2004 Dodge Neon SXT

[SagaLore]

Let's rewind back to my other threads:

(Chevrolet Aveo?) Now, 98 VW Beetle or 03 Toyota Echo?

2004 Honda Element

2004 Golf TDI

Okay so here is what I have decided. I don't want to spend $20,000 on a car, but I also want my next car to last more than 3 years before it dies - plus I want to finance for 60 months to keep the payments low. Can't do that with older cars, the banks are only doing 36 months now.

Visited a few mores dealers - test drove a 99 Dodge Neon that was just like my 1998 except less miles and more features - but it was an ugly color with even uglier interior. Looked at an 2002 Dodge Neon, Silver, very nice. Dealer was asking $10k for it - and since it was newer, I could get the financing that I wanted. I was talking to a coworker about my car woes and another coworker overheard and said she could get me an employee discount if I were to buy Dodge. And then I see in the paper another Dealership is selling off their 2004's 1 percent above invoice...

I test drove a 2004 Dodge Neon (SXT edition), was very comfortable and handled almost like my 98 Neon. With the $3000 rebate and employee discount plus trade in of my 98 Neon, I can get the car down to $10,000, originally $15,500. So for $10k I will get a brand new car.

 

[mugs]

So you want it to last more than 3 years, but you're paying for it over 5 years? I'd hope it lasts 5 years. 😛

 

[RagingBITCH]

You're getting raped on your trade in - I don't know of your employee discount but you're getting what, $1000-1500 for your car?

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
You're getting raped on your trade in - I don't know of your employee discount but you're getting what, $1000-1500 for your car?

Yes. But considering that Kelly Blue Book says my car is worth $800 for trade in, about $1500 retail - then I don't think that is rape. 98 Neon, 5 speed, no AC, radio FM doesn't work, nothing is power, 117000 miles.

 

[isekii]

trading in old turd for new turd.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Thanks, my protein shake just went all over my monitor.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Back that up with some facts - what is wrong with Neon?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Back that up with some facts - what is wrong with Neon?

I've had 2. Neither were horrible, but you cannot expect the world out of oa $12,000 car.

 

[JoPh]

should of splurged for the srt-4 🙂

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Back that up with some facts - what is wrong with Neon?

Back it up for what ?
Dodge/Chrysler in general are turds.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Back that up with some facts - what is wrong with Neon?

I've had 2. Neither were horrible, but you cannot expect the world out of oa $12,000 car.

My expectations aren't extremely high, I know that my wife's Civic drives smoother than my Neon with better acceleration and breaking - but - I'm more comfortable in my Neon, it just seems to be built for me. I like the way the clutch feels. Although in the 2004, they have the clutch center tilted to the left which I thought was odd.

 

[RavnShield]

Had two 1st gens and currently own the 2nd gen...2 are over 100K miles and 1 is at 80K miles...one and only problem was with a bad head gasket. People who bitch about the neon either never owned one or don't know how to take care of a car.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: JoPh
should of splurged for the srt-4 🙂

I'm not into the whole racing car look, but if I were to splurge I would get the R/T. 😛

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: mugs
So you want it to last more than 3 years, but you're paying for it over 5 years? I'd hope it lasts 5 years. 😛

I hope it lasts 10 years. 😉

 

[JoPh]

I drove a 95 neon sport till i got hit by a Yukon. Needless to say the car is now in a junkyard.

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/jgeiger/images/mycar/

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Back that up with some facts - what is wrong with Neon?

I've had 2. Neither were horrible, but you cannot expect the world out of oa $12,000 car.

My expectations aren't extremely high, I know that my wife's Civic drives smoother than my Neon with better acceleration and breaking - but - I'm more comfortable in my Neon, it just seems to be built for me. I like the way the clutch feels. Although in the 2004, they have the clutch center tilted to the left which I thought was odd.

what year is your neon? And why the hell would you buy another one new???? They depreciate HORRIBLY (much like focus and similar domestics). Get a used honda civic if you want somethign cheap/reliable, or at something used so you don't lose 100 bucks a week in depreciation...

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: isekii
trading in old turd for new turd.

Back that up with some facts - what is wrong with Neon?

I've had 2. Neither were horrible, but you cannot expect the world out of oa $12,000 car.

My expectations aren't extremely high, I know that my wife's Civic drives smoother than my Neon with better acceleration and breaking - but - I'm more comfortable in my Neon, it just seems to be built for me. I like the way the clutch feels. Although in the 2004, they have the clutch center tilted to the left which I thought was odd.

what year is your neon? And why the hell would you buy another one new???? They depreciate HORRIBLY (much like focus and similar domestics). Get a used honda civic if you want somethign cheap/reliable, or at something used so you don't lose 100 bucks a week in depreciation...

I can buy a 98 VW Jetta for $10k, or a 04 Dodge Neon for $10k. The Jetta was worth $25k 6 years ago. How much will the 98 Jetta be worth 6 more years from now, and how much will the 04 Neon be worth 6 years from now? The Neon has a warranty, the Jetta does not. If I'm buying the Neon 1% under factor invoice (employee discount) minus $3000 rebate, haven't I already beaten the depreciation curve?

Where is RossMAN, he can tell me if this is a good deal. And get Eli and Roger in here, they can battle it out whether or not Dodge makes okay cars. 😉

 

[isekii]

i'd take the neon over the jetta.
Jettas even a bigger turd with lots of electrical maggots

 

[RavnShield]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: JoPh
should of splurged for the srt-4 🙂

I'm not into the whole racing car look, but if I were to splurge I would get the R/T. 😛

The srt is defintely not just the "look"

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: isekii
i'd take the neon over the jetta.
Jettas even a bigger turd with lots of electrical maggots

isekii, why do you have such a fascination for fecal matter and fecal matter dwelling insects? 😀 List 4 sedans that get good gas mileage that you deem worthy cars.

 

[HAgEEmAH]

http://www.carsdirect.com/build/options?zipcode=90024&acode=USB40DDC031B0&restore=false

Price is $11,818. You're better off selling your old car first and than buying this.

 

[faenix]

Honda Civic. Nuff said.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

hey for $10k, your getting an awesome deal for a brand new Neon.

I wouldn't have gone that route personally, but for 10k you can't go wrong. And its a fun car to drive as well.

 

[SagaLore]

I ended up picking the yellow model. 😀

 

[RossMAN]

You're buying a brand new POS car AND getting ripped off on your trade-in.

I would have bought a (slower less fun to drive but probably more reliable) 2004 Hyundai Elantra GLS for $10,988 before ever buying a Neon.