Using extended factory warranty for a SRT-4?

[IndyIan]

I test drove an 04 SRT-4(turbo neon) yesterday. I could tell its been driven fairly hard for the 60K miles on it.
It does have 2 more years of extended bumper to bumper chrysler warranty on it though. Its at a chrysler dealership and they seem to be into the high performance cars more than most dealerships.
What can I reasonably expect them to cover under the warranty? Engine mounts and front suspension bushings come to mind as the car has bad wheel hop. How about if 3rd gear begins to grind? that shift fork is a known weak spot on abused transmissions.
I've never owned a "performance" vehicle so I'm wondering if its a problem to get work done on them under warranty, especially if its to do with worn parts, not just broken parts...

 

[Paul56]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I test drove an 04 SRT-4(turbo neon) yesterday. I could tell its been driven fairly hard for the 60K miles on it.
It does have 2 more years of extended bumper to bumper chrysler warranty on it though. Its at a chrysler dealership and they seem to be into the high performance cars more than most dealerships.
What can I reasonably expect them to cover under the warranty? Engine mounts and front suspension bushings come to mind as the car has bad wheel hop. How about if 3rd gear begins to grind? that shift fork is a known weak spot on abused transmissions.
I've never owned a "performance" vehicle so I'm wondering if its a problem to get work done on them under warranty, especially if its to do with worn parts, not just broken parts...



If you suspect the vehicle has had a hard life and chances are with the Neon SRT-4 it has, take it for a test drive then over to a mechanic for them to check for you.

Then go back to the dealership with your list and ask them to fix those items before you purchase.

If it was me... I'd pass on it.

 

[kkreit01]

Neons had bad wheel hop when new. You'll have to go aftermarket (mounts) to correct that issue. SRT4s are great. Unfortunately, most of them are driven hard. When I had a Neon in 05, there were several active forums. Check those out. Make sure the original warranty is transferable to the second owner, and it might not be a bad idea to purchase an extended warranty on a vehicle like this (I normally wouldn't recommend one). They are easy to maintain and modify.

 

[The_Jeff]

Dealers can fix their own stock under warranty. I'd make them do the mounts, it may just not have come to their attention. If a tech can't drive stick all that well he might have just assumed it was him.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Dealers can fix their own stock under warranty. I'd make them do the mounts, it may just not have come to their attention. If a tech can't drive stick all that well he might have just assumed it was him.

It's got a bit of boost leak and the engine light was on with a cylinder 3 misfire code but other than a small stumble off idle once or twice it seemed to be running fine if a bit slower than I think it should be. The boost gauge only showed 10 to 11 psi and it should get up to 14. I left it with the sales guy to get it fixed up and I'd try it again.
They want $8500 for it which is a great deal for a solid SRT-4(if it is solid). Selling it to the wife is a big problem too, atleast it has 4 doors. She's not a "domestic" fan...

 

[cchase]

There has to be a better deal on a better car than this somewhere, don't you think? This car sounds like it has some serious problems going on with it, especially if the dealer hasn't fixed things as simple as misfires before putting it out on the lot.

 

[Paul56]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Dealers can fix their own stock under warranty. I'd make them do the mounts, it may just not have come to their attention. If a tech can't drive stick all that well he might have just assumed it was him.

It's got a bit of boost leak and the engine light was on with a cylinder 3 misfire code but other than a small stumble off idle once or twice it seemed to be running fine if a bit slower than I think it should be. The boost gauge only showed 10 to 11 psi and it should get up to 14. I left it with the sales guy to get it fixed up and I'd try it again.
They want $8500 for it which is a great deal for a solid SRT-4(if it is solid). Selling it to the wife is a big problem too, atleast it has 4 doors. She's not a "domestic" fan...


Come to forum.2gn.org and talk to the SRT4 guys there about this.

The problem is, as someone else already mentioned, is that most Neon SRT4s on the market haven been driven hard.

The issues you mention are all fixable, but when else is going to happen during your early ownership of the vehicle? It bothers me that the dealer would put this on the lot with those issues.

It might help if you could get talking with the previous owner.

 

[IndyIan]

I will check out that forum. Neons.org seems to be a bit dead in the SRT forum.
Probably I should walk on this car... Its $8500 though, with 2 years of warranty to shake out all the problems. Seems hard to lose out on it, but I don't really need a newer car right now either.
I don't really know why the dealer wouldn't have gone over it more. It was a recent trade so maybe they just haven't had time yet. It is a bit fishy though as a quick search would show what the cars are going for everywhere else. $2k to $8k more.

I think I'll wait and call them next week and see what they've done to it. I think they were hoping to sell it quickly and not have to worry about fixing it.

 

[VNTS]

They dont, because they dont care.

Go to SRTforums.com

I would look for a low mileage one in a private sale from someone older in their 30's. The kiddies beat the [censored] out of them.

