H-A.Net Car of the Week: 2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4



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Reviews

Car and Driver
Road & Track
Edmunds.Com

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Specifications

Powertrain
- Layout: Transverse-mounted, front engine, front-wheel-drive
- Engine Type: Turbocharged, 16-valve, DOHC, 2.4L 4 Cylinder
- Horsepower: 215 hp @ 5400 rpm
- Torque: 245 lb-ft @ 3200 rpm
- Recommended Fuel: Premium Unleaded

Transmissions
- 5 Speed Manual

General
- Price: $19,995
- Weight: 2883 lbs
- Manual: 22/30 MPG
- Fuel Tank: 12.5 gallons
- Cargo Space: 13.1 cubic feet
- AM/FM cassette in-dash 6 CD player

Performance Stats
- 0-60: 5.6 sec
- 0-100: 13.8 sec
- 0-150: 58.6 sec
- 1/4 mile: 14.2 sec @ 102 mph
- Top Speed: 153 mph

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Previous Car of the Week Poll: 32 Total Votes

Topic: $30,000-$35,000 Entry Level Luxury Sedans

1) Audi A4 3.0 - 13 votes
2) Acura 3.2TL Type-S - 10 votes
3) Nissan Maxima SE - 7 votes



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This is a tough decision for me. As much as a piece of crap the Neon is inside and out (and as questionable as the reliability is), it's hard to pick against it. The RSX has the nicest interior of the bunch, and its K20 has much potential, but it only has 160hp stock. Same with the Si. Sadly however, I buy cars based on interior design, engine performance, transmission, and exterior design. The Neon sucks in three of those areas. But with 225 wheel horsepower, who can argue? :dunno: My vote goes to the MINI Cooper S...decent power and it handles like it's on rails :thumbup:

 

i vote mazdaspeed protege i leave the turbos to teh ones that have experience at it and it's got the 2nd most power up there i believe

 

I really hate neons, no matter how fast they go, so this was very easy for me. I would pick any of the cars before the neon, because when people ask what kind of car I have I would be embarassed if I had to say a neon, next to the cavalier there is not many other cars that are considered as crappy in the auto world. I picked the RSX, I like the tiburons, GTIs, and celicas though.

 

for me it was between the neon, mini, and mazda protege. god knows i love the mini, but its just too trendy for me. and between the mazda and dodge, the mazda is the better car in every category but power, and since power is easily increase (on both cars i admit), i chose the mazda.

 

SRT-4...sure..its a neon, and it looks like ass, but I wont argue with the price.

Id rather have a Subaru dealer cut me a nice deal on a bug eyed WRX.....

 

I'd love to include the RSX-S and WRX as they can both be had for around $21k, but this poll is based off of MSRP :happysad:

 

Ya, sucks doesnt it.

My cousin had a 2 year lease, and was gonna get somethin else(350Z or RX8), but theyre offering crazy discounts on the WRX bug-eye style. MSRP in CDN money is 35k and his came to around $31.5k(dont ask how he managed that one)

 

For the money, the Neon can't be beat in performance, but can't stand the crappy interior. I like handling, so I went for the Mazdaspeed