My dad used to have a neon, and Doug missed an important feature. “The rear seats don’t even get a cup holder” that’s incorrect, if you flip the center console up it folds backwards and flat to give you a single cup holder and little tray thing. I’ve eaten McDonald’s from that little tray many times lmao
Issam Nasr most cars from that era had no truck liner and the interior look like most from that generation idk why he keeps comparing early 00s with new ones
Coming from a srt4 owner (on my 5th one) your face when you got into the power is exactly why people love them. Its not luxurious, its not rwd or awd, it's plain, its hated, and all that is why we love it. Cheap speed, and its a really great car to learn on. It can have pretty good power and it dont weigh a whole lot 29ish00 pounds.
@@DennnnnnnY um kinds goes without saying when you say SRT4... there are 2 different srt4s but when anyone says the srt4 they 9 times out of 10 mean the neon srt4.
The exhaust noise is so loud because it came without a muffler from the factory. I used to set off car alarms in parking garages with my SRT4 just putzing by in 1st gear. It wasn't the best car I've ever driven by a long shot, it wasn't even the best car I've owned, but it was SO much fun to drive! The exhaust pops while engine braking coming off the freeway is the thing I miss most of all. Come back to me, SRT4. I was wrong to sell you!
They considered the turbo as a muffler. Toss that exhaust on the SE, SXT, R/T or ACR and it was even louder. I was pissed my SXT with R/T muffler didn't make it sound any louder or better. I wasn't hip to the secondaries in the intake tract or how to fab it up If I swapped it.
The best thing about the srt4s is the power numbers weren't crank. They were wheel 😂 they were really pushing around 280-290 at the crank. Maybe 300 if you're lucky
I remember in 2004 I was a 9 year old and my parents bought a new 2004 dodge ram and while they were buying it I sat in a brand new 2004 neon srt4 which was solar yellow. It was so cool.
@@slooriginal1727 i have the neon srt 4 as my first starter car in midnght club 3 dub edition remix with stage 1 upgrades, custom rims, custom taillights with carbon fiber surround, factory carbon fiber hood conversion and 3 inch drop😊
One quirk you missed is the reason the exhaust is so loud. It has no muffler! From the factory! It just relies on the resonator and turbo chop to dampen the sound a bit. More power, less weight.
Yes, disappointing that he didn't talk about this, or how good the braking was. He should have revved it a few times to hear the snap crackle and pop! Also the deceleration 'burble'...
Yesss! Happy to see this pop up in my sub box. I just picked up one of these (non-ACR) off a buddy back in Oct with about 40k original miles and I've been working to restore it from the crap it's been through with the previous owner before my friend got it. Pretty spot on review. A few notes/comments: 1) It does have a rear cupholder. It's just in the lid of the center console so the driver sacrifices an armrest for it. 2) ACR = American Club Racing. And the wheels on it were actually a size smaller (16 vs 17) though wider (7 vs 6). 3) 160 mph on the dash and it could actually get into the 150s stock, so not an overly optimistic speedometer. 4) Always heavily modified because they were cheap and the stock block could make and hold 400+ hp with bolt-ons and a tune. 5) Neons in general were surprisingly reliable (manual transmission) when properly taken care of. When treated like an appliance, they often deteriorated rapidly. My 97 is still running strong to this day. 6) The first several SRT-4s I saw in the wild were actually driven by grey-haired individuals who liked speed on a budget. 7) The smile on Douggie D's face during the drive is what really sold these cars. 8) Thanks for the review! :) Happy motoring, everyone! And stay safe out there.
Good on you for bringing one back from the brink. My cousin bought his stock, didn't touch the interior or exterior except for adding some ACR seats he managed to somehow find online. Bolted on a big intercooler and set it up for E85. That thing still holds the title of most hilarious car I've ever driven. Impossible to gun it and not be giggling like a schoolgirl. That much power should not be that easy to get in that small and cheap of a package, but I am so glad it is.
The hood scoop was actually functional. Was supposed to help with cooling the turbo. Torque steer could be reduced with suspension upgrades. The cops couldn't understand that it was naturally that loud which was annoying when getting pulled over a few times because of it. Had a blue O4' that was a very fun car and never let me down. They were so underrated by many.
They packed enough upgrades into it, that it made it by defualt more reliable, but I wouldnt have touched a Chrysler product then as I wouldnt touch a Chrysler/Stellantis product now.
@junkiexl86 I've got a 2016 300C that I owned for 8 years and put over a hundred thousand miles on with nothing but oil changes and tire replacement. It's now my son's car and still has the original spark plugs in it with nearly 130,000 miles. It was, without doubt, the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.
Yea, these did not come with a muffler. Resonators only. And the power was underrated from the factory. When these came out, a few magazines dyno'd stock srt4s at numbers much higher than the factory ratings.
My car! Never thought I'd see an actual ACR on here. I'm the single owner of my flame red SRT, bought new in 2005 now with 66k and am very proud to hear the positivity.
Same here! Still got my 2005 Orange Blast SRT-4 ACR, it's all stock except for the turbo blow-off plate, K&N air filter, and Hurst short throw shifter. I bought it new in summer of '05 and it only 9,500 miles on it, hell it still has the factory BFG tires.
To each their own I guess, to me I like how every surface on my car it’s nice and padded, even the way the doors and trunk sound when they closes, it’s sturdy, not to impress anyone, but i like it, I have a 2007 Audi A4
I had one that I spec'd out for autocross when I was younger. I loved that damn car. I had for 10 years but it started falling apart and breaking all the time. I sold it in 2014 and bought a Focus ST. I kind of miss it to be honest
These things were so underrated. I watched a few of them dyno back in the day. They would put down 230 to the wheels, and 265-270 torque. It's very much a throwback to the old muscle car days, when Ford rated the 428cj at 335 horse while NHRA rated them at 390 for the race classes because they knew better lol
Car enthusiasts: Car interiors like this are so cheap. So much plastic. They should use better materials. Also car enthusiasts: Why are new cars so expensive? What happened to cheap cars?
It’s a shame that the mainstream consumer values ease of use and comfort more than novel engineering. Rarely does a gem get made and it’s becoming even more rare. Not that I think this car is a gem, those engines were not as good as they could have been.
Adam Wiggins not “also” but “other” car enthusiasts. They belong to totally different camps. Also cheap speed never really does well in the new car market because those “car enthusiasts” only buy used.
@@07wrxtr1 The Nissan 350Z/370Z? Just don't. Sounds cool outside; like a busted vacuum cleaner inside. Feels bulky, like a 2-door Maxima trying to be a sports car.
Out of all the 911s, the Chirons, the F1s, the Sennas... everything that's been on this channel, this might be the most exciting car for me that's been featured. My first car was a first gen Neon and these were the hot thing when I was in high school. I've wanted one for years.
Me too! Ive always been a neon guy. My first car 95 sport coupe with dohc 3.94 5spd for 9 years and 200k miles I dallied it. Lusted after the srt as soon as it was announced at the auto show. I finally got one three years ago. Most smiles per gallon of anything I've ever driven. Do it!!
I remember being a little child and wanting a neon as my first car, thank God that never came to fruition... I bought a 5 speed golf instead. My friend had bought a purple one tho; it was a shit box and he sold it not long after lol
I’ve had an Eclipse GST, a Focus ST, currently a Dodge Hellcat and honestly none of them have given me as much joy as when i had my SRT4. It was my dream car at the time and i still think about it. Totaled it after 6 months of ownership.
I still have my 2005 NSRT4, still stock, OB so it's that much rarer, bought it with 6 miles, and it now has 263k miles. Still runs and drives great, and even still running the stock trans.
