Sport Compact Car of the Year 2003

JD · Feb 4, 2003

My Focus "SVT", is my Car for the Year!

For your information: Received this email in ref:

Subj: 2003 Dodge SRT-4 named Sport Compact Car of the Year 03.

On their way to naming the Dodge SRT-4 their first ever Sport Compact Car of the Year, Sport Compact Car magazine's Dave Coleman said, "Power output is so far beyond anything else in this segment, it's almost embarrassing."

A lot of automotive publications and enthusiasts have been raving about the all-new Dodge SRT-4. But no one loved it more than the editors of Sport Compact Car who named the SRT-4 -- the fastest car in America for less than $20,000* -- the Sport Compact Car of the Year in 2003.

Sport Compact Car pitted the SRT-4 against 40 other cars such as the Mini Cooper S, Nissan Sentra SE-R and Nissan 350Z, Hyundai Tiburon, Honda Civic Si, Volkswagen GTI, Ford SVT Focus , Subaru Impreza WRX, and MazdaSpeed Protege -- none had the swagger and speed of the SRT-4.

Pick up a copy of Sport Compact Car's February 2003 issue for the whole rundown and be sure to check out the Dodge site for more information about the SRT-4 including the new questions from consumers like you that have been answered by the SRT-4 team!

`jd from a Space

svtfocuspower · Feb 4, 2003

Still wouldn't get it; just not my thing. I got the car I wanted

.

Qbert · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by SilverSVT:
Heheheheh Wait till the next Gen SVT Comes out...if Fords Reaction to the SRT-10 Ram Pickup with the 2004 Lighting is any indication, I'm not worried about it

Do you seriously think Ford will be able to build it for under 20K?...Didn't think so. If it isn't in the low 20K ballpark, what is the point? For mid 20's you can buy some pretty incredible cars right now.

TurboGTi · Feb 4, 2003

As long as it is FWD, I'm not interested. I had fun with FWD, but now it's time to move on to RWD or AWD (unless, a WORTHY FWD comes out)

Osiris · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by Qbert:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by SilverSVT:
Heheheheh Wait till the next Gen SVT Comes out...if Fords Reaction to the SRT-10 Ram Pickup with the 2004 Lighting is any indication, I'm not worried about it

Do you seriously think Ford will be able to build it for under 20K?...Didn't think so. If it isn't in the low 20K ballpark, what is the point? For mid 20's you can buy some pretty incredible cars right now.<hr /></blockquote>Ford is building a faster, more powerful Lightning to compete with the SRT-10 for a projected price tag of 10K LESS than the Dodge.

Who says they can't compete if they don't want to?

Ford has the right car and the right formula to do it. All they need to do is slap some 5mph bumpers on the RS and it's a done deal. To add to the flavor Ford should increase the boost a bit and do away with the AWD to make it more competitive and ofcourse, faster.

I think Ford will have no choice BUT to compete, but I think it will be in the form of a "R" type of SVTF, not the SVTF itself doing the competing. Something like what the Cobra R was to the stock Cobra.

Ronde Baquie · Feb 4, 2003

but why would you want to trump a 'street' car with a 'race' car?

it doesn't make sense in the bragging rights category. dodge would still win because consumers could get the srt-4 all day while a Focus-R would be available to race teams like the cobra-r was.

Qbert · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by Osiris:
Ford is building a faster, more powerful Lightning to compete with the SRT-10 for a projected price tag of 10K LESS than the Dodge.

Who says they can't compete if they don't want to?

Ford has the right car and the right formula to do it. All they need to do is slap some 5mph bumpers on the RS and it's a done deal. To add to the flavor Ford should increase the boost a bit and do away with the AWD to make it more competitive and ofcourse, faster.

I think Ford will have no choice BUT to compete, but I think it will be in the form of a "R" type of SVTF, not the SVTF itself doing the competing. Something like what the Cobra R was to the stock Cobra.

Ummm, yes we all know they are building a faster Lightning and I don't think it is all that hard to build something that is just as fast as the SRT-10 for less. The L's MSRP is what 30K right now? So sure...they have at least 10K to work with to meet your goal!

Now, take the SVT Focus, 17K stripped, 19.5K loaded. So with 500 dollars Ford is going to be able to add 50hp? I highly doubt it. If you seriously think Ford will build this car for under 20K you are sadly mistaken, try 24K probably which puts you into a whole different category of vehicles.

SyNRG · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by Qbert:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Osiris:
Ford is building a faster, more powerful Lightning to compete with the SRT-10 for a projected price tag of 10K LESS than the Dodge.

Who says they can't compete if they don't want to?

Ford has the right car and the right formula to do it. All they need to do is slap some 5mph bumpers on the RS and it's a done deal. To add to the flavor Ford should increase the boost a bit and do away with the AWD to make it more competitive and ofcourse, faster.

I think Ford will have no choice BUT to compete, but I think it will be in the form of a "R" type of SVTF, not the SVTF itself doing the competing. Something like what the Cobra R was to the stock Cobra.

Ummm, yes we all know they are building a faster Lightning and I don't think it is all that hard to build something that is just as fast as the SRT-10 for less. The L's MSRP is what 30K right now? So sure...they have at least 10K to work with to meet your goal!

Now, take the SVT Focus, 17K stripped, 19.5K loaded. So with 500 dollars Ford is going to be able to add 50hp? I highly doubt it. If you seriously think Ford will build this car for under 20K you are sadly mistaken, try 24K probably which puts you into a whole different category of vehicles.<hr /></blockquote>and FACT is that u cant pick up a srt-4 for under $20k either!!!

akorn · Feb 4, 2003

That's probably true, but the SRT does not appeal to me because I think it's fugly, especially that wing. And I bet it will re-define torque steer in the corners.

