Steering is tight because it is performance tuned. It's more weighted than some of its overly light-steering peers, better for a sports car, and its reaction time is almost immediate, an attribute I find essential in a tuner car. In the wet, torque-steer is minimal, but on dry pavement the steering wheel does pull a little more under full throttle, which is to be expected when putting anything close to 250 lb-ft of torque through the front wheels. Still, it doesn't torque the wheel as much as I expected, and never got in the way of executing a turn.
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| Performance-tuned like every other component on the car, the 4-wheel discs with 4-channel ABS and racy red calipers did a superb job. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
The SRT's braking system is also worthy of praise. Performance-tuned like every other component on the car, the 4-wheel discs with 4-channel ABS and racy red calipers did a superb job stopping forward momentum when needed.
But the thing that got me all worked up wasn't the brakes, or the steering, handling, or even the power of the SRT-4's engine. It was the beefy exhaust note? Its twin-pipe, chrome tipped, dual opposing exhaust system makes its presence felt everywhere. I loved its throaty growl, hiccupping as its radical cams attempt to idle when they'd rather be whirring at full throttle. But then again it sounds even better at high rpm, especially when shifting gears. The exhaust rumble gives the car so much more bite. Yum.
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| The SRT-4's twin-pipe, chrome tipped, dual opposing exhaust system makes its presence felt everywhere. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
That said, while you might delight at the barking sounds coming from behind your passengers might cringe. They won't be put out by the SRT-4's well appointed interior though. I already mentioned the Viper-inspired sport cloth seats that hold all occupants firmly in place even during outrageous cornering. Fitting into those seats is snug to say the least, and wouldn't be a positive experience for some desperately in need of Jenny Craig. But unlike the SX 2.0 R/T headroom is ample, boasting 975 mm (38.4 inches) in the front and 932 mm (36.7 inches) in back, enough room for my 6'4" boyfriend to see out the side windows and windshield.