Nearly the Nationals
by Lori Lovely Sep 24, 2003
Living within roaring distance of Indianapolis Raceway Park during U.S. Nationals tends to inspire a driver to rip down the street when the light goes green, hoping for a chute to open before the next intersection. But somehow, a pickup truck just doesn’t support the fantasy. Remember, I’m not a race car driver in real life; I just play one in my daily driving habits. Fortunately, Westgate Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Plainfield had the perfect car to fuel my imagination for a drag racing weekend. Whatever you do, don’t call the Dodge SRT-4 a Neon. Neons are slow, uninspiring little rental cars that race teams thrash around the streets of Long Beach and Toronto. The SRT-4 is the second-fastest Dodge, relying heavily on its big brother, the respected Viper, for styling, handling and parts. Poised on the Westgate lot, my black SRT-4 looked menacing, with ovoid headlamps squinting above an aggressive, sporty grill. Dodge inverted the Neon grille, providing the SRT-4 a sassy façade, with a glimpse of its cast-aluminum intercooler. The hood scoop does more than signify business; it’s functional. The tall rear spoiler mounted on a high rear deck looks daring and racy — while not blocking the view in the mirrors (as if any serious drag racer cares what’s left behind sucking nitro fumes). Special 17-inch wheels channel air to cool the brakes, and performance tires indicate the car’s predilection for running fast and hard. Sill-mounted ground effects complete the sporty look. Sliding into the racing style seats with stiff side bolsters for shoulders and thighs, I’m thankful for all the Special K I’ve eaten over the years. The comfortable seats, modeled after those in the Dodge Viper, offer enhanced lumbar and lateral sections for better support when cornering at speed. The race theme continues with chrome-ringed gauges, including an eye-catching Autometer turbo-boost gauge mounted high on the dash, metallic-look center stack and gear shift knob, and carbon fiber-look steering wheel. But beyond the driver’s cockpit, you might think you’re in one of those rental Neons again. Back-seat roominess is surprisingly comfortable for anything but a long haul, but don’t look for any of the cockpit’s flash. Instead, just be grateful you’re not wedged in a roll cage. For all its pretense at competing with the big-horsepower two-seater racers, the four-door SRT-4 is a practical car. The trunk is unexpectedly large, and the rear seat splits 60/40 for carrying additional cargo. Enough looking; time to see if there’s any rocket in this little pocket. Sans muffler, the full-bodied gurgle snarls through dual exhausts with every blip of the accelerator. Intoxicating. An all-new 2.4-liter turbocharged engine delivers 215 horsepower. Factory-installed options can increase that to 250 or a warranty-busting 300 ... which I firmly believe is wasted on a car listing around 20,000 clams, but I’m sure there’s some young gun out there convinced his SRT-4 can be a Viper with the extra horses. Zero to 60 in under six may not put me in Funny Car contention, but the G’s unloaded when it squeals off its marks is a pleasing rush for any would-be driver — with no noticeable torque-steer. This little missile impresses in more than just straight-line speed. Developed by Dodge engineers who spend their weekends road racing with the Sports Car Club of America, the SRT-4 is made to corner. The fully independent strut-type high-performance suspension does a good job of balancing ride quality and handling agility, and as long as a driver knows how to slide a front-engine/rear-wheel-drive car around, the performance will be quite satisfying. It’s responsive, quick and fun to maneuver — but not as much fun as putting your foot flat on the throttle and letting the G’s force your head back against the seat. Slightly disappointing is the five- (what — not six, like the other trendy speedsters?) speed heavy-duty manual gearbox. Shifting is a little vague — like a balky econobox when it’s cold, and mischievously elusive on the downshift: probably the car’s biggest disappointment. The SRT-4 is tough enough to take just about everything thrown at it with minimal body roll and bumpiness, thanks to a rigid body structure, which results in a smoother, quieter, more controlled ride, and soft springs and premium shocks. A long wheelbase and wide track also contribute to its roomy interior, smoothness and high-speed stability. Turn the stereo off; you’ll get much better sound from the engine. Sit back. Get a grip. Imagine the Christmas tree going green, and let the SRT-4’s power explode off the line and into the fun zone.
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