At $3,999, Could This 1998 Dodge Neon Brighten Your Day?

Once Chrysler's valiant effort to profitably compete successful nan mini car conception pinch a domestically built contender, nan Dodge (and Xerox transcript Plymouth) Neon proved conscionable arsenic cheerful arsenic it was cheap. Let's spot if this Highline version still lives up to that standard.

Rock and rotation and cars spell together for illustration Positraction and peeling out. Over nan decades, plentifulness of toe-tappers person been sung astir circumstantial models—"GTO" by Ronny & nan Daytonas, "Hey Little Cobra" from nan Rip Chords, and Jan & Dean's opus, "Schlock Rod, Parts 1 and 2", among them. Few, though, person feted a carmaker's full lineup, arsenic does nan 1948 opus "Mercury Blues. written by blues musicians K.C. Roberts and Robert Geddins. Originally titled "Mercury Boogie", nan opus has been covered by nan likes of Alan Jackson, Canned Heat, and nan Steve Miller Band. My favourite type is nan barn burner by my hometown boy, David Lindley. If you haven't heard it, you really should cheque it out.

I person to opportunity that nan 2004 Mercury Marauder we looked astatine yesterday, while bully and only somewhat hit up, grounded to elicit an impulse to singing its praises from immoderate of you successful nan comments. Not astatine its $19,000 asking price, astatine least. Surprisingly, that generated a batch of resistance, which manifested successful a wildly lopsided 92% "No Dice" loss. I conjecture we can't each beryllium crazy 'bout a Mercury.

It's improbable that anyone is going to constitute a stone ditty astir Chrysler's import combatant mini car of nan 1990s and early 2000s, nan Neon, but should immoderate of you consciousness inclined, I'm not going to extremity you.

First introduced for nan 1995 exemplary year, nan Neon, for illustration nan Saturn Brand astatine General Motors, was an effort to profitably build a small, affordable car successful nan U.S. successful bid to compete pinch Japanese imports that had dominated that class for 20 years aliases more. Led by past Chrysler Corporation caput Bob Lutz—who besides championed nan Dodge Viper and Plymouth Prowler (high-five, Bob)—the Neon proved to beryllium an instant hit. Part of nan attraction came from nan car's cheery looks, centered connected a happy-looking look pinch round, eyeball-like headlamps. That wasn't nan car's only statement piece, though. Chrysler offered nan Neon pinch a prime of SOHC aliases DOHC 2.0-liter inline fours that gave nan car a sprightly personality, and made nan exemplary highly competitory successful SCCA autocross and showroom racing series.

This 1998 Dodge Neon Highline only disappoints successful being a later version of nan first-generation model, which didn't connection nan zany agleam colour options it did successful nan first fewer years. Painted successful a much somber black, pinch alloy-aping metallic integrative instrumentality covers, it still elicits a grin by its cheeky looks. Being a higher-spec Highline exemplary intends it's besides fitted pinch fog lamps astatine nan beforehand and a spoiler astatine nan rear.

Under nan hood sits nan Neon's limb of choice, nan DOHC 16-valve version of nan 2.0 four. That made 150 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of twist, some respectable numbers for a naturally-aspirated motor of this era. Sadly, immoderate of nan nosy is sapped by nan engine's partner successful crime: a three-speed automatic driving nan beforehand wheels. Yes, arsenic a cost-saving measure, Chrysler only gave nan Neon 3 cogs successful its automatic transmission. Four would person been extravagant, and 5 would person been unheard of.

According to nan ad, that combo has taken nan Neon connected a humble travel of conscionable 59,073 miles since driving disconnected nan lot.

As noted, these cars were built to a price, and obscurity is that much evident than successful nan cabin. That's comprised of a oversea of difficult integrative and bladed carpet. Both windows and locks are wholly manual arsenic are nan spot adjustments and ambiance control. Speaking of nan latter, Chrysler's designers made an absorbing prime for nan A/C control. It's built into nan instrumentality knob, which turns 1 measurement to summation nan fan's rotation and nan different to do truthful pinch cooling on. Clever! 

Sadly, nan advertisement gives america nary inheritance connected nan car aliases its attraction history. That intends a diligent purchaser will request to do immoderate homework earlier making an connection connected nan car's purchase.

On nan positive side, nan deficiency of powerfulness gadgets intends there's little to spell incorrect (important connected a car this old, of course). There's besides immoderate very cheerful spot upholstery that spruces nan spot up and makes you wonderment why carmakers can't beryllium this whimsical anymore. Other notches connected nan Neon's bedpost see afloat instrumentation, including a tach, an AM/FM/cassette stereo, and airbags for some nan driver and nan front-seat passenger. It's each very tidy and cleanable inside, while nan exterior is only marred by a ding connected nan hood. A cleanable title intends nary monkey business erstwhile transferring nan title aliases talking to Flo nan peep astir security coverage.

When new, Neons were considered to beryllium beautiful decent values, offering plentifulness of interior abstraction and astir of nan basics for price-conscious car buyers. With engines that outpaced nan competition, they besides made for a awesome action for anyone looking to walk their weekends astatine nan track.

This Neon mightiness not beryllium nan champion equipped—that three-speed is simply a ding—but it's different well-kitted and seemingly, successful awesome shape. Yes, nan trader trading it couldn't beryllium bothered to show america thing overmuch astir nan car successful nan ad, but nan pictures springiness a bully overview of its condition. 

Also, nan $3,999 asking value is conscionable astir arsenic old-school arsenic nan car itself. What's your sentiment connected this Neon and that asking? Does that look adjacent fixed nan car's presentation? Or would paying that overmuch for immoderate aged Neon not beryllium a very agleam idea?

You decide!

Florence, South Carolina, Craigslist, aliases spell here if nan advertisement disappears.

H/T to Steve65 for nan hookup!

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