Why the First Dodge Neon Was Chrysler's Peak - RoadandTrack.com (blog)
?Dodge Neon: For the hobbled-of-mind 41-year-old who raises a stink at the mall-bank because he still doesn't understand overdraft charges. The Neon was one of the fastest economy cars in the 90's. The Neon was cheaper than most incarnations of the Civic, Escort, and Sentra. The Chrysler DOHC 16v 2. 0L I4 made 150 horsepower even before tuners got to it. . Dodge Neon: For Neck-Tattoo-Mom who uses profanity in front of her kids at the scratch-and-dent grocery. The Neon's only logical competitor by price-point was the ubiquitous GM J-Body (Chevy Cavalier, Pontiac Sunfire, Cadillac Cimarron). The third generation Chevy Cavalier sold for about $12,500 ($19,573 in 2015). Both cars, with their highest trim engines, would make 150hp, but the Neon weighed 2,500 pounds maxed out, while the Cavalier weighed 2,800 pounds wet. The Neon was nine inches shorter than the Cavalier, while both cars had an almost equal 104 inch wheelbase. Pound-for-inch-for-dollar, the Neon was more chuckable and fun for only $500 more than the Cavalier. Dodge Neon: A first car for a high-fructose corn syrup boy-boobed seventeen-year-old named Skyler. Why don't we remember how fun the ACR and R/T versions of the Neon were. We don't remember the Neon fondly because the engineers didn't fully understand how rough novice tuners would be on engines. The Neon's optional 2. 0 twin-cam engine used a timing belt rather than a sturdier timing chain. Source: www.roadandtrack.com
