"Stage Turbo Forums" Killed by Mopar

[hyracer]

MichaelDay,

Please refigure your mileage comparisons for my GT-5 spd. I took my mileage readings this summer on a 4,000 mile vacation trip. From start to finish I averaged 28.25 MPG at an average fuel price (premium) of $2.29 per gallon. Highest mileage was 30.25 MPG, lowest was 26.0 MPG. I'm guessing I was making about 250 HP at that time with the mods I had (since then I've added PPQ, EBC, and W/I).

A wee bit better than the low-tech, high dollar Hemi. I'm not saying I don't like the 300C and other lines based off a 60's engine. My gripe is Chrysler has abandoned us for low-tech hi-dollar cars when they very easily could have taken care of us with Stage 2 or more. They don't even have the decency to respond to our postings or e-mails.

Deen

[MichaelDay]

Hey Dean, I am just as disappointed about Stage 2 as you are. I had hoped that DC would get CARB certification on the Stage 2 and I was going to drop that little puppy into it as soon as it was released. I love my PT-GT but agree that more HP is always a good thing. I am frustrated that DC has the warranty policy they do on their Stage kits while Toyota and other manufacturers are willing to stand behind their power enhancement kits.

The EPA calculations are from http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm. I made the automatic to automatic comparison to have more apples to apples comparison. By changing the default miles/year, and cost of fuel you can play "what if" games on their site but their calculator always uses the EPA mileage (although you can vary the % of City to Highway mileage).

As far as the "low tech" hemi, one of the reasons it does as well as it does in fuel economy is the ability to drop out cylinders under low load conditions. I had a 1981 Cadillac V8-6-4 that dropped out cylinders and it made an amazing difference in fuel mileage for a large heavy car with a big engine. Incidentally, I put about 100,000 miles on that car with NO drive train problems whatsoever and never had to wait longer than 1 day for ANY parts from Cadillac while it has taken my Chrysler dealer a week to get in new brake calipers and 4 days to get in a new steering rack from Chrysler. Yep, they know how to treat you like a "Chrysler owner".

[Big Al]

Certainly this board lost much of its appeal when 3BarBoost lost the ability to feel comfortable posting on this board. This was the lone source we had for actual and factual information regarding the OEM equipment on the vehicles we own. Such much of what's posted now lacks any sort of scientific data and is mearly assumption. I used to read these forums daily to read what 3Bar had to say. Now I check once or twice a week...

If you want a Stage 3 turboed cruiser, get the SRT-4 kit and adapt to your favorite 5-speed cruiser. Not idea, but it should work better than most any of the piggy-back solutions out there.

I don't believe that the existance of PT specific Stage 2 or Stage 3 components would significantly affect the number of PT's sold. The PT target audience for the most part does not want such things. How many GT's were sold vs. non-GT's in recent years?
There never was much market share or revenue boost opportunity with these kits.

With regard to V8's fuel economy, I get 17 mpg on average with my 4 cylinder PT. I got about the same with past V8 vehicles (that were faster). The HEMI solution is not to help OPEC. It is a marketing term that sells cars. Number of cylinders and displacement is only a percentage of the total fuel economy equation. Toyota and Honda have much more efficient models if that is your interest.

Chrysler can do better, as could the other two "American" manufacturers. Providing top performance for vehicles is not something that will provide the most value to the great majority of automobile purchasers. Reliability and image are much higher. Chrysler as a brand is one of the least desireable for teenagers. The people who are really into these performance "upgrades" are on the fringe of PT drivers.

[DTs_PTGT]

quote:Originally posted by Mean Green

Chrysler will get theirs for producing gas guzzling V8's because the price of gas is continually going up. SUV sales are already suffering because of it and Chrysler's timing, as usual, is bad. They can't bring back the day of high powered V8's to the masses. Nostalga is one thing, being practical is another. Other manufacturers must be laughing. They are producing 4&6 cylinder high powered cars that get better gas mileage than the V8's. Chrysler is going to take it in the shorts for their short sighted visions.

Isn't this what caused them to almost go bankrupt in the early 80's? I remember the dealer's lots being full of V8 gas guzzlers when everyone was buying straight 4 gas sipping cars.

[DTs_PTGT]

I'm bummed that Stage II never came out. I'm waiting for my 3/36 warranty to expire before I add any serious power mods. I just hope I can pick up Stage I this time next year.

Someone mentioned the SRT4 was getting scrapped next year. Is this true? Or just going along with the 'sell everyone a Hemi' line? Enquiring minds want to know.

[TurbozCS2003]

quote:Originally posted by DTs_PTGT

I'm bummed that Stage II never came out. I'm waiting for my 3/36 warranty to expire before I add any serious power mods. I just hope I can pick up Stage I this time next year.

Someone mentioned the SRT4 was getting scrapped next year. Is this true? Or just going along with the 'sell everyone a Hemi' line? Enquiring minds want to know.

SRT 4 is done after this 05 model year because the Neon is going away.
End of life cycle, 12 yrs old. New platform will replace it in MY06 and would guess another version of SRT4 will appear in MY07.

Also would not complain about new DC cars, Hemi powered 300's and Charger are rated 25 MPG highway which is damn good in my book. If you dont want the V8 get the V6 3.5 HO 250 HP rated at 27 MPG highway. In my mind these cars are much better alternatives to boring over rated Camrys and Accords, but then again maybe that is why Chrysler's car sales are up 25%. I read Accord sales have dropped 13% and Civics are down 27% for the year. I would guess when 300 has full year along with Magnum and Charger, DC will be looking good and all the appliance crap looking cars will be down in the tank! Also the Stratus replacement will be scene in another year along with other derivatives SWB LX. Chrysler is getting their act together in the car lines. Cant live off mini vans and trucks and survive long term.

What did you replace when you bought your PT??

Mike

[SteelBlueGT]

I replaced a Dodge Minivan when I leased my PT! End of my need as my last child left the nest the third time!! BTW my wife loved her 3 Minivans and wanted a fourth!! Now she loves her PT more!!

[Mr.Barton]

I think they are just lazy. Being original is risky and pricey. They want to run and hide behind the glory days of the "Hemi" and "Charger" instead of trying to compete with New ideas.

The second the Hemi stuff got bigger than the crazy little engines they dropped the small engines faster than an executives pregnant secretary.

[Alini]

I'm pissed off they arent going higher then Stage 1, it was the main reason I bought the GT. I saw their SEMA Convertible, the PT Speedster which was supposed to be Stage III and it sold me, I ordered my car a month later. Now I'm stuck buying aftermarket pieces and trying to figure out the right combos instead of off the shelf Mopar parts which is known to work together.

[GR8FLPT]

So how many minivan cruises have you been to?