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What is this discussion about? Dodge Neon, Plymouth Neon, Sedan

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#61 of 1758 sunroof? by b4scotty May 30, 2000 (4:41 pm)
I've got a 2000 neon, and am considering having a sunroof installed... i know the dealership contracts it out. Does anyone have any suggestions, or dos/dont's, or any opinions on this issue? ...thanks
#62 of 1758 Neon 2000 experience by mobay Jun 01, 2000 (7:44 pm)
I recently purchased a 2000 Neon ES with ABS/Alloy,full sound and lighting package,A/c and the 5-spd transmission. I have never owned an US made car having lived abroad most of my life and because of the poor reliability/fit and finish reputation of them.My previous cars have been a euro-spec VW GTI and Toyota Celica (left hand drive)along with a Volvo 244 and BMW 5-series sedan. My comparison cars were the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla,VW Jetta (V6) and the Saturn.All four were woefully short in acceleration and cornering,were very expensive fully loaded,and had the personality of a well-made microwave (read boring). What attracted me to the NEON was the value for the money and the absolutely intoxicating performance of this car.The interior of the car was well finished and I particularily liked the readability of the instruments and the functionality of the Stereo and ventilation controls.The interior is surprisingly roomy for a small car and the seats are comfortable and supportive,(albeit a bit more seat is needed under the legs IMHO). The performance of the car is on a par with anything I have owned.Maybe it's because I insisted on getting a 5-spd (which,BTW, was VERY difficult to locate),or just plain luck, but this economy US made car flies, and sticks to the road like glue. Although the engine noise has been berated by the magazines as obtrusive,I love it's tone and sense of urgency, and feel that it compliments the get-a-ticket acceleration of the car. The gearbox is one of the best I have used,although I would have preferred a lower fifth (I'm crazy ,in that regard).Smooth and deliberate gear shifts. The creature comforts are really nice (power side mirrors,remote doors and windows, and the A/C is very powerful.I don't care a hoot about no rear power windows,it's me that mainly drives the car. My only complaints are; I had to increase the tension on the two rear trunk lid springs (by moving them to the second anchor hole) in order for the lid to pop up more forcefully.It worked OK but not to my personal satisfaction. The small fabric covered door panels had wrinkles in the material the apparently was caused by them not being glue/pressed onto the foam. This was easily fixed by simply pressing the material by hand against the foam. My biggest complaint is sure to be the speeding tickets I will recieve driving this vehicle. Once the engine is broken in I will flog it.It is an exhilarating small car to drive,and very much underestimated as a performance car.To me,it IS a performance car when bought with the 5-spd,ABS, and Alloy options.For some strange reason almost nobody orders/has the 5-spd model,which is the only way to go with this car.The 3-spd automatic kills the power of this car. I also notice a lack of reliability reports for a car that has been out for at least 9+ months. Most reliability reports seem to be for the older body style cars and don't really help much, as the 2000 is completely different. I would also like get a performance exhaust, but none seem to be available for the 2000. In conclusion, my first US made car has me immensely satisfied for the $15,000 I paid for it (inlusive of ext.warranty,LoJack anti-theft,taxes,tags).I cannot say that it will be reliable because I have not had it long enough (hence my desire for reliability info,specific to the 2000)to guage it.I will hope for the best. A competent,well finished (overall),exhilarating, econo car that is a bargain to buy. Thanks
#63 of 1758 to mobay by importfighter Jun 03, 2000 (2:25 am)
I agree 110 percent on your assesment of the new neons, I got a 2000 es myself and I just love it. I have similar gripes also but they are trivial, overall one well built ride, a major leap ahead compared to the first generation neons.A question arises everytime I read about the new ford Focus: WHAT IS ALL THE HYPE ABOUT WITH THIS UGLY CAR!!!!!I'm not impressed with ford's new small flagship car, and I'm really sick of all the praise it get's while the neon is getting all the flack! I recently read about the neon r/t 2000 tested against the other companies sport versions(civic,focus,vw)and the neon r/t just got trashed,they just belittled the heck out of the car. I could'nt believe it, and for the final kick in the gut they praised the focus that had only 130hp in it's sport version zx3! I mean looks alone would fail the car if I had any say and only 130hp,common guys the base neon is 132hp, give it some credit. I believe the magazine was "automobile magazine". The whole test from the outset had no merit to it. Anyway I've had my say on the focus, it was building in me for awhile now.Does anyone else agree with me on this ford focus issue? GREAT JOB DODGE!!!
