How reliable are Neon's ?

[gtx6970]

I spoke with the owner today but I'm concerned now here's what's up: he bought it from a guy in Tampa who put a correct rebuilt engine (DOHC) new fans and rad. with a "cold air intake" and Mopar performance chip. One front bearing is bad, they have the part, A/C not cold, drivers window (electric) runs up and down but won't stay up. He swears it "Hauls Ass" and "Runs Great".   My fear is someone has raced the crap out of it.   Also I found some claiming tires are 200.00 each! I'm going to look tomorrow.  

I wouldn't bother looking at it unless it was cheap , it's not like good neons are hard to find

[b5blue]

Actually this is the only one I found that ether wasn't junk or over 4 grand.

[bull]

Both Town and Countrys, Talon and the Neon needed transmissions. Another buddy has a 2006 Ram Cummins dually.  He has had to replace the transmission and the front end already in his truck, not to mention several other little things which have gone wrong with it. Then his son has a 1998 Ram 1500, and has had to put two transmissions in his, and have the front end re-built.

There's definitely a pattern here and I've heard it repeated more than once. The trans in my T&C was a POS but that's the only one I've had issues with. I don't know why Chrysler ever got rid of the 727. They've never had a better transmission than that one and it could have easily moved forward with the technology. My dad had a lot of trouble with his Cummins dually transmission too and he often said he wished it just had a 727 behind it. However, I think Chrysler finally got most of those trans issues cleared up. You mentioned the PT Cruiser and yes, I wouldn't touch one of those things. I'd rather walk.

[1969chargerrtse]

Whenever a chrsyler product is mentioned there seems to be a TRANSMISSION problem ahead.

[b5blue]

This one is a 5 speed stick.

[moparstuart]

Whenever a chrsyler product is mentioned there seems to be a TRANSMISSION problem ahead.

its not just chrysler , we sell tons of late model transmissions and no manufacture really make bullet proof transmissions .  Imports are the worst lately selling the hell out of toyota and honda's and they cost twice as much as domestics .  

[RD]

the key point is this.. 97 and below, you are paying for a gamble, 98 and above, much better product.

next key point, automatic, expect issues... 5 speed, you are in the clear.

lastly, the car is a good car, well engineered, easy to work on, and gets great gas mileage.

you are looking at a 98 with a 5 speed, so all the rhetoric about transmissions will NOT apply to you, and all the rhetoric about head gaskets will most likely not apply to you (considering I do not know how hard the past owners treated the vehicle, but the chances of no issues are a lot greater considering it is NOT a 97 and below).

[chargerboy69]

Both Town and Countrys, Talon and the Neon needed transmissions. Another buddy has a 2006 Ram Cummins dually.  He has had to replace the transmission and the front end already in his truck, not to mention several other little things which have gone wrong with it. Then his son has a 1998 Ram 1500, and has had to put two transmissions in his, and have the front end re-built.

There's definitely a pattern here and I've heard it repeated more than once. The trans in my T&C was a POS but that's the only one I've had issues with. I don't know why Chrysler ever got rid of the 727. They've never had a better transmission than that one and it could have easily moved forward with the technology. My dad had a lot of trouble with his Cummins dually transmission too and he often said he wished it just had a 727 behind it. However, I think Chrysler finally got most of those trans issues cleared up. You mentioned the PT Cruiser and yes, I wouldn't touch one of those things. I'd rather walk.

That is  true.  Chryslers transmissions I feel are the weakest link.  I agree with you, the 727 was a great transmission.  I  wish they would have thrown a overdrive in it and offered it.  I have heard nothing but good things about the Cummins in the Ram, but the transmissions are questionable at best.  Sorry to highjack the thread.

[69charger2002]

i had an 03 neon, got it with 99k on it, sold it with 106k on it. it was a good little beater, got 27 mpg, and for a little car wasn't ALL that uncomfortable for me, at 6'2. i had no issues with mine, but then again i only had it 6 months. i bought it for $2500, sold it for $2800, did nothing to it but put a new belt on it.  for a cheap car, if i got in that position again and needed one to get around, i'd probably get one. i would never buy another one for daily transportation.. if i had another choice.

[gtx6970]

I  wish they would have thrown a overdrive in it and offered it. 

No offense meant but an A518 IS nothing more than a 727 with an overdive on the back of it, A500 is just an 904 with an overdrive on the back of it

In my experiance( I'm a trans guy at a dealer btw )
Most ( not saying all ) trans issues might have somethign to do with how it's used, as an example
Guy comes in to the shop a few years back with trans troubles in his Ram 2500 diesel , I ck it out and find the torque convertor has failed. No biggie R+R it and replace it and go thru the trans under warrenty.

2 months later he brings same truck back in, same troubles - torque conv lockup issues and chatters if it locks up at all. I pull it back again ( presumed warrenty and the conv case is dark blue this time, literaly looks like some one took a torch and heated the front of the outside shell
So I started doing a bit of digging around on the truck. and found a wire run to a toggle switch from a battery source. turns out the guy used said truck to pull a backhoe and he had rigged up a switch to apply the torque convertor on hard pulls when the computer was trying to turn it off. He cooked it so bad the convertor would not come out of the case .

[RD]

...He cooked it so bad the convertor would not come out of the case .

I got a A500 with that same issue Bill and I totally agree with you.

[Silver R/T]

Had a buddy who has 01, his clutch went at 40K miles or so....of course he beat crap out of it

[Todd Wilson]

Both Town and Countrys, Talon and the Neon needed transmissions. Another buddy has a 2006 Ram Cummins dually.  He has had to replace the transmission and the front end already in his truck, not to mention several other little things which have gone wrong with it. Then his son has a 1998 Ram 1500, and has had to put two transmissions in his, and have the front end re-built.