I dont mind cost-cutting and cheap materials in cars like these. Its what makes them affordable, but they are still fun when you drive them. Nowadays we hardly have any cars like these left.
I bought a silver 2004 SRT-4 and it was one of the most fun and happy cars I’ve ever had. Even with Doug ragging on it like this, the car brings a smile to my face. Crazy fast (for the money) and that ‘cheap’ interior was straight forward and easy to live with. The bolstered seats were actually comfortable and the kicker stereo wasn’t bad. My neighbor at the time described it as a party on wheels, and that’s exactly what it was.
When Dodge deletes things or leaves trim off to save weight or maintain a price point Doug calls it “cheap cost cutting”. When Ferrari does it and charges $30000 more, they call it a “Superfast” and every one ogles in awe....
Dodge looks at deleting items as costing them less money to build the car which means higher profit. Ferrari does it to make it faster, and for higher profit. When you build a brand like Ferrari, you can pull this off. Why do you think Louis Vuitton charges $9,000 for a stupid ipad cover... Because they can.
To be fair, Chrysler is notorious for taking cost cutting measures, if not the most notable in automobile history. Ever hear of the k car? The Plymouth prowler is another good example and that’s on dougs page. Almost every part in that car is borrowed from another dodge or Chrysler product. Comparing dodge to Ferrari is just a silly comparison anyhow, dodge is definitely more worried about cost per vehicle seeing as they sell around 2 million vehicles per year. Ferrari sells 8,400. Trust me, Ferrari isn’t cost cutting.
My first NEW car was a 2003 SRT4 with the mopar stage 1. I was 22 and so damn happy the day it rolled out of the showroom. Thanks for the memories Doug. 😁
Doug talking about the rear manual windows: "The most cynical cost-cutting decision..." Guy who forgot to double check his design draft: "yes... cost cutting. That's what it was"
I was going to say congratulations finding any condition Neon still on the road. These SRT-4 Neons were pretty much non-existent by 2012-2013 around in my neck of the woods
@@codymcaleer7209 They are perfectly legal at a Fed. level - there is a loophole where if your car has a turbo it doesn't have to have a muffler (at least that is the justification at the time the car was in production) What is even funnier there are people that contact dodge to get a statement to take to court and even Dodge was like "I don't know what you're talking about"
Doug making coffee in the morning for his wife: "THIS is a cup of coffee. And it's one of the best cups of coffee ever made. Many wives make do with normal cups of coffee, but this cup isn't your normal cup of coffee and you'll soon find out why" Wife: "Do you ever take a day off?"
@@rutatutut "and then I'll give it a Doug Score. And for more of my thoughts click the link below to visit Autotrader.com/oversteer where I've also compiled a list of the best cups of coffee currently listed for sale on Autotrader."
The factory hp numbers were way underrated. I bought one new back in '03 and had it dynoed right after I drove it off the lot. It Dynoed at 245 hp to the wheels with 4 miles on the clock!!
Yupp I had an orange one in 05 severely underrated they actually had an article on it from the factory they purposely gave lower numbers on the paperwork .
ScreaminDemon71 These cars have little to no torque steer. I used to have one; both when it was stock and when I had a bigger turbo on it, i could put my foot down and go straight without touching the wheel
This car actually DOES have a cupholder for the rear seats. It's on the roof of the center console lid, so you just flip it open 180 degrees and BOOM instant cupholder for your passengers
I had one of these. Best car memories I will ever have. Mine made 343WHP with about 4000ish in mods. I ran 12’s (which back then was still fast) and unheard of from a FWD car with just radials and solid tranny/motor mounts. I raced a terminator from a 40 roll and my buddy video taped us racing. When I showed some people they didn’t believe the terminator was trying.
When you mentiomed the trunk being all exposed. All i saw was pure art. As a car enthusiast and a mechanic that was pure genius. It looked great and it was light weight as well as allowed easy repairs.
When you're a young kid who owned one of these brand new, those roll-up windows in the back came in handy for when you were back there ;) haha. No having to reach in the front and turn the key on to get some air back there
I was never the "ricer" type, but I always liked the SRT-4 Neon. The fact that Dodge threw that engine in their cheapo economy car was ballsy and fantastic. Chrysler was, and still is, the crazy 'fuck it', car company. The guys that bought the Neon were hilarious, though. Every one of them thinking they just purchased a Murcielago. lol
For some reason, it’s that much more interesting to watch this when you know that this car is what was originally considered as Brian O’Connor’s main hero car in 2 Fast 2 Furious movie, instead of the Skyline R34
In high school i remember giving a chick a ride in my srt4, and her roasting me with my friends about my manual windows in the back. In another occasion with a different chick i tried to race a car and impress her. so i down shifted into second floored it went to slam into 3rd gear and all of a sudden i had 5 new neutrals to choose from. Fun car tho, miss it.
Almost caught first gear in my 04 Colorado coming off the highway instead of third. Oh my God you could hear the whine. Thank God I didn't let it engage 100%
Funny how people view things, whenever i get in a car with manual Windows i can appreciate the fact that it will never fail as supposed to auto Windows.
@@BP-fx3qc man, I much appreciate cranks over motors...but, all my cars with cranks ended up with broken cables that had to be replaced and the few power windows I had never failed. 😂
You saw the giggles 17:08, it’s a fun car for a cheap fwd car. He couldn’t stop grinning 😂. Exactly for the price, it was “who cares”, quality crummy but where it counted, it was great (the powertrain). I’m surprised how right on the scoring was, could bump the fun factor 😋
They were fast out the box but most that were modded tended to fall apart really quickly. Main problem was it was cheap so people were using cheap mods. I knew a couple of guys running these around 2010, both ended up throwing a rod because they ended up pushing too much boost.
Im from Uruguay, and i can say that we have worst cars than in Brasil. If you want to see cars from Uruguay go to my car photography account on instagram @rodrispotting_UY
"I"m gonna floor it now. WOOOOW" Pretty sure this has given him some sort of Hellcat flashback. I wouldn't be confident if filming another Dodge performance car next time xD
Hold up, Doug. In your summary, "it wasn't as fast as an Evo or STi". It was faster (trap speed, not ET). The SRT-4 consistently trapped as fast or faster than those cars in most car mags during its day, and when you looked at 0-130 mph numbers from magazines like C&D, you'd see the SRT-4 had more top end. As much or more power at the wheels (the 230/250 numbers were horribly underrated), and weighed 300+ lbs less than both of them. That being said, it had no chance against the Evo or STi once the road starting curving at all. I love all 3 of those cars (I have a WRX), but the Neon deserves respect on its name.
I'm an si owner myself.and can say my si was even lighter but had a few less horse power at 202.raced several srt4 neons and always got beat.seems like the srt4 had alil more than 230 hp.maybe more like 250
@@mudturtleoffroadmudturtleo170 - they were generally found to dyno at 220-225, which indicates (given a 10-15% parasitic loss) 240 on the low end at the flywheel, to 265. There's a constant argument in the "talk" section on wikipedia about this car. Despite there being at least half a dozen sourced articles including big name magazines that either state the car had more HP or even dynoed (with evidence) that it did, people will try and change it back to 220 WHP, which is not accurate lol. But that's part of the fun of owning cars.
Busch lol. Believe it. I was heavily into that scene up until 08. That was a planned race. The dude with the srt4 was known in long island for his car and the dude in with the Talon was known in Brooklyn for his car and all the other eclipses and Talons that he worked on including my Talon.
