Modern Factory "Econo-Rocket" Cars

[xjjunkie]

better look again on the neon srtt-4 ison a benz chassic platform and it is a 2.4 turbo. just had one on the dyno that put 309 hp down to the wheels. (mpp stage one upgrade, 3" exhaust from turbo back,more boost) also did a 02 wrz with a turbo xs stage 4 upgrade that put 365 hp to the wheels (yes all 4) also have a guy that works for me that drives a 94 firebird with a 383 and d1sc procharger on it that thing made 682 hp to the rear wheels.
after driving all 3 of them i would take the wrx over all - as far as a daily driver goes. much more user freindly.

scot

 

[ZPD]

A few weeks ago I was diving around in my 67 Stang (You know one of those things with 8 cylinders). And a Neon SRT pulled up next to me at a stop light. He revved, I ignored, light turned green, he floored it and I watched his tail lights get smaller. I won't race but that thing was impressively fast. I try to follow the automotive industry pretty closely and when the SRT came out it was advertised as the fastest thing under 20K. I would be surprised if one got 80K miles on it though.

We also have a Matrix XRS (not quite a rice rocket but pretty close) and that is a pretty fun car to drive. High reving, High compression and 6 close gears with a short shift. Red line is around 8,200 and shifting ar 7,000 can be pretty fun. If I were to get a fast 4 banger it would probably be a SRT or a WRX

 

[SeanP]

I used to have a blown BMW M3 that put about 300HP down to the wheels. It is the most neutral handling car I have driven and the oversteer was soooo fun and easy to correct when getting on it. The P-Zeros were $225 a piece and weighed roughly 1/3 of what my 38 SX's weigh on my XJ.

Sadly, I sold the M3 last year. I will build another go-fast though. I have a friend with a 90 turbo supra that has maybe $2K in it (including purchase of the car) and it is a cool little hot rod. For another $1500 he can have a 570HP demon.

 

[JJ13]

I had a BMW 325IS. You are right about the handling. It was the nicest driving car I have ever owned. I can't imagine how fast it would have been with a blower. It was plenty fast with the stock inline six.

 

[Grant]

Two particular cars come to mind.

Mini Cooper S - not really a muscle car killer but for $20K there is very little that will touch it. 175HP (conservative) from the factory. Easily possible to get 200 - 230 HP without too much money. Difficult to get the power to the ground without a LSD ($1000 + 12 hrs install).

Cooper S (stock) will see off a Subie WRX, Audi A4 or S4, BMW M3's in an autocross enviroment. Will blow off A4's S4's, WRX's, 3 series (not newer M3's) and bikes up to 750 on the local race track. Twisty Canyon roads in 2nd and 3rd gear are it's forte. But higher speed tracks require too much HP for the Mini.

Hence (my wife's new chariot)

The Subaru WRX STi (Subaru Technica Inst. - kinda like M Beemers or AMG Merc's). 3500 vehicles a year into the US, 2.5 liter turbo'd horizontal 4 putting out 300 HP (255HP at wheels). AWD with driver controlled center diff and LSD's in both diff's. Lightweight glass, no radio, not even floor mats. Intercooler with water spray. 17" BBS wheels and Brembo brakes - $31K.

Definitely not your 230HP standard WRX.

This car will easily blow off (yup, easily) Vette's Stangs and Camaro's. It will surprise a Z06 Vette to 100mph. 13.1 secs - 1/4 mile bone stock. Races in A Stock in SCCA, usually the domain of the Vette's.

Without a doubt the most violently fast car (road car from the dealer) I have driven. Similar power delivery to the Porsche 911 turbo's, 930's here in the US, without the oversteer handling. A Vette and Stang may hang in a straight line but come the curves this car leaves them eating dust. AWD certainly helps, a smart center diff makes a big difference, but it can also be manually controlled, locked to 50/50 front/rear.

Not an easy car to drive at all though. The two LSD's can become a b*tch when they do grip, pulling the car in all directions, especially when you are on the boost. Requires a rally style of driving more the typical smooth lines. Versions of this car won Pikes Peak and the World Rally Driver's Championship in 2003.

I have a friend in Detroit who is producing 430HP, that's over 350HP at the wheels - all 4 of them, with very few mod's. No cat's, downpipe, intake, boost control, fuel management. bottom end is built strong, so I could see over 500HP - streetable, would be possible with a bigger snail.

Current wait times in CO, Mini Cooper S more than a year, WRX STi about 8 months.

 

[Grant]

Also meant to add.

Don't class the the Porsche Cayenne with your typical SUV's. This is no Exploder or Suburban. It will outhandle virtually every sedan on the roads in the US, it will put many "sportscars" to shame. And the Cayenne S has 450 HP to boot. But what do expect from Porsche. Properly designed from the ground up to handle decently. It sure aint a monster body mashed onto a truck frame - as every US SUV is.

That said, I could not see paying over $50K for an SUV unless it was a Range Rover. Even having that $$$$ I could not see buying a Porsche anything but a sportscar. But the customer Porsche targeted is an existing Porsche owner who needs a SUV and had been shopping for Escalades, Range Rovers, and Landcrusiers. Of the Cayenne's sold so far over 75% have been sold to EXISTING Porsche customers, so I think it has been a success as far as Porsche is concerned.

The latest financial results released by Porsche USA show they would have lost money if it wasn't for the Cayenne. Sales have exceeded forecasts during a period when sportscar sales (in general, and Posche in particular) fell. So it appears it will be a financial success as well.

