Good seats, handles well, good milage, quick, distinctive styling, good sound system, low purchase cost, good traction in snow, folddown seats allow for long objects in trunk.

not too much to complain about--I had the famous headgasket problem but the dealer fixed it with the new gasket with no complaint. the truck is really narrow.

Assuming the car has the headgasket replaced with the revised gasket fix, it's not a bad car for the $. I really enjoy pulling away from cars at the light that cost 2 to 3 times what I paid. The great part is that the milage is so good you can use the lead foot without too much guilt :)
Another plus is the styling of the Neon, it's one of the few cars out there with a unique and refreshing look.

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Saturn SL2--faster then the Saturn but cheaper. Milage better than Saturn.
No headgasket problem with Saturn

1. Has lots of room. My friends can all fit in my car, no matter what size they are.
2. Great gas mileage
3. A cute little car
4. Trunk space
5. Great sound system (haven't added my own speakers)

1. Always needs to be in the shop, to much money to fix it!
2. Makes to many noises
3. Windows fog up easily with the heater on
4. No cruise control
5. Need to down shift when A/C is turned on

4. Not a lot of horsepower

I had to get a car within a three day period, so I ended up with thin Neon Expresso. I was 18 when I bought it so it was a great car for a reasonable price. I love it because it is sporty, yet enough room for long drives. But this past six months I have had so many problems with it that it is not worth it. My HEAD GASKET and CYLINDER HEAD needed to be replaced, the price was pratically six car payments worth! Now my BELTS need to be replaced and it is always LEAKING OIL. I am moving away from home in six months and I need a car that is reliable! This Neon is not!! I'm nervous on what might break down next and I don't have the money to get it fixed. This car is great for a teenager or a young adult, but not when you need something without worring about what will break next. This weekend I am going to look at new cars, most likely a Honda or Toyata, I've heard those are reliable cars!

I am so surprised on how many people wrote they had problems with their HEAD GASKET. I'm happy to see that I am not the only one, but sad that Chrysler or Dodge won't recall the Neon. I wish my car was still on warranty when this part broke!

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None

High power/weight ratio. Excellent handling characteristics. Very fun car to drive. Handles all types of driving with aplomb. I've beat on this car and driven it everywhere: Short trips, daily commuting, cruising the main drag, across the country. It goes on all types of roads: Interstate highways, backroads, city streets, dirt roads (slides sideways really nice) and it goes through snow with snow tires up front like a jeep 4WD until the snow builds up underneath and lifts the wheels up then it is stuck but usually you can just back up and out your own wheeltracks. Whip a sitty and your back in 'bidness.' Oh, 30 MPG city (25 when doing lots of streetlight racing, and almost 40 Highway at 70+ MPH. Can't complain. For those who say that this car is underpowered- LEARN TO DRIVE A STICK! Automatic transmissions suck power and economy DUH!

Hit and miss quality control. Dodge dealers are the worst PERIOD. OK- mechanical problems to date. Rear window scratched on delivery. Replaced but ever since it has leaked black goo every summer. A/C clutch seized causing overheat (first of many.) Something electrical died and car would not start stranding me (only time) when towed to dealer they 'claimed' nothing was wrong. never had problem again. Clutch 'claymored' at 30K. The springs just exploded but friction plate had lots of wear left on it. Very expensive 'upgrade kit' from factory $600 rebuild. 35K- both front wheel bearings died. Took it to dealer- they said nothing was wrong. Very loud grinding noise- they said it was 'normal', drove vehicle 1 mile down the road to CV-joint front-end shop and they said, DUH! Wheel bearings about start spitting pieces. Could not fix though. Can only get parts at dodge. Drove back, $600 more dollars “sorry we missed that…”. That's 10% of cost of car in 6 months. No other major $ problems. Car spits all the coolant out every 6 months or so. Radiator cap? Replaced that and hasn't happened in a while. Hood is rusting now at leading edge by cap so that hopefully was it? Each time it happened it would overheat the next time it was driven unless I heard the "gurgling" noise it makes when it's low on fluid when you shut it down. Minor things. Frameless windows are a bad idea. They whistle and make lots of noise. The rear ones will fall down just enough to leak water unless you check them weekly to make sure they are all the way up. The engine noise. Either you like to hear an engine or you don't. I do. The brakes suck for a performance car. Drum breaks are just plain cheap on the rear. Lead follow or get out of the way. As far as brake design Chrysler went and hid in the woods and hoped nobody would notice.

