The Neon Light Goes Out This Week

[BMWDave]

The Neon Light Goes Out This Week
Date Posted 09-20-2005

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Dodge Neon, which hit the streets more than a decade ago as Detroit's answer to the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, will have its swan song at Chrysler's Belvidere, Ill., plant Friday, when the last model is scheduled to roll off the line.

The Neon will be replaced in 2006 with the Dodge Caliber, which is set to compete against the Toyota Matrix and the Pontiac Vibe. The Belvidere plant is undergoing a $419 million renovation this fall so the Caliber can hit the market by early spring.

The original Neon's ad campaign was almost more memorable than the car. It showed a white Neon facing into the camera and saying "hi." Neon sales peaked at 245,000 in 1996 but have declined since.

What this means to you: Time to say "bye" to the would-be import fighter that said "hi."

[thewizard16]

I, for one, won't miss the little crap box. I just hope the Caliber is worthwhile.

[MX793]

You know, the Neon isn't that bad to drive.  The driving dynamics are actually quite good.  Of course, the crappy interior and poor reliability record and general cheapness of the vehicle ultimately makes it a crapbox.  But at least it's fairly entertaining to drive.

[Run Away]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

[Raghavan]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

But FWD = crapbox.

[thewizard16]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

The made by Mattel interior as well as it's exceptionally poor aging (there aren't many things on the car that don't stop working or fall apart certainly make it a crapbox. The power wasn't bad, and the handling wasn't bad, but that does not make it a good car.

[Run Away]

I could care less if the dash is made of plastic, squeaks and rattles can get annoying sometimes yes. But for the price of entry, it's a perfectly good car.
I've been wanting to get a Coupe DOHC, strip it and go have some fun.

The only major annoyance I have found is the squeaky brakes problem. Bad headgaskets can occur too, but if you use the 1998 and 3/4 style MLS headgasket after the first failure and install it properly, it'll last just as long as any other.

The auto tranny was pretty crappy too, it only had 3 gears and poor ratios, but the 5 speed was a very smooth unit. I learned to drive stick on one. :)  

[MX793]

Neons also have the distinction of being among the least safe compacts based on crash tests.

[93JC]

... it only had 3 gears and poor ratios...

I can attest to that.  

Other than that it was fun.


I've driven a 2000, so maybe the "Mattel interior" is directed to the first generation? I certainly didn't find it overly cheap. I mean, it was cheap, but the car's cheap to buy. You don't get a Neon for luxury; I would assume most people know this.

[Run Away]

The only thing I didn't like about the interior was the steering wheel design on the earlier models...pre '97 I think. I drove a '98.

[Raghavan]

I always thought Neon R/T's were cool...

[MX793]

... it only had 3 gears and poor ratios...

I can attest to that.  

Other than that it was fun.


I've driven a 2000, so maybe the "Mattel interior" is directed to the first generation? I certainly didn't find it overly cheap. I mean, it was cheap, but the car's cheap to buy. You don't get a Neon for luxury; I would assume most people know this.

My brother has an '03 and the interior is pretty cheap.  And for some reason, the car only offered power windows on the front windows.

However, given that he bought the car a year ago used for less than $7K USD and it still had a warranty on it, the cheapness of the interior can be overlooked.  Thus far it hasn't broken down on him.  The gas mileage is pretty bad for a small car, though.  My brother was telling me that he gets like 25-26 mpg average on a tank and he drives like a little old lady (never takes it above 3000 rpm, accelerates slowly, etc).  My car sees 4K+ rpm regularly, has a bigger and more powerful engine and weighs more and I averaged over 29 mpg all summer long.  Granted, his is an auto (4 spd), but I'd still expect a couple MPGs more than he gets.

[giant_mtb]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

But FWD = crapbox.

Oh shutup man.

[ifcar]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

If that's all you're concerned about, and if there weren't any other cars that surpassed it in both ways, it wouldn't be.

I can assure you that the latter is the case, I have to hope you consider more than the former.  

[Run Away]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

If that's all you're concerned about, and if there weren't any other cars that surpassed it in both ways, it wouldn't be.

I can assure you that the latter is the case, I have to hope you consider more than the former.

For the price, I'd definitley buy one.
As I said, I don't care about the quality of the plastic inside the car.
I've spent ALOT of time in the passenger seat of one, and I spent a few hours driving the same one and they're fine cars. I know the family that owns it, and they havn't had any problems with it, other than one failed headgasket. It went through 3 teenage boys driving it, and as a good friend of one of them, I can assure you they put it through hell.
It performs well, is generally dependable and is dirt cheap.

[ifcar]

Crap box eh?
132hp base 150hp optional with a slick 5 speed and nimble handling do not equal crap box.

If that's all you're concerned about, and if there weren't any other cars that surpassed it in both ways, it wouldn't be.

I can assure you that the latter is the case, I have to hope you consider more than the former.