There's definitely a pattern here and I've heard it repeated more than once. The trans in my T&C was a POS but that's the only one I've had issues with. I don't know why Chrysler ever got rid of the 727. They've never had a better transmission than that one and it could have easily moved forward with the technology.

I got a blowed up 727 right now in a truck! Damn the 727! Junk JUnk Junk!


Todd

[Todd Wilson]

I  wish they would have thrown a overdrive in it and offered it. 

No offense meant but an A518 IS nothing more than a 727 with an overdive on the back of it, A500 is just an 904 with an overdrive on the back of it

In my experiance( I'm a trans guy at a dealer btw )
Most ( not saying all ) trans issues might have somethign to do with how it's used, as an example
Guy comes in to the shop a few years back with trans troubles in his Ram 2500 diesel , I ck it out and find the torque convertor has failed. No biggie R+R it and replace it and go thru the trans under warrenty.

2 months later he brings same truck back in, same troubles - torque conv lockup issues and chatters if it locks up at all. I pull it back again ( presumed warrenty and the conv case is dark blue this time, literaly looks like some one took a torch and heated the front of the outside shell
So I started doing a bit of digging around on the truck. and found a wire run to a toggle switch from a battery source. turns out the guy used said truck to pull a backhoe and he had rigged up a switch to apply the torque convertor on hard pulls when the computer was trying to turn it off. He cooked it so bad the convertor would not come out of the case .

Exactly! The owners most of the time kill the transmissions by not following the  owners manual. They dont shut the OD off and pull heavy loads with the diesel. Then you get the owenrs who mod like your example.


Todd

[b5blue]

On this point the only problem my trusty New Yorker had other than a tiny leak in the injector rail was a tranny computer fail, luckily for me Trico Transmission knew to fully diagnose the problem. We installed a new Chrysler part rather than a used one and it still runs flawlessly after over 200K miles. Contrary to what many stated this 90 Chrysler model has been one durable unit. It has had some normal wear and tear service like water pump, CV joint, brake work and such but now I'm wishing I had gutted the 40K mile Dynasty I found at the junkyard. I could have dropped the whole front assembly and swapped it out (I believe it was there because of the tranny computer) I ran into others who had their trannys rebuilt by shops that that were mystified with sensors and computers interaction and cost owners 1000s and had them think the cars were junk. You must address competency and quality of components used in repairs along with owners abuse and unit durability and that is really hard to compute. With 2 crap rebuilt dist. by A1 Cardone a new now failed Standard brand ignition switch, incorrect gaskets and valley pan for the six packs intake and center carb along with improperly manufactured fuel lines by Right Stuff you would start to think 440's are crap. But we know differently.       

[METROID]

  I made my girlfriend buy a Neon. She is from a Ford family they had a Ford van, truck, and Torus. Her sister got a Torus to all cars are POS the only one not constantly in the shop and that has not blown a head gasket is the newer truck.


Girlfriend has a 2002 or 2004: Her Neon is some what fuel efficient think she gets mid 20's. The car has had minor issues but over all just routine issues any car has. The lock on the driverside door broke two weeks ago and now she has to crawl across from the passengerside. Car sucks going up hill.

Her Brother has owned 2 Neon's both 2002-2004: He has had no issues at all with them, he even totaled on by flipping it and came out in great shape .

INMO nothing beats a 98-2000 Unmolested unaltered Honda Civic. If you can find one that hasn't been riced out you will have a great first beginner car .

Pros: Good Resale, Safe, Reliable, 30+ miles per gallon, seats 4, cheap parts, cheap and easy repairs, good torque for an econo car, Sun and Moon roof, and can comfortably drive without my head hitting the ceiling (I am six foot two).


Cons: It's Not a Mopar, it's not a Charger, and it is not American Made.

[BronzeOnSteelies]

I remember reading Consumer reports used car guide a couple years ago and they rated the later model years as good used cars to get. That is unusual for an American made car in that mag. I think those years are later than what you are talking about.

Mark

[b5blue]

Thanks everyone I've gotten from this being an unknown, to unsure, to undecided.   

[billssuperbird]

i just got a 2003 dodge neon sxt with 81.837. for 4000. is that a go deal.and how reliable.

[b5blue]

From what I have seen yea good price, keep a close eye on the rad though. Down here they are ether shot or 4K up?

[SRT-440]

I know this is an old thread.. but I must chime in..I have a 2004 Dodge SRT-4 (Neon) and bought it new..it now has 91,000+ miles on it and has never had a problem (knock on wood). Still has stock clutch and stock brakes and pads.
I realize the average neon is a total different animal than my SRT but it's held up very good!
Ran a best of 13.5 in the quarter, gets 26-30mpg on highway and can give 99.9% of the cars on the road a run for their money and stops on a dime.
But, I'm sure there are some guys that ran too much boost and screwed theirs up so I'm certain there are "bad experiences" but mine's been good. U can pick up a '03-05 for around $6,000 nowadays.
Btw, although the engine is completely different (SRT has a forged bottomend and almost bullet proof up to about 500hp) the head gasket is never a problem on these cars. 

[b5blue]

Thanks for a small car I still like them but insurance $$$ killed it for my son (He's young) 

[Lizey]

if its a 2.5 automatic run away and run fast!

[66chargerkid]

2.5's are great cars wirh a little maintenance.
First gen neons are a joke. The later 2.4 version is great. Real problem
with neons is that people drive them like go carts. Who wants to drive a Honda civic like a ba when they are gutless?
Srt-4's have mixed reviews because again they drive them and beat the crap out of them. Neons are good cars when taken care of.

[TX9AAR]

Thanks for the warning on the trans cooler/radiator failures, I have a 01 with an automatic I put an external trans cooler on the car to avoid ruining the trans if/when the radiator fails.