I saw this car on a show that ESPN 2 was doing this morning, so I decided to research it and I came up with some pretty interesting stuff.

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/previ...0/article.html

It comes out for the 2003 model year, and it looks like a pretty decent car. I'm no 4-banger fan, but since it's here to stay, might as well favor the domestic 4-bangers. Anyways, this is just a heads up about this little car.

2.4 Liter DOHC turbo-boosted inline 4
205 HP / 220 lb/ft
Top Speed of 148 mph
0 - 60 in 5.9 seconds

...and here's the kicker, it's priced UNDER $20K! You can bet that some punk kid's parents are going to buy this for them. That's a great price for a good amount of performance. That kind of performance to price ratio harkens back to the days of musclecars.

Why is it that these car manufactures can't make a V-8, RWD car with that kind of HP to $ ratio? I can understand them making such a car, because there is a market for it, but why can't they bring back the Charger?....or the Challenger?

I just don't get it.... ....Dodge only makes 1 RWD performance car and that's like $80 G's......Chevy kills off the F-bodies, and only leaves us with the $50K Corvette, and turns the Impala into the Faggotmobile.....only Ford seems to care...I'm seriously thinking about switching loyalties here.

Sorry for the rant....I intended just to give you guys a heads up on the newest enemy.

 

My neon obssesed friend was talkin crap about my car and that the new turbo neon could beat it. i figured itd be about high 14s, but now im rethinking that. its true that no one seems to care about new muscle anymore, its all about "import tuning", so gm thinks, no one but die hard fans will buy these cars anymore, so away they go, and well make a sport model cavalier with a shiny exhaust tip, and ground effects.

 

I stand corrected on one issue....after further research, I've come to discover that Dodge is indeed looking to bring back the Charger. And might I add, that the concept is badass!!:hail:

4.7 liter SOHC
16 valve
V-8
325 HP

:lala:

http://www.dodge.com/inside/concept_...harger_rt.html

Then what the hell is the matter with GM?

I think GM now stands for Girlie Motors

 

Earlier in the year one of my freinds was talking about how an SRT would be able to beat any Camaro(3rd Gen) I get, and I told him how about I get a Turbo T/A, and he had no idea what I was talking about. But anyways, the only reason they are making that little pocket rocket is because of the "import" tuning. The funny thing is the fact that they come with a wing straight from the factory. But Dodge is also releasing the Razor, I would not mind having one.

 

i hope Chrysler did some serious R&D on this turbo Neon before its released. the old ones blew head gaskets quite regularly. add a turbo to that equation, and your asking for trouble. if they just bolted on a turbo to the existing motor, Dodge is going to lose alot of money due to warrenty repairs

 

Well first off, it's still a neon.

2nd- The WRX has 227 HP and AWD and is hitting low-mid 14's.. That leaves a fwd turbo car running 205 HP running around a low 15. The car isn't that impressive to me because it is still a neon, but you can't argue with the value that you get. This is all assuming that they can make it reliable.

I don't know how confident I would be modding an already turbocharged Neon.

I think for a little more money I'd rather have the MazdaSpeed Protege'.. At least that's not a neon.

 

FWIW Dodge's site has it at 215HP and 245TQ. It's also gonna weigh real close to 3000 lbs.

David

 

Exactly.

 

the neon will be well in the 14's .. the wrx does those time but after the 1/8 the awd isnt helping at all .. the neon is 215hp and 2800 lbs look at my car and its stock time .. my car wieghs more and 10 less hp and 0-60 is 6.9.. after the launch the neon has eveything going its way .... but yea its still a fuking neon just watch out for it tho

 

I want the concept charger

 

"Chevy kills off the F-bodies, and only leaves us with the $50K Corvette, and turns the Impala into the Faggotmobile.....only Ford seems to care...I'm seriously thinking about switching loyalties here. "

If GM brings back the Camaro or Firebird like they did the Impala, or switching any RWD muscle-car into a FWD family sedan, I'm with Gunny on this, I'm switching to Ford and becoming a Mustang guy. Call the car a different name, but don't defame the car (and it's fans) like the 80's Nova, and the 90's Monte Carlos and Impalas.

