Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
He/she has NO long term experience whatsoever with the Neon and is not qualified to say that his/her Neons were reliable. Well, I should hope so! They were all only a year or two old when he got rid of them.
Anyway, the friend I speak of and I live in the same house. And I have my own car, but we switch back and forth. He drives my Protege and I drive his Neon (mostly because I take it in for service because I work near a Dodge dealership). It's not that he let me use it because I needed to. So it looks like you need to be the one shutting up if you don't know all the facts.
And my friend's ex-wife has a 1996 Neon Expresso sedan that has about 30K on it and never had a problem. I think it's just because this 2000 Neon is mostly all new and some of the bugs need to be worked out, as with any redesigned model of any car out there. So all Neons aren't junk, but if you had a car that had to keep being taken in for service when you drive it normally and take good care of it, I am VERY sure you would wanna vent too. So I don't even wanna hear it.
Isellmazdas
Also, I know someone who has an Intrepid. It's a 1994 with 62,000 miles on it (base model) and it runs fine. It squeaks and rattles like hell, the paint is peeling off of it, and the AC doesn't work anymore, but it still starts in the morning and that's all that matters, right??? Anyway...
To Copperhead: Find me a publication ANYWHERE that says the Neon is a reliable mode of transportation and I will leave this forum and not come back. Even Consumer Reports slams the Neon. A shame, because it's a nice package. If it was more reliable, then it would sell better.
And it's pretty bad that my friend gave me full permission to trade in his 2000 Neon with only 14K and was willing to take my 1999 Protege with 24K on it. My car has more miles and been used more, and STILL is better than the brand-new Neon. There's Chrysler quality in action for ya!
I just bought my new 2000 Neon ES this weekend, I got everything but the ABS/traction control group on it. I have 100 trouble-free miles on it so far. I guess it would be more accurate to say, 100 great-big-grin-on-my-face miles.
Anyway, my question is about the power (front... heh) windows, it seems they don't want to work when the ignition is turned to accesories but the engine is not running. I tried rolling up my window yesterday after shutting the engine off, and discovered this. The stereo works, the (factory) sunroof will close, but the windows do nothing unless the engine is running. Is this how it's supposed to work? It seems odd if it is. Just wondering if anyone else noticed this or if something might be wrong.
Everyone has there own opinion,and will express it ad nauseum to everyone. That's life, and unfortunately the same applies here. I doubt if you three will find anything nice to say about the Neon.Before you answer Vocus..,,by "nice" I mean without the obvious veiled critisism " I really do like the Neon" but then say;
" maybe it's one of these avid Dodge fans looking for a good reason to justify such a crappy purchase when they could have gotten something nicer (dare I say it?) ". Lemme guess.., a Mazda??
Yeah, he's/she's consistent alright.., consistently ambiguous.
Hey, that's your right man/maa'm but don't try to hoodwink us with your crocodile tears.
Also, I'd like to see a publication ANYWHERE that says the 2K Protege is a reliable mode of transportation.Perhaps they will be able to "time
warp' into the future and tell us.Please do not post a prior model. We are talking here about the 2K Neon so it's only fair that we use a 2K Protege.
Unlike you Vocus,I will,however return to this forum.
How can one paint, in one broad stroke,a statement of fact about ALL Neons.Lemme guess what you're going to say.., "well.., based on past reliability reports"...., . To a point yes, but to use this wholly as a benchmark for a new generation of cars? I say "NO".
Empirical data gentlemen.., PLEASE!
I'm stupid this way but, until my 2K 5sp. ES become unreliable,I will say that it is reliable.I'm old-fashioned in this way. Perhaps someome would say " well my car has been giving me nothing but problems,but past models were reliable,so mine must be reliable too.
Yeah.., that's the ticket!
Once again, as always for this group, the thought "I own a XXX car and I love/hate it because it's reliable/unreliable, so therefore all xxx cars are
good/bad always comes through.
Lets have at it chaps..., back to you.
Also, I could use the 1999 Protege (which I have) as a reliability basis, because the designs did not change from 1999 to 2000 on the Protege as they did on the Neon.
Now for someone who came to the forum for something worth talking about: Boson, our ES (mine and my friend's) has power windows and yes, they SHOULD close with the key in the accessory position. Mine do and so should all of them.
Neon is a reliable car:
http://carpoint.msn.com/vip/Overview/Dodge/Neon/Used.asp
Protege is a reliable car:
http://carpoint.msn.com/vip/Overview/Mazda/Protege/Used.asp
Now get out!
My power windows work when my car is off (accessory is turning the key back from off right?). Hope you enjoy your Neon, I have loved my 2K thus far.
The 2000 has a new body, interior and some features, but the engine and many of the mechanical parts are brought over from 1999 with minor mods. These have had the bugs worked out through 5 years of production.
