Faults:
A/C topped up in summer 2003 at a cost of £100 at a Chrysler dealer. It has since packed-up again.
This is linked to the cooling problem I have experienced (75,000 miles). Gurgling sound after shut-off has been heard since 2001 but caused no real alarm. A couple of weeks ago - Spring 2005 - the cooling fans started switching on and off repeated every 5 seconds. The A/C failed to work and fuel consumption dropped. I checked the radiator thermostat initially, but finally found the fault lay with the temperature sender switch (located on the A/C compressor) or nearby components. I have since disconnected the switch and the car runs better than it has for a few years! Yes, the A/C is now disabled, but since it was faulty anyway; would be expensive to fix and the nearest Chrysler garage is some 25 miles away, I'll live without it.
General Comments:
I service the car myself every 7,500 miles (replacing the oil - 5w/40 synthetic (Halfords), oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, as well as a thorough check on everything else) which is more convenient and far cheaper than taking it to a garage and as such, I find the maintenance fairly reasonable pricewise.
Unlike many other Neon owners, I have yet to suffer any expensive head gasket problems. In fact, I'm still on the original brake discs, pads and exhaust and have not found the need to change the brake, automatic or power steering fluids yet. I check all of these things regularly, keep the car clean and don't abuse it on the road and I guess it's paid off.
I had to replace the rear seatbelts to accommodate a babyseat and that cost me a hefty £160 from my local(!!) Chrysler dealer, so you can see why I tend to do the work myself if possible.
The car is quite robust and I have found the build quality to be OK for the money. It has a few rattles that can be heard from the cabin. It's no luxury car, but it's comfortable enough and pleasant to drive. The engine is nippy though a bit rough, fuel consumption is quite high and combined with the small tank, makes for frequent fill-ups.
I was considering selling it when the cooling problems started, but now I appear to have solved that problem, I'm likely to hang on to it until it falls apart: After all, the cost of replacing the exhaust, head gasket and cam belt (which I will do at 100,000 miles - not 60,000 as Chrysler state) will far exceed the value of the car!
I would like to own another one day, but the lack of dealers / garages and the stories I hear about delays in parts arriving and the costs involved have convinced me to buy European next time.
Still, in summary, I have to say that I have been pleased with my Neon and it has given me no more problems than I'd experienced previously with other cars.
I've got my fingers crossed I'll get a couple more years out of it before replace it.
27th May 2011, 23:23
My daughter purchased a 97 Neon. It was a good looking car, actually got a great safety report from our RACQ magazine as the best second hand car for safety.
Since she has had it, it has cost a fortune to run. Brakes, front bearing, speedo, auto, new radiator, now something wrong with rear shockers as it crunches onto the tyres.
When she got it, it only had 98000klms on it. Being a 3 speed auto, it is not cheap to run, and you can never get a part easy, plus the paint is peeling off. Parts are too expensive, and it uses top grade oil, and it eats it; no leaks. She went to trade it in this week, and without the dealer knowing, a whole $1000 trade in. What a joke.