2003 Dodge Neon SRT-4

Imagine a compact four-door sedan with 215 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque surging to the front wheels via a turbo four. If that makes sense, so does the sport compact phenomenon. If it doesn't, you probably can't get over the death of the F-body. In either case, Chrysler's Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO) figures its rorty hot-rod Dodge Neon is for you.

Sporting a unique front fascia, a rear wing worthy of an L.A. rodder's Eclipse, and cloth-covered Viper seats, the PVO Neon gets the PT Turbo's blown I-4 drawing air in through a functional hood scoop. Turbo boost is 11-14 psi, depending on what the engine-control monitor needs to achieve max power from 3200 to 4200 rpm. PVO's goal was to avoid the weight of a V-6, yet serve up decent low-end torque. We'd speculate it would pull the 2900-pound car hard to 160 mph--if not for an electronically limited 148-mph top end.

With a mixture of low-tech Neon and state-of-the-art parts (its 11-inch front and 10.5-inch rear brakes are absolutely Germanic), the SRT-4 provides a high fun-for-the-buck quotient for techno kids and old-school rodders alike. The car is quick and useable. Its chassis has been tuned for four-season, crusty road driving, so there's some roll in the corners, and the steering is vague, but the suspension balance is good for tight, second-gear autocrossing. Old-schoolers won't understand autocrossing, either, but with cars like the SRT-4, they'll get used to it. Stay tuned for test numbers.