Whats a good 4dr car?

[MEandmyKB]

the mazda3 is triple the quality of the neon, will last longer, and even has a performance variant coming out soon.

the neon is cheaper.

thats pretty much what it comes down to.

Only comes down to that if you like the Mazda 3 and would consider buying it. Me, I'd pay 37k for an optioned EVO MR before I'd take a free Mazdaspeed 3.

If triple the quality was my goal I'd buy a Camry, but I'm sure I'd walk before I ever decided to buy a Camry.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I would buy a Nissan Maxima if i was looking for a 4-door car...or if finances allow, a G35 sedan.

I have the pleasure of driving a 2005 Nissan Maxima SE around when i'm not driving my GT. I love the car. It has 265HP so plenty of pep, the interior is nice, rides nice, HID's NAV all teh fun stuff. It's fast as hell. I would prefer a 6-spd but the automatic with sport shift is fun as well. I've gotten used to driving it in sport mod and downshifting for my turns and running the gears to redline. It's kinda fun and i enjoy taking it for a spin.

I'm actually considering selling my GT for a 4-door sedan and am thinking about the G35 sedan 6-spd.

 

[AvalancheSVT]

..the steering, the interiors, the exteriors are different, etc...etc...etc...

i dont care if its gold plated it will forever be just another neon with the same ancient horrible suspension, incredibly flexible chassis, and wrong wheel drive.

 

[Pughman]

the Pughmiester :Word:

sup....

 

[Smeech]

How about a 07 Mercury Milan AWD V6? Invoice on them are $23k, and I'm sure pretty soon you'll find some deals on them..

 

[Pennywise2]

on the Passat.. a 600,000 mile accord is a better bet for reliability than a damm new VW.. VW is one of the most unreliable cars made

I would consider a fusion, or wait for the SVT fusion.. 400 HP AWD STI killer!!!!!!





Nothing wrong with american cars.. All of mine have been fine.

I also will belive when Ford produces the SVT Fusion.
I really don't think SVT will even make their version of the
Fusion but,we will all see Mike.
Also you can make 400 whp on the STI's with the stock turbo
with nothing more than bolton's,higher boost and a good tune.

 

[hotmustang331]

When the word "killer" was used, was it used to compare "straight line speed"?

And please don't be one of the people that uses the SRT-4 is a "Neon with a turbo" excuse - like saying a Cobra is a GT with a supercharger, or saying a GT is just a base model V6 Mustang with a bigger engine dropped in. I work on Neons and I own a SRT-4 and I see really nothing in common between the 2. And if the "Neon build quality and **** interior" are such disasters...why does my SRT-4 interior look like a total upscale winner when compared to the interior of my '02 Mustang GT. Except for Leatherastic seats in my "premium" Mustang, almost every piece of SRT-4 interior looks and feels better, especially the Viper-ish seats. And at 10,000 miles my SRT-4 has Zero squeaks, rattles, plastic interior buzzes and body groans...like my Mustang did. Mazda 3 = "great looks" ? WTF?

Don't know what the SRT resale market is like in your area, but I see stock low mileage used 2005 SRT-4's going for 18-19k...that's what I paid for mine when it was new last year.

Well honestly thats exactly what they are .Do I care? Nope. I dont know why SRT-4 owners get all upset about it .

unibodys are the SAME base design...besically all other offered stangs are "heavily modded" V6s. The old Saleen S351s vin #s said they were V6s. Thats because they ordered V6s from Ford and tuned them into S351s.

The cobras just have a totaly different drive train, and alot of interior differences (although ALOT of parts are still shared by the V6) . All replaceable body parts (- doors really) are different....just like we can change the parts on our stangs.
Like I said, it makes no difference to me...and cobra owners not wanting their cars called "mustang" is just as rediculous as SRT-4 owners not wanting their cars called "neon" .

 

[mineralgray2002]

well we went and drove a mazda 3 today with the 2.3 and the autostick and ill have to admit it was a nice drive, faster than her fucus by far. I think she is going to go ahead and buy one because she likes the looks and the interior, doesnt car about performance. I hate to say this but i went and drove the s/c cobalt ss today and that thing has alot of power for that little ecotec. Im considering buying one for myself just for the mileage and the 100k warranty. Sorry guys but i just cant afford to dump more money into a mustang with no warranty like last time.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Well honestly thats exactly what they are .Do I care? Nope. I dont know why SRT-4 owners get all upset about it .

unibodys are the SAME base design...besically all other offered stangs are "heavily modded" V6s. The old Saleen S351s vin #s said they were V6s. Thats because they ordered V6s from Ford and tuned them into S351s.