Don't have any 1/4 mile times but I have driven the Cayenne on the local road course and it is quicker than the mini Cooper S but not as quick as the STi.

 

[xjblue]

speaking of power to weight ratio, I finally got around to reading in last months Road and Track about the U.S. spec version of the award winning Lotus Elise scheduled to be offered here late next year. for the U.S. it will have a retuned Toyota Celica motor, a 16 valve inline 4 that will give that little light weight roadster about 190 horses. Lotus (USA) has struggled with poor sells with the now doomed Esprit but there has been so much demand for the Elise in Europe alone that they should do very well here in the future.

 

[Matthew Currie]

I saw a Civic the other day with a 2" receiver hitch on it - what the Hell for?



5-90

Adjustability. Versatility. Share an insert with your pickup. Already had a 2" receiver-mount bike rack. Got one free and like to weld.... lots of good reasons.

 

[5-90]

OK - but how much can the thing honestly pull? Unless you're going to hang a BBQ off the back, I just don't see the point. Could be just me...

Add another to the books - blue reverse lights? What am I missing?

5-90

 

[Ronbo]

Saw a thing on car and driver TV the other day. The new Subaru WRX runs 11.92 in the quarter mile. They had it up against the also rally inspired Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The Mitsu ran low 12's bone stock.

Not quite.

Road and Track magazine, Jan 2003

Subaru WRX - 1/4 mi - 14.4 sec

Road and Track magazine, June 2003

Subaru WRX STi 1/4 mi - 13.3 sec
Lancer Evolution - 13.4 sec

 

[Gary E]

Yeah I didn't think those wrx lancer where even close to a 11 second car, there is a huge diffrence between a 14 second and an 11 second car.

Forget all that ricer crap. Get one of these

 

[JnJ]

Man that is my dream car. I bug my daughters all the time telling them they have to by me one when they get jobs.

Yeah I didn't think those wrx lancer where even close to a 11 second car, there is a huge diffrence between a 14 second and an 11 second car.

Forget all that ricer crap. Get one of these

 

[JJ13]

Sorry for Spobi.. I took a second off the e.t.s ( I am wetarded). It was 12.92 for the STI. I saw that figure in a magazine at work as well, I will try to find it again.

 

[SeanP]

speaking of power to weight ratio, I finally got around to reading in last months Road and Track about the U.S. spec version of the award winning Lotus Elise scheduled to be offered here late next year. for the U.S. it will have a retuned Toyota Celica motor, a 16 valve inline 4 that will give that little light weight roadster about 190 horses. Lotus (USA) has struggled with poor sells with the now doomed Esprit but there has been so much demand for the Elise in Europe alone that they should do very well here in the future.

Very INTRIGUED by this. Great little go cart chassis, low wieght and japanese reliability with the Toy motor. Drop a S/C on it for some serious low end grunt.

How much $$$??

 

[a-mechanic]

The SRT-4 is not Benz and not DSM. its all Mopar. the 2004 model comes factory with limited slip and add the stage 1 kit it pulled 229 on the dyno at the wheels as for longevity the 2.4 turbo has been run in mexican taxis since 2000 and the distance they have been getting out of that motor/ trans combo is impressive.
I've seen one of these neons rum mid 10's at the drag strip with minor mods and a good driver. I personally beat a muskrat gt lite to lite. they're fun to drive. i'd like to see stiffer anti sway bars and shock valving. for autocross runs. and you can't beat it for the money 2004 models are going for just over 20,000 and they have the l/s and the larger injectors already.

 

[xjblue]

Very INTRIGUED by this. Great little go cart chassis, low wieght and japanese reliability with the Toy motor. Drop a S/C on it for some serious low end grunt.

How much $$$??

Road & Track estimated $39 grand. (if I start saving now.... er uh, if I stop buying Jeep parts.....)

R & T reported Lotus is estimating a 12.0 sec 1/4 mile but said it was a generous estimate. It sounds like the U.S. Elise will perform like cars twice as expensive, while at the same time being much better on fuel economy/reliability. Will be great to commute in, take to the track, or cruise Main Street with. U.S. specs also add airbags, CD sound, and rear bumper re-design with centered tail pipes.

http://66.139.73.25/lotus1.html follow the link then click on Elise near the top, then click on "click here for more information" at the bottom.

 

[MudDawg]

Being "old school" myself...once owned a big block Chevelle...it was fast for it's day...a true 13 second street car...i ended up selling it because of it's fuel consumption and insurance cost.

Because of this I sneered at what I thought was the futility of "hot rodding" the new cars...the inevitable change from traditional approaches. I was convinced that todays approach was to make the car look good and serve only as a platform for megawatt sound systems...UNTIL I watched a stock appearing CRX Honda go mid 11's...I still can't get over FRONT tires smoking.
Hats off to the modern tuners.

Back to the question....A friend just got a WRX...he has been a Subaru owner since forever...that thing would have chewed up my old Chevelle and spit it out...

 

[Brian Felts]

Everyone forgot the 98 to 2002 LS1 Camaros and Firebirds.These cars are the best bang for the buck you can get,and with the prices falling due to age that will only get better.The technology lives on with the new GTO and the CTS-V.Mabey I'll grow a mullet buy me one ,hop it up a bit and take all the ricers money.LOL

 

[JnJ]

Well, since you revived it, I have since ditched the Cobra and stepped UP to my 2000 Vette.

 

[XJ_ranger]

ill take my crotchrocket ninja any day...
i WISH