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Dodge Neon vs Chevrolet Cavalier

26 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2010 at 2:55 PM

You are in the Dodge/Plymouth Neon Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Neon, Chevrolet Cavalier, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 3

#8 of 26 Re: matchgame ... [mdaffron] by gmoudy

Aug 24, 2005 (6:09 am)

Replying to: mdaffron (Aug 23, 2005 7:35 am)
The reason the Cavalier is not listed is because Chevy is already showing the 2006 model year. 2005 is the last year for the Cavalier.

#9 of 26 Ooops. You're right! by mdaffron

Aug 24, 2005 (6:13 am)

But if you want a Cav, you'd better hurry! I think the stock is drying up fairly fast since the Cobalt's come out.
 
Meade

#10 of 26 Re: Neon VS Cavalier [matchgame1974] by darestie

Aug 24, 2005 (6:21 pm)

Replying to: matchgame1974 (Aug 20, 2005 7:22 pm)
I was in a similar situation to you. My previous car (first car) had burned to the ground and I was in the market for a new car. With enough money for a new car, I was skeptical about going with a used one. I checked in to the cavalier and loved it. Sporty, good gas mileage, and it's actually pretty fast, (beats stock civics and a lot of other cars in it's class, NOT THAT IT MATTERS . I paid a little under eleven thousand, for a base 05 cavalier with a 5-spd. I average thirty miles to the gallon, and haven't had mechanical problems yet. On an other note, I worked in an auto shop for about two years and have seen my share of cars. I've seen several 99-01 cavaliers with over 180,000 miles on them. they seemed in decent shape, that doesn't apply to the 05 though because of a different drivetrain.

#11 of 26 Re: Neon VS Cavalier [matchgame1974] by keddie

Aug 25, 2005 (12:32 am)

Replying to: matchgame1974 (Aug 20, 2005 7:22 pm)
Hi,
 
I own a 2004 Cavalier and my son owns a 2004 Dodge Neon. I have had no problems with my Cavalier since I purchased it, but my son's Neon has been in the shop many times. I get better gas mileage than he does and I have the bigger engine. You be the judge.

#12 of 26 Re: Neon VS Cavalier [matchgame1974] by shymerm8

Aug 28, 2005 (4:23 pm)

Replying to: matchgame1974 (Aug 20, 2005 7:22 pm)
Okay,
       Hopefully my experience will help you make a decision. Okay neons are bad cars they break down A LOT. I have a 2000 and it is in the shop every 3 months no joke I've had a cam sensor, speed sensor, power steering pump g, head gasket, just had my freeze plugs done, 2 windows, a door, 2 motor mounts and tons of electrial problems go out and all had to be replaced. It has really been a nightmare and it only has 90,000 on it Okay so if you need more proof they are bad cars my best friend had one too transmission went out 50,000, right after we bought ours. That was one reason we bought ours because hers was doing so well and hers was the same year just not the sporty edition. Oh yes her transmission went out again 80,000 Okay on to the focus not good cars either my brother in law actually won his case in court that it was a lemon. His kept breaking down no matter how many times he kept replacing the same part. Okay the cavelliar I don't think I spelled that right but you know what I mean. My very good firend has one it is a 2000 it always overheats when the air conditioner is on so she has not used it in a longgggggggg time. But other than that she has not had to many other problems and loves her car. Oh yes you really should go to intellichoice.com to check the car rating too to decide. I know for sure the neon got a poor rating I think the arrow would have fallen lower off the scale if that was made possiable lolol this poor rating is for even the new 2005's . Hopefully I have helped a little so you can make a decision. But please do not buy a neon unless you want a headache, don't waste your money on these pieces of junk. There is a reason they are discontinuing these cars soon. Anyways have a great day and good luck with your choice. Oh yes dodge and chrysler also has verrrrrrrrrrrry poooooor customer service.
                                                                                    Shy

#13 of 26 Re: Neon VS Cavalier [darestie] by streetneon

Sep 03, 2005 (10:29 pm)

