You are here: Forums Sedans Dodge/Plymouth Neon Dodge/Plymouth Neon

Dodge/Plymouth Neon

1758 messages,  Last post on Sep 22, 2009 at 9:56 PM

You are in the Dodge/Plymouth Neon Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

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

Messages Page 85 of 177 1 ... 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 ... 177 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#832 of 1758 Scratch that....... by silverneon Sep 26, 2001 (9:49 pm)
My neon is an SE model, not an ES. I basically have a base neon. No a/c, no cruise, no inside trunk release, only the essentials. The way I see it, there's less to break that way! See Ya Around
#833 of 1758 I think Dodge might have screwed up the '02s... by buoyant Sep 27, 2001 (2:44 pm)
From what I have gathered thus far from various research, I think Dodge has screwed up the '02 model line for consumers like me (YOU may be different).   Someone please correct me if this info is wrong, but here's what I've ascertained so far:   You can no longer get the ES without the spoiler (which is ass-ugly IMHO) or without the less-than-stunning alloy wheels. Also, the color Cinnamon is not available on the ES this year, it is replaced by almond.   You CAN get an '02 SE in Cinnamon still (don't ask me why) and if you do go the SE route, you don't have to tolerate the iwannabeastreetracer spoiler on the back. You also get the old ES' standard 5-spoke wheel covers on the new SE (I like those better than the over-styled '02 ES alloys), but then you're stuck with the old base model's rather blase velour interior (and no upmarket diamond weave bezels on the dash or chrome interior door pulls) and the fog lights aren't even an option.   So basically...if you want a Neon with an upscale interior now, you have to learn to live with the spoiler and alloys (both of which make the car look a bit too overdone for my conservative J.Crew tastes).   Ugh!!!   I guess if I really had my heart set on a Neon (I sure used to), I COULD get an ES and have the spoiler removed at a body shop and more attractive aftermarket 5-spokes put on to replace the factory ones, but it just isn't worth the hassle - or the added cost - to me.   Personally, I've always felt that the reason for buying new over used was because you could get the car just the way you wanted it (color, transmission, options, etc.). If I didn't care about getting exactly what I wanted, I'd just go out and buy another used car - they certainly make more sense financially.   I'd been planning on ordering a new Neon as soon as the Ultradrive on my current car finally crapped out, but I'm rethinking that now.   One of the things I used to love so much about the Neon before was the ala carte option menu (e.g., I wouldn't be forced into buying leather or boy-racer plastic Pontiacesque tack-ons to get to options I really want - like the in-dash disc changer and the sunroof).   With that gone, the Neon has dropped a couple places on my shopping list (from first to third to be exact). It's still a nice little car, but unfortunately, I can no longer get it done "my way". And that makes all the difference to me.
#834 of 1758 2002 ordering by hersbird Sep 29, 2001 (5:43 pm)
well in a quick trip to www.4adodge.com it looks like the spoiler is standard on the ES still but the wheels look the same as before. The R/T wheels look different, (nice IMO) maybe it's just that the alloys are standard on the ES now and they were optional before. I agree with you about ordering it your way, I think if it's an option on the line somewhere then it should be able to be ordered that way. If you want a red interior on a blue car then by god, it's your money (the dealer should just insist on a 50% deposit or something. If you want hubcaps and no spoiler on your R/T and paint the whole thing Cinnamon then you should be able to order it. They used to do whatever in 60's and 70's. The option lists were a mile long, you could chose between 20 colors in various two-tones and vinal tops which made literally hundreds of exterior appearance options possible. There were often 5-10 differnt motors and 3 different transmission choices. Them were the days, you can probably thank the imports for bringing the 'have it OUR way' package bundles to the commonplace. It is just to hard to have a car built to order overseas and then shipped here, it would take so long they would lose customers in the 3-6 month wait.
#835 of 1758 You can say that again by dweezil Sep 30, 2001 (8:38 am)
What if you only want cruise control but NOT power windows,brakes,locks and a bunch of other junk??? More small cars are coming STD. with those. Hopefully with the growth of Internet buying and ordering, the public can make it's needs known, eh?
#836 of 1758 RE: You can say that...... by majorthomecho Sep 30, 2001 (10:09 am)
I think we will see where more and more cars (even the low end ones) come with power windows and possibly with roll down windows not even available. It depends on the pre-production costs.   If you offer only one kind of window system (or only one kind of any system), your development costs are less.
#837 of 1758 That blasted Mickey-Mouse spoiler! by buoyant Sep 30, 2001 (10:22 am)
