I was surprised by a few things:
- The ride quality was not bad at all, a bit bumpy but not rough.
- The trunk space is actually pretty ample (this was a coupe, granted the last car I test drove was a Solstice).
- The interior felt as cheap as the reviews I've read indicated, particularly the center controls. Normally I think the car mags are a bit **** about things like this but this was a $50k car at one point.
- This car is civilized. Don't push it and its as mild as my grocery getter. Push it and its actually more mild than my grocery getter.


That may be the problem. I only punched it 3 times in short intervals and while the needle on the speedometer moved quickly I just didn't get sucked back into my seat like I expected to. It was also very quiet. IS THAT NORMAL? I know these cars use a lot of MB components but I was expecting there to be more of a sensation. If I was alone on a runway with nothing around (think top gear) I would have no idea what speed I was doing based on physical feedback or exhaust note.

Am I being to quick to judge? This is just my initial opinion but I just didn't feel the power I expected to FEEL. Could this one have been having problems?

 

I don’t know exactly what you experienced or the condition of the car you drove. But, mine feels like a rocket launcher when I punch the pedal. I love the car.

 

What is your 'grocery getter?'

 

I'll let others speak to the top end speed and quietness as I'd only had my SRT 5 days before it was in an accident. It's been in the shop for 2 months now. Anyway, if you get another chance, try launching it from a dead stop. I did that a couple times when I was test driving, then again after I bought mine. It's just plain awesome from a complete stop. It's, no-kidding push you back in your seat ,fast. Don't give up on it just yet.

 

I must admit, I wasn't very rough with it because the salesperson was female and I didn't want to freak her out. Does that make me a sexist or a gentleman?

I will be test driving another one tomorrow but I am starting to wonder if this car is good for a daily driver that is your only car. The downtime is a major concern. I wonder if anyone would fare better taking their cars to MB rather than Chrysler for service.

 

Its a Scion XB.

 

Try this procedure first on any Crossfire you drive. These cars have a drive by wire throttle and if someone has driven around in local or city traffic the car learns a driving style and may not be running at it's full potential.
Do these steps before you drive:

The Throttle is "Drive By Wire" and adapts to your particular driving
style. Do a TBA Throttle body adaptation. THROTTLE RESET

1. Get in your car, it doesn't matter if you close the door or not.

2. Turn the key to the on (not start) position, the position just before the starter turns over.

3. Press the gas pedal to the floor with the key in the "on" position.

4. Hold the pedal to the floor for five seconds, then turn the key back
to the "off" position (don't remove the key), then release the gas
pedal.

5. Wait 2 mins. for a full alignment.

6. Drive the car as you always do.


Summary:
Key on, pedal down, 5 sec, key off pedal up, wait 2 minutes.

Keep the key in for the entire thing.

 

Not sure what you test drove, but I almost crapped my self the first time I punched it (while moving). Coming from a Solstice, you should have felt like you were going to smash into the seat. The car I drove prior to the SRT was a 2005 G35 Coupe 6MT with the 298hp engine. The SRT made that car seem like a, well, Scion XB.

Try dropping down one gear by tapping the gear selector to the left, then punch it. You'll probably crap yourself if the car is right.

As for the interior quality, it is very nice COMPARED to many sports cars including pre-2006 Porsches. Yes, the center console is plasticky and the matt finish on the plastics comes off easily, but compared to my Infiniti, it isn't much worse. The door grabs, pedals, and steering wheel accents are real aluminum at least. Don't forget, the Alcantara seats are rare on sub 60k dollar cars. Any nicer, the SRT would have cost 60 grand or more. Gotta cut costs somewhere, they certainly didn't on the drive train.

Oh, also, you have some learning to do. These cars use 99.9% Mercedes and Mclaren-made parts. The engines are hand built by one technician at the AMG factory. As for the quietness question, YES, the car is quiet from the driver's point of view. It is supposed to be a sophisticated sports car. From the outside of the car, it does sound powerful. If it were a muscle car or if I was 20 again, maybe I'd want the car to sound like a motor boat with a 4" coffee can exhaust outlet. If this were a V8 or a V12, I'd change the exhaust, but for a V6, I'll keep it the way it is.