How much more was the forced air induction Cobra over the previous model. Not much, Ford could do it if they wanted to for a good price.

When I bought my '87 5.0, it was 5k less than an IROC Z28, but faster.

OmniFocus · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by TurboGTi:
As long as it is FWD, I'm not interested. I had fun with FWD, but now it's time to move on to RWD or AWD (unless, a WORTHY FWD comes out)

I'm just the opposite. If they ruin the car by adding heavy and pointless AWD, then I'll lose interest. AWD is overhyped these days, and very few people actually have the ability to make the AWD valuable in anything other than slippery surfaces. I want a FWD Focus RS as-is!

OmniFocus · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by akorn:
That's probably true, but the SRT does not appeal to me because I think it's fugly, especially that wing. And I bet it will re-define torque steer in the corners.

You can order it wing delete..

...and the torque steer argument is old and tired. The only reason people care about torque steer is that the media has blown it out of proportion simply to whine about something. Give me 300 FWD horsepower, and I won't give a hoot about torque steer!

TurboGTi · Feb 4, 2003

Originally posted by OmniFocus:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by TurboGTi:
As long as it is FWD, I'm not interested. I had fun with FWD, but now it's time to move on to RWD or AWD (unless, a WORTHY FWD comes out)

I'm just the opposite. If they ruin the car by adding heavy and pointless AWD, then I'll lose interest. AWD is overhyped these days, and very few people actually have the ability to make the AWD valuable in anything other than slippery surfaces. I want a FWD Focus RS as-is!<hr /></blockquote>I agree with ya. What I meant was, move on to another platform. I personally would want the Focus to stay as a (light!) FWD.

Slane · Feb 5, 2003

Originally posted by Ronde Baquie:
but why would you want to trump a 'street' car with a 'race' car?

it doesn't make sense in the bragging rights category. dodge would still win because consumers could get the srt-4 all day while a Focus-R would be available to race teams like the cobra-r was.

Uhhhh Last time I checked, anybody with a checkbook and some $$$ could have bought a 2000 Cobra R. The racing license didn't apply to the 2000 Cobra R. And you could have bought a 95 Cobra R if you had a 'Racing License' SCCA NHRA etc.. Also Ford bases R models off of production numbers so since a jillion foci are made every year, a lot more Focus R's if there were to be such a thing would be produced. But, looking at the response to the SVT(total produced 4788), how many would they sell at 25k 30k etc. It's still the age old rule of $$$/performance. I have owned some very fast cars.. Porsche 928S, 944 Turbo etc..but it cost $$$$ to get that performance and not everybody wants to spend a lot of money for a performance car.

akorn · Feb 5, 2003

Torque steer or whatever you want to call it is what FWD cars do. Even my Focus.

Evil_SVT · Feb 5, 2003

It's a damn neon... I don't think that I could drive a neon...

SilverSVT · Feb 5, 2003

Heheheheh Wait till the next Gen SVT Comes out...if Fords Reaction to the SRT-10 Ram Pickup with the 2004 Lighting is any indication, I'm not worried about it

Qbert · Feb 5, 2003

Originally posted by SyNRG:
[QB}and FACT is that u cant pick up a srt-4 for under $20k either!!!

[/QB]

Hey, the sticker is 19.9K...why couldn't you? That is like telling me I couldn't get a Focus for 19K.

Inexorable · Feb 5, 2003

the srt-4 is sickly lookin. id rather drive a pinto. sport compact car was going strictly by power, and power only. the SVT could be within 3 horsepower/TQ, and have a fully prepped Saleen Racecraft suspension and any other different mods, and they STILL would have chosen the srt 4 because the power would still be more.

i think they should jack up the rear end of the srt 4 just a little more, and also see if they can manufacture some even uglier rims for it. "NEON". LMAO. thats the funniest. the coolest thing this summer will be cruising around, and getting my doors blown off by some dude and his girlyfriend in a "NEON". yay. i thought telling people i had a "Focus" was bad. imagine telling the guys & girls you drive a "NEON"? ew.

time for nitrous or a COBRA.

Honkeytonk Monkey · Feb 5, 2003

Originally posted by Slane:

Uhhhh Last time I checked, anybody with a checkbook and some $$$ could have bought a 2000 Cobra R. The racing license didn't apply to the 2000 Cobra R. And you could have bought a 95 Cobra R if you had a 'Racing License' SCCA NHRA etc.. Also Ford bases R models off of production numbers so since a jillion foci are made every year, a lot more Focus R's if there were to be such a thing would be produced. But, looking at the response to the SVT(total produced 4788), how many would they sell at 25k 30k etc. It's still the age old rule of $$$/performance. I have owned some very fast cars.. Porsche 928S, 944 Turbo etc..but it cost $$$$ to get that performance and not everybody wants to spend a lot of money for a performance car.

Only 5 came here... stupid Canada...

Kool_ZX3 · Feb 5, 2003

The Neon with a new Name,Suspension and a Turbo

WOW

Still a damn Neon and with Dodge/Chrysler quality they will be blowing up in people's faces.Good for nothing, My uncle even said to me this summer that we would never buy a Chrsyler b/c of thier quality and he even works fo them.The people buying the SRT 4 better watch out, I warned yah

Sport Compact Car of the Year 2003

JD

svtfocuspower

Qbert

TurboGTi

Osiris

Ronde Baquie

Qbert

SyNRG

akorn

OmniFocus

OmniFocus

TurboGTi

Slane

akorn

Evil_SVT

SilverSVT

Qbert

Inexorable

Honkeytonk Monkey

Kool_ZX3

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