I don't understand the hate for the.......

[2o6]

What cars do you not understand why people dislike them?

[2o6]

Dodge Neon




It was a sprightly little car. Aside from the headgasket issue (resolved in 1997) it was incredibly spacious, handled very well, was quick and got good MPG's too. And it was cheap.

[giant_mtb]

Can you provide empirical evidence of it being spacious, handling well, being quick, and getting good MPGs compared to its competitors of the time?  'Cause otherwise I do not believe any one of those things, except for perhaps the MPG.

[2o6]

Can you provide empirical evidence of it being spacious, handling well, being quick, and getting good MPGs compared to its competitors of the time?  'Cause otherwise I do not believe any one of those things, except for perhaps the MPG.

Base SOHC Neons were rated at 132HP, at a time when the Cavalier only made 115 (and Jetta 2.0) Protege only 120, and Civic VTEC 125. DOHC Neons had no direct comparison (in terms of a compact car....) being rated at 150HP.

It was used at Skip Barber's driving car for quite some time. The Neon also had IRS (granted, not the double wishbones on all four corners like the Civic) but the Neon used MacPherson struts up front an Chapman struts in the back, which made it actually really nice to drive.

[SVT666]

Actually the Neon was a pretty good little car.  Build quality wasn't the greatest though.  Chrysler didn't make it easy to take the car seriously with the "Hi." ads and the fact that it was sold under three different brands using the same name.  Chrysler Neon, Dodge Neon, and Plymouth Neon. 

[2o6]

From what I gather, it handled reasonably well for a FWD Boat with an automatic transmission. I think it looks nice, and the interior wasn't that bad. Yeah it had some deficiencies (tight-ish back seat) but what car doesn't?

Actually the Neon was a pretty good little car.  Build quality wasn't the greatest though.  Chrysler didn't make it easy to take the car seriously with the "Hi." ads and the fact that it was sold under three different brands using the same name.  Chrysler Neon, Dodge Neon, and Plymouth Neon. 

Well, Chrysler was only for the export market. Plymouth and Dodge didn't make any sense, they were equipped the same.

[sportyaccordy]

The Grand Prix, and pretty much all the W-bodies (I think that's the chassis) were pretty terrible. They handled like boats and were plagued with all kinds of problems, including that awesome plastic intake manifold. Same year Maximas were about the same in cost, but much better cars in every way.

[giant_mtb]

Base SOHC Neons were rated at 132HP, at a time when the Cavalier only made 115 (and Jetta 2.0) Protege only 120, and Civic VTEC 125. DOHC Neons had no direct comparison (in terms of a compact car....) being rated at 150HP.

It was used at Skip Barber's driving car for quite some time. The Neon also had IRS (granted, not the double wishbones on all four corners like the Civic) but the Neon used MacPherson struts up front an Chapman struts in the back, which made it actually really nice to drive.

HP ratings don't really say that one car is quicker than another.  A semi-truck that has 1200-lb.ft. of torque is slower than a Neon.

[2o6]

HP ratings don't really say that one car is quicker than another.  A semi-truck that has 1200-lb.ft. of torque is slower than a Neon.

It also was 2300lbs.

[2o6]

The Grand Prix, and pretty much all the W-bodies (I think that's the chassis) were pretty terrible. They handled like boats and were plagued with all kinds of problems, including that awesome plastic intake manifold. Same year Maximas were about the same in cost, but much better cars in every way.

True. However, that doesn't stop the W-body from being "bad" or not being able to compete.

[68_427]

It also was 2300lbs.

200SX was 2300lbs and had 140hp.


Bish

[2o6]

200SX was 2300lbs and had 140hp.


Bish

200SX SE-R, you mean. DOHC Neons were rated at 150HP and had more space.


MT Comparo gave it to the 200SX, but the Neon was still gained very positive reviews in terms of driving dynamics

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_9503_nissan_200sx_vs_dodge_neon/dodge_neon_sport.html

[Xer0]

Base SOHC Neons were rated at 132HP, at a time when the Cavalier only made 115 (and Jetta 2.0) Protege only 120, and Civic VTEC 125. DOHC Neons had no direct comparison (in terms of a compact car....) being rated at 150HP.

It was used at Skip Barber's driving car for quite some time. The Neon also had IRS (granted, not the double wishbones on all four corners like the Civic) but the Neon used MacPherson struts up front an Chapman struts in the back, which made it actually really nice to drive.

The DOHC Civic Si was rated at 160hp for the couple of years that it was available.

