The 350Z has some major competition!
Dodge SRT-4 Turbo Neon
MSRP: 19,995 (About 7,000 less than Base Z)
Final Gear Drive: 3.526:1 (as much as the Z)
Curb Weight: 2,870 (350lbs lighter)
0-60: 5.8 (.4-.6 slower than the Z)
Quater Mile: 14.2 @ 99.5second (same as Z)
Dyno: 223hp - 250lbs torque.

Now this is running low boost, and it's as fast as the Z? This is just WRONG. If they raise that boost to 18lbs or so, it would kill the Z. This is so wrong.. A dodge.. beating... a Z... *Cries*

 

You forgot the most important stat... IT'S STILL A NEON!

 

Why are you comparing apples to oranges? On what basis are you doing this. Because you can't afford the Z, or because you have nothing better to do?

How can you compare a vehicle that just 3years ago had 100% failure rate of its Head Gasket, with the Z. Why do you preach this, do you really think that POS is worth 20K? Think about it, before you make such statement.
I'm sorry to be rude about this, but I used to work for that particular company, and Millions are spent by DCX on that car under and out of warranty.

Why are you comparing a FWD car with a Z? A econobox, built by UAW's finest, with taillight water leaks and failing front spindles, and recalls up the wazoo. Do you want me to go on?
Hello, knock, knock. Anybody there? Anything in there?

 

Couldnt agree more. You have to consider the whole package when comparing cars. Numbers alone dont tell the whole story.

 

Actually, he makes a point that someone other than Nissan is making good performance (we're talking acceleration here only) for a cheap price. Yes it may be a Neon (I hate Neons, they are as $hitty as $hit gets, personal opinion here, haha), however, with a bit of more boost it may be able to outaccelerate a Z. He's only comparing acceleration here, which may be Z competition with a tad bit more boost, I totally agree with him.

 

Lots of cars can go faster than the Z in a straight line. If you are so worried about how fast the Z goes in a straight line then the Z isn't for you.

 

This is STILL apples to oranges, regardless if it's only acceleration that he's talking about.

This is a FWD platform. So, all that wheelspin will not get in the way? And all I've heard so far is 205HP, not 223HP "ON the Dyno", like he states.

Turning up the boost on a Chrysler. Yeah, that's a good one.


How many minutes before something lets go? Care to take any bets?

 

who really cares that it might beat the Z, first its turboed and the Z is all motor so i mean if it can only keep up with the Z with a turbo so what will happen when the Z gets a turbo? Besides the most important factor would be the APPEARANCE....how can you compare that ugly POS to the beautiful Z..i dont care if it can beat the Z or not its soooo ugly but of course thats is my opinion....

 

I dissagre, its more like apples to a pile of ****.

 

cant stop laughing

 

How is it apples & oranges if hes ONLY comparing acceleration??? Comparing acceleration of one car to another is fair, regarding how different the cars are. This is just his observation & not any statement. If he was comparing both cars overall, yes. Come on, you have to admit that is good acceleration for the Neon, regarding how crappy the car is. SLOWER than a Z, but still pretty damn good for an american FWD 4 banger.

I agree with you though if boost is turned up (Yes its very stupid on a Chrysler, haha) little will get through the front wheels, other than spinning tires.

Why is it so hard for beople to admit a car has respectable performance (compared to Neon's past)???

$hit, see what you made me do??? Now it looks like I'm defending Neons........ Screw Neons, Z forever!!! hahaha

 

for dat price..i m sure there will be lots and lots of neons around.. maybe more than rustangs? lol

 

LOTS of Neons with single wipers, nozzle lights, big aluminum spoilers (u wouldn't believe how many Neons with those goofy spoilers drive around Chicago), UFO Body Kits, Fart Pipe exhausts, go-fast stickers, & cheap *** rims........ Man I hate that $hit.......

 

Read the new issue of SCC. The numbers that he sated were at the freaking wheels. For 20 grand there is nothing faster. I can only estimate that this was a ringer sent by dodge. I don't know how they could have that powerful of a car for that cheap of a price. Maybe it has a plastic frame and plastic windows.

 

For starters, just because some of you guys get to drive a Z I don't get your issue with the Neon. I'd bet you guys haven't even driven a decent one. It is actually a really good bang for the buck. The Neon ACR is a fearsome force at the autocross course, and sorry to say, it can pull more Gs cornering than a Z.

Okay, so riced out Neons suck, but you know what? Riced out 350Zs will suck too. A majority of Neon enthusiast hate the ricers as much as you do.

There are 9 and 10 second Neons out there that will humiliate a stock Viper on the drag strip.

The Neon SRT-4 is a really good idea and I'm glad to see cool and fast vehicles hitting the market.

That said - I won't buy one for the following reasons:
*It's front wheel drive and will have a bias to understeer
*It has no LSD (although it does have equal lenght half shafts)
*It won't be as stable at high speeds
*It's resale value won't hold up well
*I really don't like it's TSW-esque wheels
*It will have a boy-racer image

I'll definately test drive one. I'll check them out on the street. I'm sure I'll see them causing damage at the drag strip. This is how they needed to make the car from the start.

Now I just wish that Dodge would make a better entrace into the sports car market. They have a long history of great muscle and turbo cars. The Pronto Spyder (Plymouth) and Dodge Charger were awesome concepts. The Neon doesn't carry the image that sports car people want and the Viper is both overkill and way out of the ballpark.

 

Read that entire article people. That car was a "ringer" plain and simple. Did you read the part where the Daimler engineers freaked because they dyno'd the car and ran an instrumented test? That's because they know the car is a ringer. Daimler Chrysler was looking for some good early hype, but I think they caught in a little publicity stunt. Let's see them take one off a dealer lot when it comes out and put that same HP to the wheels. Hell, the car didn't even have mufflers and if those fools at SCC really believe that the car will make it to production without mufflers then I have some nice "swamp front" investment property for them as well. To make that kind of HP at the wheels, that car would have to be running almost 14lbs of boost!! Neon motors barely hold together without FI!!!

Here is my guess when the mags finally test actual production versions of the car. 0-60 in 6.5 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 15.2@92mph. I want to post this here so we can bring it back up when production versions are out and I can either say; "I told ya so," or I can say; "where is my hat, I am hungry!!"