I don't know if this is worth bringing up, because it is irrelevant to the hp/torque discussion, but when you are talking about going head to head with another car, it has soooo much to do with the driver.

When I had my 1.8t Golf, I came out in front of so many "faster" cars during friendly street clashes. The most notable was actually a contest that I lost when I was in a "spirited" duel with a modded e36 M3 in which he didn't start to pull on me until after 120mph. That felt good.

Sure, at the drag with two knowledgable drivers, the SRT is probably going to stomp. But in the real world, where most drivers can't use their blinker and change lanes at the same time, you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. The next time you're side-by-side with a FWD Mopar 4-banger, just make sure you launch conservatively before you get crazy on the throttle. You'll be in 3rd before the other guy can get a handle on his wheel spin. That's been my experience most of the time...but I live in So. Cal. where every yahoo's got a sports car or modded ride.

On a side note: I spoke to a guy in a parking garage the other day who had a really tastefully done Ford Focus with 5Zigen rims, wide body arches, cf hood, interior gauges, etc. It wasn't blingy at all, it just looked mean. I complimented him on his car and asked him what he had done to the engine. "Nothing" he said "that's next". I asked him if it was an SVT. Nope. I asked him whether it was a PZEV. Nope. It was a goddam stock 115hp Zetec. "Have fun at Hot Import Nights." I thought.

 

My friends has the KDWs..he told me they are loud to the point they sound like the wheel bearings are going bad. I think it's the blocky tread that's creating the noise.

 

On a Lotus mailing list a guy has this quote as his sig:

"The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers." -- Dave Barry

I gave a friend a ride yesterday in the Mini. We went up the canyon a way with him driving and then I waited to make sure that everything was clear before giving him a stimulating ride back down. It was a 35 mph road with 15 mph corners and I was pushing hard. I knew the road was deserted but it was still a little nuts hitting 110 (speedo is generous) in an open windy section before locking it down and hitting the next 25mph corner at about 60. Along with voicing doubts about my life expectancy he said, "I thought I was a good driver, but you are just scarry." I am constantly amazed at what that car can do and I would probably would have scared myself with what I can do with it now. Wouldn't mind it having a dyno reading like that SRT-4 though!

 

Hey gollygwagen.... I just saw your sig.... you using 15inch wheels on your modded Cooper S???????? That thing must skid and squeel like one of them pigs with a turbo rammed up it's ***.

 

So true someone posted a vid of a K car smoking a guy in a supra (I think) at the dragstrip.


P

 

The SRT-4 has a lot more power than the Mini. An MCS may make about 145hp at the wheels, while the SRT-4 makes almost 240hp at the wheels. The torque is also considerably more than the Mini. 100 more hp makes a difference just as putting a pulley on a Mini makes a big difference. I have driven the SRT-4 and while it is quicker than the Mini, in normal driving it doesn't always feel that much quicker. As with all turbo's you have to keep the boost on the car to make it great. Check out this video of a 440hp EVO and it's real world ability to drive: http://www.szweda.com/files/video/evo.wmvTurbo's aren't everything they are cracked up to be. They are great for a lot of situations. But I still think for the Mini the SC does a much better job than a turbo would do.

 

I'm running a smaller tire too, so it's not really all that different. It really grips well, especially on the sticky tires . It also effectively gears me down around 10% which makes it a little snappier if a tad high strung on the highway.

 

K-car? What about a mini van?

http://home.wi.rr.com/mk105/Cars/93%...%20minivan.htm

http://www.turbovan.net/van.html

 

You know what would be a really interesting test of SRT vs. MCS?

Get both cars at buttonwillow (you pick the config) give them both Falken Azenis tires and the same pro race driver. Give each car about 20 minutes on the track to get their fastest lap and look at the differences.

I think i would almost pay to see that match up.

 

See the stripes? Its a fake mini!


Paul

 

That mini-van is just shocking. I can't believe hour fast it is! Someone has to make a mini faster than that...

 

Prior to me getting my MCS I was a diehard Dodge man and I still remain so to this day. It's easy to poo-poo the Neon and it's variants, but Dodge 'performance-oriented' products are almost silly easy to modify for big horsepower, none the least of which is the 2.2/2.5 turbo motor that they stuck in just about everything they built at one time. The 12 second minivan is just one of many results of both the aftermarket and the factory coming out with very effective mods for the motors. If the same level of modding parts came from MINI as from Mopar Performance we'd be much further along than we are now.

I like to think that our little 1.6 runs as good as it does and responds well to mods due to it's Mopar heritage. It does not have to be a technological superstar, but with all the good stuff in the right places and proven designs, the potential is there. We are slowly realizing it. At least between all the screaming for numbers.

 

I think it's the Fake Mini Woody Edition.

 

GR has a project SRT-4.

http://www.grmotorsports.com/srt4.html

 

well its a know fact that the mini and the euro neons have the same 1.6l eng so u.s.a has a 2.4l in the u.s. neon .but dodge didnt reenginer the hole car to take the 1.6 eng in euro cars, so if ther that close will a 2.4 neon srt-4 eng bolt in to mini?? the 1.6l mini bolts directly into a neon?? so ive been toying with the idea but will it work

 

Guilty as charged.