My best friend bought one when we were both about 18, before that we had red 15 year old imports, he had an rx7 turbo 2 w/street port and I had a Honda civic hatch back with a ZC turbo. When he first went into the dealership the first one wouldn't even begin to selll him one, like actually refused because "he couldn't afford it" so we went to the next dealership and yes--he could lol. (I think he only had a job at a warehouse but the first dealership didn't even ask--just flat out refused because of his age). The first thing we did with the car was of course go back to the original dealership, called the salesmen outside and then proceeded to do a massive smokey tire burnout. Lmao. And yes I remember explicitly they were promoting the roll up windows and everything else as weight reduction measures and honestly it all made sense to us at the time. Plus if you're gonna move up in the world as an 18 year old: you need a sunroof. Lol. The car was fast---faster than our heavily modified import cars from the late 80s, and the build spec made sense. Especially after you got the reasonably priced warrantied stage upgrade parts from Dodge. The car came with sticky as heck tires too. The other thing I remember is some how the gear knob was only pressed on and people had allegedly been known to accidentally throw it through the back window in a particulary over exited, jabroni -level shift. Lmao.
Long winded but same here man I went to the dealership and they thought I could afford it I had just got out basic and ait training for the army and my dad new the manager. The boss man made him sit there while i bought it at cost from his fellow sales man lol ... cool cars and yea they told us the rear windows were for weight reduction lol i ended up owning two a family story stg3r and a full dcr build both 2005 later one orange and my first one white lol
@@wonderbreadjumps uhh ya. Not everyone wants to spend their evenings and weekends constantly working on and repairing an unreliable old car with room for 2, with a sensitive plastic interior prone to breaking and cracking, nevermind having to dump premix in it at every fill up and the terrible gas milage...when on the other hand they can afford a warrantied new car with stage upgrades that makes it even faster, fits 5, has a nice interior, cup holders, has better gas mileage, and unfortunately(I agree with with you here) is more impressive to most of their peers at the time. It wasn't like today either, FC rx-7s were around everywhere, there were 4 at our small high school alone...and they were all, always overheating.
I own an srt4 snd the quirk master missed a great quirk if you completely open up the center console and rest it on the middle back seat there is a cup holder for the back as well as a tissue holder!
It is refreshing to see Doug keeping us entertain during this COVID-19 lockdown , I would also like to thank every front line health and medical personnel and also every key workers for making our lives a bit more bearable.
I had a 2004 version of this car. I absolutely loved it. The interior was as you describe, but it was also the same as pretty much every American car of that time period, especially the Daimler-Chryslers. The cost cutting (shockingly) really *REALLY* kicked in after the Daimler acquisition. (Who would have guessed). Daimler did more damage to Chrysler that can really be articulated. But back to the car. I loved driving this car. I didn't have much notable torque steer (and I've driven a lot of performance cars, both FWD and RWD). I traded it for a RAM SRT-10. To this day, this will be the one car that I completely regret ever letting go.
@scott offord I'm in the same boat as you two. I had a Stone White. They're getting so beat these days, but if I can find a halfway decent one somewhere in my orbit, I may pull the trigger.
Doug: “But the most cynical cost-cutting measure was power windows... only in the front! In 2004! Me, in the back of my 2015 Auris Wagon staring at my crank: ahaha... yeah... *whistles awkwardly*
@@VladoooThe Completely normal thing. And to be honest - driver who is buying the car usually do not care about this. If kids or some other passenger in the rear wants their window down they gotta work for it and I don't care.
Look at how nice and well kept this NSRT4 is compared to most, and yet the seat bolstering is still coming apart! And the coating on the shift knob is failing! Trash interior. Likely the only people who think otherwise are teenagers who own it as their first or second car...
I remember being a Junior in High School when this car came out & really liked this Whip. There was a Schoolmate of mine that had this car & it was really cool-looking at the time. This is Nostalgic to me & I miss being young now.
@@bored2323 yeah but the same is true for any car. I had a 2015 5.0 Mustang that's supposed to do 5.0 seconds but I couldn't get anything better than 6.5
@@xenonram High 13s quarter mile is still pretty good, especially for a car this cheap. It was light and that engine is torquey, it didn't need 400 WHP to be quick.
I always cringed when people said it wasn't a neon.Yes technically it wasn't because Dodge just called it the SRT-4. Every enthusiast knows its a neon and there was nothing wrong about that.
The Neons did have a rear cupholder. You can open the center armrest all the back and it has a cupholder on the inside of the lid. My first car was a 2000 Neon and I did not realize this for years until a friend who also had a Neon told me there was one there when she was sitting in the back.
215 hp was advertised hp, on the dyno they were putting out 265hp. Insurance reasons. I had the 2003, upgraded to the 2004 transmission for the limited slip. Even without it, it didn’t really have torque steer. That’s because it has equal length half shafts. Unequal length half shafts is the main reason why front drives have torque steer. The limited slip just made it even better. The only thing Neon in the car was the body. Everything else came from different cars, like the Stratus.
Who else likes it more when Doug does cheaper older cars
FIREHAWK GARAGE 100x more. I do not care about the new highlander or Camry.
Let this be a top comment!
Me to. Guys we gotta get this comment at the top
Everyone, no one wants to see another carbon copy new car with all the same safety features that regulations require
Me too. Lambos, Bugattis and McLarens are interesting to watch but of you're never gonna be able to afford one, it's kind of pointless.
My dad used to have a neon, and Doug missed an important feature. “The rear seats don’t even get a cup holder” that’s incorrect, if you flip the center console up it folds backwards and flat to give you a single cup holder and little tray thing. I’ve eaten McDonald’s from that little tray many times lmao
Michael Payne they have the cup holder and then a spot labeled tissue for the tissue holder lol
Easter egg
There is also a tissue holder to
Same my mom's 2nd car was a rt 2003 f Vin (she still has it) I used to eat happy meals on it and you got a cubby for tissue or napkins
Yes I remember my brothers Chevy cavalier having the same feature for the back!
To the owner: great job on keeping the car in outstanding condition
😃
@@jakubb6020 that was your car?
@@virdiid8621 no but I have one of these too in collection 😃
I was waiting for this video for so long I'm so glad he did it.
@@virdiid8621 Hey, Its mine
19:57 We almost got an F bomb from the man himself. We'll get 'em next time.
Didn’t he already drop it in the TRX review?
@@obungapyramid5525 Yes he did
Never. Doug the type of nigga to say “dag nabbit’
@@youngkeazy2806 or doggone it 😂
TRX Review Anyone?
Doug: "This is where you went when you wanted cheap speed"
DEA: "We got him"
Book em' Danno
Lol
I’d say Pontiac Grand Prix gtp were cheaper speed lol. 240hp and easier to gain hp. Littler supercharged pulpy $30. 250-270hp gain
@@inthebeginning6895 there is always one serious comment under a joke comment which doesnt even wanna talk about the topic
will never understand it
Brilliant.
Doug, out of all the things you’ve ever done on TH-cam, finding an un modified SRT4 Neon in the year 2020 may be your greatest achievement.
pitis2flie - Ferrari F40? Nah. Koenigsegg Agera RS? Child’s play. Totally stock Neon SRT-4? Woahhhhh
Or like a 97-99 civic
@@chem_ist_ hahahahahha
@@chem_ist_ who cares about those cars rediculous priced can't afford and aren't anywhere but socal
He found a stock DSM as well
Everyone: cost cutting
SRT4 people: weight reduction bro
Issam Nasr most cars from that era had no truck liner and the interior look like most from that generation idk why he keeps comparing early 00s with new ones
Frank Latin I knowww. Standards were very different but after all it was just a joke lol
@@franklatin2411 I had a Neon and it was well below it's competitors at the time. I'm talking very bottom.
jimmelay71 its not just a neon bud
Then take out that shitty sub.
