Okay i have no knowledge of these two cars, so i can't give advice on them. So i'll go with a more general aproach (based on all the things i can read from the previous post):
If i were you, i'll take a good look at the RedLine. This is because you say you lean more towards the Redline. Go and have a good look, list down all the things you like on them, and the special thing that attracts you to it. Then go ahead and have a good look at the SRT4 again. See whether the SRT4 have what you like in the Redline. Match their difference, see their traitoffs, and see how much they ment for you. The goal here is to find a car that you won't say something like:"aww... this car don't have a XXX like the other one do... darn.. i should have get the other one"
You say you are going to use the car to give your pals a ride to school and to the mall or something, then get a car that is more practical. Get one with more sitting capacity (note that i don't know what those to cars are yet), and give some attention to the comfort level, you are not going to race it or anything. So it is wise to test drive BOTH of them, because YOU are the driver and you will never know how the car feels even all the people in the forum tell you so. Feel it yourself, it is not against the law to test drive it.
talks about performance, you guys say the SRT4 have more performance, then ask yourself one question: "are you going to use every horsepower the car can push out? or you are just going to use half of it?" if your answer is no, then you know that you can achieve the same power with the Redline by reving it up a bit higher.
About the handling, do you want straight line speed or cornering speed? Like Quiggs says, the Redline handles better. In my opinion, there is something call "speed limit" on the straight. Do you want to go slower at the corner while you can go faster, and go faster on the straight risking a speeding ticket? Or you can cut down your travel time cutting over corner at higher speed while maintain at a safe speed on the straight?
Its all about decision. I am not you. I don't know how you think. I don't know what you like. Therefore i can't decide for you. But if i were you, i'll keep on looking for other cars. There might be something that have the best of both world (the Redline and the SRT4) and might just cost the same.
Well. Good luck.. hope you find an idle car for yourslef.
psst... btw... i use all those decision making methods to buy myself a new cellphone earlier this year
-UCP's Hardcore 4AG enthusiast
-Undergraduate student, saved half of the money to buy an AE111 Trueno half cut