Cheap, Roomy Back Seat, Great Stock Radio, Relatively Quick, Helpful and Courteous Dealership.

Not much torque. Have to constanly shift (gets annoying)
The neon "image"
*Poor Build Quality:
Paint scratches and chips easily
Body dents easily
Cheap plastic parts (crack and warp)
Poor stock brakes
*Numerous Mechancial and Electrical Problems
Headgasket replaced @ 50,000
Exhaust Donut replaced @ 20,000
First oil leak @ 18,000
Brake light problems @ 10,000
Clutch @ 55,000
Another Oil Leak at 58,000
Transmission Problems @ 3,000 (Had to be towed off the highway @ 3AM)
Suspension Problems (Since New) - Dealer repaired 3 times
Leaky Trunk @ 40,000
Wind Noise (Seals replaced 3 times)
Takes a long time to start if < 1/4 tank of gas in it (about 4 gallons)
Does not like to start after sitting for more than 2 days
Loud clunk when the engine is turned off (Dealer cannot resolve. Told it is normal for the car to shake when it is shut off.)
Delivered with a distorted windshield.
Some rust in the wheel well.
Floor Mats wear after about 20,000. They now have holes in them where the passengers feet rest. Not worth the $90.

I bought this vehicle as a freshman in college to replace an aging Nissan. I did not want a neon but knew they were quick and also cheap (0% APR for 60 Mos.) For under $200 a month with only a thousand down, I was able to drive a brand new car. I have regretted purchasing this vehicle since delivery as when i received it the window molding was falling off and later in the day the airbag light would not shut off. Several months later it left me stranded at 3AM. I would have traded this car in immediately had it not depreciated so much in such a short period of time. I am graduating in several months and am in the process of purchasing a new VW. This car is noisy, uncomfortable on long trips and has a poor service record. It is not even a good vehicle for a poor college student and I would not feel safe having a loved one own one. Anyone wanna buy my '98 for $4,000????

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98 Jetta - No comparison. Jetta Rocks.
94 Ford Escort - Again No Comparison. Escort = reliable.

Gas economy

Noisy engine

I bought my Neon new from Dealer in March of 1994 - have 82,000 miles on it. No problems. Had oygen sensor at 62,000 miles that needed replacing. No charge as under warranty. I change oil every 3,000 miles, get 29-30 mpg city and 36 mpg on highway. Yes, the motor is a little noisy, and yes the rear brakes squeal when wet due, I was told, to not using asbestos in brake pads any more. I've replaced muffler system at 64,000 miles, new tires every 30,000. So I am happy with car - you need to follow the service manual for maintenance and you will find it is a good car for routine driving.

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Dodge plymouth horizon, Volkswagen Rabbit, Audi Fox, Ford Pinto Wagon

Easy to drive.
Good for young student

*OIL leak turned in to OIL SLICK!!
*AIR conditioner quit working somewhere along the line?
*Breaks are embarrassingly loud.
*Dress warm on a cold day/night especially when driving on the hwy. because the heating and defrost is substandard.
*Door seals will pull away from door by 2nd or 3rd winter.

The only reason this car has`nt cost me alot of money yet is because I have not fixed any thing yet. I have been seeing some of these problems comming, and I`ve had to save up for the last year to be able to afford the (what I fear) rather high cost to fix these things.
My only recomendation to anyone wood be to have this car (neon) checked out completely by a mechanic you trust. Its been said that when you buy a used car you could be buying someone elses problems,and in this case I believe neons have alot of common problems!!!BUY GM!!!

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had a 72 Duster once. OK car, few problems.

Very Cold A/C

The computer went out the first week. Was leaking transmission fluid. Discovered their was a crack in the tail pipe. On top of all that the moter went out. Now my credit is shot because I let them repo it.

Financing this car was the worst mistake I HAVE ever made. Now I am paying for with bad credit. No matter the year Neon's are pieces of junk. They are cheap for a reason.

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I traded a 88 Nissan Pulsar in for this car. If only I could go back in time.

I LOVE HOW LOW TO THE GROUND AND RESPONSIVE THE STEERING IS. THE CAR HAS A SPORTY LOOK AND GREAT AFTERMARKET PARTS. (I.E. EXHAUST, INTAKE AND STEREO)

THE ENGINE CRAPS OUT AT LOW RPMS, SLOW OFF THE LINE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.IF YOU OWN ONE AND YOU WANT TO GO FAST, BUY A CRANE CAMSHAFT. IT ADDS ABOUT 10-15 LBS OF TORQUE.

