[focaljet-1]

askjeffro, I only mentioned the 1/4 mile aspect because most of the time I feel it is the only thing people on this board care about. So, I was saying if that is their want, then I would pick the SRT-4 at this point in time as well.

I look for a more balanced performance in a car. I haven't driven the SRT-4 yet. I hope to get a chance soon. I do think that a lot of the mystic of this car is clouded by the output numbers.

Don't get me wrong, it may be fantastic car, and while I do read magazine reviews... I also like to draw my own conclusions.

If the Special Vehicle Team is given the resources (i.e. money) to out do the SRT-4 then I'm sure they will. Having met several members of the team I know they are hardcore car guys. But, this is business, and I would assume that the Ford bean counters will require a strong business case.

The sport compact market is not a fad, so let's just hope that the people that control the purse strings at Ford give the SVT guys and gals what they need to compete and then stay out of their way.

[ 05-08-2003, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: wrcfan ]

 

[focaljet-1]

Holy Crap! Enough already! If you want to buy a car RIGHT NOW strictly to run the quarter mile then GO BUY AN SRT-4... end of story!

The car industry is like the computer industry, constantly in flux. Pick any point in the timeline and someone will have the best, fastest, etc. product.

When the SVTF was released the SRT-4 was NOT available. OK, now it is. That's the idea... to one-up the "other guy".

There are parts of the SRT-4 (the HP, duh) that make it desireable. Will Ford simply roll over and die? I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

I like debates about the Pros/Cons of cars but jeez these "the SVTF might as well be taken off the market because it can't compete" threads are wearing on my nerves.

Dodge just entered the sport compact fray, in a serious way. I don't think Ford spent millions of dollars to develop the SVTF just to give up once another company developed a car that dynos higher. If that were the case we would have never had the Mustang vs. Camaro battle that lasted for DECADES.

The SVTF's mission was to unseat the Honda Civic Si as the best sport compact. It accomplished that mission. But today's market moves at the speed of light.

The SRT-4's mission, in my guesstimate, was to talk some serious smack toward the SVTF. It succeeds. But, I'm sure the SVTF team has taken that as a challenge.

We, as car enthusiasts, benefit from these battles for supremacy. We will be treated to a long line of insane cars from which to choose. Be happy.