 

Regardless....0 - 60 in 5.9 seconds is pretty freakin' quick, seeing how a brand new SS does it in 5.5 seconds. And it is sure as hell a lot faster than my RS. And there's no way in hell my car will go 148 mph......(damn computer)

 

5.5 sec?????? Where u get that from? I read in about 4 diff articles that it ran a 5.1 and as low as a 4.8

 

It was either Edmunds or Car and Driver....can't remember which one, but I just read it today.

 

As mentioned earlier, Dodge does have plans to resurrect the Charger, and Pontiac will be bringing back the GTO (using the Austrailian Holden Monaro platform...350hp V8, RWD, and already a respectable car). Can't wait to see 'em. Now all we have to do is lobby GM to bring back the THIRDGEN F-Body (complete with LS1 powerplant. )

EDIT: Oh, BTW, same drivetrain from the Neon SRT-4 is being dropped into the PT Cruiser , so watch out for BS on that front, as well.

 

Yeah, I read that in the article somewhere. That's all we need. .....Soccer Moms with big SUV's and Soccer Moms with turbo-charged PT Cruisers.

Well atleast some companies are bringing back good cars. Now if they can just keep them under $20K, I might be happy.

Still here: Mustang

Back to Life: GTO, Charger

MIA: Firebird, Nova, Camaro, Chevelle, Challenger, Impala, Olds 442, Grand National

....oh well, one at a time I guess.

 

I seen them out front of the Dodge dealer everyday I go to work. I remember when my dad was looking for a new truck, I was looking at some of the dodges they had in the showroom (NO Vipers? WTF) One of the salesmen told me they had a new Neon coming out and showed me a few pictures of it. I told him that it that I had a Camaro and had no real use for rice. He said it would stomp my Camaro for under $20Gs. I said with $20Gz I could get this red 98 Z28 LS1 and still have $3Gz wave at him while I blow past him. Needless to say, he went to his back to his cubicle

"Once you go rice, you forget what fast really is" -DD

 

Nothing can be more scary than a band of soccer moms in turbo-charged PT Cruisers. But with the neons, it is going to be nothing but a bunch of females zooming in and out of traffic at a faster pace. The SRT will be nothing but a "cute" car just like the Bug. But of course there will be some very confused guy that thinks that he looks MaD tYt3 in his styling girls car.

 

Yup.....here they come....PT Cruisers with double-decker wings mounted to the back of the roof, five-point harnesses in back-breaking fiberglass buckets, and "Type-R" badging.

 

Do you guys really think that a car that weighs 3000 pounds with 215 or whatever horse is gonna hit 5.9 0-60. That is a crock of $hit. What is the fastest import running? The 200HP RSX is in the low 15s.

 

No, RSX-S , Celica GTS and Eclipse GT all do high 14's, RSX-S will even be in pretty much mid 14's not big dif but .... the NSX does what like 4's(0 to 60)? and the Wrx? Porche's are imports just not a Jap. and the neon does not wieght 3000 pounds the **** weighs 2500 w/o turbo i cant see how turbo will add 500 lbs

 

I think tpivette89 hit the nail on the head. Dodge better have done some engine work or those things will blow up as soon as people start pushing them hard or modding them. There is a guy here locally with a turbo Neon R/T. He's pushing 22 psi, runs mid 12's, has even had engine work .... but here's the crazy part .... he's on his 4th engine!!!

Reading about the new Neon sorta makes me jealeous. Those are better numbers than my SVO (stock for stock). Wish I had a DOHC damnit heheh. Unfortunately I think the major downfalls will be the engine and FWD drivetrain. But hey, on the other hand, I also wouldnt doubt that a few v8 owners might get supprised by this new Neon.

 

No matter what.....................It's still a Neon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It'll still have that gay nameplate no matta what!

