Power was now up to 230 horsepower and torque up to 250 lb./ft. For the 2004 model year, the Neon SRT-4 got more power by way of larger fuel injectors and revised engine computer tuning. These were admirable numbers for a compact car sending its power to the front wheels. of torque, and was capable of sprinting to 60 mph in about 5.6 seconds, and completing a quarter-mile run in 14.1 seconds. When the car first made its debut as a 2003 model year car, it came with 215 horsepower, 245 lb./ft. After building a few more prototypes, the Chrysler executive committee finally gave the car the production green light in 2001. Rather than giving up on the project, Gale's team listed all the reasons why the car was rejected and continued working. Unfortunately, the Chrysler executive committee rejected the proposal to make the Neon SRT a production car. Gale assembled a team and in the year 2000, the team built a concept, the Neon SRT, based off of Chrysler's Neon compact car.
![srt4 neon drive review srt4 neon drive review](https://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/03/16/15/48/2004_dodge_neon_srt-4-pic-15717-640x480.jpeg)
Seeing the current crop of sport compact cars after attending the 1998 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, Gale recognized the opportunity to build a sport compact that would appeal to the younger generation that grew up on tuner cars. The Neon SRT-4 only existed because Tom Gale, former Executive VP of Chrysler ProductÄevelopment and Design, saw the potential of marketing a compact and sporty vehicle to the younger generation. It was the car's unique exhaust note and performance numbers that made this car appeal to me. The Neon SRT-4 did not come with mufflers, giving it a very throaty exhaust note and a very audible burbling and popping during down shifts. It was not a very visually exciting vehicle (it is a Dodge Neon after all), but the sound the car made was what made it special.
![srt4 neon drive review srt4 neon drive review](https://gomotors.net/photos/4c/88/dodge-neon-srt4_1b732.jpg)
Seeing the sudden influx of these cars on the road got me thinking back to my college days when I had wanted one of these cars. Over the last few weeks, I have seen quite a few Dodge Neon SRT-4s on the road.