The cobras just have a totaly different drive train, and alot of interior differences (although ALOT of parts are still shared by the V6) . All replaceable body parts (- doors really) are different....just like we can change the parts on our stangs.
Like I said, it makes no difference to me...and cobra owners not wanting their cars called "mustang" is just as rediculous as SRT-4 owners not wanting their cars called "neon" .

Exactly. I don't get the whole "SRT-4 is not a neon" thing. Point to one and ask any non-car enthusiast what kind of car it is and 9 out of 10 will say "A Dodge Neon"

A Cobra is a Mustang
A SRT-10 Ram is still a dodge ram
A Z06 is a Corvette
An SRT-8 Charger is still a charger.

So why isn't an Srt-4 a neon? Toss a different driveline in it and a hood and it's a totally different car?? Strip a Shelby GT500 down to it's bare shell and you have the exact same thing you start with for the average V6 Mustang? Do Shelby GT500 owners care? NO. So Why do SRt-4 owners care so much in telling us "It's not a neon??"

Some of my friend's own Cobras, They don't say anything when someone says "Nice Mustang" . I mean that's what a Cobra is right? A mustang?

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

I like the Cobalt SS cars, they are pretty nice but not worth the $$ imo. They are what 21-23K sticker. That is Mazdaspeed3 price range and I for sure would rather have that.

But the Cobalt is nicer than the SRT-4 too

 

[Mustang5L5]

But the Cobalt is nicer than the SRT-4 too

That's because Cobalts have a cool look to them while neons are...well neons

 

[mineralgray2002]

yeah the cobalts list for 22.5k here, but i found a used 06 for 16.5k that has like 6k miles. I really like them because im 6'4'' and i had to have the seat all the way back in the stang and in the cobalt i had room, probably to the fact there wasnt a v8 crammed inside the car. It felt really powerful(couldnt hammer it due to salesmen with me) and it was fun watchin the boost gauge. The farthest the gauge went for me was 6 on the gauge then it went to like -10 for some reason at idle, iono i dont understand gauges. maybe someone will chime in and help. Ill look at the mazdaspeeds next time we r over there which will be thursday, i had my eye on an rx8 but they want 35k new.

 

[MEandmyKB]

i dont care if its gold plated

Don't care if you don't care, if that's okay with you.

it will forever be just another neon

Coming from the fact that I had a pretty fast and modded Mustang, and I once had a negative opinion about SRT-4's...and that was without ever even seeing one up close, without ever driving one or ever owning one. Now that I own a '05 SRT-4 I believe that I would have had a lot better intial opinion of the SRT-4 if it would run low 15's or high 14's with a good driver instead of being able to run in the 13's with a good driver...bone stock. With gears, CAI, TB, X-pipe, CB and tune on my '02 Mustang...I finally got into the 13's.

with the same ancient horrible suspension, incredibly flexible chassis

Perfect desription of my Fairmont's and Mustang's buzzes, rattles, sqeaks, groans and crackles...even w/subframe connectors added to the Mustang - My SRT-4 has absolutely ZERO sqeaks, rattles, groans, etc...even w/ the addition of the o2 housing, Cat-Delete and Cat-Back exhaust.

I'm hearing big promises from the next generation Mustang and I'll keep my fingers crossed - I wouldn't mind test driving one or buying one.

 

[MEandmyKB]

That's because Cobalts have a cool look to them while neons are...well neons

Yeah, those darn Neons...

I'm not sure I ever would have went ahead and added the KB to my Mustang...if a 2005 neon (SRT-4) w/ just a Stage 1 computer didn't beat me in front of my co-workers.

 

[MEandmyKB]

I like the Cobalt SS cars, they are pretty nice but not worth the $$ imo. They are what 21-23K sticker. That is Mazdaspeed3 price range and I for sure would rather have that.

But the Cobalt is nicer than the SRT-4 too

Nicer how? In the way that the Cobalt would get owned 100x out of a 100 in almost every catagory they could think of...or the fact that GM makes the finest quality of garbage plastic (not counting the Holden/GTO) interiors ever made?


Can't believe me mentioning "Whats a good 4dr car?" would open up so many old wounds. Excuse me.

 

[mattkimsey]

I'd get a SRT-4 and take the spoiler off. I wouldn't want to spend a lot of money on any FWD car and you can get a SRT-4 for $14-$15k with pretty low miles. The Mazdaspeed3 is nice, but I wouldn't want to spend the extra money (~$8-$9K)

 

[mattkimsey]

Opps, I should have read the first page first - auto, nicer interior.

I'd say look at a used Cadillac CTS also - looks good, RWD and a smooth V6.

 

[AvalancheSVT]

Coming from the fact that I had a pretty fast and modded Mustang, and I once had a negative opinion about SRT-4's...and that was without ever even seeing one up close, without ever driving one or ever owning one. Now that I own a '05 SRT-4 I believe that I would have had a lot better intial opinion of the SRT-4 if it would run low 15's or high 14's with a good driver instead of being able to run in the 13's with a good driver...bone stock. With gears, CAI, TB, X-pipe, CB and tune on my '02 Mustang...I finally got into the 13's.