 

Yeah, some Camaro and Mustang Owners are going to pull up next to one of these and think, "Stupid wing, aftermarket hood.....all show, no go." ....And they're gone get a hurtin' put on them....especially after some aftermarket parts come out for this "cute" car.

I'm not a compact fan. My beef with this whole thing is the HP:$ deal. This kind of ratio is just like that of the musclecar era.....I'm tellin' yall, we're gettin' squeezed out one car at a time. Sure the Camaro, Mustang, GTO and Charger will exist.....but, it sure as hell won't be for that kind of price. It'll be more for the mid 30's to 50's guys who can afford it. They'll be willing to pay more just for the nostalga factor, and they can afford it.

 

Well EclipseGt - Whats your car run? Probably in the 14's huh? I haven't ever heard of a stock Eclipse, RSX, or GTS getting into the 14's out the door. I was comparing all of them in the back of R&T or MT and none where going that fast with damn good drivers at the wheel. To me and the most tracks "import" is really a FWD car. That is why "import" races have neons, caviliers and focus's. To compare a neon to a NSX or Porcshe is a joke. And to compare it to a WRX is pretty bad too. It will never, ever handle like a AWD. Do you all know that the Neon SRT is a 4 door and only 5000 are coming out. Don't be too excited. Once R&T or MT get a hold of one and pull those times I'll believe it.

 

A new SS will do 0-60 in around 5 flat, give or take for the driver. Still though I agree 5.9 is pretty damn quick especially for a NEON

 

Magazine racing huh... please dont mag race thats my stock time below ill even show u the reciept of when i got the intake so.... and just imagine this is in ****ing hot as Miami fl in the summer



that like me saying all domestics are V8's everything alse is just .. :lala:

 

pontiacZ28

C&D ran a 14.8 I believe with the RSX. I can find the article if you wish.. SCC ran many sub 15 second runs with lightly modded Rsx-s'.. Most people on Club-RSX are posting time-slips of 14.6-8 with I/E.. Many mods are just coming out now and the car has only been out for one year.. Once more parts come out for them and the right combinations are found, along with good driving, a low 14 isn't really out of the question..

I'm not sure what the NEW GT-S is runnning (03) but the 02's were about a mid 15 second car since they lowered the fuel cut off and effectively shortened the powerband.

The WRX's are hitting mid 14's easily and 13's with some mods.. I would say the WRX is easily the best new import out under $25K.. If you want to go over $25k then you can really open up a can of worms.. The 350z is nice, so are S2000's and the RX8 will be out next year.. Not bad cars when the only sub $30000 Domestic cars with 2 doors that are impressive right now are.. Mustang GT's... and.. Well that's it since f-bodies are gone..

 

BTW- Here is the link to the 14.8 Ran by Car and Driver in the RSX-S..

I realize it would be optimistic to say that anyone could do this, I realize it was a pro driver. But the fact is it HAS been done..
RSX review from car and driver

 

What, exactly, is wrong with a Neon? I happen to have a 97 Neon with the 2.0 DOHC engine. While it's not quick, and I'll never want to mod it to be quick. It's a very reliable and comfortable car. The engine has never failed me in 69K miles. If I had the dough I would buy the '03 SRT and beat alot of the cars on this board right off the show room floor. 5.9 seconds is damned quick and 245TQ on a 2500 lb vehicle is damn good! And all for under 20K???? Of course the wing blows but otherwise the car looks tight.

 

I know you are all off the Neon tip, but after reading some of these post's I saw a commercial for the PT Cruiser Turbo which is the same engine with 10 more horse and is based on the same neon chassis. So I looked it up and it runs 7.5 0-60. If this is basically a Neon staionwagon how does it lose 1.5 seconds on the 0-60 with a gain of 10 hp? Can anyone explain.

 

Because the PT cruiser has more body so it weighs more.

 

Sheeze how many knuckle heads are out there that just drool and want these new "Neons" and all the new import tuning cars. Do u guys ever go to sites that talk about there cars just like we do here about our third-gen? I'm curious as to what they say, and how much they think those cars kick ***.

