2000 Plymouth Neon
Summary:
Inexpensive American car, good gas mileage, parts are easy to come by
Faults:
The rear main oil seal apparently was leaking around 145k (2 mechanics confirmed it), and very badly.. then it stopped for a while.. kept checking and it was fine. Put some Lucas Oil leak treatment and it still hasn't leaked..
The gentleman I bought it from said it had an oil pan leak, but that it was fixed.
Knock in the engine... the car idles rather roughly, especially if you're in reverse.
The dashboard rattles sometimes, especially while idling.
The check engine light started coming on around 150k every now and then. Usually while driving for 2-3 hours.
General Comments:
The price was good ($1900) for what I got, I think. Even if it only lasts me a few more months (2 more months and it'll be a year since I bought it).
I like the seats, the front ones move all the way back, great if you have to pull over and rest during a long drive.
I average anywhere between 30-34mpg, too bad it only has a 10 gallon tank. But that makes fill ups less painful, just somewhat frequent. Decent acceleration if you drive sensibly.
Don't know how much longer it'll last, saving up for a down payment on a new car.. but I think it could make 160k or close. By then I should be able to have a decent amount saved.
Would be nice if it were an inch or two higher off the ground.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 31st August, 2008