Come on DCX, we are gonna need more!

[hyracer]

While we HP freaks are "patiently" waiting for the release of S2 other auto/truck Mfg.s are turning up the heat in the latest rounds of the horsepower-wars.

We may have to start being a little more careful on who we try to "beat-up on" when we are cruising the streets and highways of this great country of ours. While we think our GT's are fast with the addition of S1 and will be even faster/quicker with S2 look at what's coming out of the latest auto shows:

Silverado SS 345 HP
Chevrolet SSR 300 HP
Ford F-150 Lightening 380 HP
Dodge SRT-10 500 HP
Various Dodge vehicles with the small-Hemi 345 HP

And there are others out there that we will be watching their taillights fade in the distance as they leave us in the dust.[:0]

Since we now have a delay in the S2 release for our cruisers anyway maybe it would be a good time to put some engineering into S3 for our Cruisers instead[^]

Deen

[sakigt]

I would say we have better gas mileage but....well...yea. [:I]

I'll play the we look better card

[TripleJackInGA]

quote:Originally posted by sakigt

I would say we have better gas mileage but....well...yea. [:I]

I'll play the we look better card

I agree. I know the new Magnum and 300C with the HEMI will beat our up on gas mileage. They have that new cylinder deactivation which turns it into a V4 on the freeway, so it can get 25MPG with ease.

[crazyjoe]

I don;t think I'll worry too much about the SSR. It weighs a ton...or, rather, over 2 tons, so I don't think it's gonna be too much.

[mich_132003]

quote:Originally posted by crazyjoe

I don;t think I'll worry too much about the SSR. It weighs a ton...or, rather, over 2 tons, so I don't think it's gonna be too much.

You're right about the SSR. Our 150 hp Crusier's can bet that clunker. [8)]

[MichaelDay]

The May issue of Car and Driver tested the 300C with the Hemi.

Fuel Mileage
EPA City 17
EPA Highway 25
C/D observed 17 (that is what I get on my '03 GT)

0-60 5.3 seconds
1/4 mile 13.5 seconds @ 102 mph
Top Speed 130 (governor limited)

Not sure Stage 2 will be enough for us to keep up with that 4140 pound puppy.

Edit/Clarification: The Hemi has an automatic (abeit a 5 speed automatic with manual shifting)

[PTGT Redman]

Don't think the vehicles listed are our segment competitors.
Not sure what exactly our segment competitors are actually

As far as small crossovers, we squash the Matrix and Vibe as well as the Focus and ...
eh.
We just need more power...because....

[ote69]

umm, just a reply to that deactivation of cylinders thing, cadillac tried it in the late 70's...failed misserably. We do have better comp controls now, but I sure would not be itchen to get one for the first few years. I want my stage 2!!!! if deimler can put out a 450 hp lux car that can blow the doors off many true sports cars then they can help us out. Further more BMW has upped the cooper S with a dealer installed "john Cooper" sports package ...FULL WARRENTY, but pricey at 5g's, bumpping that tiny low weight car to just over 200hp...attack of the mini's a reality as it stands with our stage 1.
just my 2 cents
steve[:0]

[PTGT_Boy]

I personally seriously doubt that DCX will do anything beyond stage 2 for the PT. The new redesign v6 cruisers are comming around the corner. I'm pretty sure those things will not be as quick as the PT GT's currently available, but would produce more than enough power for a daily driver.

A few other factors will stop the PT GT from becoming an SRT-4 Wagon (or any additional ponies comming):

1. Price for a GT $22,500 w/ rebates and incentives aren't bad (but w/o rebates it goes up to 25k easy). DCX would have to figure out how to bring a cruiser's price down to the younger crowd. Maybe a strip down verson of a PT GT with alot of amentities missing and more sports tunning. The target price should be close to the Dodge SRT-4 (a little higher since its a wagon/truck/<insert your class here&gt

2. The image of a cruiser is a hard sell to the young crowd. Alot of people believe the cruiser is for older folks and moves like a turtle. Personally, I'm against street racing, but to improve the image of the cruiser, it has to demonstrate its perception that its an affordable pocket rocket.

To sum up my point, you need the younger generation to justify more ponies to a car.

My solution:

1. Create a 2005 PT (Chrysler SRT-4): Same Amentites as a Base Cruiser, except you get a LSD, better motor mounts, 2.4L Turbo Engine, and 5 Speed Manual Standard (debatable to have an auto option, but the v6 cruisers are comming )

2. Need people take this car to tracks, events, any where you can show that the cruiser is a fast car. I'm against street racing, but its probably one of the things that hit home on sports compact cars in justifying an existence of a fast car and the justification of more power neeeded.

3. Give Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Automobile Magazine, or whatever magazine a MANUAL PT cruiser to test. As of today, I still do not see in magazines or websites offering the times of a stock manual PT GT. Key point here is perception ----> FAST ----> Justify a car to have more ponies.

What really will happen:

THe v6 version cruiser will come out, it's doubtful it'll be turbo charged. I sincerly hope that a turbo charged v6 cruiser comes out, but reality there is no justification to make a Chrystler SRT-6 Cruiser. Our PT GT's will go down in history as the fastest production PT models produce, so keep it in the garage .

Yes, I'm a little of a doomsayer of the future of the PT GT models. Sincerely, I want the GT's to get the status of SRT status and more ponies, but with no "fast and furious" kids and die hard speed demons, the cruiser will just be a cruiser to everyone around me.

Yes, the PT GT is the fastest car evar. Drive On. [8)]

[PTGT Redman]

If they wanted a real GT, they woulda made it look like the 1999 GT concept. That had no issues with intent. Drop a nice powerplant in an otherwise ordinary PT, says a whole lot. They didn't drop a turbo in a plain ol neon, they jacked that thing full of steroids...intent is clear with the SRT-4. Design divergence.