Coming from a srt4 owner (on my 5th one) your face when you got into the power is exactly why people love them. Its not luxurious, its not rwd or awd, it's plain, its hated, and all that is why we love it. Cheap speed, and its a really great car to learn on. It can have pretty good power and it dont weigh a whole lot 29ish00 pounds.
NEON SRT4……NEONNNNN
@@DennnnnnnY um kinds goes without saying when you say SRT4... there are 2 different srt4s but when anyone says the srt4 they 9 times out of 10 mean the neon srt4.
Need for Speed Underground has entered the chat.
“To the window, to the wall...”
BUM DA DA DUMMMMM DUMMM DA DUM DUM DA DUMMMMM
Only NFS I’ve ever played. GameCube was the wave
The good old time.....
Brings back memories 😂
@@kasra8106 you mean Xbox original was the wave
First time ever, Doug is dressed appropriately for the car.
you got me xD
JJ Westgate 😂😂😂
Almost, He needs a cap (backwards) for this car.
dennis de groot ...and some shoes with floppy tongues.
Best comment in any Doug review ever. So true. 🤣
The exhaust noise is so loud because it came without a muffler from the factory. I used to set off car alarms in parking garages with my SRT4 just putzing by in 1st gear. It wasn't the best car I've ever driven by a long shot, it wasn't even the best car I've owned, but it was SO much fun to drive! The exhaust pops while engine braking coming off the freeway is the thing I miss most of all.
Come back to me, SRT4. I was wrong to sell you!
They considered the turbo as a muffler. Toss that exhaust on the SE, SXT, R/T or ACR and it was even louder. I was pissed my SXT with R/T muffler didn't make it sound any louder or better. I wasn't hip to the secondaries in the intake tract or how to fab it up If I swapped it.
The best thing about the srt4s is the power numbers weren't crank. They were wheel 😂 they were really pushing around 280-290 at the crank. Maybe 300 if you're lucky
I’m the one that bought it from you
oh. my. god... SAME!!! I had like 150k miles on mine and hardly had any issues with it. selling mine was one of the biggest mistakes ive ever made 😭😭😭
Sold mine to get my c5 vette, somehow wish I could have had both
I remember in 2004 I was a 9 year old and my parents bought a new 2004 dodge ram and while they were buying it I sat in a brand new 2004 neon srt4 which was solar yellow. It was so cool.
I remember choosing a neon as a first car on NFS underground and blacked it out .
@@slooriginal1727 lmfaooo
@@slooriginal1727 i have the neon srt 4 as my first starter car in midnght club 3 dub edition remix with stage 1 upgrades, custom rims, custom taillights with carbon fiber surround, factory carbon fiber hood conversion and 3 inch drop😊
One quirk you missed is the reason the exhaust is so loud. It has no muffler! From the factory! It just relies on the resonator and turbo chop to dampen the sound a bit. More power, less weight.
Justin Hughes
Wow! One comment which is not a meme, a joke, or actual hate.
Carried the exhaust diagram in the glove box to show the cops when stopped for a loud "modified" exhaust.
@@_DMAC wish I had that problem with my car, cops would shit a brick lol
Yes, disappointing that he didn't talk about this, or how good the braking was. He should have revved it a few times to hear the snap crackle and pop! Also the deceleration 'burble'...
@@_DMAC yes I actually got stopped for this once...
Cop: what's the deal with the muffler on this car?
Me: what muffler?
Imagine standing across the parking lot and seeing this guy laughing at his own jokes
Moon Man so obnoxious
I mean i dont have to imagine it, there is video..
Personally if I had seen something like that I would think the guy was nutter then Squirrel shit
Imagine buying this car 😂🤣
I would have gotten a boner
Yesss! Happy to see this pop up in my sub box. I just picked up one of these (non-ACR) off a buddy back in Oct with about 40k original miles and I've been working to restore it from the crap it's been through with the previous owner before my friend got it. Pretty spot on review. A few notes/comments:
1) It does have a rear cupholder. It's just in the lid of the center console so the driver sacrifices an armrest for it.
2) ACR = American Club Racing. And the wheels on it were actually a size smaller (16 vs 17) though wider (7 vs 6).
3) 160 mph on the dash and it could actually get into the 150s stock, so not an overly optimistic speedometer.
4) Always heavily modified because they were cheap and the stock block could make and hold 400+ hp with bolt-ons and a tune.
5) Neons in general were surprisingly reliable (manual transmission) when properly taken care of. When treated like an appliance, they often deteriorated rapidly. My 97 is still running strong to this day.
6) The first several SRT-4s I saw in the wild were actually driven by grey-haired individuals who liked speed on a budget.
7) The smile on Douggie D's face during the drive is what really sold these cars.
8) Thanks for the review! :)
Happy motoring, everyone! And stay safe out there.
Charles Fuller that is incredible
Great comment!
Oh word! Mine still understeer like a 70s supercar 440 superbee when playing Forza Lol. Thanks Doug, I'll install an LSD.
Good on you for bringing one back from the brink. My cousin bought his stock, didn't touch the interior or exterior except for adding some ACR seats he managed to somehow find online. Bolted on a big intercooler and set it up for E85. That thing still holds the title of most hilarious car I've ever driven. Impossible to gun it and not be giggling like a schoolgirl. That much power should not be that easy to get in that small and cheap of a package, but I am so glad it is.
100% agree. They were also non-interference engines. A nice design choice now that they are so old and timing belts likely to snap
The hood scoop was actually functional. Was supposed to help with cooling the turbo. Torque steer could be reduced with suspension upgrades. The cops couldn't understand that it was naturally that loud which was annoying when getting pulled over a few times because of it. Had a blue O4' that was a very fun car and never let me down. They were so underrated by many.
They packed enough upgrades into it, that it made it by defualt more reliable, but I wouldnt have touched a Chrysler product then as I wouldnt touch a Chrysler/Stellantis product now.
@junkiexl86 I've got a 2016 300C that I owned for 8 years and put over a hundred thousand miles on with nothing but oil changes and tire replacement.
It's now my son's car and still has the original spark plugs in it with nearly 130,000 miles.
It was, without doubt, the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned.
We use to call them are srt slow. They do look fun though
Doug is the type of guy to be 6'3" 6'4" depending on his mood.
Depends on how many pairs of socks he wears that day
@@Kamesuko nah, the amount of shirts he wears will even it out
Being 6.3" helps to fit into the back seats :D
The Kays lmfaooo
If I’m not mistaken,early videos he said he was 6’2
Surprised not to see a mention of the exhaust note and backfires. That was one of the best things about this car.
Yea, these did not come with a muffler. Resonators only. And the power was underrated from the factory. When these came out, a few magazines dyno'd stock srt4s at numbers much higher than the factory ratings.
Buddies shot flames and sounded beastly stock
I took mine for state inspection and had to convince the guy that it didn't come with mufflers from the factory lol
M92 QUAD how does a buddy shoot flames? wtf does that mean?
Exactly, these things sound sooooo goood.
My car! Never thought I'd see an actual ACR on here. I'm the single owner of my flame red SRT, bought new in 2005 now with 66k and am very proud to hear the positivity.
Yes!!!!!!! Me too!!!!!!!!!!!!
I still have my 03, bought it in May 2003 when they first came out. Still have it with over 215k miles on it.
Same here! Still got my 2005 Orange Blast SRT-4 ACR, it's all stock except for the turbo blow-off plate, K&N air filter, and Hurst short throw shifter. I bought it new in summer of '05 and it only 9,500 miles on it, hell it still has the factory BFG tires.