There have been no out-of-warranty repairs on my wife's 96 Sport Coupe with 47K. Although the front steering is making the all-to-familiar occasional clunk that's been fixed in the past, I'm not concerned about it right now. I'll get it fixed the next time I have it in for a "more than oil change" service, probably at 60K. A couple segments of the clock/tuner display occasional don't work but I really don't need 'em. Minor annoyance? Sure, but it doesn't bother me. The wind noise from the aftermarket sunroof (there when we got the car with 9K) is frustrating and the paint isn't wearing as well as I'd like but again, they don't keep me from driving it. The car does have the coldest and quickest air that I've ever seen. That thing is blowing cold in five seconds at idle. I used to run around town a gear lower than normal to keep the revs up in my Integra GS-R just so the compressor would spin faster to keep up on a hot day. (That and it being generally fun...)
I maintain it religiously and run synthetics. I give the car 20 to 30 seconds warm up and down just to be kind but do hit the rev limiter on occasion.
The lousy resale was the reason my wife bought (prior to our marriage) the car. At the time you couldn't touch another car with the level of performance, equipment and remaining factory warranty, something that had long since expired on similarly priced imports. The warranty was important because unexpected expenses at the time were something to avoid. Now that we're a little more comfortable financially, I have no problem keeping it until it begins to really cost me or I find a great deal on another car that interests me.
Anyhoo... that's my story. Take it easy...
There are a number of great cars in this segment and the merits of each are being compared in other topics. This topic is about the Neon.
I've made clear in other topics the rule-of-thumb regarding positive and negative feedback. Both are welcome as long as they are provided with the genuine intention of helping other owners and buyers.
Thanks,
L8_Apex
Sedans Host
"To Copperhead: Find me a publication ANYWHERE that says the Neon is a reliable mode of transportation and I will leave this forum and not come back."
Are you an honest man/woman?
Much as I enjoyed our jousting,the time has come for you to ante up and honor your promise.
Anything short of that will show you for the person you are.
Have an nice life.
Oh..,, remember to close the door on the way out.
You to can beat a Viper in a Neon.
Hahn Racecraft turbo/intercooled, running 10/11 sec 1/4 mile times. Still has interior and is street legal.
I thought, importfighter; used poor taste in suggesting that the picture with someones head up their a**, was vocus. Very crude! So in post #321, I made a flippant comment,and for that I am sorry. Please seek to understand vocus, he is a good guy!
respectfully,
protegextwo
In regards to your friend, Vocus.
What I found vexing was the deception.The charade of him "really liking the Neon " and then the biting remarks afterwards in subsuquent posts.
Besides, when did this become the Mazda Protege' vs Neon discussion?
Finally ,and I hope this is the end of it, and him. He opened his big mouth, and put his foot in it by promising to leave if "ANY publication" could be found that said the Neon is reliable.
I fully expect him to keep his word.
I can only hope he can lend his talents to another
discussion group. I , for one, will not cry over his departure.
End of the matter, and hopefully..., his posts.
Since all you Neon owners don't like hearing negative comments about your car, I made another topic for it.
respectfully,
protegextwo
And NO I will not stop visiting this topic or posting here. This is a free forum and I will continue to post and visit, because I was right anyway. I said show me a publication in print (consumer-related) that shows the Neon to be reliable. Since I am in the PR business, I know the most-prominent ones are Consumer Digest, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, and Consumer Reports. I KNOW Cons. Reports doesn't recommend the Neon for anything but trouble. And Consumer Digest and Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazines don't either. CASE CLOSED!
But that's fine. The Neon might not be reliable, but it's a helluva lot of fun on a twisty off-ramp. The power is great, but the steering needs to be as quick as the Protege's and it would be perfect.
And as for Consumer Reports, they change their ratings of cars so often because they are constantly surveying owners on reliability and things of that sort. One time a car might be reliable, but the next it will be less so. Does this make any sense to you now?? DUH!!
The Neon is a Consumer Guide Recommended Buy!
http://cg.superpages.com/cgi-bin/php/new/reports/full/intro?CarId=19
Their only real complaint is the fact the 3sp AT is a power and gas sucker. I agree, If I wanted an AT I probably would have gone with a VW Jetta. I didn't, so I got the Neon, and I'm not sorry I did. Seems that most of the reviews I've read have been with the 3sp AT, which I think gives the reviewer a false sense of the 5sp's capabilities.
If you read any other forum on edmunds (protege, jetta, focus). You will find other disgruntled owners. That insist since they had a problem, all of that model are crap. This isn't true.
I don't think these generalizations are true. Any of them. The media is always biased for whatever the reason, thats why you should never buy a car simply on a review. From what I have read and seen myself the Neon, Focus, Jetta, Sentra are all solid cars that will most likely bring any owner years of satisfied service. It's the things that make the car unique to our needs that actually get us to buy it. I chose the Neon because of it's performance, styling, handling, features, and price. It's a great package that has served my needs very well.
One person's experience with a car or a dealer is not a realistic portrail of the hundreds of thousands of other people and cars of that model.
Anyway, Vocus, you have posted your problem OVER and OVER again, do you have to keep reposting the same story? At least talk about something different. It's good to have people on both sides, or the discussion would be boring. I think you are generalizing though, and that is bad without data to back it up.
Good Day,
A completely satisfied Neon owner.
Anyway, the Neon is a respectable entry in the subcompact class and we all know that. It just needs to improve its reliability a bit better and Chrysler needs to improve their customer service IMO.
