I know this was talked about long ago, but there are a lot of new SRT6 owners that may not have seen the day that the SRT6 took on a Porsche Boxter S and a Nissan 350Z Nismo....and WON!


Road & Track Magazine - Hot Sixes (10/2004)

 

I have been thinking lately of how the SRT-6 and 32 AMG models were ahead of their time, considering the raw performance numbers they put up.

Just now we're starting to see manufacturers put out sports cars that have similar specs like the 370z and new z4 35i, although the raw numbers for those cars are just a tad lower.

Anyways, pretty impressive! Now why was it they put recirculating-ball steering in the r170 platform again?...

 

Good question! Rack and pinion plus woody's YAW sensor bypass and we'd have smoked those two alot worse

 

I don't see what the problem is with recirculating ball steering

What other cars used recirculating ball?

Both the legendary E39 M5, the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 DTM Homologation Special.

I don't mind putting the "Chrysler Crossfire" in that short list.

 

I love my SRT-6, but all cars have flaws, and in my opinion, the steering is the only major one
for our cars.


From the article, and I wholeheartedly agree


"The street bias is clear when you're really pushing it, for there is a lot less feedback here than with either the Boxster or the 350Z.
"The Chrysler is the most distant-feeling, but it shows you what a lot of tire and loads of horsepower can do for you," said Mitani."

 

That's why we all own one..... Stupid Chrysler, had they priced the SRT-6 lower against the 350Z, they would have sold more of them back in 2004-6. Slightly above the 350Z at like $38K instead of $46K and they would have hit the mark.... They held out too long keeping the price too high.... But as a used car for $16K to $20K now, it's a great buy.

 

I don't think they could have done that for a couple reasons. First compare to the cost of the SLK32 AMG the SRT6 was a true bargain and second, there is no way DC would have allowed it considering the direct competition to the SLK.

Unfortunately because they made far too many '04 and '05 Crossfires, they were in the hole from the begining and thus the fire sale pricing. If you look at the early press releases, production was to be no more than 20K a year (personally about 5K too many). Actual production was 35.7K for '03 ('04 model), 28K for '04, and 12.5K for '05. That is over 75K cars in two model years. There was no way they were going to sell that many premium 2 seaters in that period.

Reminds me of the old (showing my age) Laurel and Hardy "Babes in Toyland" when they built the toy soldiers 6 foot tall instead of 6 inches. Lofty ambitions indeed....sheer stupidity! Not the car, just the numbers!