[dead]

Hey guys, there's probably been a few topics about this already, but I can't exactly find it, and it's been a trend on a couple of the other boards.. I like reading the stories

Just tell us about your experience with the SRT-4. The first time you drove it, what you like about it, even what you don't like about it.. how fun it is to drive, etc. any other stories... just general crap about the SRT-4.

I'm kind of dreaming about one right now, but I may be able to afford the 2004 version. Anyway, post away!

 

[nighcore]

Ok, is it just me, or does this sound like someone from DCX or another business wanting to get a good review on the product? No offense dead, I love reading the stories to. Maybe I am being paranoid, which is a 99% chance. But saying, "Just tell us about your experience with the SRT-4" makes you think there is someone other than him wanting to know. Just to make me look even more retarded, he is prolly married and his wife wants to know to, therefore, saying US. Ok, it's late at night and I prolly need a good long sleep, but I just got done watching Darkness Falls "with Grunge".

 

[dead]

Actually, it's because I'm very excited about the car and hopefully I can relieve some of that tension by living others' experiences through their posts..

But considering the response/view ratio, it doesn't seem like many people want to.

 

[Rice-a-roni]

:twisted: the srt is a mean son of a bitch it makes you speed and makes honda and subie owners hate you and get speeding tickets. why you do this to me srt why. the baddest mofo on the road and the car people hate taking an ass whoopin from. but ehen they see how fast it is all they can do is smile. and give you a thumbs up. eat sleep and shit srt all day. Everyone around me knows everything about this car becase im constantly talking about it . Dont buy it I want to have the only one.

 

[ourformerselves]

My first impression when I first saw it was negative actually. I wished they had redesigned it more so that it didn't look as NEON as it does. Then I took it for a test drive and was amazed by the power this car put out. But once I got out of the car I looked at it again and felt the way I did before.. it still looks like a re-designed NEON. So I left the dealership that day, and have been thinking about the car ever since. The looks have really grown on me, and I'm looking forward to it to hopefully being my next car soon.

 

[SilverBullet]

Here's mine.

 

[Dr. Chris]

My fist exposure to the car was SCC review of the car when it womped on all the other cars in the $20K shootout. I admit that I was thinking "a NEON?!?!?!" But a friend of mine got a job at a Dodge dealership, and he drove this car and the others in this catagory for a drive around road atlanta for a test drive. He told me that the car did 150, and smoked all the other cars there, although there was not a WRX around. He use to own a turbo integra that did 11's in the quarter, and I trusted his opinion. So that day that I talked to him, I found a couple of boards (this being the BEST!!!) and read all about what people were doing with the car in stock form, and found some video of it beating up on WRX's. The next week I saw a yellow one in person at a local dealer, and sat in it. At that point, it was all over but the cryin. They even let me start it in the middle of the showroom. WOW! I sold my 1998 240sx the next week, and nobody around Georgia had a black one. Luckily with the help of this board, and the Dodge website, I found a black one in the Orlando area. I was very disapointed with the 5 star dealer "Advantage Dodge" as I called the day before to make arangements, and the saleseman confirmed that it was selling at MSRP. I drove 5 hours (averaged 90MPH in a rental) and got down there, and the car looked good. Sat down to do some paperwork, and he told me $22,900, and I crapped my pants. I told them MSRP! And because I knew that others were getting this car for MSRP, I refused to budge. He got his manager, and the manager got his boss, and I finally go them down to $20,495 and 4.9% apr. I know I could have gone to Miami, and picked any color for MSRP, but it was done. So I drove home a happy camper trying to keep in below 3,000 RPM for break in, and I got my FIRST speeding ticket ever ! 85 in a 70. But I love the sound of the car, the seats are UNREAL!, steering is good, very fast car, and getting faster. I'd say the only thing I am not crazy about is the plastic shift knob with the seam around it, and my parking brake feels like it sticks now and then when I pull it up. Other than that, I am the happiest new car owner ever!

