2004 Dodge Neon

The Neon gets good mileage (about 30-35mpg), looks good, and has a lot of leg room especially for it's size. From the outside it looks larger than it is, the chrome grille gives it a nice, almost luxurious touch. The handling is top notch and the performance of the base naturally aspirated four cylinder motor is adequate if not stellar. It's comfortable enough for short distance jaunts, but uninspiring for longer drives. It feels more designed almost as if you are an after thought, rather than an integral part. The ergonomics are just not quite there. This isn't noticeable unless you have spent countless hours devouring hours of expressway. It's something I would wholeheartedly recommend for people who dwell in cities, or who have short commutes to make.

If you have a long commute to make on a regular basis I'd look at different models. There are other options in the same price range more suited to that type of driving, such as the Chrysler PT Cruiser. The PT is much better for long drives, it gives the impression that it was built around the driver. It has a spacious interior, feels at home on the highway, and has an attractive instrument cluster. Conversely the PT feels awkward to drive around the city. Almost as if it wanted to keep moving, not sit at stoplight after stoplight, where the Neon's pulls away from a stop effortlessly and happily bounces from one to the next.

I haven't had any issues with mine. I bought one for my wife about a year ago. She drives it most of the time, and I do whatever work is needed. I've changed the oil a couple of times, but that's it. The laminate on the stock aluminum wheels is starting to peel. The paint on the body hasn't had any of the clearcoat problems of the earlier models, it seem's to be much thicker. It's five years old now, in that same time the first models were starting to show how little clear the factory used. I'm having the same issue with my 1994 Ford Bronco, so I can't put it entirely on Dodge, apparently the industry standard at the time was somewhat lax. But it appears to have been addressed and resolved.

I like that the back seats fold down, though there isn't enough leg room in the back for the bottom of the back seat to fold forward so that they can lay flush with the floor of the trunk, just another issue that is noticeable if you are taking a long trip with a car seat a couple of dogs and the wife's luggage. Generally I prefer to take our Bronco even though it gets approximately a third of the mileage just for the space and comfort, not to mention the entertainment options.

Most late model car's and trucks have the stereo system's so well integrated into the dash board that upgrading to an aftermarket one is exceedingly difficult, like putting a square peg in a round hole, or I should say a rectangle peg in an oblong hole. Even so, it is an exceptionally well built car that is perfect for a budget conscious college student or someone who doesn't have a family to cart a thousand miles.