8 Great Rides

Dodge SRT-4

Photography by Jared Holstein

The last time something this fast was available to 16-year-old pizza delivery boys, the turbo Omni GLH was busy changing lanes under boost. The SRT-4 simply sets the performance-per-dollar curve on its ear again.OK, so it's still a Neon, and there isn't the total transformation seen from Lancer to EVO, but it's the cheapest of the eight cars here and it offers more horsepower per dollar than any other car sold in the United States--orperhaps anywhere.There's no secret to the SRT's big power and straight line numbers: Lots of boost, 2.4 liters of iron-block beefiness, and um, that's it. No VTEC, i-VTEC, vvti, VANOS, variable volume plenums or Japanese ingenuity. Easy to tune, easy to make tons of power, hard to break. We ask for nothing more. Oh, more power? Drive back to your friendly neighborhood Chrysler dealer, ask nice, and he'll pull out the Mopar catalog. Chrysler gets it. Make a stock car that scoots like a branded bull, then develop, sell and install parts that make it go even faster.

Performance changes to the '04 model included larger injectors and tuning changes, a much needed Quaife limited-slip differential and same sized but stickier BFG KDWs, all of which improved the car considerably, but bumped its base price up $1,200. Beyond what is quantifiable with test data, the Quaife lets you wheel the SRT-4 within an inch of its life. Driver confidence is born of the knowledge that you've got tons of boost, plenty of stick and two driven tires to pull you out of whatever stupidity you get yourself into.

Chrysler claims 10 more hp at the crank, and provides it at the wheels, thanks to 10 percent larger injectors that provide more tuning headroom. Chrysler didn't touch the tuning of the strut suspension, of which the dampers could use some development. With the extra stick generated with the KDWs, the stock setup is simply overtaxed and tends to wallow.

Oh, Mopar makes upgraded coil-overs, too. In fact, once your SRT wears the contents of the Mopar catalog, including the Stage III turbo package, you're eligible for the secret Mopar underoo upgrade, although there's no dealer installation of this item.

Just to quibble, with all the goodness bestowed on the SRT-4 for the '04 model, perhaps Chrysler thought we wouldn't notice the crappy seats it sticks in the car if you order side airbags. We We like the standard racing-style seats way better.

Chrysler has yet again pulled off a perfect "Revenge of the Turds." Two hundred thirty-seven thumbs up from these critics. --Jared Holstein

Dodge SRT-4
Best feature: An even better value than 25-cent taco night.
Worst feature: Interior by Rubbermaid.
First three things we'd modify:
1: Even more power
Mopar's Stage 1 and Stage 2 kits are cheap and install in hours.
2: Suspension
Toss all of it. Add stiffer shocks and bars and bigger performance tires.
3: Ditch the wing
This should probably be number one.