 

[fendermb4]

I have one thing I noticed that I wanted to mention about my SRT. Anyone who has ever owned a Turbo Dodge, particularly a higher power one (such as a Turbo3) knows that when you hit the gas in them, the nose skyrockets up like a foot. You'd think you were doing a wheelie. It feels great, but is a bad thing on the track. The SRT doesn't really do it. It just sorta goes...fast. It makes the power feel a lot more controlled and smooth. Gives you the impression that the SRT can handles its motor, which is something you couldn't say about some other Turbo Dodges.

I like the seats alot, they are a perfect fit for me at 5'10". They are probably also the most commented on part of the car, at least from anyone who has sat in one.

 

[dead]

Great reviews so far... my first exposure to the SRT-4 was in SCC as well, though I've still never seen one. I don't think they'll have them in Canada until summer/fall.

 

[SRT4Real]

2003 SRT-4 vs 1999 Civic Si

Tell you what. I'll compare my new 2003 SRT-4 vs. my 1999 Civic Si, both stock for stock.

Looks -- This is subjective, but I give the nod to the Si. However, the SRT-4 looks are growing on me, and I like the forward lean.

Wheels -- Nicer wheels on the SRT-4, and 17's stock vs. 15's stock on the Si.

Brakes -- SRT-4 slam dunks this one. MUCH MUCH better brakes!!

Handling -- Hard to say, because the dealer put 205/40/17's on my Si before I bought it, so it handled extremely well out of the box. The SRT-4 feels more composed in turns, even with more weight up front. Edge to the SRT-4.

Exhaust -- Another slam dunk for the SRT-4. How can you beat twin exhaust with no mufflers?? Unreal.

Back seat -- SRT-4 wins again. Four doors make the interior space much more usable. Putting baby's car seat in is a breeze now.

Trunk -- Civic wins with a bigger, more usable trunk.

Engine -- They're so completely different! The Si was great fun, with redline at 8000, and power came on at 6000 rpm. The SRT-4 is exactly opposite. SRT-4 wins because of huge torque and more power, delivered very smoothly.

Moddability -- Related to engine. Factory turbo will make it MUCH easier to mod the SRT-4 and get large gains for less cash. SRT-4 wins big here.

Aftermarket -- Si is the clear winner for now. There's so much on the market, it's hard to pick. SRT-4 may catch up, who knows.

Dash -- Edge goes to the SRT-4 for cool instrument panel and boost gauge.

Shifter -- Si wins for leather wrapped shifter vs. cheap plasticky one in the SRT-4.

Clutch -- So far, I think the SRT-4 clutch wins. Seems better matched and beefier. The Si clutch could barely hold the stock power. Add 5-10 hp, and it started slipping.

Resale -- Based on past history, nod goes to the Honda. SRT-4 is an instant cult classic, so I may be proved wrong in a few years.

Reliability -- Again, based on past history, the Honda wins. I hope Dodge proves me wrong. So far, so good with my SRT-4, but I've had it less than a week.

Seats -- I love the SRT-4 seats, though I can imagine some folks might hate 'em. SRT-4 wins for racing seats vs. Si's plain old normal seats.

Straight line performance -- Slam dunk for the SRT-4. Runs 14.1 or so stock in the quarter mile vs. 15.7 for the Si. Both numbers from C&D, so it's a fair comparison.

Price -- Very similar. Si was $17.9K retail four years ago vs. $20K retail for the SRT-4. With inflation, that's very close.

OVERALL -- If the SRT-4 warped back in time to 1999 and I had my choice then between it and the Si, there's no doubt I would have picked the SRT-4 because of the performance and moddability. I was excited and happy with my Si in 1999, and that's even more true today with the SRT-4.

If I could dream a design for under $20K, this would be it. I think Dodge hit a home run. If reliability and resale hold up, it could be a grand slam.