And, we got all the stuff fixed on the Neon under warranty except the tapping engine, which they refuse to recognize. When it blows its head, then they will fix it. Fine, because it's covered for 75K and I am sure, if it's tapping at 15K, it will below shortly.
They said "no problem found" as usual. But yet, three other people who I rode in the car heard it tapping and they couldn't. That is such bullcrap. That's what makes me mad about the service and customer care at Chrysler.
I have a classic 84 VW GTI (I think Mobay and importfighter would appreciate that statement) and it has solid lifters. My valves tap whenever it is real hot outside and I am using the AC and accelerating hard or up a hill. It is no big deal. Since I have never adjusted the valves, that is probably my problem. However, the last time I checked, they were within specs. So, my point here is that it taps and nothing can really be done about it. It is just a normal sound whenever the engine is under a lot of strain and is operating in a hot and humid climate. I don't let it annoy me.
but this is outrageous, but of course they weren't
DC car's, the were Chevy's.
Check it out:
http://www.execpc.com/~thor101/impala/
I had a 1982 GTI and loved it till I was forced (relocation overseas) to sell it. When I see one on the street, I look at it the same way a person would look at a long lost lover. I loved it that much.Very fast,handled great,and was not bad at all inside (especially the seats!)
I am beginning to become intoxicated also by my Neon, and have accepted it's little quirks, just as I do my two son's personalities.It is a very exciting,comfortable,and tight car.
I'm different perhaps from most in this group in that I thoroughly researched the car before I bought it. I had heard of the Neon, not from American's but from Brits,Dutch and Norwegians (yes! Norwegians) who told me of its performance and value. I am also different in that I knew beforehand it's shortcomings and was surprised to find them gone in the 2K.
I also have a 5sp.( unlike most), which ,until you drive a 2K with one,you cannot believe the difference between it and an automatic model.
Tapping noises DO NOT have anything WHATSOEVER! with head gaskets.I've had the pleasure of being around Ferrari's and other sports cars, and they have a "samba" of mechanical noise that is worse than any Neon.My 5sp. idles very smoothly,but at full throttle,you know there's 132BHP in front of the steering wheel.Think of it as Pavarotti,clearing his throat before singing.
The problem with Japanese,most European, and almost all American cars made today is that they are BORING!Capable, and refined , perhaps like the late Lady Diane,but I'd rather fall in love with a Jennifer Lopez, who is exotic and exciting.
The Neon is one of those few cars that "grows" on you.It's not what you would expect a cheap (no slight intended) car to be.It was the model for many others to follow.It has redefined what a sub-compact can be (like the GTI did in the 1980's).No one can take that away from it's heritage.
We will talk forever about reliability of the 2K and until three years go by, will never know. One thing no one argues about here (even the detractors)is that the Neon is not fun to drive.
This will probably be my last post for a while as I believe that there's not too much more to be said that has not been said.
I will continue to love my Neon until it does something to betray that love.
If you're ever driving in the DC Metro area and see a middle age man blast by you in a 2K, with a flag (won't tell you which one!)one the back, that's me.My 2k is modified so it'll sound different from a stock one.
I'll also have a big grin on my face.
Thanks fella's it been interesting and enjoyable.
God keep you all.
I kinda thought the tapping had nothing to do with the head gaskets, but wasn't sure. But the valves shouldn't tap because the car takes 87 octane gas and that's what I put in it. Also, I changed gas brands and it still taps. I guess I will find out when or if something happens with it.
I have a 2000 Neon,it was built in may of 99 and I didn´t have major problems with it,let me tell you that it´s a fast car,and it´s good with mpg,the ONLY problem I had was with the power steering,a little noise with it.
So I took it back to the dealer,they told me it was ok,so I took a new car and test drove it,and no noise,so I called Chrysler and explained my problem.
My dealer installed a cooler,and had to replace 3 times the power steering until I was satisfied with my car,so far the car runs great,it´s a blast to drive it,I enjoy it very much.
Tell them you want to see them,if you don´t have them let me know.
But what happened with ALL the TSB,are they done?
I bought my first car, a used 95 Highline Sedan In March, and I have a couple of questions for anyone who may be able to help me. First thing I would like to know is do all Neons seem to have really bad squeaking brakes? Also Can I take my Neon to a Dailmer/Chrysler dealer to have the head gasket repaiered, or do I have to take it to the dealer I bought it from? And finally and this is the strangest thing, has anyone ever heard of the Neon having a trunk that leaks? Whenever it rains the spare tire compartment fills(not completely) with water. It even got into the back seat floorboards the last time!! i had standing water in my car! The dealership where i bought it said that there was nothing he could do about it! A friend of mine suggested that it may have been in an accident from the previous owner, but i checked carfax.com and it had a clean title. Should it be the dealers responsibility to fix this or am i stuck with it? Any help on any of these problems is appreciated!
in Mexico it have allot of short streets and a car that can get so much response to the turns like neon do it i think.
the stylish of the car are remarkable and the stereo sound very god i don't think that the noise are bad i think like in the racing cars every one wants some experience to.and not to think that you drive a limacine.