DavidM

The latest 'Automobille' mag has a very good Track-test article. It has only about 8 cars in there, but they are all of interest and one of them is the MY04 S2000. Though, this the cars are all US spec so the S2000 has the 2.2L engine. I can't rememer the name of the track, but it's pretty long (ie. ~1:50 lap times), and has a decent straight (ie. ~200kph). Here are the times (from memory) and the cars that are in the article:
- Neon SRT4 = 1:52.0
- S2000 = 1:50.2
- EVO VIII = 1:48.2
- Elise = 1:48.0
- 911 GT3 = 1:45.1
- F360 CS (R-spec tyres) = 1:43.5
- Caterham Superlight R = 1:43.0

So, interesting to see how the S2000 faired with all these cars around. I'm not surprised to see the EVO 2sec ahead of the S2000, but I am surprised to see the Neon SRT4 being only 2 sec behind the S2000. That would put it about as quick as a WRX or S15 200SX ... I'm just speculating, but they usually lap 2secs slower than the S2000 in the hands of a pro. I would have thought that the Neon would be at least 4sec slower than the WRX (and more on par with the Clio Sport).

Interesting to see the 360CS 1.5sec ahead of the GT3 (on road rubber) , and practically on par with the Caterham.

AusS2000

You realise it's a 2.4L turbo?

DavidM

You realise it's a 2.4L turbo?

That's the Neon right? I did not know what the size of the engine was, but I knew that it was a Turbo and packs 240hp like the S2000. Also it's a tad lighter. But it is Front-wheel-drive and that is not that suitable to the track (unless tuned like the IT-R or Clio Sport). I actually pressumed that it will handle like a Neon, and that is not good at all ... I would have thought that the Renault Clio would lap quicker due to it's balance/handling, but it does not seem so. The SRT4 sems to be very quick even on the track.

Blackie

David, I believe your times for the 360CS and Caterham are incorrect

DavidM

David, I believe your times for the 360CS and Caterham are incorrect.

Totally correct .... those times were 10secs off. I fixed them in the original post, thanks for the pick-up.

ToucanDan

I reckon the Neon would be one of the biggest bargains in the States...

it has a bad rep around import circles (from what i gather),

230hp @5300rpm
250lbft of torque from 2500-4400rpm
Quaife Torque diff,
2970lbs = 1350kg

Not bad statistically... I reckon it would a pretty simple point and shoot car to drive, would be a blast coming out of superslow corners...

However, 2 seconds is a fair difference on a 1min 50 track I guess...

DavidM

I reckon the Neon would be one of the biggest bargains in the States

Yep, it certainly has to be. As far as value for money goes, it's right up there.

However, 2 seconds is a fair difference on a 1min 50 track I guess...

2 secs per lap is a decent gap, but that is roughly what the gap/difference between something like an S2000 and WRX/S15 200SX would be (in the hands of a pro). So the SRT4 must be very quick and quiete well sorted on the track.

2 sec difference on the track is easily outweighted by driver-skill. There's easily 10sec difference in lap times between regulars just due to the skill level. 2secs is something that you see between 2 drivers who seem 'well matched'. So in other words, it would not be that hard to be quicker (or as quick) at the track in the SRT4 than other people in S2000s there.

ps. From what I'm reading about the SRT4, is seems to clock roughly the same time as thew S2000 over 400m. Though, the SRT4 seems to be able to trap slighlty highter speed ... that implies that it does not have the traction of the S2000, but it acclelerates slightly harder.

cashout

The SRT4 is Dodge's attempt to save what basically is a POS car. They have been selling them for a few years (The Neon) and are commonly known in the states as 'the car you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy'.

For the 2002 model year Dodge set out to change that with the introduction of the 2.0 littler engine, some cosmetic changes and the SRT4 model. The SRT4 being the answer to the Neon being considered the most gutless, worst geared car on the market.

In itself it is a decent car. But you have to consider that the standard Neon starts at around 13k whilst the SRT4 starts around 21k+ (if I remember correctly). That is $8k worth of mods, wich in a car like the Neon is basically new everything but the shell and the really crappy interior (Which it is still the shittiest collection of plastic you'll ever see in a car).

DavidM

I found the exact figures from the test ... here they are. Also the track used was 'Barber Motorsport Park' ... I was wrong about the speed reached on the main straigh as it is more like 170kph.

Acceleration 0-60mph :
1) Noble M12 GTO-3R : 3.8 sec.
2) Dodge Viper SRT-10 : 4.2 sec.
3) Porsche GT3 : 4.3 sec.
4) Caterham Super 7 Superlight : 4.4 sec.
5) Ferrari Challenge Stradale : 4.7 sec.
5) Mitsubishi Evolution RS : 4.7 sec
7) Lotus Elise : 4.9 sec.
8) Honda S2000 : 5.6 sec.
9) Dodge SRT-4 : 6.1 sec.

Braking 70-0 mph :
1) Ferrari Challenge Stradale : 160 ft.
2) Caterham Super 7 Superlight : 163 ft.
3) Noble M12 GTO-3R : 165 ft.
4) Dodge Viper SRT-10 : 166 ft.
5) Porsche GT3 : 168 ft.
6) Lotus Elise : 170 ft.
7) Hona S2000 : 171 ft.
7) Mitsubishi Evolution RS : 171 ft.
9) Dodge SRT-4 : 185 ft.

Lap Times (2.3 mi. Barber Circuit) :
1) Caterham Super 7 Superlight : 1:41.7
2) Noble M12 GTO-3R : 1:42.0
3) Ferrari Challenge Stradale : 1:42.8
4) Porsche GT3 : 1:44.1
5) Dodge Viper SRT-10 :1:45.3
6) Lotus Elise : 1:46.9
7) Mitsubishi Evolution RS : 1:48.2
8) Honda S2000 : 1:50.8
9) Dodge SRT-4 : 1:52.4