I'm not against Neons, and family cars, and all, but once they start making those cars into "performance" cars, that pisses the *uck outta me. Rather than wasting there time on that ****, when in reality those cars should be left alone for what they were made for, NO, they have to now make them"performance" cars. Instead they could of used there research, time, and money and figured out how to keep the Camaro and Firebird alive. And maybe Dodge could wake the *uck up and stop bull****ting us with these cars and actually make a REAL MUSCLE CAR for under 30K.

U know what im saying, its true, its just so *ucked up to me, it seems these companies got there cards messed up with "performance" "muscle" and "economy"

 

So how much weight exactly would drop the time 1.5 seconds? It would have to be like 2000 lbs. The PT can't weigh that much more than the four door. This car the Neon SRT sounds like to me hey maybe Dodge can make a sick FWD four door.

 

Hey lay off of Dodge, They are bringing the Charger back (Looks Freakin' amazing) the Viper is there and the V-10 Ram is out there as well oh yea what else did I forget the Hemi that Dodge is bringing back. Dodge and Ford are on the right track (Ford's Maurader, Mach 1, GT-40, Thunderbird) But Chevrolet kills the Camaro, Brings back the Impala and Malibu as FWD crap. So I'm a tried and true Chev guy but don't rip on Dodge.

Maybe someone could come out with a WS6 Z/28 with a big surprise under the hood , you know anyone with a car like that, that would be pimp .

By the way a PT Cruiser is not a Neon Stationwagon, it's totally a different car.

Later, Garrett

 

Yeah you're right they only share chassis, engine and tranny. It's kind of how a Firebird is a totally different car than a Camaro. No one is ripping dodge it's the claims they make on their Neon SRT is all. Dodge is OK, better than Ford but that isn't saying much. What about the Pontiac GTO, Chevy Silverado SS and the SSR, Caddy SLR(basically a Luxo-Vette), Caddy Cien(V12 700+ HP) all being put out by GM. Are those not American Muscle or what? They've got to be if you claim that the T-Bird is some sort of performance muscle car.

 

Oh yea the exact same let's see Neon 2.0 L engine while the PT cruiser has a 2.4. Now onto wheel base Neon 2667mm PT has 2616mm. But yea exact same everything , just a stationwagon.

As for the GM cars, GTO not worthy of replacing the Camaro, performance times are junk. Silerado SS nice but nowhere close to the Lighting or the V-10 Ram, the SSR nothing just style no power 1/4 mile times I think I saw they were in the high 14 to low 15's terrible. Caddy those boys got it together but the V-12 Cien yea that will see the light of day .

And even these cars are not Muscle cars, there are no more muscle cars left. Muscle cars were killed in the 70's by the gas crisis. The cars we have to choose from now are Sports Cars not Muscle cars.

Later, Garrett

 

I've got a mag with this car in it. It looks like hell. 5.9 to 60, but it doesn't follow that well. It really starts to lose power. You know, my Topaz is nowhere even close to that fast, but at least it GAINS power. Not many 4 cylinder drivers can say that. And it's reliable. But let's face it people--think about what's going on...they're are going to sale alot of these little turds.

 

I would call the T-Bird a muscle car:

3.9L v8
260 hp
RWD
3000 lbs
0-60 in 6.8 seconds

Sounds relatively fast to me.

 

Sorry when I was answering all the other cars the T-bird slipped but yes T-bird most definatly included in performance list. Also your right about these things being as common as BS on the Theoretical and Street Racing Board . But there are really going to be ten's of thousands of those things.

