Given the PT Cruiser is awful, what's the sporty version like?

[DaveDorson]

Papa D needs to stop using his Jag as much because he's utterly destroying it by not cleaning it and using it for tip runs.

 

I'm going to give him my 300k mile golf 2.0 8v estate because it's ruined already, what with it being a MK4 golf petrol with rocket miles, however I've also considered buying him something low miles, 4 doors, that's so worthless it won't cost me money.

 

And of course, the Chrysler Neon is perfect. No one wants them, the average buyer was a giffer and they're cheap now as a result.

 

Are they utterly awful?

[Cavcraft]

Very, especially the autos.

[DaveDorson]

Very, especially the autos.

So terrible it might teach him never to buy a ridiculous car he can't really afford to run again?

[alcyonecorporation]

If the autobox has had a fluid change with anything other than the correct Mopar/Chrysler ATF, walk away vigorously.

[D Spares & Tyres]

I know the PT Cruiser is embarrassing and has limited under bonnet access but I had one for a bit and had no issues. It's fashionable to slate them but it drove fine, didn't seem.any better or worse than anything else really but at least it had a bit of character. Mine was a turbo diesel and was quite nippy really.

[Ghosty]

Junkman likes early Neons for some weird reason.

[Asimo]

And me. Frameless windows and a 3 speed auto. Autoshite.

[alcyonecorporation]

Cheap PT Cruisers make good vans. 

Eeerm, you didn't hear me say that. 

[Sheefag]

I've driven a petrol PT Cruiser a few times and thought there was nowt wrong with it. Very practical load carrier, comfortable as well.

[Schaefft]

Junkman likes early Neons for some weird reason.

1st gen Neons are very successful in grassroots racing. And they don't look bad imo. Not much of that was left in the 2nd gens though, especially in those with automatics.

[RayMK]

I may as well come out of the closet as well.  I like Neons. I also like a few other cars from the same stable e.g. Dodge Intrepid, Dodge Stratus and Dodge Avenger. I've not driven a Neon and the Avenger's interior is a bit cheap looking but the Intrepids and Stratus hire cars I had in the 'states were excellent.  Oddly, even in the USA people look down their noses at the Intrepid.  Its reliability record was not great. Neons were also popular as hire cars over there. My brother liked them.  Avoid Neons which have minor running niggles (engine/autobox). Judging by past eBay adverts (I was eying them up about two years ago) these niggles can be absolute sods to cure and lead despairing owners to virtually give them away.

[Zelandeth]

Never driven one, but I fancy a first gen Neon. Just scanned the Autocar review of it last week.

 

Just like the degree to which they're a bit different to anything from this side of the pond.

 

Granted... I'd also love a late 90s Chevrolet Astro. Even though that has a 4.6 litre gargling V6 under the bonnet too...sadly couldn't stomach the five grand shipping it over here would have cost. Was a lovely steer when we were in the US though... really didn't want to hand the keys back.

[garethj]

Back when the internet was a smaller place, I remember reading this

 

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/users/parmega/articles/neon/

 

[Wingz123]

Is it me or is that Neon in the above picture bowing?

 

Doesn’t look straight...

[alcyonecorporation]

It's lens effect. 

[cort16]

I had a neon r/t and thought it was pretty good

[Kiltox]

Does anyone else remember the job lot of unregistered Neons that appeared on eBay a few years ago? Wonder where they ended up. Load of late plate madness ones around??

[DaveDorson]

So the general consensus is I should probably get a decent one for him, and I won't be getting phone calls telling me it's failed to progress and I need to go and collect him from the arse end of nowhere?

 

I'm quite happy to give him the mega miles Mk4, after DrewD and I replaced the rear slider pin that was sticking last night.

 

That so far has now had, new rear discs, callipers, pads, and pins at the rear end.  It's also got recent tyres, and has had rear springs and shocks done shortly before I bought it.  It desperately needs backing plates doing, but the carriers are welded in place with typical VAG corrosion, and I didn't have a heat source on my driveway to tackle it properly.

 

I'm fairly confident it needs either the top mounts, or the wishbones doing now, but frankly I'm sick of it, and it's got a nasty habit of draining the power out of it if stood more than a few days.

 

I've used it about 4 times since I bought it in August, (It's the one I  purchased because I didn't have a tow bar, and had to use my trailer tent that weekend, and it cost less than fitting a bar to my 307). 

 

incidentally talking of MK4 estates, I've also got a TDi one languishing on a mates driveway that I really need to get out the bloody way, that's broken its engine mount, and I need to drill things out the block, add a repair bracket which I have, do the cam belt, and probably while at it replace the flywheel and clutch with the solid one and VR6 clutch I have laying about.

 

Don't know why I do it to myself really. 

[alcyonecorporation]

Lakeland Radio had a gen 1 Neon as their company promo vehicle in the mid Noughties. It was stickered up and everything. 

I know RCR is divisive channel on here but his socio-economic critique of the PT Cruiser and how people bash it unfairly remains one of my favourite episodes. It's also the first I ever watched. 

[Aston Martin]

Mk1 Neon GLX for me please.

[Volksy]

I had a Mk1 Neon LX Auto. Hateful thing.

 

I met one of the team who designed them, It was meant to cost $1000 to produce, and it felt like it did. Everything on it was flimsy and cheap feeling.

 

They're not Shite. Just Shit.