Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: LA on April 01, 2009, 07:48:46 PM

Title: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: LA on April 01, 2009, 07:48:46 PM
Just bought a used car for my daughter, an SRT4 Dodge Neon.  Got it from a Granddad who bought it for a grandson who toasted the engine.  Dodge  replaced the engine and Gramps sold the car.  It's all black inside and out with those nice fitted racing seats and some sort of hot rod DVD/CD video player.  The car has 50,000 miles and still under warranty for 25,000 more miles.

The car just hauls ass and handles great. [thumbsup]

Daughter can't drive a manual trans car, but has ridden a Yamaha 230 dirt bike for years. I don't think it will take long to transfer that to a car.  She'll learn in the S10 pickup first.

She's a good driver who learned in the Blue Ridge Mts. up hwy 28 to Highlands, NC and the War Woman Dell.  She's really got a good feel for the road and has a lot of Ducati seat time on the same roads.

What do you think?  Pretty neat 1st car for a 16 year old?  I'm hoping $9000 was a good deal.

She's the son I always wanted too.  She's been begging to drive the Ducati and is trying to make sure it's her's in my last will.  She says her 7 years older brother can have the old Norton. ;D

I'll have to get a pic.

LA
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: Alexandre on April 01, 2009, 07:55:35 PM
Nice little ride for a first car.

First streetbike should be coming soon?
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: IZ on April 01, 2009, 08:02:41 PM
Quote from: LA on April 01, 2009, 07:48:46 PM


What do you think?  Pretty neat 1st car for a 16 year old?  I'm hoping $9000 was a good deal.

Yup..real "neat"!!

I remember when I sold my GSX Eclipse to a 16 y/o a couple years back.  It was a "neat" car as well!! 

She had it for a total of <2 months when it was impounded after..what..her 5th ticket?!

Just make sure she keeps her head out of her azz..her hands on the wheel (not texting/talking on the phone) and her foot light on the gas!!

Other than that..those are fun lil cars.  One of the guys at Ducati in Mesa had one.   [thumbsup]


Most importantly..tell her to watch out for other drivers..esp. when at a standstill!!
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: LA on April 01, 2009, 08:26:34 PM
Quote from: Alexandre on April 01, 2009, 07:55:35 PM
Nice little ride for a first car.

First streetbike should be coming soon?

Yep, she's after a brand new red 250 Ninja with an aftermarket open pipe.  The dealer called and told her it was on the floor for $3900 the other day.  Her mom ixnayed that. [moto]

LA
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: swampduc on April 01, 2009, 08:35:27 PM
Should be a fun little car. My first car was a 10 year old Toyota Corona station wagon that maybe did 0-60 in about 18 seconds or so, so yeah, she's lucky to have that for her 1st car  ;D
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: DoubleEagle on April 01, 2009, 08:50:44 PM
LA, sounds like she might be taking after her father. If she is a good kid and drives with some sense ( not like we did at 16 ) she should be ok.

Boyfriends getting behind the wheel might be a problem.

Only you know your girl , so if it'
s ok by Mom and you then just keep an eye on it for dings , dents and excessive tire wear for signs of driving in a manner that you may not approve of.    Dolph    :)
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: DucatiBastard on April 01, 2009, 09:07:06 PM
I've got an '04 for my daily driver.  They are really fun cars to drive, although the stock KDW's are kinda crappy in the snow, although with 50k miles its probably been through a few sets of tires (especially the fronts!)  Sounds line yours had the "Kicker" Stereo option, nice.  They made these cars for 3 years with little difference between them.  What year is yours?  What options?  www.srtforums.com (http://www.srtforums.com)  is a good place for these and other SRT cars.  They'll help you out with all the questions, (Is the tranny supposed to make that noise?, where is the trunk release button?, etc.) 

Its almost like having two different cars, depending if you're in the boost or not, the thing can be a handful if you're at WOT, it wants to steer itself.  Check out that site, its very helpful, and enjoy!
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: the_Journeyman on April 02, 2009, 05:50:49 AM
With a good head it'll be great & fun.  However, if she complains about poor fuel mileage, examine her driving habits.  If you keep your foot in those they get down in the teens from everything I've heard from owners ~

JM
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: Le Pirate on April 02, 2009, 06:06:35 AM
fun cars.

a friend has one...it's a torque steering summapregnant dog!



i hope if i ever have a daughter she loves fast cars and motorcycles too!
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: KnightofNi on April 02, 2009, 06:23:40 AM
Quote from: swampduc on April 01, 2009, 08:35:27 PM
Should be a fun little car. My first car was a 10 year old Toyota Corona station wagon that maybe did 0-60 in about 18 seconds or so, so yeah, she's lucky to have that for her 1st car  ;D

my first car would do 0-60 in about 8 sec.
it was still not my first pick, it was a 1978 ford ltd. the good thing is i rarely got pulled over in the grannymobile. ;D

it's not what you drive, it's how you drive it.
i used to try and drift my mom's minivan. i also jumped my dad's F150 more than a handful of times.
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: sbrguy on April 02, 2009, 06:26:19 AM
good luck.

hope all goes well.

remember she is only "your good girl" around you.  why does every parent think "their kid is the good kid" that won't do any wrong and that is always "someone elses kid" that does bad stuff. 

the operative word is "kid".  If she doesn't do stupid crap with her first car i would be very very concerned.
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: minnesotamonster on April 02, 2009, 06:49:22 AM
Quote from: sbrguy on April 02, 2009, 06:26:19 AM
good luck.

hope all goes well.

remember she is only "your good girl" around you.  why does every parent think "their kid is the good kid" that won't do any wrong and that is always "someone elses kid" that does bad stuff. 

the operative word is "kid".  If she doesn't do stupid crap with her first car i would be very very concerned.