Replying to: darestie (Aug 24, 2005 6:21 pm)
2 years ago i had a stock 1995 neon (2.0 16 valve dohc 5 spd) and i smoked a 2000 cavalier z24 with a 2.4 twin cam with intercooler and slightly modified at 130mph in 4th gear at 4,500 rpms i didnt even get to enjoy 5th

#14 of 26 Re: Neon VS Cavalier [streetneon] by marchi1

Jan 04, 2006 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: streetneon (Sep 03, 2005 10:29 pm)
As a couple of notes to this post (#13):
 
1) Why did the car have an intercooler? The 2000 Cavalier Z24 doesn't have any kind of boost as stock. If it did have a power adder then a GM supercharger is the obvious choice for this vehicles, but that also does not have an aftercooler on it do to the location of the supercharger on the car. It may have had a air-water-air intercooler, but it would have been very small and not noticeable when viewing the car from a drivers seat. Most likely you saw the OEM radiator which is silver on these vehicles and hangs rather low and could appear as an intercooler.
 
2) 130 MPH? The Cavalier is OEM governed at 107 MPH by GM, and until just recently there were very few ways to over ride this except elimination of the VSS which would also disable your speedo and odo (illegal in all 50 states).
 
3) Unless you know the person, the differences between the different years of the car are very subtle, and almost inpercetible to the layman.
 
Comparing a Neon and a Cavalier is nice, but the Neon will win in most situation hands down as it is lighter and does have more power. Claiming that an stock Neon with the DOHC beat a boosted Cavalier is a little amazing.
 
I like my Cavalier, but I also accept that in stock form it will be beat, repeatedly, by a Neon. I have a great respect for the SRT-4 as it is an amazing vehicle, but question some of the decision made by DCX on the vehicle, like installing power front windows, and cranks in the back.

#15 of 26 Another option... by 79customd

Mar 18, 2006 (4:19 pm)

Try looking at the 06 PT Cruisers. Great cars from what it sounds. Talked to some of the mechanics around town and it sounds as though these cars are "bullet proof". The 2.4L is a bigger displacement engine than the 2.0L of the Neon or the 2.2L of the Cavelier, and with Chryslers new autostik tranny on GT models the car is more attractive than ever. Put 230 horses to whatever the base Neon or Cavailer can do. The GT is not bad on price neither. Seen em for $19500 around town. Spread out of the months for payment, the PT will pay for itself in performane, capability( hatch instead of smaller sedan body ) and the mileage is dead even( providing you drive it right ) Clearly if you want a sporty car with good mileage and capability "that you want to last awhile" go with the PT.

#16 of 26 Re: Neon VS Cavalier [shymerm8] by whiskerrat

May 09, 2006 (8:40 pm)

Replying to: shymerm8 (Aug 28, 2005 4:23 pm)
I guess there are a number of factors that determine what kind of experience a person gets in owning a certain vehicle (where it was purchased, how well it is maintained, how it is driven, etc.). A good friend of mine owned a 1st generation Neon and it was very reliable for many years before it started having radiator problems (I suspect he didn't flush it once a year). In 2001, two other friends got 2nd gen Neons and they were reliable, even though they didn't always follow the recommended maintenance. I ended up with one of those cars for a little over a year and only had to have some work done on the car because of the previous driver's poor maintenance and suspected sloppy driving on bumpy roads. I eventually traded it in for a 2005 model because a dealership offered me a deal that was almost impossible to refuse. The offer was so good, I told someone else about it and he bought one too. So far, his car is working perfectly. The only problems I had with the new Neon was the trunk was misaligned and a strange noise was eminating from the engine bay. I took the car to a different dealership (as a matter of convenience) and they "repaired" the problems with no hassle and in a timely manner - the warranty covered both. The trunk repair was fine, but the noise was still present. I spoke to one of the mechanics on the phone and he suggested that I continue to drive the car as normal and if the problem persisted after awhile, I should bring it back in. After about a month the noise is gone and the car is still working perfectly. I am currently averaging about 31 mpg, with use of air conditioning.

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