2004 Dodge Neon SRT-4 Review

The 153-mph Dodge Neon SRT-4 sedan is the fastest performance car you can buy for under $21,000. In fact, it's one of the fastest cars sold for any amount, and is the quickest Dodge next to that automaker's awesome 500-horsepower Viper sports car.

Last year's Neon SRT-4 was the fastest under-$20,000 vehicle sold in this country. It had a list price of $19,450.

The more-powerful 2004 SRT-4 lists at $20,450, which still is chump change for a roomy, superb-handling car that does 0-60 mph in 5.3 seconds and hits 103 mph in a quarter mile run.

Putting that whip-snapping performance in perspective, any car that tops 95 mph in the quarter mile -- traditional length of a drag strip -- is very fast. Performance of the SRT-4 makes merging into fast traffic and quick passing on highways a breeze.

It's a shame that some young members of the fast and furious crowd will bypass the youth-oriented SRT-4 for a Japanese car, which won't be as fast or reliable despite the addition of costly aftermarket accessories. The SRT-4 comes from the Chrysler Group's Performance Vehicle Operations, which knows a lot about making fast vehicles backed by DaimlerChrysler's full warranty.

Moreover, the subcompact SRT-4 has good room for four tall adults and is well-equipped. Standard items include air conditioning, six-speaker AM/FM radio with in-dash CD player, remote keyless entry, power fold-away mirrors, power front windows, fold-down rear seatbacks and rear defroster.

Options include $390 front side air bags and a $695 power sunroof.

Back windows are manually operated. They're a reminder that the SRT-4 is based on the standard Neon, which was designed as a low-cost economy car. Another reminder is the rough-looking underside of the trunk lid, which closes on manual hinges to cover a large trunk with a rather high opening.

The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine of the new SRT-4 has 230 horsepower and virtually no turbo lag. That's an increase of 15 horsepower from the 2003 model, thanks to such modifications as larger fuel injectors that increase fuel flow and a recalibrated engine computer.

One might expect poor fuel economy with such a swift car, but the SRT-4 provides an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 30 on the highway.

The SRT-4 also gets a new, standard limited-slip differential, which gives it far more traction when accelerating out of corners; the power of the 2003 model made its inside front tire uselessly spin.

However, the SRT-4 has a prominent exhaust note that is tiring on longer trips if the sound system is switched off.

Like all Neons, the SRT-4 is a front-drive car, whereas its main rivals have a rear-drive setup that generally results in more balanced handling because of less weight up front.

Yet, the SRT-4 has the superb handling expected of such a fast car, largely because of its carefully developed sports suspension with front/rear stabilizer bars and wide, specially developed 50-series tires on big, styled 17-inch wheels.

The anti-lock all-disc brakes are powerful, providing sure stops from high speeds.

The special power steering is very quick. It's a bit heavy, but feels good and appropriate for a fast car; the last thing you'd want is overly light steering for such an auto.

The ride is firm, but the suspension is supple enough to be comfortable on all but really bad pavement. The car has a glued-to-the-road feel found with something like a $47,100 BMW M3.

There's no automatic transmission, though. The SRT-4 is a serious driver's car and thus is only offered with a slick five-speed manual gearbox. It has a nice shifter that works with a long-throw clutch, which calls for moderate effort to depress.

An SRT-4 driver need not do lots of shifting because the new engine control module has an updated calibration that widens the torque range. The broad range reduces torque drop-off, while providing more torque at lower engine r.p.m. levels for less shifting under normal driving conditions.

The Neon SRT-4 looks the part. It has racy looking front and rear fascias, fog lights, body sill extensions and a hood air scoop. Those additions make the car look more adventuresome than the conventional Neon, although the oversized rear spoiler is a bit much; it gave me the impression that another vehicle was following me closely when I glanced in the rearview mirror.

An SRT-4 driver sits in a well-bolstered bucket seat and grasps a thick-rim, leather-covered tilt steering wheel, while facing sporty gauges with red needles -- including a turbocharger boost gauge that looks like a custom add-on.

There are handy front door storage pockets and a fairly deep covered console bin, but front cupholders are set too low for easy use.

America was filled with fast, affordable domestic four-seat cars in the 1960s, but all vanished for a long time after that decade. The SRT-4 is a fitting successor to such autos.

2004 DODGE NEON SRT-4

Prices
$20,450

Likes
America's fastest car for the money. More power. Roomy. Practical.

Dislikes
Exhaust drone. No automatic transmission. Low cupholders. High trunk opening.