I can certainly understand why they wouldn't offer 10 engine choices (namely the huge cost), but this spoiler thing really frustrates me. So much so that it will drive me into a different showroom when I'm ready for my next vehicle.   At least on the old R/T (pre-2000) you could delete those goofy looking stripes that ran down the top of the car. So in my mind, you should be able to delete off the goofy looking spoiler on this new ES.   IMO the new Neon design looks MUCH better without the spoiler, and I'd bet I'm not the only consumer with this opinion.   What totally baffles me is why everyone is so nuts about spoilers nowadays. They serve no function on passenger cars (which don't go fast enough to benefit from them) and they add weight. The fact that Kia is slapping them on their crapboxes should tell you something. They are today's vinyl woodgrain applique - only there because some people think they look "neat."   I was hoping that Chrysler would actually IMPROVE the Neon ES for '02. You know...more noise insulation, a tweaked engine with an extra 5 ponies, standard side airbags...something like that. They should've just left the damn thing alone.   Regards,   I.M. Upset
#838 of 1758 Spoilers and Neons and bears, oh my by 71charger Sep 30, 2001 (11:59 am)
Frankly when I bought mine I didn't get a spoiler and didn't even think about it. None of the ones on the lot had them. I think I've only seen factory spoilers on the Plymouths in 2000. Although, much to my surprise, my wife was disappointed I didn't get one. She even suggested I look into getting one installed. It would be a boring world if we all liked the same things. Although I agree you shouldn't be forced to take it except perhaps on R/Ts, ACRs and such specialty models. Maybe four inch exhaust tips will be next.
#839 of 1758 Me and my '96 ACR coupe by bruticus Oct 01, 2001 (4:17 pm)
Love this car. I bought it in July 1998; the dealer (the son of a man my father worked for in the early 70s, but the dealer and my father aren't really friends) had brought the car in for his daughter in 1996; she drove 2500 miles and said she didn't want it, so it sat in the showroom/under the roof until my father saw it and recommended it to me.   I just tipped over 60K miles with no mechanical problems yet except two: 1: a couple years ago the odometer got borked somehow and started running too fast, and unfortunately there's no way to find out the real, correct mileage anymore, so the 60K showing on the numbers is almost certainly high. It doesn't matter to me, as I intend to keep the car until one of my younger sisters is old enough to drive. Either that or until I'm absolutely positive that getting a new car (wanna 2002 WRX) is the right thing. I can afford it right now, and interest rates are GREAT, but I work for a technology company, and you can all probably fill in the rest.   2: Lately, the gauges have been mis-behaving. I'll be driving along and suddenly the speedometer quits registering, and the odometer stops turning (thereby making up some of the false miles!). If I keep driving, eventually the tacho starts acting up, and if I'm driving a LONG time the temp gauge will go haywire and run up to the top peg. I took it to a mechanic I trust (how many of THOSE are left?) who said that, as the car ages, the dashboard isn't fitting as tightly as it should, and there isn't enough "give" in the connections for the gauge pack to compensate. Anybody have any advice on this?   Other than that, no complaints. Original engine, exhaust (altho the muffler is looking a little blistered lately), brakes, etc. I baby this car, with clockwork oil-changes and frequent vacuuming/washing/waxing.   My father, who's an auto shop teacher, frequently attends car shows, and once ran into a Chrysler man who said ("off the record" of course!) that Neons are the epitome of the bipolar car: if you get one and put 10K or 15K miles on with no problems, you have a winner. If you suffer any major mechanical problem (alternator, head gasket, brakes, clutch) in that time period, you should trade it IMMEDIATELY, as the car is a bum-build.   DjB Replies to this message: flightofone (Aug 04, 2005 7:01 am) meximelt2007 (Jun 18, 2008 2:52 pm) akjeffery (Jun 18, 2008 6:58 pm)
#840 of 1758 01 Neon SE by stnbchr Oct 12, 2001 (3:50 pm)
Since I am new to the group I wanted to introduce my car. After a lengthy and sometimes frustrating search I found a Neon with a 5spd transmission. My red '01 Neon SE came with Sport appearance group - 16" wheels/tires, spoiler, performance steering and suspension, A/C, cruise and CD player. Just what I wanted minus a sunroof. I found lots of cars with an automatic transmission and a sunroof, so I had to let the sunroof go.   Just a few weeks after purchasing my car, my wife and I took a weekend excursion and found the car to be very comfortable.   With 3K on my car I must admit I enjoy it much more than I expected. I just sold my 87 Mazda 323 that had about 180K - it was my first brand new car and I loved her. It was hard to see her go, but my new Neon helps me carry on.
#841 of 1758 What is a Speed Control Box? by valleyguy Oct 16, 2001 (1:19 pm)
Bought my daughter a 2001 Neon, we love the car. 15k, only problem was an automatic door lock that was noisy, got it replaced free.   As the front end is VERY low, in going up the driveway, the front bottomed out and a black box about 12 inches cubed fell from underneath the passenger-side front fender. It appears to have been connected with a black hose, but the box is not air tight or contain any fluid. Dealer told me it was a " speed control box", but he didin't know what it was for. Four months now we haven't replaced it ($80 dealer installed)car runs great, same mileage, cruise control still works. What the heck does the thing do???? Should I get it replaced??

Messages Page 85 of 177 1 ... 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 ... 177 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Dodge/Plymouth Neon Dodge/Plymouth Neon