lol thats funny...I have an 02 wrx that had about 300AWHP (91 octane) and I was smoking alot of people in "street racing". Infact, I dont remeber loosing. So, I guess I had fun in both worlds...straight line and twisties.

Not saying that it was the best car in the bay area...just that with that much power you get into another "bracket" of people with fast cars. Now, I am stock again and cant wait to hook up my 02. I should be at 350-400AWHP. Shoot, maybe I will get a built motor and go for 500whp.

So, you cant say the wrx, or STi , or even a hooked up RS are not good for drags...sure they arent the best....but they are still good when hooked up. Good enough for some 10-11 sec runs and still being a 4 banger, daily driver.

-freddie

 

who cares??? lol

hey Verc, hows it going??

-freddie

 

I think verc is exactly right -- most of the reaction to the SRT-4 is snobbery, pure and simple. A friend of mine mocked one as a "Neon with a cheap Mexican engine" and didn't even realize (until I pointed it out!) the bigoted racist/cultural slur in his comment. No one with a $52,000 Porsche Carrera wants to think even for a second that a sub-$20,000 car can smoke them from a stoplight, stock from the factory.

My reaction to them has always been not to the car itself, but to the drivers and how they are driven. The oddly high rear-end of the car (it looks like it is going to pitch forward on its nose -- like a top-fuel dragster) and the low front lip make it look like something a game designer dreamed up for Midnight Club IV; it truly does look like a Neon with a wicked body kit, and it seems to attract the 18-year-old male street-racing crowd with the same power that the Acura Integras did about four years ago.

Having had four American cars in my lifetime, I have to admit I do have a biased image of Detroit-engineered and built cars, and it isn't a positive one. I'm dead certain a well-kept Subaru would keep going 50,000 miles past the tombstone of an American car of a similar class. Yet there is no denying that the SRT-4 is a remarkable match-up of components and cost-shaving, perhaps the first true American "pocket rocket."

 

^^^That's right. Can't people just say, "Great car but not for me"?

Think about the cars that have been rammed down our throats over the years by automakers/marketers where "power" and "reasonbly-priced" were mutually exclusive.

Now juxtapose that to an SRT-4. 300hp for around $25k is phenomenal. Power to price ratio is awesome and that's good for all of us because other automakers must compete.

I dare say that the SRT-4 might owe its very existence to the WRX, as does the importation of the EVO and STI.

I, for one, applaud any attempt by automakers to cater to the cost-conscious enthusiast crowd.

F the Elitists! Power to the People!

BTW, I loved my integra for its civility but FWD-wheel-hop mad me livid.

 

yeah.... giving the "common people" the illusion of power is just what the elite need to keep them in control

 

Until I become TheMan™, I'll have to take what TheMan™ gives me and work from there.

I'm a pragmatist not a marxist revolutionary.

 

This is all ego wars. Subie owners butthurt that a sub-25K econobox will smoke their asses to the next stoplight. SRT owners mad because of all the **** they say they get.

Lets look at this from another perspective... You buy a WRX, because you enjoy the get-up and go feel of AWD. You find it to be a match of your liking. You enjoy the semi-refined interior and its not-so-bad quality. You enjoy the seating, etc, etc... You bought the car because you loved it. You like the fact that its practical, comfortable, reliable (if maintained), and its an all around great vehicle for the money. The WRX was built as a daily driver with rally INSPIRED looks, handling, and power.

An SRT owner did NOT buy his car for the same reasons. He did not love the fact that the front windows are power, while the rear are roll-down. He did not love the rental car dash and the cheap plastic its made of. He did not love the comfort of the car either. Point is... He didnt give a **** about these things. He turned the key, heard the muffler-less rumble, stepped on it and his jaw dropped. The SRT-4 is a serious vehicle when it comes to power. It's smooth AND violent when you want it to be. The engine is tuned beautifully... But this is NOT a car to take your family around with, or to take long trips, etc etc.... It's a fun car.

This is why you find a lot of youngsters who can care less about refinement and just want a *****-heavy vehicle that outperforms most cars. Lets face it, they arent RACERS, they just want to whoop the latest cars on the road, stop light to stop light. The general age of people who buy SRTs ranges typically 18-25.. ive heard of older people purchasing the vehicle, but its rarely their Daily Driver. A lot of peope out there DO respect its raw power.

