CDNSRT4

I had a few vehicles in mind when I was shopping for a new car. The A4, A3, A5, 300 SRT8, and the Cherokee SRT8. I really had my mind set on the Caliber SRT4 because I had wanted a NSRT4 four years previous.

The A3 and A4 put me to sleep. Audi didn’t allow test drives of the A5 but I knew it was going to be a dud because it had the same no torque 3.2 L engine in the Audi line up. Now, if it had the 2.0 turbo with 260 ft lbs right off idle… I might have seriously considered it because the styling is downright gorgeous. Essentially a 2 seat GT car for the mortal! A poor man’s Aston Martin I say.

I didn’t sit in one but peering through the window I was instantly swooned into a setting complete with a long legged beauty in the passenger seat, a mountain-view inspired getaway with weekend luggage for two, a Martha Stewart approved picnic blanket and a James Bond sanctioned picnic basket of Vodka, quails eggs, caviar, Foie Gras, cream cheese, pumpernickel bread, capers, and smoked salmon… and maybe even a bottle of Chablis. Yes, yes, yes… with a car like that, Jimmy was sure to get waxed!

I really wanted the S5 with the V8 but if I recall, the V8 wasn’t arriving until 09. I wasn’t keen on dropping over $80K (here in Canada) for this car and still hadn’t test driven a CSRT4. So, off I went to the Dodge Dealership.
The 300 SRT8 was very nice but it was a big car. Had never been for a drive but knew it would be fast with 425/420 hp/tq.

The Cherokee SRT8 really caught my eye in the showroom. Pretty sexy actually. Burgundy, SRT seats and big rims and don’t forget All Wheel Drive. They had a demo with 8,000 kms on it for 12-15k off sticker bringing it down into the low 40k range. Would be good to have an all wheel drive vehicle in our Canadian winters hence, the appeal of the Audi.

But the CSRT won out. As my Neon was getting appraise the salesman threw me the keys of a CSRT demo and said to try it out. I wrote about this in an earlier post but what he said was insightful, “It’s the fastest car on the lot.”

Fast forword 8,500 kms to my first oil change. To kill time I took a Cherokee SRT8 demo out for a nice long spin. Here are my observations and comparative notes between it and the CSRT:

1. The salesman was correct about the CSRT-4 being the fastest car on the lot. More in a bit.

2. Jeep is bloody quick right off the line. Now I know what 0-60mph in under 5 seconds feels like. Stand on the brakes, get into the throttle then floor it and lift off the brakes. Snap your head back! Whack!

3. The 6.1 L hemi is VERY responsive. Lots of get up and go. Great torque and likes to rev.

4. The sound of the Hemi is utterly erotic if you are into rumble-y V8s.

5. The power hook-up or delivery from transmission kick down is INSTANT in the Jeep. 4th to 3rd and it’s a kick in the back. Not sure what the torque curve is for the 6.1 but the torque is there. Perhaps the gearing has something to do with it. The engine got real happy at 3,000 rpm and jumpy at 4,000 rpm.

6. Back to #1. The CSRT is no match for the Jeep off the line…a full second slower however, get the CSRT into third and it will pull away from the Jeep and will continue to do so again into 4th. Thinking back, 2nd might be even for both but third for sure in the CSRT. 3rd in the Jeep is impressive but the acceleration felt flatter. In the CSRT 3rd felt peakier. I describe the acceleration in 3rd in the Jeep as “solid” – impressive. In the CSRT, 3rd is exciting and breath-taking, even 4th. 3rd in the Jeep is more like 4th in the CSRT.

7. From what I gather, a MS1 CSRT would smoke a Jeep SRT8. It would not be close once out of 1st for the CSRT. It would take 2nd to catch the Jeep with off the line the advantage with 3rd supporting a wave bye-bye out of the sunroof.

8. The brakes or stopping power of the CSRT is much better. Lighter weight is the key.

9. The ride quality of the Jeep is horrendous. This alone is enough not to buy and I could care less if it has 1000 whp. I got sick to my stomach after 10 minutes. The vehicle was all over the place. It is too springy yet the ride was harsh. The CSRT too is harsh but at least the car stays planted. The Jeep was disgusting. The lateral movement combined with the vertical sharpness was ridiculous. I felt sorry for each guy who bought the Jeep because he was caught up in the fog if high hp, great 0-60 times, wondrous V8 symphonic seduction, and those sexy seats. The honeymoon probably wore off after he took all his friends and family for their initial spin. Then on Monday cruising to work he up-chucks his breky and simultaneously discovers he has a prostate. The poor sap, even if he is all of 26.

10. To combat the springy-ness in a corner, I needed to pull at least .85g and really load up the suspension and remain neutral to distribute the weight evenly front to back to get the darn thing to handle. The CSRT on the other hand, is planted in every corner or turn and at all speeds. The Jeep must be pushed to 9/10th to prevent projectile vomiting. It does corner hard though for such a heavy vehicle. I WAS impressed. Needless to say I was so very disappointed with the Jeep’s ride quality… sad is a better description.

11. Fuel mileage of the Jeep was... well... take a guess.


Perhaps the Jeep SRT8 is really quite an excellent ride and perhaps I am just spoiled rotten with the Caliber SRT4. I do know I made an EXCELLENT choice and walked away from the Jeep test drive joyously relieved…

Cheers!

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Living in Singapore and dearly missing my 2008 SRT4...