 

[Welby]

Good, unbiased comparison

How long do you think until the first "The Civic SI is shit" post?? :roll:

 

[SRT4Real]

Good, unbiased comparison

How long do you think until the first "The Civic SI is shit" post?? :roll:

Thanks. The first post bashing the Si will come out the same time as the SRT-4 bashing starts on ClubSi. Oh, wait! Too late!

Hey! I left out the most important category:

CUPHOLDERS! The Si cupholders are a cruel joke. I learned that the first time I dumped coke all over my interior. The SRT-4 has THREE USABLE CUPHOLDERS!!

WINNAH!!

 

[NeonDan]

correction go flip your center console door back and what do you see? :wink: :roll: :twisted:

 

[killerbeesrt4]

It was a dream come true for me. Having a fiancee and trying to move out, I cannot dump alot of money on a perfomance car. I was thinking I was never going to get a good fast car until the SRT-4 came out. My fiancee thought for the price it was a great car and so, I own one now. It handles better than most. accelerates incredibly well, looks very nice, and makes driving a joy.

 

[manny z]

IMPRESIONS!!

I would first like to say that I have owned a lot of cars. Only 2 of them where new. The first was not even a car, but a truck. A 94 dakota reg cab, v6, 5sp. And 2, my silver srt. Out of all the cars I have owned, this one is one the most exciting for me. When I first saw the concept in L.A., I said to my friends and myself, if Dodge makes this car, I am going to buy it.
When dodge finally said that they would build and sell it, all I cared about was when. I put the word out to all my local dodge dealers in my area. It's funny, only one of them knew what I was talking about, when I said that I wanted to order an SRT. It was about 6 months later that one of the dealers called me and told me, that they are in the process of unloading them of the trucks. Later that night I show up to the dealer to find out that there is only one silver one left. I was just getting out from being detailed.
Had to haggle for the price for a couple of hours, but I finally got them down from the 25k asking price.
To date I have 1300miles on it, and a couple of power mods. I REALLY like this car!! I Would of never thought that I was going to be able to find a car with this kind or performance, for this kind of price. One more thing, I have owned nothing but mopars for the past 15 years. I am relly hoping that dodge will get a brainstorm and build what us older guys want, THE NEW CHARGER!! :twisted:

 

[SRT4Real]

correction go flip your center console door back and what do you see? :wink: :roll: :twisted:

:shock:

Gasp! (faint) ....

Omigosh!! There are actually FOUR usable cupholders!!

I stand corrected.

 

[stonebender]

I hate the Neon cupholders. The two front ones have the shifter in the way. The one behind the shifter gets in the way if there's a cup in it, and the one in the console lid is only good for the guys in the back seat. When I get my SRT-4, it won't matter, because NO ONE WILL HAVE ANYTHING TO DRINK IN IT! Not even me.

<--- Anal Retentive

 

[m_dunnie]

I hate the Neon cupholders. The two front ones have the shifter in the way. The one behind the shifter gets in the way if there's a cup in it, and the one in the console lid is only good for the guys in the back seat. When I get my SRT-4, it won't matter, because NO ONE WILL HAVE ANYTHING TO DRINK IN IT! Not even me.

<--- Anal Retentive

Ditto on all the other stuff said....it is an excellent all around sport car....as for cup holders:

Havn't spilled a thing yet with the three up front. 12oz can cokes fit perfect in all of them. Extra large cups fit nice and snug in the 2 foward of shifter.

 

[bmxfreak]

Like many others, at first i strongly disliked it. I was plannign on a Spec-v, which my cousin owns. He was over at my house and showed me online this...neon, that was suppose to be fast?! I basically said no matter how fast it is, its still just a neon. I closed the web page, and forgot about it for several months. We talked again and he told me how he went and test drove one in miami, and that his car isnt fun to drive anymore. that perked my interest, so i started doing research, which is how i found this board. My thoughts have turned around 180 degrees, and i'm now a fan/owner (it still feels wierd to say that!!) of the SRT-4. Sure, i have to put up with the "its just a neon" by everyone i TELL about it, but when they see it, hear it, and feel it, they become believers too.