2003 Dodge Neon SXT- Economy and Style?

INTRO

My brother's 1998 Chevy Malibu had deteriorated into nothing but problem after problem. Not just nagging problems either, potentially big money problems. Fed up with it, he traded it in on a brand new 2003 Dodge Neon SXT. He chose the SXT for its reasonable price, sporty looks, and it's apparent economy to operate. Dodge’s warranty was also a significant selling point. Read below for all the details.

OPTIONS

There are four models for 2003. The base SE, the nicely equipped SXT, the aggressive R/T, and the “fast and furious” SRT-4 (available soon). My brother chose the SXT, and it came with a nice package of options, suitable for most drivers.

Standard in the SXT are Air Conditioning, Power Door locks, Power Windows (front only), CD Player, Tach, Rear Window Defroster, Alloy Wheels (185/60R-15), and a full size spare (thank god!). There are additional options, like leather seats, moon roof, cruise control, side air bags, etc. Other standard features (all models) are ABS, traction control, and front air bags.

My brother’s car came equipped with all of the standard options. We were both mystified as to why his car didn’t have the rear wing, we expected it to be a standard feature, but it wasn’t on his car. It may be something he adds at a later date. As noted above, the power windows are only in the front. While not a deal breaker, it may be an inconvenience in the summer when you want to drop all four windows and get that open-air rush.

PERFORMANCE

The car exhibits strong acceleration off the line. The engine is rev happy, and shoots right up toward the redline with aggressive throttle. The 4spd auto offers strong, positive shift points under heavy throttle, though can be a bit non-committal when at around town speeds (mostly when your just either side of the overdrive threshold of 38mph).

The ride is quite good, and smooth, especially considering this is an economy car. The suspension is actually quite adept at soaking up the curves at speed. The only thing we noticed was at around 65-70 there seems to be slight vibration in the steering wheel. Research indicated this is standard with most Neons. It was advised that a strut tower brace will eliminate the problem, which my brother has on order, will update if it’s successful. In the snow, it has performed without incident, the ABS and traction control function as expected.

One slight disappointment was the fuel economy. It’s officially listed at 25/32. My brothers best economy was 25mpg, and that was driving extremely docile. In normal driving, it dropped noticeably. I suspect the gearing may be a bit aggressive to help acceleration, and the high revving nature of the engine makes it easy to burn through petrol if you’re not judicious with the throttle.

The front is roomy, and the seats are comfortable. I didn’t sit in the back, but it appears it might be a bit cramped for someone my height (5ft 11in), but for kids or smaller adults it should be adequate. The controls are functional and attractive, with nice ergonomics. The white gauges are a nice touch, and the lighting at night is very cool.

The cd player performed without incident, even on the winter pot-holed roads of Ohio. The stereo is quite booming, especially for a stock system. It features two dash speakers, two front door speakers, and two rear mounted speakers. It has excellent bass and minimal distortion at moderately high volumes.

MISC

The Neon is rated as average to insure. On their 7 point scale, this would be equivalent to a 4. This rating is based on all vehicles in its price range. As mentioned, it features front driver/passenger airbags, and optional side air bags. At this time, I couldn’t find an official crash rating by the NTSB. The standard bumper-to-bumper warranty is 36 month/36,000 miles. Dodges new power-train warranty is 84 month/ 70,000 miles. My brother opted for an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty, 84 month/70,000 miles.

SPECS

2.0L SOHC I-4 engine (132hp@5600rpm/130lb-ft torque@4600rpm)
Alloy wheels (185/60R-15)
2626 lbs curb weight
1000 lbs. Towing capacity
ABS/Traction control
4 spd auto w/ overdrive
Oh, it’s RED!

OVERALL

So far, so good. The car offers a nice ride for the daily commute, and actually offers a nice fun factor if you’re willing to get into the throttle, especially on winding roads. There is a plethora of after market upgrades available, which can make the fun factor a bit saucier, both in performance and appearance. As a side note, I’ll be interested to see what the new SRT-4 is capable of, it features a stout 215hp turbo charged I-4 (watch out Mustang owners!)