For all the trouble I have had I still love this car and will drive it until it dies in about 5 or 6 more years. Hopefully the wheel bearings and the clutch will last and I don't lose the head gasket. I'm going in next week for a timing belt and I think the tensionor is going too 'cause it's making lots of noise down there. But that is routine maintenance- no biggie. One more problem- mine is one of the first neons off the line so I can accept some early production problems. The weak clutch was just a stupid bean-counting mistake by dodge. They underdesigned it for the strong engine it had. The wheel bearings should have been covered by warranty as well as the parts for the clutch as they were an upgrade kit which tells me that they are basically admitting they underdesigned it.
I complained earlier about the brakes. Since mine was early production and I ordered 14 wheels but they gave me 13"-wheel brake calipers out front on the 14"-wheel rotors. I guess they just didn't have the right parts. Needless to say the front pads only last about 30K and then the rotors are slag too. Aftermarket rotors are only $25 a piece and the pads have a lifetime warranty (suckers) so every year or so I just swap out the whole works for $50 but I feel sorry for some unmechanical slob shelling out $300 bucks a brake job. I'm surprised I have not read anything about this here.

I would recommend this car to someone who wanted a cheap performance car as it can really be souped up with aftermarket parts (all I have is a K7N filter though) or just someone who likes to work on cars because it is easy to work on and you might need to. STAY AWAY FROM THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND VEHICLES ASSEMBLED IN MEXICO. From everything I have read those are the problem cars. Most of the lemons came from Mexico and many of them were the automatic trans version. (Automatics are sissy cars anyway)

For all its faults I still love my car. I have beat the heck out of it and really embarrassed the heck out of some other drivers who were really surprised that I walked all over them off the light. This car is fun to drive. I think I'll buy another one (used this time on the cheap) after this one expires in a few years.

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86 Escort GT - Awsome car but the neon beats it hands down. much more reliable. 87 Pontiac Fiero - Yeah it sucked - can't even carry a passenger + a small dog

With the Sport Package (special wheel covers, fog lights, spoiler, etc...) it looks far better than its competition. With a five-speed and the DOHC engine, this car is very nimble in traffic and turns back good fuel economy (I routinely get over 500 km per tank, which still costs less than $30 to fill from empty with premium). This car has not cost me a nickel outside of preventative maintenance.

Poor build quality - every paint chip is down to bare metal, the body seems to dent very easily and the car fails every important crash test. If ever I am in an accident, I would expect it to be written off.

Altogether a fantastic little car. It would seem that the SOHC/auto combination is nearly lethal for all Neons, regardless of age. Luckily I have neither of those and the car couldn't be better. My only complaints are the same as those I see echoed throughout this page. Poor Build Quality. The front struts were replaced some 10000 km ago, as one had become defective. In defence of Chrysler, however, the car stayed overnight at the dealership only on this occasion, and only because parts had to be shipped. I also don't understand the frameless windows, however mine only let wind noise in when the wind outside is very strong. The car performs excellently in all weather conditions, although the performance dies out all but completely with the air conditioner on in the summer. I usually just open the windows anyway, so I really don't care. It starts every day without complaint (even in -30 weather...) and runs like a dream. Whatever Chrysler did to the Neon for 1998 I don't know, but I have been impressed. I have 65000 km on it now, but when my lease expires in the summer, I won't be buying another one. The new Neon LX (ES in the States) costs well over $20000 CDN now, and they don't even make the DOHC motor anymore! I will probably buy a Mazda Protege for the same money, because unlike my Neon (which has depreciated to less than half it's original value in only three years) the money will still be in it by lease end. Four stars for value because I'd be lucky to get 10 grand for it now (even though it looks and runs like new) and four stars overall because no car four years into its design should still have these amateur flaws.

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Chev Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire - can you say garbage? Both of these cars I tested in Z24/GT trim at dealerships and they were already falling apart.
Ford Escort - for about the same money, it's a smaller car with zero performance attributes, even with the "Sport" package.
Honda Civic - I was going to buy the Si, until I found out how high the insurance premiums were!

Style, interior is roomy

I have had nothing but trouble with my neon since I purchased it new in March 1999. I already have 49,000 miles on it as I drive almost 100 miles a day to and from work on the highway. The car is now on it's third transmission and this last time the warranty company, Fidelity, refuses to pay for it stating the car has had too many repairs and may have been abused. I reassure you, I am a professional female in my mid thirties and I have not abused my car. I need it to last me until it is at least paid off! Anyhow, the noise is so loud on the highway I can only turn up the radio to try to drown it out. The car does not have overdrive which I think is the majority of the problem. I would never, ever buy another Neon.