Later, Garrett

 

Well they won't be selling tens of thousands of SRT's if their only making 5000. I meant that the Turbo PT, which I was refering too in that post, is like a SRT Wagon in that they have the same engine 2.4 Turbo, Manual Tranny and Transaxle, and are on the same chassis. See. I don't know about that Metric $hit since we do live in America and all but the Neon wheelbase is 105 to 103 on the PT, big deal. The PT only weighs 450lbs more so I don't see how all those things could add up to a 1.5 second loss in 0-60 comes from when it has 10 more horse. I have seen no numbers on the GTO it will have the same old US version LS1 so it should be right up there with the TA and Z28. Don't know the times for the SSR but it will have 300HP 5.3L so it should be decent too. The only worthy ford you named was the GT-40 maybe if you said the Cobra but the mach 1 ain't nothing special nor the marauder. For trucks you may be right but you were ripping on Chevy for what they have done and the truth is they haven't given up on RWD muscle either they have at least the same as any other american company if not more. Is Chevy dumping money into making a fast FWD four door like your Dodge? NO. So maybe GM has their heads on straight.

 

Whatever...
Anyway...
To the guy who was putting down the new Impalas...I fully agree. Did anyone else see the commercial for this thing wherein a man is admiring the new Impala and says that his father used to have one. The woman then asks, "But did your father's car have a 200 hp 3.8L v6 engine....yada yada..."

Why didn't the guy say, "No, my father's car had a 300 hp v8....Next question."

Any what about the new Toyota Corr...uhh I mean Chevy Malibu? Uggghh. At least the Monte Carlo looks decent. Should be RWD, dammit.
Cars and trucks are getting weird.

 

That's what I'm saying....it's not that Chevy doesn't have some cars out there with some good power and decent numbers....it's the price of these cars that's my problem. I don't believe one of them is priced under $20K. The last time I was looking at a $20K car, I belive the monthly payments came out to around $260 a month....that isn't anything.

If Chevy, Ford and Dodge truelly want to regain a foothold on the youth market (who will spend their money on anything), they need to lower the cost of these cars. It's just not a matter of bringing back old nameplates that will revitalize the musclecar era, it's the whole package......RWD, V8, limited amenities, and AFFORDABLE.....this is the muscle car idea. We don't need leather interiors, GPS tracking, or On-Star.....we want torque, and lots of it, and we need low monthly payments.

It's the affordable part that is sucking all these kids in. Honda's were affordable, while the insurance premiums on V8's went through the roof, along with the prices.....it was only a matter of time before the kids just started working with what they had, and that was 2 liters and 4 bangers....and then the aftermarket parts makers simply went where the money was at......young and dumb kids with cash to burn.

The idea of "musclecar" is so much more than just 1/4 mile times and HP ratings.

 

Yes. Exactly. Gunny Highway for President. Of GM, Chrysler, or Ford, that is.
This **** about little worthless little extras that mean diddley--drives me crazy. You rarely hear anything about how a car runs anymore or how it handles. I want to know about the driving experience. And I'm not talking about school zone stuff either, people. Damn. Why don't they just save money and remove the engine and transmission? All the do is go on about the system, the ac, the seats, arrangement of gauges...enough.
The complain their little pampered hearts out when they get in an older car. Like my car's junk because it does have a 6 disk changer and leather seats...This is crazy. And prices are terrible. You could build yourself a muscle car or even two for the price of even the cheapest cars now days.

 

camaro is right, a new ss will do a sub-5 second 0-60. My brothers 2000 z28 with only slp exhaust and an air lid did 0-60 it in 4.93. 5.9 is not all that fast, but fyi I was running 14.5s in my 305 with a 5.8 second 0-60.

 

As I stated before, those numbers are straight from a respected source. Here's the link to Edmunds if you don't believe me.

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...1/page020.html

Now of course no every car is the same, but we can all go on and on about the time we had a car going 0 - 60 in 5 seconds....whatever.....I think some of yall are missing the point of this whole post.

 

That's just a stock z28, an SS is obviously faster. Personally I think that 5.5 is pretty slow, especially for a 2001/2 car and a six speed at that. But maybe the cat-back and air box are that restrictive.

 

I'm more interested in how the car responds to basic mods...will it be in the 13's right next to me, or will it pop when the boost goes up?