 

Either there was something wrong with it or you didn't "drive" it. You may not have been pushing the pedal all the way. When you drive the next one, do the Throttle reset and make sure you push the pedal past the "click". There is a noticable "click" when the pedal is fully depressed. This is the "Go Baby Go" setting. It's pretty docile unless you hit it hard, With the traction control off, it will get violently out of shape in a glorious, smokey and gross display of excessive power. It should feel like it's trying to throw you into the trunk.

As far as the noise, or lack there of, that is normal. These cars are annoyingly quiet for a performance car. You can't hear the supercharger at all and the exhaust is barely audible. These are both easy fixes. remove the exhaust resonator and it sounds awsome, then get a cold air intake and she'll wake up a lot more and let the supercharger scream. Those 2 mods alone make the car sound "right" and open up another 30ish Wheel Horsepower.

 

Not sure what was with it, I just expected to get whiplash compared to my car that has 200+ less HP. Didn't happen, posting this is me trying to figure out why. Based on the replies obviously something was up.

I will agree with you about the doors, seats and accents. I was mainly referring to the center console. I think they should have spent more on the dash and cut costs elsewhere since the dash is what you see more than anything else. Not really a dealbreaker for me but it does make me wonder why they did that.

P.S.

What kind of bike is that in your avatar?

 

How many miles were on the car?

Definitely do a throttle reset right before you drive - be sure to tell the salesman that you are engaging the secondary boost or something really off-the-wall when they ask you why you have to wait two minutes

My first experience with an SRT was much the same. I believe the car had a bad I/C pump.

Now, it definitely surprises me - especially with the T/C off.

My biggest complaint, as I have brought up several times on here, is the noise (or lack of). I'm used to driving a mustang that sounds like it is a 10sec car (and once was). When I drive the SRT, I literally hear less exhaust than I do out of my wife's daily beater ZX3 Ford Focus. However, when you glance down at the pedal and realize you are already doing 80 - it catches you by surprise. I REALLY want to do the resonator delete to get some more aggression out of this car. Although I know it is supposed to be classy, I really think that a bit louder exhaust will be nice.

Try another one just for grins - the I/C pump may be out on the one you drove. And, driving it 'nice' because of a woman in the car - that is neither sexist or gentleman, that is what I call the 'wife-brake'. They tend to slow the car down a LOT.

SQ

PS: I think the bike in his avatar is an '04 Buell XB12S

 

I wasnt quiate as nice to the 'kid' salesman when I bought the second SRT6. I opened it up on the on a sweeping on-ramp to the freeway and merged behind all the traffic at 120 and applied some brake to get back to the speed limit. He got just a little excited! The SRT6 is a great handling land missle.

MikeR

 

Excuse my poor typing above. I was laughing while thinking about it!

MikeR

 

I will have to try the reset next time. I did make a point to hit the pedal to the floor the last time I gunned it. It also seemed like something I can only describe as turbo lag, which shouldn't have been there in a supercharged car. Weird.

 

Just tell the salesperson what you are getting ready to do, so they aren't freaked out. OR, ask to drive the car for a couple of hours without the salesperson and really DRIVE it.

 

I will tomorrow. Maybe the intercooler pump was out on this one.

 

It will be interesting to hear how the second test goes.

Yes, as the sig' states, it is an '04 Buell XB12S, modified slightly.

biketailmod003.jpg

 

Love that bike. Totally missed it in your sig. It has been a loooooooong day and my eyes are tired. I'd put that right up there with the Triumph Speed Triple as one of the nicest looking naked bikes I've seen. How much did you change the appearence? I don't know much about Buell's models beyond the Blast.

 

What????????????????

 

I "chopped" the tail, added the frame pucks, frame sliders, removed the badges and mirrors, shortened the front turn signals, and replaced the ECU and exhaust with performance versions. That's about it really. Not in that picture, but I also polished the stainless steel headers.