For the price, I'd definitley buy one.
As I said, I don't care about the quality of the plastic inside the car.
I've spent ALOT of time in the passenger seat of one, and I spent a few hours driving the same one and they're fine cars. I know the family that owns it, and they havn't had any problems with it, other than one failed headgasket. It went through 3 teenage boys driving it, and as a good friend of one of them, I can assure you they put it through hell.
It performs well, is generally dependable and is dirt cheap.

But there are other cars that do the same thing much better. Well short of "fine".  

[Run Away]

Like what?

[thewizard16]

Like what?

I'd rather have a Spectra than a Neon. It's cheaper, and nicer, in my opinion.  

[Run Away]

I can't find a Spectra for under $3000 Used here.

I'm talking used....I'd never buy a car new. First gens is what I'm talking about.
Hell, even the 2nd gen C&D tested they placed 5th out of 13.

Behind the Protege, Focus, Sentra and Civic.

[280Z Turbo]

132 and 150 hp isn't good enough anymore, I suppose.

I just read in R&T today that the HHR depressinly slow, or something to that effect. :o Since when has 172 hp been insufficient on a small car?! My...how times have changed since the Neon came out.

I won't miss that goofy little car.

[Run Away]

Chrysler actually cut the 150hp motor for the second gen, leaving the 132hp SOHC to cover all the models (not sure about the ACR or R/T models though).

Hell, 132hp is plenty even now for a 4 door compact.

[93JC]

Hell, even the 2nd gen C&D tested they placed 5th out of 13.

Behind the Protege, Focus, Sentra and Civic.

Sentra?

What the hell were they smoking?!?!? The Sentra is absolutely the single last compact I'd ever buy. There isn't a single thing about the Sentra that the Neon doesn't do much, much better.


Sentra! Jesus Christ, it blows my mind! Sentra!!


I guess this is why I wouldn't even wipe my ass with C&D, let alone read the rag.

[93JC]

Chrysler actually cut the 150hp motor for the second gen, leaving the 132hp SOHC to cover all the models (not sure about the ACR or R/T models though).

Hell, 132hp is plenty even now for a 4 door compact.

ACR and R/Ts came with the 150hp SOHC engine, until this year. This year they ditched the 150hp motor completely.

[280Z Turbo]

Hell, even the 2nd gen C&D tested they placed 5th out of 13.

Behind the Protege, Focus, Sentra and Civic.

Sentra?

What the hell were they smoking?!?!? The Sentra is absolutely the single last compact I'd ever buy. There isn't a single thing about the Sentra that the Neon doesn't do much, much better.


Sentra! Jesus Christ, it blows my mind! Sentra!!


I guess this is why I wouldn't even wipe my ass with C&D, let alone read the rag.

Well of course you wouldn't. The pages are too slippery and you could get some nasty paper cuts.

[ifcar]

I can't find a Spectra for under $3000 Used here.

I'm talking used....I'd never buy a car new. First gens is what I'm talking about.
Hell, even the 2nd gen C&D tested they placed 5th out of 13.

Behind the Protege, Focus, Sentra and Civic.

It sounded as though you were comparing it new to other new cars.

As to the $3k Spectra, AutoTrader produced 16 results. And the oldest would be several years newer than the oldest Neon. (But those Spectras were dreadful).

BTW, for $3K, I'd buy a Protege, Escort, Esteem, or Mirage over a Neon. I'd probably even buy a Cav/Sunf first.  

[93JC]

I guess this is why I wouldn't even wipe my ass with C&D, let alone read the rag.

Well of course you wouldn't. The pages are too slippery and you could get some nasty paper cuts.

[ifcar]

Hell, even the 2nd gen C&D tested they placed 5th out of 13.

Behind the Protege, Focus, Sentra and Civic.

Sentra?

What the hell were they smoking?!?!? The Sentra is absolutely the single last compact I'd ever buy. There isn't a single thing about the Sentra that the Neon doesn't do much, much better.


Sentra! Jesus Christ, it blows my mind! Sentra!!


I guess this is why I wouldn't even wipe my ass with C&D, let alone read the rag.

Actually, Car and Driver put the Neon is a tie for 6th of 10 with the Mitsu Lancer, and the Sentra in eighth.

This was in 2002, BTW.  

[Run Away]

Well if it makes you feel any better, they placed the Echo in 10th IIRC.
They called it a mistake. :P

[ifcar]

We're talking about two different comparos then. You must be talking about the 2000 one, I'm talking about the 02.  

[Run Away]

I can't find a Spectra for under $3000 Used here.

I'm talking used....I'd never buy a car new. First gens is what I'm talking about.
Hell, even the 2nd gen C&D tested they placed 5th out of 13.

Behind the Protege, Focus, Sentra and Civic.

It sounded as though you were comparing it new to other new cars.

As to the $3k Spectra, AutoTrader produced 16 results. And the oldest would be several years newer than the oldest Neon. (But those Spectras were dreadful).

BTW, for $3K, I'd buy a Protege, Escort, Esteem, or Mirage over a Neon. I'd probably even buy a Cav/Sunf first.

$3,000 Canadian, and that's a quite high estimate. There's plenty in the $1500 range.