2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

After I graduated high school in 2005, I was determined to get a nice car to start off my adult life. Unbeknowngst to my parents (and obviously against their wishes), my best friend and I took off to a Dodge dealership and test drove a 2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4. He had a 2003 Subaru WRX, and we both had just seen Fast and Furious, and we were all about starting up our own car club but I HAD to get a better car. My 1992 Camaro RS with a V6 just didn't cut it - especially after I crashed it and one side of the car was very amateurishly repaired with different colored body panels and passenger door. Also, I eventually lost one of my T-tops because I mistakenly took off without securing them, so over the passenger seat was several white trash bags that I jerry-rigged with duct tape as a makeshift roof. So you can see... I needed a better car for the car club! It was actually my friend's idea and I just kind of went along for the ride... if I ended up with a SRT-4, GREAT! If not... no problems, as long as I got a test drive. What is a Dodge Neon SRT-4? Its the first SRT model car that Dodge produced; SRT stands for Street and Racing Technology (they couldn't get away with Street Racing Technology, so they had to put "and" between street and racing - its the politically correct thing to do). Later on, this performance division of Chrysler would be its own stand-alone brand. The Dodge Neon SRT-4 was marketed as the most powerful compact sedan with an MSRP under $20,000. I think Dodge got away with it because they ripped out so much of the car to fit in all the "street and racing" upgrades (like bigger tires, a bigger engine, and so on). Basically the Neon SRT-4 is just a sport car. A lot of people would rag on it, rather than recognize it for its performance and its potential. Back in the day, I'd argue with friends that it could perform on par with a Nissan 350z. Could it really? Interestingly enough, I'd come to drive both these cars - both from the same year, 2003, and both bone stock. No... the SRT-4 is not as quick as a 350z, but with some basic modifications that you'd see on any SRT-4 car, it would put up a fight down the 1/4 track. It may be able to corner as fast as 350z, but you'd be pushing it while cornering is the Z's biggest asset - handling is what the Z does, its designed head to toe for real track performance. At the end of the day, the SRT is indeed a Neon and all Neon SRT's start life as a simple Dodge Neon. You can put as much racing technology into it as you want, but the simple fact is the platform is a Neon... That being said... the test drive was awesome! Sure it's bested by the much more powerful Nissan 350z, but the package works on the street. Driving the Neon was the first time I had driven a car with a turbocharger, and to feel that boost kick in was intense. Bare in mind, my daily driver is a 1992 V6 Camaro... maybe 140hp. This was 215hp in the Neon SRT and the car made sure you knew it as the turbo spooled up in a surge of power and acceleration, then the pressure released as you shift gears letting off a sharp chirp from the blow off valve. For what it is, the SRT is a fun car to drive. Very childish fun. Then the smile is wiped off my face, as I tried to explain to my parents that I needed a co-sign for a $18,000 car loan ASAP. Needless to say, I went back home to a broken down Camaro RS with nothing more than a hope and a dream. If I became rich enough to own my dream garage, as ridiculous as the Neon SRT is, I'd have it parked right next to its big brother... the Viper SRT-10. I don't judge, and I know exactly why people love these cars and I have to say, I like them too.Mar 19, 2015