Why are you so pissed off at the world?

Not every 16 year old thrashes the shit out of their car. I was 16 not long ago and I didn't do any stupid shit in my car. I had dirtbikes and fourwheelers for that.
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: abby normal on April 02, 2009, 07:07:52 AM
its a POS, but at the same time fast with strange handling.  wouldn't be my first
pick for a child's car.
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: corey on April 02, 2009, 08:25:50 AM
at least it has modern brakes and a clutch that will allow her to remove power from the wheels on a whim.
probably alot safer than the 88 thunderbird rust bucket that was my first car, or even the 2000 neon i'm driving now.
make sure she buckles up, and doesn't let any of her stupid friends drive it.
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: il d00d on April 02, 2009, 08:44:05 AM
From what I have heard, these are good cars, better than the badge they represent.  I had occasion to be driven around in one, and it had some stomp.  Also, one interesting feature of this car is that they bring out the hata's on internet forums  ;D

+1 on making sure her guy friends don't get a turn on the wheel.  But you pretty much rule as a dad for entrusting her with a car that can beat many stock tuners.  I hope she makes the right decisions  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: DCXCV on April 02, 2009, 09:25:28 AM
Yeah, that's a pretty good ride for a 16 year old.  Hope she does well and stays safe. 
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: the_Journeyman on April 02, 2009, 09:29:45 AM
How's the insurance on it with a 16-year old?

JM
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: causeofkaos on April 02, 2009, 11:25:06 AM
good for her  [thumbsup]


man my first car was a 1978 caprice classic station wagon, yeah it had the big block V8 but it attracted girls like great whites attract seals.

Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: swampduc on April 02, 2009, 12:08:33 PM
Quote from: causeofkaos on April 02, 2009, 11:25:06 AM
good for her  [thumbsup]


man my first car was a 1978 caprice classic station wagon, yeah it had the big block V8 but it attracted girls like great whites attract seals.


Yeah, my Corona wagon had the same effect (or maybe it was just me  :))
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: NAKID on April 02, 2009, 12:50:16 PM
Quote from: causeofkaos on April 02, 2009, 11:25:06 AM
good for her  [thumbsup]


man my first car was a 1978 caprice classic station wagon, yeah it had the big block V8 but it attracted girls like great whites attract seals.



My first was a four door 73 Ford Maverick Gold (brown)...
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: Speedbag on April 02, 2009, 03:27:02 PM
Nearly 3 pages and nobody has mentioned how you can mod the piss out of the SRT4 to run some damned impressive quarter mile times.  ;)

[evil]
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: NAKID on April 02, 2009, 04:21:28 PM
I think that's a general understanding with this group. 400hp comes a little too easily...
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: LA on April 06, 2009, 06:38:17 PM
Well I picked up the SRT4 today and all I can say is WOW!  This thing is a boat load of fun.  My son and I put 150 miles on it and he and my 16 yo daughter took it up to the state line on Hwy S.C. 28.  This is a smooth piece of road and is very "technical" for a primary road.  The car just ate it up.  My God but that thing will fly and handles like it's on rails.  It really reminds be of my Ducati - a street sleeper and sneaky fast.  A 100 mph comes up amazingly fast for a little 4 cylinder. 

This is my/our/ well ..... my daughter's first turbo charged engine.  I gotta remember who I bought this car for.  Boost comes in at very low rpm and it just feels like there a big hand pushing you faster and faster.  Extremely docile around town and just plain fun to drive.  I reallly don't see how one would manage to keep the car on the road with the stage three kit that Dodge sells for $4000 that makes 365 HP.  It's just make the beast with two backsing insane.

Little Rachael took her first manual transmission lesson by driving back up the mountain and she took to it like a duck to water.  She's definitely got the got the high performance gene and has a wonderful feel for the road.  I think all her dirt biking helped a lot.

I LOVE this little car. 

Thanks for all the comments. You guys are great. [thumbsup]

Oh yea, this is a self portrait she's a little over 5'9" and still growing.

(http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq353/1ajess/CSC_0611.jpg)

LA
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: erkishhorde on April 06, 2009, 07:55:19 PM
Why do girls not know how to use the timer feature?
Title: Re: SRT 4 for daughter's first car
Post by: somegirl on April 07, 2009, 11:24:37 AM
Quote from: erkishhorde on April 06, 2009, 07:55:19 PM
Why do girls not know how to use the timer feature?

This was me with the timer feature (10 s). ;)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/normal_stlouis04.JPG)