SRT4's are budget drag racing introductory performance vehicles. thats all. any mustang chassis has more potential simply because it has RWD. you can't just bolt on better parts to the SRT4 and make it have the same kind of performance as a similarly equipped RWD car. it just ain't gonna happen with that car. maybe a honda or a FWD car that actually is made decently but a neon? its the only FWD car that i've heard stories about people just losing control at high speeds. thats pretty bad dude.

Perfect desription of my Fairmont's and Mustang's buzzes, rattles, sqeaks, groans and crackles...even w/subframe connectors added to the Mustang - My SRT-4 has absolutely ZERO sqeaks, rattles, groans, etc...even w/ the addition of the o2 housing, Cat-Delete and Cat-Back exhaust.

dude, its a dodge. talk to the average viper owner about quality issues and you think your neon will be immune? LOL mustangs ain't bentleys either so im not comparing them but if its a GT or a SRT4 i'd take a GT any day. in fact, i am.

 

[MEandmyKB]

SRT4's are budget drag racing introductory performance vehicles. thats all.

That may be enough - did you read the article link I posted?

any mustang chassis has more potential simply because it has RWD. you can't just bolt on better parts to the SRT4 and make it have the same kind of performance as a similarly equipped RWD car. it just ain't gonna happen with that car.

You're not very familiar with the Mopar Stage 3 (and 2) suspension upgrades and what the aftermarket offers. Or the MOPAR Turbo upgrades...and the aftermarket "Stage 4" and beyond systems...are you? What until you see a 500whp (or more) SRT-4 happen before you say "ain't". Thanks.

maybe a honda or a FWD car that actually is made decently but a neon?

I've owned 2 Honda preludes and just 1 SRT-4 and I like the SRT-4 better...have you ever owned a Honda or SRT-4?

its the only FWD car that i've heard stories about people just losing control at high speeds. thats pretty bad dude.

One of the car mags had the SRT-4 up to 153MPH and I was under the impression that they loved how it handled.

dude, its a dodge.

And the Mustang is a Ford. Your point?

talk to the average viper owner about quality issues and you think your neon will be immune? LOL mustangs ain't bentleys either so im not comparing them but if its a GT or a SRT4 i'd take a GT any day. in fact, i am.

Perhaps I've had great luck with the SRT-4 and terrible luck with my '02 Mustang. Like I've said many times before: At 10,000 miles I have absolutely ZERO issues with my SRT-4, no sqeaks, creaks, rattles or leaks...but with my Mustang at 10,000 miles I had rattles, squeaks, buzzes, graons and moans from the front windshield to the trunk to about every area of the interior in between, plus the valve covers leaked and the pinion seal was leaking. Don't miss it at all.

Perhaps, if I decide to get the next gen Mustang, I'll have better luck with the next one.

 

[AvalancheSVT]

That may be enough - did you read the article link I posted?

i don't need to.

You're not very familiar with the Mopar Stage 3 (and 2) suspension upgrades and what the aftermarket offers. Or the MOPAR Turbo upgrades...and the aftermarket "Stage 4" and beyond systems...are you? What until you see a 500whp (or more) SRT-4 happen before you say "ain't". Thanks.

500hp and shiny suspension components dont change the fact that its just not that great of a platform unless you ant to do mediocre drag racing.

I've owned 2 Honda preludes and just 1 SRT-4 and I like the SRT-4 better...have you ever owned a Honda or SRT-4?

nope, and i never plan on it. why? because there are better ways to go faster and look cooler.

One of the car mags had the SRT-4 up to 153MPH and I was under the impression that they loved how it handled.

oh a car mag, awesome. now you're quoting mag facts. sure sign of a good argument.

And the Mustang is a Ford. Your point?

dodges are have the worst quality/fit and finish of any of the big 3 in america. most car guys know that. they make cool lookin stuff lately but the fact is they've never made stuff to stand the test of time.

Perhaps I've had great luck with the SRT-4 and terrible luck with my '02 Mustang. Like I've said many times before: At 10,000 miles I have absolutely ZERO issues with my SRT-4, no sqeaks, creaks, rattles or leaks...but with my Mustang at 10,000 miles I had rattles, squeaks, buzzes, graons and moans from the front windshield to the trunk to about every area of the interior in between, plus the valve covers leaked and the pinion seal was leaking. Don't miss it at all.

ding ding ding. while i dont believe in luck it would seem that it has played a big part in swaying your opinion to the realm of misguided neon owners.

i dont hate the neon, for what it is its a pretty cool little car, but it ain't anything really that special and it'll forever be just a neon.