29th Nov 2009, 17:00
I bought my 1995 Neon Sport DOHC 5 speed in 2004 with 113000 miles on it for 3000 dollars. Seems high don't you think?
The mechanic who sold it, replaced the head gasket, timing belt, all the hoses, plugs and tune, new filters, struts, etc. My only problems were the gas filler tube rotted away ($220). A rear brake caliper replacement. New brakes and tires. It is still getting 34 to 36 mpg every tank full at 155000 miles.
I heard a lot of bad things about this car after I bought it and so far I got my moneys worth. It still seems solid and has great acceleration. I sure paid up front for the upgrades on this car. But from the comments, this car needs them. Not really willing to put any more major money into this car. I'm satisfied so far, but would not take a chance on another one. Mike.
30th Nov 2009, 18:30
My '95 Neon left me stranded yesterday on a busy highway, pouring rainstorm, dead of night. I can thank it for one thing though: It has finally convinced me the domestic vehicles SUCK. I'm going for a Honda.
1st Dec 2009, 12:16
Yes, it is truly outrageous that your nearly 15 year old car with probably 200,000 miles on it is no longer perfect. Just curious --- when was the last time you changed or even checked the oil, engine coolant, or transmission fluid?
Wow, talk about unrealistic expectations.
1st Dec 2009, 14:46
Comment 12:16 is RIGHT ON!! I, too, was FURIOUS when the CV joints started making noise at a mere 239,000 miles in my Dodge. However I didn't regard it as a "piece of junk" and run to imports. In fact, our previous car had been one of those "perfect" Hondas. The CV joints went out on it at just 40,000 miles, and the engine seized at 99,000 miles. I'll stick with reliable domestics myself!!
1st Dec 2009, 18:45
It currently has 83,000 miles on it. I changed the oil 3 weeks ago. (Still have the receipt.) The coolant was last replaced when I had the headgasket replaced (about 5,000 miles ago.) And I change the transmission fluid yearly.
2nd Dec 2009, 17:34
When all my Honda's have made 250,000+ miles, I think I'll stick with them. I've yet to have a domestic that even makes 100,000.
3rd Dec 2009, 18:10
Strange. I've yet to own an American car that did not pass 200,000 miles. I would love to see how this person treated their '95 Neon. I simply do not believe three head gaskets in 84,000 miles under regular (i.e. non-abusive) driving conditions. This review bears all the hallmarks of a car that was treated like the tire swing in the gorilla cage.
I'm honestly tempted to buy some of these much maligned cars for myself just to see if they are as bad as the owners say. I bet I could drive a '95 Neon for 100,000 miles with no major repairs, and yes, I would even include no warped rotors in that bet. On the other hand, I make cars last for so long, that I'm not sure I would want to be driving a Dodge Neon for the next 10 years just to prove my point that taking care of a car makes it last. There are so many other cars and life is too short.
20th Sep 2005, 21:34
It sounds to me that all of your neons problems stem from driving your neon into a lake or some other large body of water...rust, seized moving parts, funny smells... it is a car, not a boat. I have 169,000 on mine, and on the original cardboard gasket to boot. Granted, it is not perfect, but I am NOT losing coolant and I have good compression. I think people just beat the daylights out of things without understanding what they are doing. Like driving into a river with their cars.