Comments: 1-15, 16-19
EVERYTHING! Never buy a neon! I bought my neon at 20,000 miles. And since I have had more difficulities than I could imagine for a year old car!
In the first week of owning the car the dome light had a spark in it and kept crackling and you could see little bits of electrical sparks from it everytime it turned on.
The car lost all power twice in the first two weeks of owning it.
All four spark plugs failed in the first month of owning it. It backfired in public and I couldn't get it to drive over 10 mph on the highway with on coming traffic going 75 mph. VERY DANGEROUS.
The car stalls, do not rely on it to jump out in traffic! It's completly unpredictable!
The cars transmition doesn't work correctly. This car is an automatic and it will go all the way up to 45 mph in first gear!
My last car is still going and it's over 150,000 miles! This one won't make it past 30,000! DON'T WAIST YOUR MONEY!
I have brought my car in 5 times in the last 3 months. The car dealership claims there is absolutly nothing wrong with this car. Yet it backfires in public?
Don't buy a neon!
Ask it nicely to only backfire in private, then it won't be so embarrassing.
Was your other Neon OK?
You said you bought that car with 20k miles. Do you wonder why the last owner traded it in with such low mileage. Sometimes a good deal is really not a good deal at all. I buy my cars brand new. So only I know how it is maintained. I have seen people destroy brand new cars in less than a year. They think it is only required to put gas in it and drive. Without maintenance any car can be messed up.
Wow, you got it to 45 miles an hour in first gear! That could be your problem, maybe you should have changed gears at max 30 miles per hour. I hope you know that it messes up your transmission (especially the more unreliable automatic) when going over the recommended speeds per gear. The previous comment is correct also, people that have a good car with no problems don't usually trade in their cars. Basically if you buy used your buying another persons garbage especially if its less than 2 or 3 years old. Did you ask if it was a rental car, those are the worst to buy. I wouldn't never recommend buying a used rental car. Like the comedian says "Grandma won't drive over 55 miles an hour, but get her in a rental and she's spinning donuts in the parking lot."
Well I love my '05 Neon! I even wrecked it, and everything is still perfect... good luck with your car!
Hope you still have warranty.
In responce to your comments:
I bought the car from a dodge company. It was a rental that was used on their lot. Of course they claimed nothing was wrong with it.
Also the car is a automatic, I don't have privilege of changing gears manually.
The car did fall under the lemon law, and now the ownership is required to replace it.
I have to agree with the people above. I would rather buy a somewhat lower end car new then a nicer one used. Not because I am to good to buy used, but simply because I am crazy about maintenance. I clay bar/wax my cars every 8 months and wipe my car down every other day (never wash it with sponges!!!) Used rental cars do have good maintenance, but I have rented cars and all my pent up aggression from driving my car really comes out. I actually drove my chevy rental car full speed and tried (numerous times) to lock up the brakes and throw it in reverse... I also hit a few parking stones. Don't ever buy a used rental. If you spend a little extra on a new car and just pay it off, it builds your credit and you know how it was taken care of.
Yes, it matters if proper maintenance was done on the car prior to you buying, in MOST cases.. however I own a 2002 dodge neon. It currently has 45k miles on it. I bought it used with 16k miles. We maintain regular and proper maintenance on the car and have still dealt with many problems. To mention a few of the major ones, at 33k miles the electrical system malfunctioned, and the cars battery was completely dead, needing replacement. Soon after the spark plug coil burnt up and needed replaced. Ever since the car has jerked and stuttered very hard when accelerating and breaking. There is a prominent squealing noise under the hood. The car died on the interstate the other day and sits out of commission at the moment, due to either a transmission, or torque converter problem. I don't drive my car hard at all, and I feel it doesn't matter what kind of maintenance you keep up with, a NEON will not last. I can't wait to get rid of it.
I use to work for Enterprise Rent a Car if you ever plan to buy a used rental car, "Buy it from the Rental Company." They resale only the top 5% of their cars that they take off rental fleet, which means 95% of the car that did not pass inspection go back to dealerships for them to make up the price. Enterprise also sells at Blue book so its the best deal for the best used rental.
Or just buy New!
I would take that last comment with some caution. I had a friend that bought a car from Enterprise, only to have the engine blow up in it. When he took the car to Dodge, it was discovered that the warranty was voided for lack of maintenance from Enterprise. So look out or get all the maintenance records.
It doesn't matter if you buy your car new or used sometimes they are just bad cars. I bought my neon new with 8 miles on it, it is doing the same thing. I have contacted Dodge they said they have not had any reports of any problems with 2004 cars stopping or jerking. I guess that is there way of blowing me off, because I am reading there are a lot of problems.
Well I have a 2004 dodge neon sxt and I bought my car with 15000 thousand miles I have done my routine transmission service and when I took my car to get this years 2006 inspection it failed I have 3 sensors that were bad in the transmission the guy called me back and told me that he have to take the entire transmission out because something is wrong it doesn't make any sense that I have to get an transmission overhaul on car that I have not had for 2 years and I'm still making payments take my advice don't get a neon my friend has the same make and model and her transmission went out and my friend mother in law as well. the dealer told me the same thing that there is nothing wrong : (
I bought my Neon with 7 miles (brand new), yes, 7, not 70, not 700, not 7,000 or 70,000 (if it even makes it to 70,000), and at about 33,000 my check engine light showed up, and was missing 2 sensors.
At about 35,000, the check engine light showed up again, blinking, and needed spark plugs and a tune up.
After reading all of these reviews, I'm worried! I should have listened to everyone and stuck with Honda or Toyota!!!
"At about 35,000, the check engine light showed up again, blinking, and needed spark plugs and a tune up"
Sounds like regular maintenance to me...
I own a 2005 dodge Neon And I bought it with 16,000 miles., And believe it, Its hit 45,000 and no problem,, Runs great., 5-speed trans, even done alittle work under the hood.. to give it a little more push..hehe.. I love to race it cause it's never failed me yet..,, Lots of lookers waiting to buy.. Maybe I'll keep it to show and race and buy me a 2006.. Just to drive it's the best car I ever owned..
I bought a used (17000 miles) 98 Neon from a Dodge dealer. The neon was a corporate chrysler rental. Beyond tires, oil and such, I never had a problem. The car was dependable, comfortable and reliable, it would start even in the sub zero winter mornings with no problems. I traded it at 100,000 (still no problems) miles for a Dodge Ram. Sorry to hear you had a lemon, but any manufacturer makes them.