Agreed! I'd love to have a SRT-8! I love every aspect of the 8 other than the lack of a true manual. The Challenger will address this next year when they release the 6-speed version.:clapping: However the "whole" package of the CSRT cannot be ignored! Low entry price quite roomy versatile plenty of power in stock form handles quite well considering it's high profile and FWD.
Id like to compare to 2 4's but the only way to do that is not run them on the street but on a course and see how the Csrt accually compares to the 1st gen. and probally the best way to do it is pull someone who had never dove either before and take them on at a time on the course to get a true answer.
One thing I do know...the CSRT4 is faster than a STOCK NSRT4 in the straight line! I have found that out 3 times already
This would be an excellent comparison for sure. Both have their advantages and it would be interesting to see which 4 comes out on top:hmm:
I traded a moderately modded Magnum RT for my CSRT-4. I feel it would out run the RT if it were stock. It doesn't have as smooth as a ride, but it's a lot of fun to drive, mostly due to the 6 speed tranny.
I have owned 2 SRT-4 Neons, and I drove the living crap out of the SRT4 Caliber at the SRT Experience. I wasn't terribly impressed with the CSRT4 honestly, but then that's comparing it to my Stage 3 turbo/Stage 3 coilover heavily modified NSRT-4. If I could recall back to my stock NSRT-4 I had a few years ago, I might compare it more favorably in my mind. However, I should add that I drove it on the Performance Drive module twice, and the second time I hopped in, the instructor told me to beat the crap out of it, and I found that the more I wailed on that turbocharged shoebox, the better if felt. That did impress me a little, it's definitely far more fun to drive at 10/10ths than at 8/10ths. As it is, I found it to be floaty, and felt like it was going to roll over in some corners, and I experienced a lot of bucking when downshifting or braking, as well as it being not particularly impressive on the power delivery. It's more of a cross between a Charger SRT-8 and a Neon SRT-4, it's not as agile as the Neon, but it's not as heavy and deliberate as the Charger, and it's a lot more comfortable than the Neon is. Maybe with some sway bars and coilovers it would have impressed me a lot more in the handling department, but I think it's fundamentally weaker than the Neon in that it has a higher center of gravity, more weight, and the chassis was not designed for road racing, whereas the Neon's chassis was. I would not trade my Neon for one straight up, no way, because for one, I already have a comfortable SRT to cruise in, and for the other, I prefer the more focused, raw application of my NSRT-4 to the more balanced and refined, but less raw CSRT4. Plus the NSRT-4 just sounds better =].
I also didn't like the caliber, but the reason being is my height. I just couldn't get comfortable in it when I did the track experience at Daytona.
I guess it's all about what you want out of a car. If I were looking to buy a performance car, it would not have been on the top of my list, but for a daily driver, it's probably the best bang for your buck out there. I just bought one, I set out to buy a daily driver that got great mileage, but I have to drive something with a little balls to it. I began researching and saw the new CSRT4 and thought it would be perfect, so I set out and found one with all the options and color I wanted. I had pretty much excepted that I was buying a low end car with a turbocharger, but I was definitely proven wrong. The car drives amazingly smooth, the finish is alot nicer inside and out than I expected it to be, it handles great and it's a whole lot faster than most cars on the road. It's surprisingly turned out to be a total blast to drive, so for a daily driver, yeah it's a pretty badass car. On the highway I've averaged 31mpg at 65mph, that drops to 27 at 80mph. Around town I average 22, and I drive the hell out of it.
I haven't had a chance to drive one, but they look pretty cool upclose. It's alot better looking than the Neon that's for sure...sorry Neon owners, I'm not trying to bash your rides. Anyways I played around with a new one tonight(it still had paper plates on it) and kicked the every living shit out of it!!! I guess that isn't fair, but hey he came up on me.LOL
Just for a reference, I've been following some of the Caliber forums, the guys that have figured out how to launch them have been running high 13's in stock trim. By looking at your mods, you're probably at least a second quicker.
Hey Rajunz, do you go out to the 620/35 meets on Saturdays? It'd be cool to see a Caliber SRT4 out there sometime. My SRT-4 is down right now, but I will be rolling my SRT-8 up tomorrow.
I have not made it out to the 620/35 meets yet, but I will soon. I'll have it out at the Texas Heat Wave Show next weekend along with my Supra. Let me know if you'll be out there. -Lance
