Hello all...I'm looking at buying a 1995 Neon, it is a 4 cyl automatic. Does anyone know what kind of gas mileage these cars get? I have my Ram, I'm just looking for something to drive back and forth to work so I'm not spending $100 a week on gas. Are there any problems I should look out for? It has 165,000 miles.....thanks!!!
TripleXJ
08-18-2005, 02:39 PM
in my Neon I am getting about 28 around town and 34 on the highway and it is a 95 SOHC but was rebuilt about 5 weeks ago so I would say maybe 23/27 is what ya might get. As for any problems, they shoulda already been taken care of with 165K but timing belt and headgasket are the 2 major problems with the neon, the belt goes out between 75-100K and the headgasket usually around 120K but it might be something to check on, if the timing belt looks bad go ahead and replace it, the belts maybe $30
RammingDodge
08-18-2005, 02:42 PM
ok, thanks for the response. I don't know if this is what I'm gonna do or not, but my gas mileage is killing me.
TripleXJ
08-18-2005, 02:43 PM
see I also think that stock Neons are getting more milage than that, mine isn't stock but I feel that is pretty good considering my old Charger got 10mpg *lol*
RammingDodge
08-18-2005, 02:47 PM
10mpg? fun!! I get about 14-15 in my Ram. They want 1,350 for the neon. I figure thats not bad. If I decide to go check it out, I'll have to check the timing though. Thanks for the info. I like your quote, speed kills, lol.
TripleXJ
08-18-2005, 02:50 PM
LOL I HATE Hondas with a passion and I seen that on the bumper sticker on a RX-7 so I had to use it.
Neons really are good cars, they are pretty reliable, there is a pretty good size aftermarket for them and they are fun as hell to drive
RammingDodge
08-18-2005, 02:57 PM
what about after 165K? Does it have much life left?
RammingDodge
08-18-2005, 02:58 PM
BTW, I saw a sticker on a Ram once that said "my lug nut requires more torque than your import produces" lol
TripleXJ
08-18-2005, 03:41 PM
one of my old Neons had over 200K and it still ran good, but I think it just depends on how well the car was taken care off just like any other. before the rebu8ild mine had 155K and still ran good, just rebuilt it due to I race it
rice_eater
08-18-2005, 04:20 PM
I dont know about the automatic neons but with a stick you can expect 30mpg in town and 40mpg highway for the SOHC if you keep your foot out of it. As for the mileage on the car, being that its the SOHC and an automatic it probably hasnt been beat very much if at all in its lifetime. If the trans is still in good shape you can probably count on making it to 200,000 miles. It all depends on how the car's been driven and if its been taken care of.
RammingDodge
08-18-2005, 04:24 PM
yeah, see I don't know how well its been taken care of. It's just at a used car lot, so they probably won't know either. The ad does say the trans. shifts smoothly though.
TripleXJ
08-18-2005, 06:07 PM
being that its the SOHC and an automatic it probably hasnt been beat very much if at all in its lifetime.
HA HA HA wanna bet mine is a SOHC Automatic and I beat the hell outta it every month running in the SCCA
TripleXJ
08-18-2005, 06:08 PM
for the SOHC if you keep your foot out of it.
Ahhh maybe thats why I am gettin lower gas milage *LOL*
jklein
08-19-2005, 09:06 AM
Go to Edmunds.com and use their vehicle appraiser (under Used Cars/Research). I punched your 95 Neon in there with the most expensive model (Sport Sedan), every available option, and Outstanding condition under Birmingham's zip code and came up with $678, $1,431, and $2,777 for Trade In, Private Seller, and Dealer prices. $1350 falls in with Private Party prices, but that's also assuming it's the most expensive model and has every available option (doubtful).
I got a 99 Highline Sedan from a local dealer this year in good shape with 39K for $4000, which Edmunds said was just under the Private Party price, and Edmunds has been right on with every new and used purchase I've made over the past few years. They're a good start for what's average so it really helps you spot the good deals.
I used to have a Ram like you ('01 5.9L V8 Club Cab with 8' bed) but gas mileage was killing me when it went over $2/gal, plus I got stuck a few times in the snow with only one wheel actually IN the snow (embarassing....). I got rid of it, got my wife a new Santa Fe and drove her minivan for awhile (which doubled my mpg's haha) but still wanted a truck.
Shortly afterwards we sold the van to her sister and I got a used '04 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab V6 with a longbed; I get consistently 18mpg and still have a truck. Not the greatest mpg, but it's a better tradeoff than the Ram and the Dakota wasn't much better. Chevy/GMC also have decent mileage V5 mid size trucks (Colorado/Canyon) so there's definitely choices out there to get a midsize truck with okay mpg's and you won't have to have two cars.
If you do go with the Neon, I would look for a better deal. 165K is a lot for an economy car and while it would probably have a bit more life in it if you've owned it from the start or from relatively low mileage (i.e. under 50K), I have serious reservations buying anything with over 50K from someone else unless it's a known long life car. I do like the '99 I got my son and it's fun to drive. As far as economy cars go, I think it looks and drives better than a lot of the other offerings.
Hope that helps,
Jeff K.
jklein
08-19-2005, 09:28 AM
I should add that the 18mpg my Nissan gets is purely city driving and it's a 4x4. From my (extensive) mpg research the Chevy/GMC V5's were 1 mpg better and the Dakota was laughably not even close and the Nissan had the only available 6' bed with a crew cab (05's did away with that though). I do love the Dakota and Ram styling, ride, and features, but if mpg's are your concern you're gonna have to look elsewhere for better truck mpg, or get the Neon.
Jeff K.
RammingDodge
08-19-2005, 10:24 AM
yeah, thanks for the info. I think I've decided not to get it, like you said, it has a lot of miles. I'm gonna tuff it out with my Ram for a little while longer and see what happens. My income is about to increase, so that will help out. I appreciate everyone's time!!!
TripleXJ
08-19-2005, 03:51 PM
Well Damn
RammingDodge
08-19-2005, 04:06 PM
Well Damn
lol, sorry Bro!!! I really do appreciate all of your help :D .......
go ahead........smack me!!
TripleXJ
08-19-2005, 04:10 PM
nah won't smack ya just will :buttkick: lol
TripleXJ
08-19-2005, 04:16 PM
Actually bud I can understand cuase without knowing the history of the car I wouldn't look past 165K to
RammingDodge
08-19-2005, 04:30 PM
nah won't smack ya just will :buttkick: lol
lol, well thanks man. I think I would have preferred a SMACK!!!, lol. Yeah that was my main thing. I would have hated to buy this car and then a month later it crap out on me. I work for an attorney, and I know, in Alabama, there's no lemon law on used cars. :D I loved your ricer poem, that was hilarious!!
2ME
09-13-2005, 08:38 AM
I get around 30 most of the time 33 if on a highway trip. Numerous problems such as most head gaskets fail before 100k so this one probably already did and maybe it got the good replacement one. Right now mine doesn't run due to some kind of fuel issue. But in 5 years I have put about $1200 into it and saved a ton on gas.