[2o6]

The DOHC Civic Si was rated at 160hp for the couple of years that it was available.

In 1999.


By that point the 1st Gen Neon was over, and the 2nd Gen (and SRT-4) was coming out.

[CJ]

True. However, that doesn't stop the W-body from being "bad" or not being able to compete.

W-body vehicles are really pretty horrible to drive. 

[BimmerM3]

Base SOHC Neons were rated at 132HP, at a time when the Cavalier only made 115 (and Jetta 2.0) Protege only 120, and Civic VTEC 125. DOHC Neons had no direct comparison (in terms of a compact car....) being rated at 150HP.

The Cavalier produced 115HP AND a Jetta 2.0? Damn, how did they fit an entire vehicle assembly plant under the hood?

In 1999.


By that point the 1st Gen Neon was over, and the 2nd Gen (and SRT-4) was coming out.

In 2003.

See what I did there?

[goldenlover1101]

I have to agree with 206, I drive a 2005 Neon SXT Manual and like it. Sure, its not as nice as newer compact cars, but its enjoyable. The clutch is good, I enjoy rowing through the 5 speed, and it has decent handling (not great, but not awful). Good space on the inside, and the trunk is great. I like the styling for a compact car, mildly sporty with good proportions. I am not saying a Neon is a great car or even the best car of the time, but it was a decent cheap car that gets undue hatred. I think its much better than the craptastic caliber that replaced it.

Some other cars I like that often seem to be disliked: Dodge Magnum, Chevy Equinox, Malibu, The new Mazda 3  , the Mazda 5

[Onslaught]

The new Mazda 3  

The only reason people hate that car is the front bumper. Put something normal on it and people would like it.



Oh, and the build quality on the Neon was atrocious. I know it was a cheap car but still.

[Payman]

Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, and especially the Solstice Coupe. I think they were the best looking cars to come out of the last decade.

[sportyaccordy]

True. However, that doesn't stop the W-body from being "bad" or not being able to compete.

So you agree that the W-bodies were terrible? I don't understand how you don't understand how people hate them if you agree. They were not competitive in any capacity

[Raza]

The Neon is the kind of car I'd recommend to someone looking for a cheap beater car (or a cheap fast car, in the form of the SRT-4), but probably would never buy for myself. 

[omicron]

The Mitsubishi Magna. Why they were increasingly shunned by the motoring public, I shall never know. The 3.5 V6 was a fine engine, and the five-speed automatic miles ahead of anything Ford or Holden offered at the time. Plenty of room, too, and the damn things simply will not die. Used examples are fabulous buys, of course - it's simply not possible to get any more metal for the (very little) money, and most were bought initially by conservative types which means the service books are nicely stamped and kilometres low.

Frameless windows, too.

[MrH]

Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, and especially the Solstice Coupe. I think they were the best looking cars to come out of the last decade.

Sight lines were terrible, and it wasn't a tenth as practical as a Miata of similar size.  Horrible packaging job.

[Laconian]

BMW M Coupe. I can't seem to convince anybody of how great of a car it is. They can't get past the weird bulbous shape.

[omicron]

BMW M Coupe. I can't seem to convince anybody of how great of a car it is. They can't get past the weird bulbous shape.

Society would not have progressed very far at all had we not managed to overcome our initial objections to weird bulbous shapes.

[MrH]

BMW M Coupe. I can't seem to convince anybody of how great of a car it is. They can't get past the weird bulbous shape.

Z4 or Z3 body style?  From everything I read, the Z4 M Coupe rear suspension tuning is all fucked up.  The convertible is supposed to be much better in that aspect.

Society would not have progressed very far at all had we not managed to overcome our initial objections to weird bulbous shapes.

[cawimmer430]

Why do people hate this? 



It's so beautiful! 

[the Teuton]

Z4 or Z3 body style?  From everything I read, the Z4 M Coupe rear suspension tuning is all fucked up.  The convertible is supposed to be much better in that aspect.

Disclaimer: I'm a Z3 whore. I love that car in all of its iterations.

That said, with the exception of a little more limited capacity and terrible rear visibility, the Z4 version is pretty cool unto itself.

[2o6]

The Cavalier produced 115HP AND a Jetta 2.0? Damn, how did they fit an entire vehicle assembly plant under the hood?

In 2003.

See what I did there?

You know what I meant, so your nitpicking of my post just makes you look stupid.

[the Teuton]

You know what I meant, so your nitpicking of my post just makes you look stupid.

It does? And you lust for the ever-sexy Aveo hatchback?