I just picked up a 06 PT GT 5 spd Convertible for 10K with 41K miles. Adult owned all records, a real puff.

Maybe you could sell her on a PT GT stick

I have an 03 GT and the dealer has been very good, bought it back in 04 and got he 8/80 bumper to bumper. Got Front wheel bearing and LCA bushings. They also snuck it in and did the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, crank seals, cam seals and accessory belts under the warranty and save me 1300$

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: VNTS
They also snuck it in and did the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, crank seals, cam seals and accessory belts under the warranty and save me 1300$




How did they do that?

 

[VNTS]

wrote the ticket that the cam
seal was leaking requiring the work under the extended warranty. Works for me

This dealer is very good and the techs know their stuff. I know two of them, One has a built 408 in a Dakota and the other some modded Jeeps. Any stuff I dont feel like doing or in this case since it was on their dime I politely let them do it. They see all my cars when I get stickers or need something like an alignement.





Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: VNTS
They also snuck it in and did the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, crank seals, cam seals and accessory belts under the warranty and save me 1300$




How did they do that?

 

[OVERKILL]

Aren't you from my neck of the woods IndyIan?

 

[Gary Allan]

Even if it's had a beating on it, there are very few of them that anyone is parting with. Most of them were snatched up by the Faster and even more Furious crowd and butchered to no end with upgrade to make them even Faster and even more Furious. Getting one that someone just hammered is a good find.

Between being crashed or cobbled, there aren't all that many to choose from.

 

[IndyIan]

Ummm, maybe, do you have any buddies looking for cheap mopar turbo fun?

Its at JJ Stewarts. After doing some reading, I think all it needs is finding the small boost leak and maybe wires and plugs.
A good deal for someone but not for me unfortunately.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Ummm, maybe, do you have any buddies looking for cheap mopar turbo fun?

Its at JJ Stewarts. After doing some reading, I think all it needs is finding the small boost leak and maybe wires and plugs.
A good deal for someone but not for me unfortunately.


OK, Wasn't sure if it was at Kawartha, JJ or Peterborough. Been doing a bit of work at Kawartha recently.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Even if it's had a beating on it, there are very few of them that anyone is parting with. Most of them were snatched up by the Faster and even more Furious crowd and butchered to no end with upgrade to make them even Faster and even more Furious. Getting one that someone just hammered is a good find.

Between being crashed or cobbled, there aren't all that many to choose from.

Reading some older posts on Neon forums, it wasn't long ago that srt4 with a salvage title would go for $5 or 6k...
It would be kind of fun to play with, $800-1000 in parts and electronics seems to get the cars over 300whp... But I'm not into drag racing and running around with a car like that on the street can lead one into temptation... I've got a clean driving record so far.

 

[rjundi]

If you decide to go for it I would have (performance) shop familiar with the SRT's give it an ok.

The WRX crowd typically removes all the modification parts and sells off before trading in and brings "back to stock". So the life of the car previously may have been much harder than you think. A good shop will notice certain items that indicate modified. Also if the car was badly or not tuned it really shortens the life.

 

[Paul56]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Even if it's had a beating on it, there are very few of them that anyone is parting with. Most of them were snatched up by the Faster and even more Furious crowd and butchered to no end with upgrade to make them even Faster and even more Furious. Getting one that someone just hammered is a good find.

Between being crashed or cobbled, there aren't all that many to choose from.

Reading some older posts on Neon forums, it wasn't long ago that srt4 with a salvage title would go for $5 or 6k...
It would be kind of fun to play with, $800-1000 in parts and electronics seems to get the cars over 300whp... But I'm not into drag racing and running around with a car like that on the street can lead one into temptation... I've got a clean driving record so far.


Yes, but that $800-1000 in parts would be above and beyond your costs for what warranty does not cover to just get the vehicle back into good shape and a known maintenance state... unless it comes with the maintenance records.

For the simple reason that any performance car could have been beaten on I would never consider purchasing one used. But it depends on your viewpoint... some purchase vehicles for the sheer joy of working on them... while others like me purchase vehicles to drive in them and find it really annoying when the vehicle is down.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
If you decide to go for it I would have (performance) shop familiar with the SRT's give it an ok.

The WRX crowd typically removes all the modification parts and sells off before trading in and brings "back to stock". So the life of the car previously may have been much harder than you think. A good shop will notice certain items that indicate modified. Also if the car was badly or not tuned it really shortens the life.

That was kind of part of my original question, would the warranty cover previous owner abuse? I guess warranty guys learn to hate "tuner carz"... I didn't do much forensic analysis under the hood but it looked pretty normal.
Anyways my wife has vetoed the purchase as our next family car, the argument that its more practical than a miata(what I really want) and "safer" than our current neon didn't sway her much...