@@slomotrainwreck awesome! Better change those tires though! 😳
@@dr.bunterhidenbrobruh5502 yeah good point! 15 year old tires are scary.
D O U G N E O N
Lol
Hahahaha that shit funny as hell
Srt4
Underrated
I don't even want a trunk liner. I'm not looking to impress anybody I throw in my trunk.
This should be the top comment. Great minds think alike.
It was an option.
Wtf is wrong wit you
To each their own I guess, to me I like how every surface on my car it’s nice and padded, even the way the doors and trunk sound when they closes, it’s sturdy, not to impress anyone, but i like it, I have a 2007 Audi A4
I removed all that shit from my srt8
The guy down the street also sells "cheap speed"
👌😂😂😂😂
Jaja
I need his number
Hahahaha
LOL
Neons were virtually everywhere back then. Haven't seen one in years out and about.
True...Used to be a tricked out blue one here that sounded like a V8 but haven't seen nor heard it in years
I had one that I spec'd out for autocross when I was younger. I loved that damn car. I had for 10 years but it started falling apart and breaking all the time. I sold it in 2014 and bought a Focus ST. I kind of miss it to be honest
There is simple reason for that, there 00's Dodge, they're all broken and sitting in somebody's front yard.
@@PjPjPaul You must really have a thing for unreliable cars. 1st a Neon than a Focus. Keep an eye on that head gasket.
That's cos they're all broken🤔
These things were so underrated. I watched a few of them dyno back in the day. They would put down 230 to the wheels, and 265-270 torque. It's very much a throwback to the old muscle car days, when Ford rated the 428cj at 335 horse while NHRA rated them at 390 for the race classes because they knew better lol
Ah yes the memories with the green Neon from NFS Underground
Yeah
the neon green turd nice
Omg yes
for me it was midnight club dub edition
That wasn't a srt4 tho
Car enthusiasts: Car interiors like this are so cheap. So much plastic. They should use better materials.
Also car enthusiasts: Why are new cars so expensive? What happened to cheap cars?
It’s a shame that the mainstream consumer values ease of use and comfort more than novel engineering. Rarely does a gem get made and it’s becoming even more rare. Not that I think this car is a gem, those engines were not as good as they could have been.
Adam Wiggins not “also” but “other” car enthusiasts. They belong to totally different camps.
Also cheap speed never really does well in the new car market because those “car enthusiasts” only buy used.
370z is a good example: "I want a raw feeling car" Then: "it's got an ancient interior"
@@07wrxtr1 The Nissan 350Z/370Z? Just don't. Sounds cool outside; like a busted vacuum cleaner inside. Feels bulky, like a 2-door Maxima trying to be a sports car.
@@07wrxtr1 You get ancient architecture and mediocre performance in all categories. An FR-S modded or a GTI peforms better and for less new.
Out of all the 911s, the Chirons, the F1s, the Sennas... everything that's been on this channel, this might be the most exciting car for me that's been featured. My first car was a first gen Neon and these were the hot thing when I was in high school. I've wanted one for years.
Me too! Ive always been a neon guy. My first car 95 sport coupe with dohc 3.94 5spd for 9 years and 200k miles I dallied it. Lusted after the srt as soon as it was announced at the auto show. I finally got one three years ago. Most smiles per gallon of anything I've ever driven. Do it!!
I remember being a little child and wanting a neon as my first car, thank God that never came to fruition... I bought a 5 speed golf instead. My friend had bought a purple one tho; it was a shit box and he sold it not long after lol
I’ve had an Eclipse GST, a Focus ST, currently a Dodge Hellcat and honestly none of them have given me as much joy as when i had my SRT4. It was my dream car at the time and i still think about it. Totaled it after 6 months of ownership.
Dougs School when he was younger : So this week is show and tell week.
Doug : Thiiiisssssss is a .........
Thiissss is a 1992 hot wheels....
Thissssss is a 1962 Buick Skylark
I still have my 2005 NSRT4, still stock, OB so it's that much rarer, bought it with 6 miles, and it now has 263k miles. Still runs and drives great, and even still running the stock trans.
"...to the trunk of neon srt4 ... yes, thats right, NEON srt4" - twist that knife Doug, twist it hard
I dont mind cost-cutting and cheap materials in cars like these. Its what makes them affordable, but they are still fun when you drive them. Nowadays we hardly have any cars like these left.
I bought a silver 2004 SRT-4 and it was one of the most fun and happy cars I’ve ever had. Even with Doug ragging on it like this, the car brings a smile to my face. Crazy fast (for the money) and that ‘cheap’ interior was straight forward and easy to live with. The bolstered seats were actually comfortable and the kicker stereo wasn’t bad. My neighbor at the time described it as a party on wheels, and that’s exactly what it was.
NEON SRT4…
@@DennnnnnnY It was actually called the SRT4, it doesn't say neon on the title or the insurance.
When Dodge deletes things or leaves trim off to save weight or maintain a price point Doug calls it “cheap cost cutting”. When Ferrari does it and charges $30000 more, they call it a “Superfast” and every one ogles in awe....
I mean it’s their money. If I was stupid rich I’d also buy stupid shit
Dodge looks at deleting items as costing them less money to build the car which means higher profit. Ferrari does it to make it faster, and for higher profit. When you build a brand like Ferrari, you can pull this off. Why do you think Louis Vuitton charges $9,000 for a stupid ipad cover... Because they can.
I guess that's the difference between bespoke carbon fibre and plastic likely made from recycled pop caps.
Hmmm !!never looked at it like that..thankx
To be fair, Chrysler is notorious for taking cost cutting measures, if not the most notable in automobile history. Ever hear of the k car? The Plymouth prowler is another good example and that’s on dougs page. Almost every part in that car is borrowed from another dodge or Chrysler product. Comparing dodge to Ferrari is just a silly comparison anyhow, dodge is definitely more worried about cost per vehicle seeing as they sell around 2 million vehicles per year. Ferrari sells 8,400. Trust me, Ferrari isn’t cost cutting.
Finally, a car that suits his outfit
Jasper Ng 😂😂
Savage comment
“Cheap speed” that’s like Meth right? 🤷🏽♂️🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂
Yes sir!!
My first NEW car was a 2003 SRT4 with the mopar stage 1. I was 22 and so damn happy the day it rolled out of the showroom. Thanks for the memories Doug. 😁
Doug talking about the rear manual windows: "The most cynical cost-cutting decision..."
Guy who forgot to double check his design draft: "yes... cost cutting. That's what it was"
I predict this will be an underappreciated comment
Some people claim 'weight reduction', which is just some quality shit honestly.
A rear window motor wouldn't fit. That is why they didn't put one in. I honestly never use the rear windows. Even on my 08 TL-S.
@Yotin A derp derp
@Yotin A clearly doesn't know what the phrase means, and doesn't understand the original comment. C- reply.
Congratulations on finding a used Neon that has no dents, body damage, primer or different color hood.
Different colored hood? Thats was a thing or?
I was going to say congratulations finding any condition Neon still on the road. These SRT-4 Neons were pretty much non-existent by 2012-2013 around in my neck of the woods
Because people beat the crap out of these.
@@AaronSmith-kr5yf they used to be like $2k-3k but now at like $8k
On Your Left - don't say it loud, just watch at 2:23 below the front of the door... (marks the SPOT)
The SRT-4 was the only production car of the mid-2000’s that did not come with a muffler
I was looking for a comment where someone said this because "there's more exhaust noise than you'd think"
Interesting, good comment
I tried to argue this in court all the time lol they didn’t care still got loud exhaust tickets . It was the worlds fast car under 20k.
