Dodge Neons - Anybody with stories?

[boonsur]

I'm looking at a Dodge Neon to replace my truck :{ ($14K vs 30K, 30 mpg vs 15 mpg). I have two big fears. It looks like they go through head gaskets like we go through front brake pads. Also, I went to their main (TDR wanna-be) chat website (neons.org). Looks like I'm mechanically on my own, unless I have a question about "slamming" my car, which will NEVER happen. Once again, I'm reminded how good this website and the expertise on it are!!!!!



Back to my question. As an econo-box, are these reliable cars? My wife had a Stratus, which was a great car (wish we still had it). Based on that, I think the Neon would be a pretty good choice.



Anybody have or had one?





Thanks,



Randy J.





ps - Buy my truck , it's in the classifieds

 

[DaveN]

Take Safety into consideration....

Depending where and how you drive, take a look at the crash test ratings. My wife and I just traded in a Cavalier for an Impala, we paid another couple thousand for five star crash protection all the way around (we live near the metro detroit area) and we still get 30 mpg with it. It has the reliable 3. 8l drivetrain in it, and it's a pretty nice car. We were going to get another cavalier, but when I saw that side impact at 30mph was pretty much a guaranteed fatality we changed our mind. I don't know how neons are, but they look like they have the paper thin doors like cavaliers do. They will all be relatively decent in front impact, but check the quarter and side. All you need is some drunk or someone talking on the phone to run a light and you're all done... .



Just my $. 02, I wouldn't have said anything unless I just went through it.....

 

[LSMITH]

A guy I used to work with had a 99 Neon RT. It was junk really, nothing but problems, he had 2 headgaskets in about 80K miles and all kinds of small things like door locks sticking and window switches going out. Everything in that POS rattled too. He hated it.



Another guy had an 01 Neon, regular one. It blew a headgasket at about 11K miles, and the second at about 30K and was traded with coolant in the oil. No other problems on that one, but that would have been enough for me There is nothing like paying too much for problems. I would not consider a neon, no way.



I have rented them around the country several times and still cannot get over how cheap and tinny they are. They are also gutless unless you get one of the RT's with a 5 speed, then they do OK. I rented one in Phoenix and went up to Prescott in it, there were stretches where I had it pinned for 5 or 6 miles without letting up at all, in and out of second gear trying to maintain about 65-70. It puked out about half of the coolant on that trip up, but a couple big bottles of Evian from the gas station and I was off again. The transmission fluid was also burnt bad, it was putrid smelling. Forget using the AC on a 5% grade too, you will get run over by traffic. I took it back and made them give me another one, it was just as bad so I took it back and got a Pontiac Sunfire. The Sunfire was twice the car that the Neon was, and got better mileage!! I have driven at least 8 different Neons and they were ALL junk, you could not give me one.



Last story, I backed into the 99 Neon at work and had the hitch solid against the intake manifold before I even felt it. I was idling on flat ground with a stock auto, about 5 feet away when I started backing and it went that deep!!! All in all it cost my insurance company about $2800 to repair the Neon, the paint on my hitch was not even scratched. Poor guy had just gotten it out of the shop after getting creamed by a big work van!!! I was feeling bad until he was mad that I did not total it, then it was kinda funny.



OK so it wasn't the last story , but both guys were severely upside down on the Neons the day they bought them. The 01 sold for about $14K, it was as loaded as you can get one, with 11K miles on it trade value was about $6500 at the dealer where he bought it and all the others were somewhat lower. Lottery tickets would be a better investment IMO.



Hope this helps, I am not trying to be incredibly negative but the true nature of my experience with them is just that. I would hate to see anyone get the shaft in Neon form again.

 

[badinfluence]

2001 NEON

We have a 2001 Neon, 17,000 miles, no problems, it is the wifes car. The only thing we have put on it was a set of wiper blades. Real good sound system. I hadnt heard anything about head gasket problems in the newer models, it has a hemi-style head on it.

 

[The patriot]

Originally posted by boonsur

Looks like I'm mechanically on my own, unless I have a question about "slamming" my car, which will NEVER happen.

Say it aint so Randy. If you do slam one, promise us you wont get the baggy pants and silly hat!!!!

Seriously, I was at the dealer a while back looking for a car for my Dad. There was a lady that had just bought one. She told me that she had over 200K miles on her first one!!! I asked what problems she had, she said "nothing major, really just routine maint. ".

Around here, parents buy those cars for their kids at graduation. Sort of like a disposable car.

