[Lord Plye Wood]

Was the decision not to offer AWD in the SRT-4 Caliber part of a "non-competitive" agreement between Mitsubishi and Daimler/Chrysler, to avoid the possibility of draining sales from the upcoming Mitsubishi EVO X?


Thanks,

 

[leakslikasieve]

Was the decision not to offer AWD in the SRT-4 Caliber part of a "non-competitive" agreement between Mitsubishi and Daimler/Chrysler, to avoid the possibility of draining sales from the upcoming Mitsubishi EVO X?


Thanks,

theres always a chance of things like that. but i seriously doubt it. supposedly the reasoning behind the srt4 not having the AWD system fromt he r/t model is due to the fact that the AWD system can supposedly not handle the power. its quite possible this is true, and dodge just didnt want to spend the money for R&D for a better AWD unit. Keeping the cost down.

 

[Xxsrt4xX]

Same reason the current SRT-4 lacks in the suspension dept. All of the R&D went into the engine. Whereas GM actually R&D'd the Cobalt SS and Ion Redline suspension on the Nurburgring (sp?) in Germany.

 

[srtman]

thats the only thing cobalt has up on the srt4 is handling which is a big thing. both slicks cars! and and the cobalt keeps a straighten path on tak off with hands off the wheel.

 

[leakslikasieve]

the cobalt is a really nice car.. but with the sc its not as easy as just turning up the boost controller. turbos are easier in that sense. but the ss does handle awesome.. the steering is very numb though, you dont really get a sense of where the wheels are pointing. still handles though.

 

[Xxsrt4xX]

the cobalt is a really nice car.. but with the sc its not as easy as just turning up the boost controller. turbos are easier in that sense. but the ss does handle awesome.. the steering is very numb though, you dont really get a sense of where the wheels are pointing. still handles though.

Not only that, but when you get the SS version with a S/C, the displacement of the engine is smaller.

 

[holeydonut]

I think it just comes down to cost and potential customers. Most marketing research shows that the majority of North American customers will not spend big bucks on a small car. Unlike the UK, Japan, Thailand, everwhere else.

This is why the Volvo S30 is going to be difficult to place even though it's going to be a great car on paper. The Audi A3 has moved 1500 units so far in 2006 (This figure is through the end of Feb). Merc won't bother bringing a B-Class equivalent to the USA, and the BMW X3 is as close to a hatchback as they'll risk going since people just won't buy an expensive 5-door car in the USA. Maybe as gas prices increase, the allure of a nice utlity car will re-emerge... but for now... it's just not practical for the Caliber, Golf, Mazda3, HHR, etc to have AWD.

The Vibe/Matrix gets an AWD option, but it's not really a performance unit... and sales of the AWD version of this car aren't stellar

 

[Nytmare]

Anybody know what an SS does in comparison to an SRT-4 in the 1/8th or in the 1/4

I haven't done any research, but a friend of mine told me that the SS gets the SRT-4 down low, but then the SRT-4 takes over up top.

 

[dommo_g]

thats the only thing cobalt has up on the srt4 is handling which is a big thing. both slicks cars! and and the cobalt keeps a straighten path on tak off with hands off the wheel.

OK, why does that matter? Who the hell takes off with no hands on the wheel?

 

[dommo_g]

Anybody know what an SS does in comparison to an SRT-4 in the 1/8th or in the 1/4

I haven't done any research, but a friend of mine told me that the SS gets the SRT-4 down low, but then the SRT-4 takes over up top.

On paper, the magazines put the Cobalt very very close the the SRT-4, but in real life, from people that have raced them, it's not even close.

 

[holeydonut]

I'll bet the equal-length half-shafts and the LSD will help greatly in reducing torque steer on the SRT4 as well. I haven't read anything from any tester about crazy torque steer... if someone has an article where a reviewer felt that their arms were being ripped out of their shoulders, please let me know.

 

[caliber4whoosh]

Yeah, I'd like to read that also...I doubt it'll be that big of a concern. No worse than the previou SRT-4 IMO, because of the increased weight and such.

 

[MADmosche]

So your saying the Cobalt SS is faster than the Caliber SRT-4?

 

[holeydonut]

I think Dommo is imagining smoking Cobalts off the line and all the way up to a 14.1 quarter mile (I think the Cobalt SS was tested 1/4 at 14.5 by CYD - but Edmunds got a 15.5 in the sam edistance)

Edmunds:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=104953

C&D:
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=16&article_id=9753

Either way, the Cobalt SS has 205 hp... I don't think it stands a chance unless you're hauling around a pile of bricks in the back

 

[[email protected]]

On paper, the magazines put the Cobalt very very close the the SRT-4, but in real life, from people that have raced them, it's not even close.

Having driven many SRT-4's and few Cobalts the Cobalt is not even close. Don't get me wrong the Cobalt is a nice car but as far as brute strength goes the SRT-4 rules.
Jeff