You see WRX drivers ranging from 18-45 EASILY... Why? It's practical... Steven can drive to work everyday with reliability. Have his family hop in if they want to go somewhere, COMFORTABLY. Its safer in more hazardous weather conditions, and on the weekends steven can even have a little spirited driving fun, yeah? The WRX is built with purpose in mind, its practical and something to truly appreciate. Comparing an STI to a SRT is a little closer... But i dont want to get into all that, as youve all probably stopped reading by this point.

Eitherway, I'm waiting for the 2006 WRX 2.5L w leather. Its something Ive planned on and have been saving for. I'm 22 years old, going to school, working in a professional environment, and I find the WRX to satisfy my thirst for power, while maintaining a practical and clean image. Also, I'll be making payments for the next 5 years... Do i really want to be a 27 year old driving a Neon? I guess it depends on the image you portray of yourself.

If you own an SRT-4, i respect that car very much, and props to you. If it fits your lifestyle, GREAT! my friend owns one and I love it. But to 90% of the people on the road, it is in fact a neon with a big wing. You will find no props from people in G35s, Mercedes, BMWs, whatever... In their ignorant eyes youre a neon... Try proving to them that it isnt... Rev, blow off, pass them quickly... You may think they just witnessed power... They think you just downshifted and did something idiotic.

You buy your car for yourself not for others. If you are butt hurt about EVOs beatings STis or SRTs beating WRXs and STis, get over it. Buy what will make you happy, stop looking at the shell of the car. Dodge really hit the nail with this car. Props to Dodge. they cut costs by offering it in the Neon shell, and they gave those people who give a **** less about the neon body A LOT of power The WRX is my choice, because it fits me. The SRT is someone elses choice.

Props to all of you who are staying true to yourselves.

 

^^^Werd

 

Well put....I can't remember reading a more logical expression of how one feels about this issue and how alot of others get sucked into useless debates.

I have been fortunate enough to take an early retirement from one career at age 50 and bought a 2005 SRT-4acr and am playing around with the mods...When I am finished with this car I am sure I will try something different. One thing for sure is that I will stay in the compact car line because it is easy to pick up a new one and pay cash and not be stuck with payments while your upgrading it to where you want it to be.
I favor American made cars if something out there strikes my fancy then so be it......

 

I hope your considering a career in writing - boy, you got skillz! Seriously though, well put. Anyone on Abortion Rights or say President Bush????

 

HAHA Dep... always right behind me with props huh? Appreciate it man...

Funny about the whole writing career thing.. I won a county-wide essay competition in HS... but yeah I write poetry and music, nothing really regarding debate... and study psychology, which inspires most of my music...

I dunno, I guess it just pisses me off to see single-angled, judgement based posts which are clearly favoring one side over the other with extreme bias. All just to reinforce themselves that they made the right $25,000 decision... I play the devils advocate A LOT, more people should, its enlightening to do research on multiple angles of the same subject prior to making a large investment....

Thanks again for the props dep... and goodluck on your ACR Intruudir, they are fantastic cars in their own respect!!!

 

Bush for PREZ!!!!!











Female Bush that is

 

Thats very true. I know a couple guys who have SRT and one is pushing 400hp, with a stage 3 kit and n2o. Their a fast little car. Useually bought for performance and nothing else. The thing I don't like is the poping on the exhausts, in alot of the videos with a TBE it gurgles like a fuc**r but pops like crazy... to someone who doesn't know better they would thing its broken. Alot of people put them in the same class of price, look at a used WRX ('02-'03) for around 16k-18k, for the same money you can get a ('03-'04) SRT and its faster with most likely lower miles. Its all personal preference. Very well put Boost Addict. I myself am decideing to get a used SRT or a used WRX, I wanted to get away from Subaru for a while before I go to STi. Not to mention their a great autocrosser also.

 

that's the best argument I've ever read on the subject!

I own an '04 srt4 w/50k miles, I've seen my fair share of props and sneers. I take everything with a grain of salt and just feel comfort in knowing that I bough the car because in the end, it's a seat with a steering wheel and a nice little 2.4turbo motor. Like he said above, I bought mine because of the raw power. I like the spartan interior. If I had wanted a flashy interior, I would have gotten a car with one, that stuff isn't important to me... yet. I'm 23, married, 2 kids, own my own home, and the srt-4 fits MY lifestyle just fine. I will be getting rid of it as soon as the challenger comes out, and that will end my time in the sport compact class.. muscle cars and sports cars from now on

 

Why?