Overview & Reviews
Building affordable yet appealing compact cars has often been a struggle for American automakers. Popular Japanese nameplates have done well as a result, and U.S. consumers are familiar with their reputations for quality and reliability. So Dodge took a different tack when it introduced the front-wheel-drive Dodge Neon sedan and coupe (alongside the identical Plymouth Neon) for the 1995 model year: The company made it fun to drive. The suspension and steering were carefully tuned to make the car handle well in the corners, and a pair of engines was available, including a 140-hp DOHC four-cylinder -- a lot of power for an economy car at that time. Of course, it didn't hurt that the Neon was cute as a bug and cheaper than most peers, either. It quickly caught on with budget-minded shoppers and was popular with young driving enthusiasts looking for a domestic alternative to import performance cars.
Unfortunately, Dodge lost its way when it redesigned the Neon for the 2000 model year. The car was a bit more refined than the original but was heavier, more expensive and no more powerful. The arrival of the turbocharged Neon SRT-4 sedan for 2003 brought some enthusiasts back into the fold, but by then most economy-car buyers had flocked to other brands. The Dodge Neon was discontinued after the 2005 model year; its successor is the Caliber four-door hatchback.
Most Recent Dodge Neon
Sold from 2000 to 2005 in sedan form only, the second-generation Dodge Neon offered a roomy interior, a smooth ride, nimble handling and strong brakes. Downsides included weak and unrefined engines, excessive wind and road noise, and an overall lack of polish and feature content compared to other economy cars. Crash test performance was mixed, as the Neon earned solid ratings in government tests but performed poorly in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) testing. Antilock brakes were optional on all model years; side airbags became an option in 2001.
Initially, buyers could get only a buzzy 132-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic. The performance-oriented Neon R/T and ACR models arrived for 2001 with a 150-hp four-cylinder. They were quicker than other Neons, but you could only get them with the manual gearbox. A four-speed automatic finally replaced the three-speed unit in 2002. The Plymouth version of this car was sold only in 2000 and 2001 and was never offered with the 150-hp engine or the four-speed auto.
The Neon SRT-4 sedan is one of the few bright spots in recent Dodge Neon history. Sold from 2003 to 2005, this scrappy econosport sedan represented the most performance you could buy for $20,000. Key ingredients were a high-boost turbocharged 2.4-liter engine good for 215-230 hp and 245-250 lb-ft of torque (output increased slightly from year to year) and a completely retuned, track-ready suspension. Not only could this Neon get you to 60 mph in under 6 seconds, it was a cinch to place in the turns, particularly the 2004 and 2005 models, which came with a limited-slip differential.
Past Dodge Neons
Sold from 1995 to 1999 in sedan and coupe form, the original Dodge Neon was smaller and cuter than its successor. It also offered a better combination of features and performance for its day. Refinement was never its strong suit, though, and Neons with the base 132-hp engine and three-speed automatic transmission were noisy and slow. However, when equipped with the optional twin-cam engine, the five-speed manual transmission, and the upgraded running gear offered on Sport and R/T models and Competition Group-equipped base models, the first-generation Neon could be a lot of fun to drive.
Resale value has always been a weak point of the Dodge Neon, so buying a used one will cost you very little. The flipside is that reliability is also below average on this car, so you should expect to put some money into repairs. A thorough check by a mechanic is recommended before you buy -- steer clear of any Neon with a history of engine or transmission problems.
User Reviews:
Showing 1021 through 1030 of 1,187.00-
e-ticket fun - 2005 Dodge Neon
By kws103 - June 14 - 10:00 amLooked at a bunch of cars in this size range. All of them that had any fun factor wound up to be at least $20K, and none of them even came close to the ride of the SRT-4 (I swear it would accelerate going straight up). Ive had a number of sports cars in the past; this blows them away in terms of acceleration and handling both. And everyone who knows anything about sports cars literally drools over it (Ive had people chase me down on the interstate just to take a gander at it). The only drawback is that I now have to drive everywhere. Everyone and his brother (and my kids and all my kids friends and ...) wants to ride in it!