OVERALL THE NEON IS A FUEL-EFFICIENT, LOW COST AND SPORTY ALTERNATIVE TO GAS GUZZELING SUVS AND NOISY RICE BURNERS. MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NICE BUT EVEN AUTOMATIC IS GOOD. BUY ONE IF YOU'RE 19. DONT BUY ONE IF YOURE OVER 200 LBS. ITS TOO SMALL FOR YOU!

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ALL MY BUDDYS TELL ME THEIR GIRLFRIENDS LOVE THEIR NEON. UNTIL I MAKE THEM DRIVE IT. THE ALL SAY THE STEERING IS GREAT AND MY NEAR STOCK STEREO BUMPS.

Very acceleration (0-60 in 8 seconds), smooth riding, very good factory speakers, good engine, roomy, easy to drive

brakes, peadals too close together, not enough cigar lighter outlets, windows on doors have no top support

i think my car was put together very well and has a ver y reliable rating to me simply because the car has had a cracked block for about six months and i still havent repaired yet, but still it runs as good as the day i bought it, so to me i think this is a excellent car to get.

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i love the way it can out-run most 2.0L engines in acceleration, out-ran a 2000 Civic si in a street race beat it by at least three car lengths

Engine seems to run fairly well,nice looking.Thats about it.

I bought it with 53,000 miles on it and the day I bought it,it had a blown head gasket.That should have told me something.Since then the following has failed.1.I have replaced the head gasket 3 times
2.I have replaced the transmission,its a automatic 2 times
3.The cam sensor went out,car would not run.
4.both left and right brake calipers locked up which destroyed the rotor which meant complete brake job for that side
5.the fuel sending unit went out so I ran out of gas.the gauge showed almost a half a tank.
6.the a/c went out
7.the motor mounts broke
8.the sway arm bushings went bad
9.the oxygen sensor went out
10.the catalitic converter went bad.

In short this car is a disgrace and should be recalled.In my opinion Dodge /Chrysler corp should be sued for allowing something as obviously flawed product to be to be sold.As you look at all of these reviews certain patterns can not be denyed.First they have a head gasket problem in just about every model from 95-99 secondly the transmission are defective and worst of all thirdly Dodge/Chrysler does not give a dam about satisfing their customers.I hope everyone who reads these reviews will use some common sense and not buy the neon or any other dodge/chrysler product.If they had a lower rating then 1 star I would be giving it.

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toyota tercel or nissan maxima are the way to go those two cars truely run trouble free.

The car is quite sound. Has good pick up. Great stereo system. Easy to drive. Good fuel consumption.

Brakes squeek. Rusty dust of something like that. Computer sensor went out day after I bought it from a 1st owner. Now leaking oil from assumed "head gasket".

I think that for the most part, the car is okay. It has its quirks. I am however concerned about all of the recalls. I am checking into the head gasket recall. If it has never gotten done, I wonder if I can take it to the dealer and had it attented to. Also, I am noticing that there is a clinking sound when I shift. Like from 1st to 2nd, it does not sound "tight". It is like something is missing that gives the shifter padding inside of the rubber cover. Excuse my lack of knowledge of car terminology.

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I compares well enough to riding in any other small car. Good gas mileage is a plus as well.

Yep $8000 I know people in corporate. Anyway, great car, bought it for my wife and she loves it completely. Never had any problems. Very quite even at highway speeds, we can whisper and hear each other. The engine seems powerful enough. Great gas mileage: 30 city/ 40 highway. Do mostly city driving. Car looks good.

3 speed auto

I have had nothing but great experiences with this car. Live in Colorado and this thing hauls up the mountain passes. Zipping past toyotas and hondas. We got an automatic because my wife can't drive aa stick. This car is great.

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None

Lasted 140,000 miles.

Could have paid for it twice getting there. Replaced trans at 90,000. $2000 for a lousy 5-speed manual. A/C quit a couple of years ago. Factory radio and speedometer/odometer died about a year ago. Check engine light has been on for about 3 years. Head gasket blown. Cracked head.

Can't complain too much. Outside of getting the oil changed, I didn't do a lot of "preventative maintenance". Paying $2000 for a new trans sucked. Car now has a cracked head and is being donated to charity. Going to try a foreign car (Nissan Maxima) this time.

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1989 Ford Escort. The Escort was much more reliable.