#64 of 1758 importfighter by hijinx Jun 03, 2000 (2:31 pm)
Focus people are very defensive about their cars... kind of like Neon owners. But I like to think we have qualities to defend. ;D In seriousness, the Focus is probably getting attention because a) it's the first truly competitive econobox Ford has built in ages and b) it's the closest thing to a world car in the market today. That's about it. I haven't driven one, but I have been in one, and the interior is Quite Bad. Typical Ford - lots of plastic, generic labeling, and no feel. The 00 Neon's interior is vastly superior. I read that R/T test in Automobile and was just blown away by the criticism... will have to see how it all pans out. Paul
#65 of 1758 2000 Neon Rebate by jb48 Jun 04, 2000 (5:20 pm)
I live in the Washington DC Area & I am thinking about purchasing a 2000 Dodge Neon sometime in the near future, and I was wondering about the rebate. I see Dodge commercials on TV which states a $1000 rebate on all Dodge cars, while in the newspaper states there is a $1500 rebate, but both the Dodge Website & Edmunds list the rebate for $1250. Any comments or help greatly appreciated.
#66 of 1758 Oh by the way, theliz and other 2000 neon owners..... by jb48 Jun 04, 2000 (5:31 pm)
How are your neons holding up? Just wondering if you had to do it all over again, would your purchase another Neon? Why or Why not?
#67 of 1758 to importfighter,hijink re;NEON REVIEWS by mobay Jun 04, 2000 (10:45 pm)
If I had listened to the reviews,and trusted them, I would have been influenced negatively in purchasing my Neon ES. The reviews seem almost conspiratorial in bias. They point out in almost all of them the vast improvements in decor,the great handling,powerful engine,and value yet discount all because of "engine boom" and a rear spoiler. One review was critical of the shifter knob being baseball size and to big for "their" liking.Also they complained that the seat fabric was too grippy for one of their editors large butt. I personally love the size of the shifter knob (and the easy shifting gearbax)and the seat's "grippy" fabric does not stop my butt from moving. Nit picking to the extreme.These same folks,if the engine was muffled and the seats more slippery,would complain "gone in the xxxx NEON is the wonderful song of the engine and the grippy seats of the 2000. model" I kid you not, this is probably what they would say. As for the Focus, it seems that just because FORD has a somewhat passable compact,despite years of horrendously bad compacts, it is now the "shining light" for the rest of the world. What rubbish. My main contention is that for what I paid ($15,000), I got a fully loaded 5-spd car that can run with, and surpass many cars that cost thousands more.The fact that it has a nice interior,fresh styling,and creature comforts also,is the icing on the cake. I just don't know what to make of the reviews.They seem to dwell on the unimportant, while ignoring the larger issue of overall goodness. BTW, has anyone with a 2000 NEON for several months care to relate any real world problems/praise?
#68 of 1758 2000 Neon Review by justpurple Jun 05, 2000 (6:18 pm)
I've had my 2000 Neon for 14 months and 31K miles. If I had to do it over again, would I buy a 2000 Neon??? Definitely NOT. I've had more problems with this car than any other car I've owned. My Ford Escort had 130K miles on it when I traded it for the Neon. Never had any major problems with it. Just normal maintenance. My biggest complaint? The engine idles very low (almost to the point of stalling out) at stops. The service department can't seem to find what's causing it. Now they're telling me it's "normal". I don't think so. I've driven three other Neons (all rentals) and not had the same problem. I've had many other problems with this car. If you'd like a list, just ask. Needless, to say, I will be trading my Neon in soon before the 36K mile warranty expires.
#69 of 1758 To Justpurple by mobay Jun 06, 2000 (1:41 pm)
Sorry to hear of your problems. Unlike others I will not berate you on your decision. I would be interested to know if your Neon was Automatic or Manual? Have'nt had that problem with idling on my manual 2000 neon.Also I would be interested from a selfish standpoint, of any other problems you had and at what mileage they occured. Thanks
#70 of 1758 something interesting by hersbird Jun 07, 2000 (7:51 am)
My brother has been out looking for a commuter car that will get over 40 MPG on the highway. There are only a couple of cars made by each company that fit this. We are going by EPA ratings alone not personal experiences. The 2000 neon does not fit this criteria but my 98 is EPA rated 41MPG highway. This is the same as the Toyota echo and my 150 HP neon will blow away the echo in everything from handling, to acceleration, to passenger room (and especially looks). What's the big deal about the echo and why did the 2000 neon loose so much efficiency? BTW I have actually averaged 45 MPG on a complete tank of feul of all highway driving (OK it was my wife driving, my lead foot can't get better then 38 MPG!)

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