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 781 through 790 of 1,187.00-
Great Value - 1995 Dodge Neon
By Lukas - September 11 - 2:00 amI wanted a small sports sedan with ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, 5-speed, good power and room for my family at a low price- Neon delivered. It has been surprisingly durable and the cost of ownership has been very low- just passed 100,000 miles with original clutch, shocks, head-gasket, etc. Brake pads lasted to 80,000 miles!
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Good thing it has a warranty... - 2002 Dodge Neon
By mikeclark103 - September 9 - 2:00 amThe interior has plenty of room, its fairly comfortable, has decent speakers and cold a/c. My car is less than a year old, burns oil, has a rod kncoking in the motor, stalls after exiting freeway on occassion, rattles at idle. The grey dye used on the steering wheel has already worn off and the dashboard is chipping. The car is fun to drive, I use it mostly on the freeway. I will be offloading this car to a used car dealership as soon as I can afford a Toyota.
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98 Expresso, DOHC - 1998 Dodge Neon
By DOak - September 8 - 2:00 amMy Neon leaked oil like a sieve from after merely 5000 miles. Head gasket replaced under warranty at 49000 miles, and is ready for another head gasket again, with no warranty this time! I know of 20 year old cars with original headgaskets in their engines. This was to be my daughters car, but I dont trust it. As far as Im concerned, the car is really a pile of junk and has turned me off to any potential new vehicle purchase. I can do better buying a used vehicle someplace.
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SO FAR SO GOOD ! - 2003 Dodge Neon
By keck - September 8 - 2:00 amThis is my first NEON , not my first chrysler product. I bought it for the price ( I work for D/C ) employee discount and all that . so far so good . it has 9500 mi only a loose door check I fixed it myself witha 10mm socket. it is getting about 34 mpg now , it has gotten better it was 31 when i first checked .
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Great box on wheels. Great college car. - 1996 Dodge Neon
By bartwart - September 7 - 2:00 amWeve owned our NEON since it was new in 1996. Im going to buck the trend here and actually tell you that this is the best, most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned. However, we got it with a manual transmission and NO options, period. No AC, no power anything, no radio, no nothing. This is your prototypical box on wheels. We even get 40 mpg! At this rate it will last us another 10 years.
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Well rounded car - 2002 Dodge Neon
By Ryan Barnett - September 7 - 2:00 amthis car looks decent for the price and drives good whether it be just for a cruise or leaving it stock and drag racing it on the weekends like me. Ive gained credit for racing it and beating many of the v8 mustangs. bracket racing of course but its a great car for the money.
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The car that could & Dealership didnt! - 1995 Dodge Neon
By Outlawjedi - September 6 - 2:00 amI love this car, I got one of the last ones off the assemly line. I custom ordered the car. My main complaint was the dealership, Tupelo Auto Sales (Tupelo,MS) service department is the worst dealership I have ever dealt with. They swindled me out of nearly 2,000 dollars in faulty work & breaks. An example, they supposed to install mophar parts, well guess where they went to get my break pads, WAL-MART!. They never told me ANYTHING.The bill even shows Mophar break pads!!! Oh well guess I have to go WAY out of my way to have service done.
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Fast! Fast! FAst! - 2004 Dodge Neon
By The Athlete - September 6 - 2:00 amThis car is Fast! Fast! Fast! All I can say is this EVO, beat it! WRX STI, beat it. The cars in its class offer no real chalange. For the money this is a superior buy. Even my wife loves the speed and the handling of the car. If you dont own one, you are missing out. This the new King of the road. Oh yeah BMW M3, Havent had the chance yet, but Im confident. *I do not encourage street drags, or Racing.
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Nice Compact Car - 2002 Dodge Neon
By Old Grandpa - September 5 - 2:00 amThis car is very impressive as far as horsepower. It is a bit sluggish with the A/C running, but thats the norm of most cars. The 5 speed gearbox tends to need a bit of help. (sloppy between gears and hard to get into reverse) The susspension is awsome in the car, no leaning in the corners,(60mph on a 25mph corner)and the car does not slide either. Manual rear windows with power front windows seems a bit odd though. Otherwise I feel that its a great little car.
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Neon R/T - 1999 Dodge Neon
By micknick - September 4 - 2:00 am5 years of reliable, problem free driving. I have personally performed all service on this vehicle and found it to be easy to work on. I have not experienced the leaky head gasket that had plagued earlier models.
