... I mean WTF rear crank windows and power sunroof
Very true. I really think I'd rather have crank windows all around vs the half and half setup. I mean, it's just a random WTF type thing and I don't have any problems rolling down my window manually. It's also one less thing to wear out (I am a little bitter about window regulators due to my VW backround ).
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