So technically they should not be street legal
@@codymcaleer7209 They are perfectly legal at a Fed. level - there is a loophole where if your car has a turbo it doesn't have to have a muffler (at least that is the justification at the time the car was in production)
What is even funnier there are people that contact dodge to get a statement to take to court and even Dodge was like "I don't know what you're talking about"
The crank windows in the back never bothered me when I drove a Neon- I could reach both cranks from the driver's seat
Must have long ass arms haha to reach the passenger rear
It probably saved like 100lbs in weight too
Doug making coffee in the morning for his wife: "THIS is a cup of coffee. And it's one of the best cups of coffee ever made. Many wives make do with normal cups of coffee, but this cup isn't your normal cup of coffee and you'll soon find out why"
Wife: "Do you ever take a day off?"
Best comment ever!
“I will be going over the quirks and features of this coffee…”
@@rutatutut "and then I'll give it a Doug Score. And for more of my thoughts click the link below to visit Autotrader.com/oversteer where I've also compiled a list of the best cups of coffee currently listed for sale on Autotrader."
Vee Gee ...which is great attention to detail.
I read your comment with Doug’s voice haha.
The factory hp numbers were way underrated. I bought one new back in '03 and had it dynoed right after I drove it off the lot. It Dynoed at 245 hp to the wheels with 4 miles on the clock!!
So probably 275-300hp at the crank?
Yupp I had an orange one in 05 severely underrated they actually had an article on it from the factory they purposely gave lower numbers on the paperwork .
The smile he had driving it is why people love these cars
This thing sucks 🤣🤮
@@log8589 Sucked one arm over while encountering the torque steer
ScreaminDemon71 These cars have little to no torque steer. I used to have one; both when it was stock and when I had a bigger turbo on it, i could put my foot down and go straight without touching the wheel
Jake Parsons thats just false lmfao
Because it is cool and powerful car on that class.
I was a salesman at Chrysler/Dodge in 2005 and this car was so FUN to drive!
What do you push?
@@sights1018 Lexus GS350 F-Sport
@@lordsterling5022 Very nice.
Haha me too!. I worked at Folsom Lake Dodge in California back in 2004-2005.. I would take one if these SRT-4s out whenever I could.
This car actually DOES have a cupholder for the rear seats. It's on the roof of the center console lid, so you just flip it open 180 degrees and BOOM instant cupholder for your passengers
Glad someone else remembered this feature.
QUIRK AND FEATURE - UNLOCKED!
What about the power windows in the front for added weight and roll up in the back for weight reduction lmao!
Give op more likes
Constantine Panoussis Hahahaha.
"cheap speed" should've been printed on the first page of this car's owner's manual
Advait Sagavekar that would be perfect
“No matter how many times he signs his worksheet with his middle name, the teacher still calls him NEON”- mr regular
I'm disappointed that an RCR reference is so far down.
@@sarcasticpanda84 It's the second comment for me.
Funny because as I read this, RCR video of this car came up, which I will watch now.
I still have my 2005 Dodge Neon Srt-4. Love it, drive it daily and it runs great. No road races or autocross, just daily stuff.
True econo-box gem.
I had one of these. Best car memories I will ever have. Mine made 343WHP with about 4000ish in mods. I ran 12’s (which back then was still fast) and unheard of from a FWD car with just radials and solid tranny/motor mounts.
I raced a terminator from a 40 roll and my buddy video taped us racing. When I showed some people they didn’t believe the terminator was trying.
I mean, Terminators can run fairly quickly, but still, you were in a car.
Nothing like Doug roasting early 2000's Chrysler
It doesn't take a car enthusiast to roast early 2000s Chrysler
the epitome of youtube
I'm pretty sure Chrysler roasted early 2000's Chrysler with their cartoonishly bad cars.
Doug roasting modern Maseratis lmao
When you mentiomed the trunk being all exposed. All i saw was pure art.
As a car enthusiast and a mechanic that was pure genius.
It looked great and it was light weight as well as allowed easy repairs.
And if it was a Porsche, you would have paid extra for it.
Saving weight, duh Doug
Dodge did good with that idea 😂💪🏻
Kudos for putting bbs wheel and and limited slip differential for that price range.
Probably one of the rarest to have a stock SRT-4.
i still see plenty where I am.
it's neon SRT-4 ;)
Neon SRT-4*
And it’s an ACR too!
Find a bone stock gsr Integra and I'll buy it.. Not joking
When you're a young kid who owned one of these brand new, those roll-up windows in the back came in handy for when you were back there ;) haha. No having to reach in the front and turn the key on to get some air back there
SoloRacer during them back seat action ;)
Foggin' up windows I see 😅
Youre either talking about smoking bud or fucking lmao.
@@sukmadik2319 I thought he was on about steaming vegetables
He couldn't figure out how they opened
I had an '05 SRT4. That was by far the most fun car I've ever owned. Thanks for reviewing it Doug!
same and I loved it lol
I was never the "ricer" type, but I always liked the SRT-4 Neon. The fact that Dodge threw that engine in their cheapo economy car was ballsy and fantastic. Chrysler was, and still is, the crazy 'fuck it', car company. The guys that bought the Neon were hilarious, though. Every one of them thinking they just purchased a Murcielago. lol
makes me wonder what you think "ricer" is supposed to mean
@@gregorsamsa1364 perfect lol
A new Neon SRT would've been the FK8 Type R's rival.
Maybe not a Lamborghini Murciélago, but an econo-box classic. They are only going up in value.
you can enjoy a four cylinder without being a ricer
For some reason, it’s that much more interesting to watch this when you know that this car is what was originally considered as Brian O’Connor’s main hero car in 2 Fast 2 Furious movie, instead of the Skyline R34
True, Craig Liebermann
Kilian Supra yup
Yeah... sure makes this car the new Eleanor doesn’t it....
In high school i remember giving a chick a ride in my srt4, and her roasting me with my friends about my manual windows in the back. In another occasion with a different chick i tried to race a car and impress her. so i down shifted into second floored it went to slam into 3rd gear and all of a sudden i had 5 new neutrals to choose from. Fun car tho, miss it.
Almost caught first gear in my 04 Colorado coming off the highway instead of third. Oh my God you could hear the whine. Thank God I didn't let it engage 100%
Funny how people view things, whenever i get in a car with manual Windows i can appreciate the fact that it will never fail as supposed to auto Windows.
@THE ONE or you could just buy a new handle... I rather change a handle than a window motor.
@@BP-fx3qc man, I much appreciate cranks over motors...but, all my cars with cranks ended up with broken cables that had to be replaced and the few power windows I had never failed. 😂
Aren’t cranks lighter too?
CNC motors: he's finally gone after a long time
Meanwhile Doug: TTHHHISSSSSSSS
This video was recorded before the whole coronavirus thing got more serious
@@UrBloodOnMyFace I know that
69 likes noice
He’ll be back!
96 likes, cenoi
You saw the giggles 17:08, it’s a fun car for a cheap fwd car. He couldn’t stop grinning 😂. Exactly for the price, it was “who cares”, quality crummy but where it counted, it was great (the powertrain). I’m surprised how right on the scoring was, could bump the fun factor 😋
CNC MOTORS: We've finally lost him
DOUG: Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis
I was a vw dude, I remember this came out and was blowing 1.8t's, wrx's and civic's out the water and all those guys hated mega hard.
They were fast out the box but most that were modded tended to fall apart really quickly. Main problem was it was cheap so people were using cheap mods. I knew a couple of guys running these around 2010, both ended up throwing a rod because they ended up pushing too much boost.