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Deal of the century - 2005 Dodge Neon
By cameron131 - June 13 - 6:33 amI drive the Dodge SRT-4 ~400 miles a week. First let me say this car is seriously fast. The suspension is tight which makes handling incredible but it has a downside, when you hit a bump or hole your teeth are almost jarred out of your mouth. The shifting from the five speed manaul trans is smooth for the price. Braking is strong its amazing how short a distance you can stop in. The fin in the back I dont like I call it the park bench and Im seriously thinking about removing it. Changing the oil is a mission because you cant get a oil filter wrench on the filter, because its squeeze in between the engine block and the oil cooler.
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mikes review - 2002 Dodge Neon
By MikeT - June 8 - 2:00 amGreat ride for a little car. Gas milage consistently 33-35mpg. Seats very comfortable, even on long rides home (300 miles). Sound system good.
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Dodge Neon: Good Car at a Good Price - 1998 Dodge Neon
By K-man - June 4 - 2:00 amI have owned my used 1998 Dodge Neon Sport(highline) since I bought it in Feb. of 2002, and have been happy with it since. I bought the car as a replacement for my 1992 Geo Tracker that was totaled in a side impact crash in Dec. 2001. So far, I have been very happy with my Dodge Neon. It runs good, it is comfortable, gets fairly good gas mileage, and is fun to drive. It also looks good (big plus to me and one of the reasons that I bought a US car insted of a import) and has a great accelartion great handling, and a great stereo!
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Me and my neon - 1996 Dodge Neon
By User1 - June 3 - 2:00 amI got my neon on 96 and sice then I have put a lot of miles on it Ill said about 185000 .didnt have a problem until last year when little by little the card has began to nighmare of asking from smothing every month.1 like everyone else the head gasked started to leak oil, then about3 moths ago my water pum, and timing belt when out and finally last week my gas pump when out.To tell you the true I feel satisfied even though i had to fix it so many times lately because before that it never gave me a problem and believe me I have really abuse my car.
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My Neon R/T - 2001 Dodge Neon
By ListerofSmeg - June 3 - 2:00 amI just drove my to Central California and back (to Seattle). It handled beautifully. The R/T kept its speed of 70 mph up a 5% grad hill over a span of about four miles! It took all the turns and bumps with very little effort. I only had to fill the gas tank 6 times on a 2600 mile round trip (thats about 433 miles per 12.5 gallon tank)! Overall, I absolutely love driving this car and so do all of my friends.
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consumer - 2003 Dodge Neon
By lux - May 31 - 10:00 amots a very fun car for its price
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Power monster - 2004 Dodge Neon
By Malachoz - May 31 - 10:00 amCar is a power horse, flies like it had wings or should
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Die NEON Die!!!!! - 1998 Dodge Neon
By OCO13 - May 30 - 2:00 amI do not recommend this vehicle. I have had nothing but problems. It has blown two head gaskets and the head gasket is leaking again, which is a costly repair might I add. It runs poor, and drives horrilbe.
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My Favorite Car Ever! - 1997 Dodge Neon
By Joelabc - May 30 - 2:00 amI recently bought a 97 Dodge Neon Sport, 2 door car from Winnipeg, Canada. The car has 70000kms (43000 miles). The funny thing is that this car has the DOHC 150 hp engine. According to this site the 97 neon sports do not have this engine, they have the SOHC 132hp engine. It could because this is a Canadian car and varies slightly from the American car. But anyway i bought the car for only $7000 CAN, or $4500 USD. This car runs like a dream, its fast, looks sweet, is remarkable on gas, and is cheap to fill up as well. This car also has plenty of aftermarket modifications you can do to it which i plan to do in the future. Buy a neon!
