Chrysler Neon 1996
  • Economy

    Value

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Lots of toys - 6 CD autochanger, twin exhaust, full leather, alloys, lowered suspension, front fogs, spoiler, air con... for not a lot of money. I paid £4500 for a 4 year old car with 17,500 miles! Beats Ford and co hands down and looks much better.

    Costs

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Fuel economy ok for a 2 litre. Good on motorway, but thirsty around town. Servicing is very expensive however. Have never bought parts so can't comment. However, cost of servicing is very high. I have to get it serviced at Mercedes dealership.

  • On the road

    Driving

    4 out of 5 4.0

    A lot of fun to drive. Handles extremely well. Surprisingly fast, takes some beating at the lights. It is, however, a harsh ride, but justified by handling. CS has lowered suspension.

    Performance

    4 out of 5 4.0

    2 litre is very capable, but you have to work it. Loads of power at high revs. Engine is soisy, but that's part of the fun!

  • Living with it

    Reliability

    5 out of 5 5.0

    Fine so far. Have had the car for 15 months and it's never let me down.

    Image

    5 out of 5 5.0

    I love it. I think it looks great. Turns a lot of heads as people often don't know what it is. They also think it is an expensive car!

    Comfort

    3 out of 5 3.0

    Harsh ride, with a fair bit of wind and engine noise. But leather, air con and CD autochanger improve comfort. Seats are very comfortable and adjustable.

  • Security and Service

    Security

    3 out of 5 3.0

    No alarm. Probably quite easy to get into. But immobiliser would make it hard to move.

    Service

    1 out of 5 1.0

    Haven't dealt with the manufacturer.

  • Problems and Ownership

    Problems

    Engine

    Other

    Wind noise due to sportscar-style windows. Loose hinge on drivers door. Popping noise from suspension (apparently quite common, but harmless). Because suspension is so low, it is very easy to hit exhaust on speed bumps, but this only applies to CS model.

    Ownership

    Did you buy the car new?

    Used

    Would you buy the same model again?

    Yes

    Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?

    Yes