Dodge Neon Deserves a Comeback

[ggzilla]

What Datsun was to 1968, Neon was to 1994: News About Dodge Neon Comeback

 

Stellantis already has a cheap fun car they sell in europe. Americans bought a lot of Neon, would they buy it again?

[datzenmike]

Back a decade ago the wrecking yards were full of Neons. Bodies looked good so what was wrong with them? 

[ggzilla]

My guesses:

1. They were bought as cheap, disposable cars, so owners didn't value them

2. They weren't as reliable as Datsuns ... transmission problems, mostly but also electrical problems and head gaskets

 

All fixable, but seems no one bothered

 

Corolla in USA sold 232,000 units in 2023, and another 232,000 in 2024. So what don't Ford and Stellantis want to compete in the small economy car space? Does GM even sell a small sedan anymore?

[datzenmike]

I wasn't interested an finding out but there were a dozen or more all the time. A few get crushed and 4 more come in. Eventually they were all gone. Haven seen a neon on the road in a long time. They all looked good so mechanical problems I guess.

[Crashtd420]

They definitely have there problems...

I had one right off the show room floor and regretted every day after that....

Had electrical issues which I believe was do to loose connections....

I traded it in before I had more problems, just didn't trust it....

 

However,  I was checking out a local Dyno shop and they had one running on the dyno.... no idea what year but it was making 400hp, and they said they tuned another up to 600...

I believe they were the stock engines just modified,  definitely turbocharged..

[iceman510]

SRT4 had the turbo.  

 

Lots of people raced Neons for amateur racing.  Did pretty well.

 

[Crashtd420]

1 hour ago, iceman510 said:

SRT4 had the turbo.  

 

Lots of people raced Neons for amateur racing.  Did pretty well.

 

Forgot about the srt4 package...

That was not offered on the earlier models...

Seems only a couple years for the srt4, but that engine block is supposed to be stronger.... 

[ggzilla]

The new Stellantis car same dimensions as Neon, according to the article is Lancia Ypsilon HF, up to 280 hp

[Duncan]

IIRC, wasn't the PT Cruiser based on a Neon?

 

  

[ggzilla]

Very interesting

* Allpar said in 2013 that it was based on the PL (Neon) platform

* Wikipedia used to say that, but the paragraph has been removed

* Reportedly, the PT platform is the same as the PL (Neon) platform but with a different rear suspension, only sharing the rear brakes with the Neon. So it's considered a "totally different platform"

 

Conclusion: The PT Cruiser was a masterful parts bin special

12 hours ago, Duncan said:

IIRC, wasn't the PT Cruiser based on a Neon?

 

  

 

[Duncan]

Funny, all these reboots of an older, popular platform.  I "really" need a new daily, and I have a serious interest in a Toyota GR86 with a 6-spd manual lately.  I just haven't had the time but maybe next week, I can find one at Carmax and take a test drive.  Dealers here are desperate. I've been to two lately, and I am dragging them behind me as I head out the door. They are literally are begging me to buy a car..