Eric

 

[Steve M]

I bought my wife one in '95. Her's was an auto and was plenty quick. Go from a 30mph cruise to WOT and it's a pocket rocket. In '97 she wanted a bigger car so we gave it to my mom and bought a '97 Stratus with the same motor. My mom is still driving the Neon with 70~k miles on it. The a/c evaporator has been the only problem. My wife now has a Durango. We like Mopar products with or without the Cummins. I like V8 gassers and don't care what the tree huggers think.

 

[E7mack96]

neon

I own a 97 noen expresso with the "R. T. " engine and close ratio 5 speed. It is a good car, and will smoke a 5. 0 if the driver is not a good shifter. I wanted to modify the motor, but decided on a hopped up Ram

 

[chuck3]

Helped my Daughter buy one in 96 after graduation, bad mistake, lots of problems right after the warranty was up, head gasket went, and then the speedometer quit, brakes were shot in no time, etc etc. Could not get rid of it fast enough. #@$%!

 

[Power Wagon]

Neons are one kick-hiney autocross car. After watching them compete, I've always had a hankering to have one of them, just for the kicks and giggles.



Of course, if you put the auto in in, you should taken out and shot, and buried in a grave marked only: Here lies the remains of one who committed gross automotive sacriledge.



The earlier cars are quicker and handle better than the later ones (not as heavy). As far as having trouble... some people have head gasket trouble, some don't. There is a new head gasket out which should cure it for good, but since most repair places don't investigate they keep putting the bad one back in...



I've never owned a troublesome chrysler product, and I'm pretty much not afraid of any of them.

 

[Steve M]

BANG! I'm dead...

 

[boonsur]

Thanks for the replies.



Does anybody know if the standard 2. 0L engine has changed in the later years. I'm wondering if the Magnum 2. 0L H. O. (can you say that about a 2. 0L?) is the new engine, and the regular 2. 0 is a carry over from the problem generation. Still, the Magnum option is pretty expensive compared to a head gasket, especially if it's in the 7yr/100K mile warranty.



Don't be too afraid of me changing my wardrobe to baggies. I'm consciensly choosing an "old-man" color (Steel Blue) to seperate myself from the stereotypes. And, rest assured, this is just a bridge until DC removes their head from that dark place and gives me a true Crew-Cab option (I want to save some money to be ready for it). I can't wait to, once again, be able to sniff diesel anytime I want. (Now I'll be more at exhaust level, so don't mind me if I'm tailgating)



Seems like it will be a fun car. Pretty loaded, leather, manual transmission (since I'm now aware of Dodge autos), etc. for less than half of my truck. Great warranty & cash incentives, I had to do it.



Now I just need the bumper sticker ("I'd rather be driving a Cummins"), so people can know that I USED to be a man!

 

[rubberneck]

just my . 02, but if you are looking for an econobox, you can not beat a Honda civic.

 

[C Schomer]

Or Toy Corolla. Toys are easier to work on. My son in law sells Dodge - he says to skip Neon (entry level junk) and get a Status. The Stratus owners I know are very happy. Craig

 

[boonsur]

I grew up in an automotive family and spent my first 13 professional years working in the auto industry, so I still cling to my loyalty of American brands. Yea, I know the others are "built" in America, but it's about where the profits are going... oh wait, who is Daimer?..... anyway.....



Another big factor, my wife works at a Dodge dealership. This gets me a little better price and (hopefully) service. It's a lot more convienient to have her drive it in for repairs, than taking time off to sit around a dealership.



I looked at the Stratus, but couldn't get with a manual transmission. That is a must-have option for me, from now on.



Hopefully I get one with a few good years in it, at least.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I had a 95 Neon. It had 123,000 km's (76,000 miles) It went through 1 set of front brake pads, I set of rear struts and some throttle body thingie. Not sure what it was, covered under warranty. I thought for the way it was driven and the way I took care of it that it was a good car. I would buy another. Mine was also an auto. Then I traded it in for my truck.

 

[Hale on wheels]

The one I rented in Maui handled the "off limits" roads pretty well Although climbing some of the steep hills there made it work a bit.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Watch out for the head gaskets When I worked for a Dodge dealer in '98 - '99 I kept 1 tech. busy doing Neon headgaskets 3 every 2 days They were on their 7th revision and they still couldn't get it right:--) Check the back side of the engine carefully that's where you'll first see them leaking.

Good luck

Bob

 

[RKohn]

My mom has a 98? with less than 30k on it...

cause it hasn't been out of the shop long enough to put any more miles on it. :--)