1997 Plymouth Neon review from North America

Transmission went bad, No reverse.

Overheated even though it has the new approved head gasket.

Terrible on wet roads, almost spun out.

CD player turns on and off on it's own will, stock speakers blown.

That darn trunk leaks.

Speedometer jumps, fuel gauge jumps, randomly tells me it overheats, also.

Turn signals also turn on at will.

Oil leak. bad.

I really don't remember how much they sold this car when it was new, but no doubt it was too much. The previous owner obviously had trouble with it, as they had a new radiator put (with wrongly sized hoses EVERYwhere), new head gasket, new starter, and other things. I thought, well, most of the age-old neon problems are fixed! cool. So I still bought it... the epic continues.

A little after I bought this car, the tranny went out, didn't go into reverse. We put a new one (well, not NEW new) and now it leaks. put sealent on that, worked, until I put some highway miles on it. Argh.

The roads in Ocala, florida are really bad. And when they are wet, this things doesn't know left from right.

On the other hand, I can't help, but to like it. I got the K&N filter on it, and even with the rough tranny state, I still beat a stock Hyundai elantra, a pontiac sunfire, among other newer cars. After I started abusing it, it seemed to run better. The tranny doesn't leak anymore, the oil isn't doing so bad.

The electronics are terrible, hands down. they are crap. I also find it isn't the most fun car to work on, and the mileage isn't so great for it's size. I only get 20-23 city, but I do get about 28-30 highway. But...I'm never on the highway.

I will say, however, If you want to buy one, go ahead. But if it's for your kid (my dad bought me this, as a joke, like when he bought me an '83 chevy van before this) Buy them a camry, corolla, or accord of any year. I'm college bound and frankly, I hope to be rid of it before I leave.