In the November Car and Driver magazine, they compared an 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT 4 with a Misubishi Lancer Evo GSR. Which was superior? The Evo. See below:

0-60 mph SRT4= 5.9 sec. Evo= 5.0 sec.
1/4 mile SRT4= 14.4 @103 mph Evo= 13.8 @102 sec.
Top Speed SRT4= 155 mph Evo= 155 mph
Braking (70 mph to 0) SRT4= 175 feet Evo= 159 feet
RoadholdingSRT4= 0.84 Evo= 0.97

I wouldn't buy one but these are two pretty fast pocket rockets.

 

That's no surprise. A boxy, heavy minature station wagon vs. arrow dynamic, performance orientated compact car. What I would like to know is how the Neon would have done if the new SRT-4 engine was offered in it, or an actual direct replacement.

 

All wheel drive for the EVO, front wheel drive for the Caliber. I would also think that the cost is more on the EVO. Now hit it from a roll and the outcome could be different. Its real hard to launch a front wheel drive and takes alot of practice. But I'm not a real fan of either, but they both have their fans.

 

It does take some pratice launching Fwd's, but just like any car it takes some getting used too.

There's alot of potential in the srt 4's, mopar makes a stage 2 and 3. This is going by the neon srt's, and I'm not sure if they will make the same aftermarket for them. Don't quote me on numbers, but I think they can make anywhere between 300-450 WHP. That's pretty impressive by my book. I've seen quite of few neon srt's go into the 12's and some in the 11's. I'm not putting down the EVO's either, they are pretty awesome as well.

 

Kismet. I was just talking about the Evo this morning with my friend. Saw an English "Car and Driver" type show, believe it's Top Gear or something to that effect and the guy was talking about how impressive the Evo was. He basically stated it was the working man's super car. But go and figure, Mitsubishi would make competitive cars, they were a "strategic partner" back in the dizzy with Chrysler.....

My ponderance this morning hovered around how CV Joints on a front wheel drive vehicle can take the punishment that these new tuner cars deliver in torque at the strip? I mean I find it amazing they don't strip the insides out like a philips screw would being screwed into concrete w/ cordless drill.

 

Yes top gear has that very arrogant, obnoxious reviewer. The Evo is definitely one of the best cars in its class and will be hard to knock off its throne without serious effort. With all of the AWD models Chrysler is currently making, I can't figure out why they don't have an AWD SRT-4 for the Caliber.

Yes jbd840, there are some very significant mods that could be done to the Neon SRT-4. If the Caliber SRT-4 ever takes off, it will probably have similar offerings if Mopar Performance will still exist.

 

If I was in the market for one of the smaller cars, I would just as soon get an Elise.

[IMG]local://upfiles/17/86FACB743BCF449AAF57DEDD1458CCCC.jpg[/IMG]

 

The only thing is the Elise costs quite a bit more. You could get 2 Caliber SRT-4s or an Evo and a nice payment on another car for the price of a Elise. Also I would have trouble justifying getting one because of the lame engine offered. No matter how fast the car is a 190 hp engine just isn't worth paying $45K for it. I would rather own a Vette if I'm going to shell out that kind of money because I at least get a V8 for that price.

 

they are both cool cars, but i really wouldn't compare them if i was trying to figure out which one to get.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. The Caliber SRT-4 would be more of a MazdaSpeed 3 competitor, not an Evo fighter. If they would sell a compact car with this engine they would then be able to compete.