My Audi TT 225 whooped them bad
@@moncier77 only if your TT was modded and the neon was stock
I hated them too and I was rolling around in a $33k S2000. I always had one pull up next to me wanting to race lol
Yeah I got smoked by a couple of these fast car in it’s day
Those wheels are the most valuable parts on that Neon.
Dampachi100 nah it’s the seats
The engine is.
17:08: You almost had a Challenger Hellcat 6-speed moment, there. :-P
S h i t
Opposite issue, of course: RWD problems in the Challenger Hellcat, FWD problems in the Neon SRT-4.
That “half” power window situation is so common here in Brazil, manufacturers still do it to this day
In Europe to.
kkkkkkkkkkkkk
In Angola its the Max of power that you Get today in a common car🤣,Like Kia,Hyundai,Toyota....
Im from Uruguay, and i can say that we have worst cars than in Brasil. If you want to see cars from Uruguay go to my car photography account on instagram @rodrispotting_UY
I’m sorry
I want bugeye wrx
Mom: we have bugeye wrx at home
Bugeye wrx at home:
L G BRUH I DIED 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Wrx had awd tho
Aw damn it, beat me to it.
@Fox Gabanna The wrx is actually good tho.
It’s stronger, but the build quality is far worse. It’s the automotive equivalent of cheap moonshine
"I"m gonna floor it now. WOOOOW"
Pretty sure this has given him some sort of Hellcat flashback.
I wouldn't be confident if filming another Dodge performance car next time xD
Well it is fwd so he was pretty ok besides tourqe steer at least he didn't take streetspeed along with him
Hold up, Doug. In your summary, "it wasn't as fast as an Evo or STi". It was faster (trap speed, not ET). The SRT-4 consistently trapped as fast or faster than those cars in most car mags during its day, and when you looked at 0-130 mph numbers from magazines like C&D, you'd see the SRT-4 had more top end. As much or more power at the wheels (the 230/250 numbers were horribly underrated), and weighed 300+ lbs less than both of them. That being said, it had no chance against the Evo or STi once the road starting curving at all. I love all 3 of those cars (I have a WRX), but the Neon deserves respect on its name.
The ACR absolutely could hold it's own, unless it was gravel :)
I'm an si owner myself.and can say my si was even lighter but had a few less horse power at 202.raced several srt4 neons and always got beat.seems like the srt4 had alil more than 230 hp.maybe more like 250
@@mudturtleoffroadmudturtleo170 - they were generally found to dyno at 220-225, which indicates (given a 10-15% parasitic loss) 240 on the low end at the flywheel, to 265. There's a constant argument in the "talk" section on wikipedia about this car. Despite there being at least half a dozen sourced articles including big name magazines that either state the car had more HP or even dynoed (with evidence) that it did, people will try and change it back to 220 WHP, which is not accurate lol. But that's part of the fun of owning cars.
Doug’s “THHIISSSSSSSS” can power a small town for a few days
Reverend Lovejoy would be so proud...
@@pablojones5613 bringing in the sheaves...
Sustainable energy
DM Detail Doug2020 for President
yugihlh indeed 😂
This was my first brand new car. I could pull on my friends Evo 8 from a roll when we were both stock, we were both surprised.
I had a friend who owned a performance shop and had a 500+ horsepower eagle talon and got beat by one of these in a quarter mile street race.
Michael Mckenzie idk if I believe that lol 😂
Busch lol. Believe it. I was heavily into that scene up until 08. That was a planned race. The dude with the srt4 was known in long island for his car and the dude in with the Talon was known in Brooklyn for his car and all the other eclipses and Talons that he worked on including my Talon.
@@buschm1 Just to clarify, you're not thinking that I'm talking stock are you?
Michael Mckenzie if Dodge stock no way if upgraded maybe
My best friend bought one when we were both about 18, before that we had red 15 year old imports, he had an rx7 turbo 2 w/street port and I had a Honda civic hatch back with a ZC turbo.
When he first went into the dealership the first one wouldn't even begin to selll him one, like actually refused because "he couldn't afford it" so we went to the next dealership and yes--he could lol. (I think he only had a job at a warehouse but the first dealership didn't even ask--just flat out refused because of his age). The first thing we did with the car was of course go back to the original dealership, called the salesmen outside and then proceeded to do a massive smokey tire burnout. Lmao.
And yes I remember explicitly they were promoting the roll up windows and everything else as weight reduction measures and honestly it all made sense to us at the time. Plus if you're gonna move up in the world as an 18 year old: you need a sunroof. Lol.
The car was fast---faster than our heavily modified import cars from the late 80s, and the build spec made sense. Especially after you got the reasonably priced warrantied stage upgrade parts from Dodge. The car came with sticky as heck tires too.
The other thing I remember is some how the gear knob was only pressed on and people had allegedly been known to accidentally throw it through the back window in a particulary over exited, jabroni -level shift. Lmao.
Your friend went from an RX-7 to an SRT4?? Either you're talking shit or you have a really dumb friend.
Long winded but same here man I went to the dealership and they thought I could afford it I had just got out basic and ait training for the army and my dad new the manager. The boss man made him sit there while i bought it at cost from his fellow sales man lol ... cool cars and yea they told us the rear windows were for weight reduction lol i ended up owning two a family story stg3r and a full dcr build both 2005 later one orange and my first one white lol
@@wonderbreadjumps uhh ya. Not everyone wants to spend their evenings and weekends constantly working on and repairing an unreliable old car with room for 2, with a sensitive plastic interior prone to breaking and cracking, nevermind having to dump premix in it at every fill up and the terrible gas milage...when on the other hand they can afford a warrantied new car with stage upgrades that makes it even faster, fits 5, has a nice interior, cup holders, has better gas mileage, and unfortunately(I agree with with you here) is more impressive to most of their peers at the time.
It wasn't like today either, FC rx-7s were around everywhere, there were 4 at our small high school alone...and they were all, always overheating.
Wait wait wait ....... Who asked?
@@SpenserRoger nice story, tell it to readers digest
I really like what Quentin Tarantino’s been up to recently with these car reviews
Huh ?
He doin reviews ?
Lmao
@@ogbobby5128 2
At least he's not reviewing feet
Doug, if you’ll review a COP CAR you’ll officially become a legend.
😆
Ummm so much yes
One caveat: He's gotta wear a pair of Aviators.
He already is
Ur saying donut media is a legend company?
Back in the day when this car was available having over 200hp ment something these cars were extremely quick for their day
It sure did. Mostly that it wouldn't get anywhere near the mpg estimates from the EPA.
Not really but it was fast for a 4 banger eco car
That's because they weren't overweight bloated blobs like they are now.
My 2018 Focus ST is slower than my old 2005 SRT-4
jldude84 it didn’t have shit for amenities or safety gear, that’s why!
I always went to a different kind of dealer to get my “cheap speed”
haha
You win dude😂😂😂
Cocaine is better 😋😋
I own an srt4 snd the quirk master missed a great quirk if you completely open up the center console and rest it on the middle back seat there is a cup holder for the back as well as a tissue holder!
It is refreshing to see Doug keeping us entertain during this COVID-19 lockdown , I would also like to thank every front line health and medical personnel and also every key workers for making our lives a bit more bearable.
Actually he reviewed this car before, close to when the whole covid scenario started.
Fun Fact: The SRT4 came from the factory with no mufflers. It was also one of the first cars with exhaust pops straight from the factory.
That doesn't sound accurate.
Springwood Slasher I’ve had two. One was bought brand new. It’s unreal I know.
@@springwoodslasher79 it's true. I remember reading about that.
Yeah that's why I think they sound great. The fiat 500 abarth doesn't have mufflers too and sounds rather similar
Remember turbo blow off valve was loud and the cracks from the exhaust.
