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2003 Dodge SRT-4 - Road Test

The Americans Fight Back

By Josh Jacquot, Photography by Josh Jacquot

The suspension calibration is good, but we'd like to see a bit more rebound damping. Our mountain road pounding explored the limits of the design as much as its calibration. Travel isn't substantial, so excruciating attention to damping goes a long way in finding extra speed and safety margin when driving hard.

Other than those few bits, this car is superb. Fast, fun, even pretty damned good looking. The only question is how many will be made? At the time of our test, no one wanted to spill the production numbers so it's impossible to say how seriously demand will exceed supply. But it seems obvious at this point that it will.

All we know is you can now hit 60 in 5.8 seconds for under 20 grand, haul three passengers in reasonable comfort and scare the bejesus out of WRX drivers in an American economy car. Sign us up.

2003 Dodge SRT-4

Estimated Price : $19,995
Chassis Code : PLDS41
ENGINE
Engine Code : A853
Type : Inline four, turbocharged and intercooled,
  iron block and aluminum head, structural
    aluminum oil pan
Valvetrain : DOHC
Displacement : 2429 cc
Bore & Stroke : 87.5 mm x 101.0 mm
Compression Ratio : 8.1:1
Manufacturer's claimed HP : 215 hp @ 5400 rpm
HPas measured at the wheels : 223 hp @ 5600 rpm
Manufacturer's claimed torque : 245 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Torque as measured at the wheels : 250 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Redline : 6000 rpm

DRIVETRAIN
Layout : Transverse front-engine,
    front-wheel drive
Transmission : Five-speed manual
Gear Ratios
1 : 3.647:1
2 : 2.045:1
3 : 1.367:1
4 : 0.947:1
5 : 0.756:1
Final drive : 3.526:1
Differential : Open
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Curb Weight : 2,870 lb
Weight Distribution F/R : 64/36
Overall Length : 175.7 in.
Wheelbase : 105.0 in.
Overall Width : 67.4 in.
Track F/R : 57.6 in./57.7 in.
Height : 56.5 in.
By Josh Jacquot
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