Looking at 2004 Neon Srt-4

Anatoly · Post by **Anatoly** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:21 pm

What's up guys. I'm currently looking at 2004 SRT-4 with 80k. Car looks clean. Just got a couple questions?
What should I check for before purchasing it? I know all the basic stuff, but is there any specific parts that I should pay attention to?
How reliable are srt-4's ?
Thanks in advance.

lilnicko11 · Post by **lilnicko11** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:09 pm

First of all.....You should check and see how many owners it has had. Look up service records. Also are you buying it from a dealer or is it a private sale? How much is the price. 04 with that mileage without researching i'd guess would be like 7500-9000 depending on the owner. The SRT4 value has consistently being going down unfortunately. I would have timing belt checked, coolant flushed, spark plugs changed. But we would need to know what mods it has before giving you more accurate information. Hard to find non beat up SRT's out there.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:18 am

lilnicko11 wrote:Hard to find non beat up SRT's out there.

Oh, there are a few here and there.

I think that reliability is relative for any car- if the car wasn't a lemon off the assembly line and if it has been treated well, it should be fairly reliable. I would definitely follow lilnicko11's advice in the above post.

Aside from some issues relating to the length of time my car sat outside on a dealer's lot before I purchased it, my SRT has been as reliable as the other two 2GNs that I've owned.

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 9:59 am

I bought my SRT-4 from a private owner slightly over a year ago. The cars I looked at before were "ragged out" or over priced.

my two cents

Try to avoid a car that has been raced, or otherwise abused. If you're talking with the owner, it's easier
to determine how the car has been used and maintained. Their personalities will give you the best clues.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 10:14 am

i wouldnt pay more than $9k for an srt-4 nowadays. Really you can find srt-4 neons for like $6 $7 & even $8k now.

So search well and remember its better to buy it stock than modified.

& to answer your other question, yes they are reliable cars as long as you dont beat at it 24/7.

Anatoly · Post by **Anatoly** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 11:34 am

Well, the asking price is $8500.
Here is the link for the ad:
http://medford.craigslist.org/cto/2057124067.html

I have one of my friends come out and look at it with me, he owns 11sec. SRT4, so he knows a lot more about them then me. I come from BMW's.

esteinmaier · Post by **esteinmaier** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 3:26 pm

It's been pulled apart at least once. The IM is painted. I would look at the exhaust manifold bolts. If they look rounded at all, don't buy it. Any spliced wiring?

Anatoly · Post by **Anatoly** » Tue Dec 07, 2010 5:13 pm

^ thank you!
I'm going to look at it today.

lilnicko11 · Post by **lilnicko11** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 12:53 am

Like I said.....some people value SRT4's and particular cares more than others.

I bought my 04 last summer. it was pretty much stock with 42000 miles on it. The book value was anywhere from $11500 to $13000 last summer. I looked up those SAME values tonight and it booked for $11000 at its highest point. My car now has 63000 miles on it and itd go somewhere between 8500-10000k is what sites say and thats at dealer price. its even lower at private sale. So 8500 for that amount of mileage is high especially when you do not know what mods were in it and were taken out. I'd offer 7800 and maybe he will lower from the 8500 to a low 8 somewhere. id bring info to support your price.

You can do. KBB, Edmunds, Nada, and even call up your bank to get their loan value on it. (which is usually slightly lower)

Anatoly · Post by **Anatoly** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 4:44 pm

Well I looked at it. Driver Side axel is pretty much done and need to be replaced asap. He doesn't know if the clutch have been replaced or not. Other then those two things, it looked good. He asked for $7300 so he can just pay it off.

caustic neon · Post by **caustic neon** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 5:48 pm

stay away far far away

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:38 pm

w/e id buy it.

caustic neon · Post by **caustic neon** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:43 pm

if the axel is done and the clutch may or maynot have been replaced that to me = a beat to hell car, both items even on a srt should last alot longer than 80k.

theColonel · Post by **theColonel** » Wed Dec 08, 2010 6:48 pm

with those problems "on the surface", it's sure to have been poorly maintained, and will be a "money pit" ... do some more looking before you buy a SRT-4