As mentioned above: I have had nothing but trouble with my neon since I purchased it new in March 1999. I already have 49,000 miles on it as I drive almost 100 miles a day to and from work on the highway. The car is now on it's third transmission and this last tiem the warranty company, Fidelity, refuses to pay for it stating the car has had too many repairs and may have been abused. I reassure you, I am a professional female in my mid thirties and I have not abused my car. I need it to last me untill it is at least paid off! Anyhow, the noise is so loud on the highway I can only turn up the radio to try to drown it out. The car does not have overdrive which I think is the majority of the problem. I had told the salesperson i would be driving on the highway a lot and I assumed the car had overdrive. I never imagined it would give me this type of grief.I would never, ever buy another Neon.

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Pontiac Grand Am, Pontiac Sunbird, Berreta
None of my other vehicles ever gave me any trouble. This is my first experience with a Chrysler and probably my last. I had wanted to buy American but man, I don't know..I'd probably go back to a GM product.

The car is comfortable, roomy and i was surprised at the acceleration on the Highway. Radio is pretty good and with good manuvering the trunk is adequate

There are however many weakness to this vehicle, I knew the omens were bad when i found a small dent in the passenger side door three days after leaving the Dealer. Cursed myself for not checking the car thoroughly. First problem occured after two months,car took overly long time to go into third (auto). Brought it to dealer, in shop for two days!!!!, dealer states that the seals on the transmission were not set correctly, The next problem occured much later and is still there and getting worse,started to get loud vibration when idling or driving slow, Dealer stated that an engine mounting (oh yeah the radio had to be replaced after a week i think) was loose had the car an entire day, got back on the road all ok for about 1 week now the wholed dashboard vibrates loudly, this occured after paying 350 dollars for a service at 20k miles. Also on particularly cold days it will make a loud banging noise for about one minute and then will disappear. I think the car does this to mess with me, if you take it to the dealer he's not going to hear it as the engine is already warmed up. I'm totally unhappy with this vehicle and i have absolutely no confidence in Dodge cars, How could I after all this

If you have another car that you can use that will help as you can use it to get to work while your neon is in the shop,Totally disillusioned at this point, Dying to get rid of it, car runs great but why do I have be constantly nagged with these stupid problems. Bringing it back for the latest Shaking noise, Lets see where they start next time.

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None

It's power for a 4 cyl. It's styling and comfort

Needs a fourth gear on auto transmission.

Good Quality and Power

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Chevy Cavalier--**Neon** Runs a lot better and it looks better.

It has no strengths it's a peice of crap, biggest mistake i ever made. My grandmother can out run it. PIECE OF CRAPPPP!!!!!!!!!!! Raced a 85' Camaro got my butt whooped.

PIECE OF CRAPPPPPPPP!!!!!! rarely starts,when it does and i step on it it dies. bad interior, a/c sux, put a fart tip on it makes it sound like a weed wacker, gaskets leak i find oil under the car all the time, bad mileage, can barely chirp the tires. spent $10,000 on my engine and it still sounds horrible and can't move. ran at 16 sec. qtr. mile. 0-60 in 7.73 sec. bad tires,

it stinks.

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this car is so crappy it can't compare to anything, i read others how they compare it to corvettes, camaro's, vipers, wut a bunch of $h#!. it doesn't even compare to a Focus.

It has a v-4 but it acts like a v-6, it has a stylish look,nice sporty car.

It has minor sounds but nothing id wrong with it and a small oil leak 1 quart of oil a week only because the last people who bought it did not get the recall on hte oil gasget.

I would recamed this car for people who like nice stylish cars.There are lemons in every bunch though so get the car checked out by your mechanic before you buy.However the neons that i have seen and know alot of people who own them and they like them!!!Have not had to put in any work in it for the 4 years i have had it and is easier to steer and breake and the ac will freeze you out.And the heat will heat you out!!!!It is a nice looking car!!!!!So to me that is a great car!!!

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It is a whole lot better than the ford escort that we have the escort should be put in the garbage dump!!!Both are a v-4 but the neon is faster escort overheats every 3 months..

The car was relatively inexpensive when I bought it, at a time when I needed a dependable car fast. The only options I got were an automatic and AC. The gas mileage is great and the car handles awesome. It is really roomy for such a small car.

I have had to have the head gasket replaced twice. Once under warranty and another time Chrysler paid the bill. Chrysler also helped pay for the cracked exhaust manifold when it wasn't under warranty anymore. The most frustrating has been my transmission. It has been in to the dealership about six different times because the transmission kept slipping and it would always get stuck in gear. There were air leaks where the weatherstripping was around the windows which got annoying. The dealership has been wonderful with helping me out with my problems. For now I will still stick with Chrysler.

I would recommend this car to anyone wanting a good, reliable car. It is affordable and very fuel efficient. It doesn't have a lot of power, but that is obvious. I think it makes a great "first car" for any teenager. Believe it or not, it handles great in the snow.

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1982 Pontiac Grand Prix