Legend says Doug is quarantined in a car, somewhere out there...
I had a 2004 version of this car. I absolutely loved it. The interior was as you describe, but it was also the same as pretty much every American car of that time period, especially the Daimler-Chryslers. The cost cutting (shockingly) really *REALLY* kicked in after the Daimler acquisition. (Who would have guessed). Daimler did more damage to Chrysler that can really be articulated.
But back to the car. I loved driving this car. I didn't have much notable torque steer (and I've driven a lot of performance cars, both FWD and RWD).
I traded it for a RAM SRT-10.
To this day, this will be the one car that I completely regret ever letting go.
@scott offord I'm in the same boat as you two. I had a Stone White. They're getting so beat these days, but if I can find a halfway decent one somewhere in my orbit, I may pull the trigger.
How does he not make an exhaust clip this is one of the best sounding 4 cylinders
I was waiting for the exhaust clip and it never came.
THE best 4cylinder sound. Billy Boat made the best sounding turbobacks.
th-cam.com/video/Ok97NTqVf6c/w-d-xo.html
Look the video from ghost rider, with the Subaru.. best sound and speed:-)
“Reason why I pulled you over is because you were speeding cheaply”
Lol Barbara
You were speeding cheaply, and for that reason, I'm out
Lol
You are not the true Barbra and for that reason I am out! 😂
@@omarkhatab1020 lol
Doug: “But the most cynical cost-cutting measure was power windows... only in the front! In 2004!
Me, in the back of my 2015 Auris Wagon staring at my crank: ahaha... yeah... *whistles awkwardly*
Google Cendrum yeah Doug is so upmarket himself he probably thinks the Neon is the only car that does this
Got the low trim, eh? =)
2012 - 2016 Ford Focus base had crank rear windows too
@@VladoooThe Completely normal thing. And to be honest - driver who is buying the car usually do not care about this. If kids or some other passenger in the rear wants their window down they gotta work for it and I don't care.
unitoone it’s no lesser a trim than standard, they just hooked the window motors to the trans
You can't knock the quality too much if at 130,000 miles it's still running that strong and looking that good.
I wonder how the owner feels when he gets to see Doug describing his car interior as the cheapest, crappiest stuff they could find..
as the owner of almost the exact same car, everything he said about the interior is 100% true.
If the owner is a realist ... they already know!
Gomi Day well yours is better of course.
The owner knows this
Look at how nice and well kept this NSRT4 is compared to most, and yet the seat bolstering is still coming apart! And the coating on the shift knob is failing! Trash interior. Likely the only people who think otherwise are teenagers who own it as their first or second car...
When I pulled aside to a Neon SRT4 in my Caliber SRT4, I used to screw with the driver by playing with my rear electric windows.
mglmouser lmfao
Vinny Booboo mine isn’t stock. But they are lighter and have more mods available.
@Vinny Booboo how would that even happen? They all have blown engines or have crashed.
I don't think I've ever seen an SRT4 before hearing it.
True..pop pop pop pop
You must live under a rock under a rock under a rock under another rock.
@@csb772 you didn't get it.
@@joshriles84 And you didn't either. I was making a joke out of his joke.
@@csb772 yeah i bet
I remember being a Junior in High School when this car came out & really liked this Whip. There was a Schoolmate of mine that had this car & it was really cool-looking at the time.
This is Nostalgic to me & I miss being young now.
5.6 sec. That's faster than the Mustang GT from that era. I know, I had one lol
5.6 is being conservative. Car and driver got 5.3. was a beast
Lol yes. I had an 01 GT and one of these smoked me so i went and bought one. It was the perfect sleeper back then. Nobody knew what it was
I bet it’s over 6 seconds on a vbox with a regular driver not 5.6 or 5.3 on a track with a pro driver on multiple passes ..
Pretty sure I saw this advertised at ~5.4 seconds, and the GT was about the same. Obviously it depends on driver and surface/environmental conditions.
@@bored2323 yeah but the same is true for any car. I had a 2015 5.0 Mustang that's supposed to do 5.0 seconds but I couldn't get anything better than 6.5
Doug the type of guy to bring us amazing content during the lockdown
Let me get this straight: The Neon SRT-4 ACR was the performance version *OF THE PERFORMANCE VERSION*
TurboFerret there was also the Mopar Stage package - had a buddy of mine that had a Mopar Stage 2 that really improved performance
Performance inception lol
Just like the bmw M and M Competition or the AMG an AMG Black Series
@@thechef. Those would be comparable to the SRT version. To be "just like", you'ed need another level.
@@OGSlaxl Friend in highschool whose Dad worked at Chrysler had the stage 3 and at the time I'd have sworn it was the fastest thing ever
Love the “Cheap Speed” references. I can still remember reading about this car in that MotorTrend issue back then!!
We need Doug merch. I need a t-shirt that says quirks and features
"Would you like to see my quirks and features?"
And on the back of the t-shirt a list of quirks and features of the t-shirt and a doug score at the end.
RIIIIIGHTTT 🤣
It's gotta be a layered shirt.
@@benjaminepstein5856 3 different collars sewn in.
Me: "Nice neon"
neon owner: "It's not a neon. it's an SRT4"
LOL!
Quick but wouldn't be caught dead in one
head this all the time at my work
My friend had one and he would correct us all the time whe we called the car a neon 😅
@@bilbobaggins4710 It has like 200 hp. It was quick in the early 2000s, but not now.
@@xenonram High 13s quarter mile is still pretty good, especially for a car this cheap. It was light and that engine is torquey, it didn't need 400 WHP to be quick.
I miss my "Viper in a diaper"
@@SkittlefabzSRT4 no tf
@@SkittlefabzSRT4 I didn't comment for attention. Literally just me saying no don't buy this car.
Bro... they are all trashed... believe me I've been trying to look for an un molested unit.
You mean like a 90's neon?
@@SkittlefabzSRT4 I know this is probably really late, but could you maybe help me find my own? I'm trying to get it as my first car 😄
I have an unmodified SRT 4 with a sick transmission. I am getting it back on the road soon. Its blue and Sweet. I love my SRT 4
Skittles are blue and homosexual
@@bigcams25 I need a transmission. I think its shot but everything else is replaced...timing belt, clutch...
Turbo even replaced
The “it’s not a neon“ meme was funny back in 2003. Once the Caliber SRT4 arrived all the owners started referring it as a neon to avoid confusion.
I always cringed when people said it wasn't a neon.Yes technically it wasn't because Dodge just called it the SRT-4. Every enthusiast knows its a neon and there was nothing wrong about that.
SyntheticSRT I found humor in it 15+ years ago. Now it’s about as stale and unoriginal as mentioning “vtech bro” while referring to Honda’s.
@@njshift I agree
Well, it was never sold, badged, or marketed as a neon. 😏
@@HarperPositive I'm that person who says it. 🤣
The Neons did have a rear cupholder. You can open the center armrest all the back and it has a cupholder on the inside of the lid. My first car was a 2000 Neon and I did not realize this for years until a friend who also had a Neon told me there was one there when she was sitting in the back.
14:19 actually if you open the center piece all the way around there was a cup holder inside it.
And a tissue holder..! Lol
215 hp was advertised hp, on the dyno they were putting out 265hp. Insurance reasons. I had the 2003, upgraded to the 2004 transmission for the limited slip. Even without it, it didn’t really have torque steer. That’s because it has equal length half shafts. Unequal length half shafts is the main reason why front drives have torque steer. The limited slip just made it even better. The only thing Neon in the car was the body. Everything else came from different cars, like the Stratus.