Plymouth Neon
It was January 1994 when Neon first appeared in Plymouth and Dodge showrooms. This was Chrysler's first homegrown small car in years and was greeted with raves by both the public and the automotive press. Recently the second-generation Plymouth Neon rolled into the same showrooms with much less fanfare.
A giant step forward, the 2000 Plymouth Neon boasts enhancements in nearly every area. From its sleeker exterior styling to its four-wheel independent suspension, Plymouth Neon has come of age in a segment demanding more refinement and room.
Where "Hi" was the catch word for the original, the redesigned Plymouth Neon might use "Greetings" or "Salutations." It is a grown-up version of the little car that won hearts to the tune of 1.5 million sales in five years. While still a value, it is not being marketed as a low-priced, basic vehicle. It will still anchor the product lineups in both Dodge and Plymouth showrooms, but an impressive list of standard features and improved driveability make it much more than a price point vehicle for these two franchises.
Stretch the tape in nearly any direction inside or out and the new Plymouth Neon requires more of it than did its predecessor. Although in most cases the increase is an inch or less, in the small-car segment an inch can be a lot. An exception to the inch or less rule is the overall length (stretched by 2.6 inches).
A more rakish windshield positioned three inches farther forward adds illusion to the substance of Plymouth Neon's longer length.
Virtually all of the exterior sheet metal is new. A major improvement adding to the integrity of the structure, while reducing wind and road noise inside the cabin, are the full-frame windows. There are also water runoffs along the roof line above the doors.
All 2000 Plymouth Neons will have four doors. The two-door coupe is gone. Two trim levels are offered for both Dodge and Plymouth Neons. In addition to the entry-level Plymouth Neon is the better-contented Plymouth Neon ES at Dodge and the Plymouth Neon LX at Plymouth. My first outing with Plymouth Neon was a forest green Plymouth LX.
Plymouth Neon still relies on a 2-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine for power. This is a more sophisticated version, though, that has been tweaked to reduce vibration and noise. It produces 132 horsepower and 130 foot-pounds of torque. The 150-horsepower version of this four-banger is not being offered in the new Plymouth Neon.
Acceleration is brisk for a small car and without as much commotion as with the last Plymouth Neon. Reaching 60 miles per hour from a standing stop requires about eight seconds. One area untouched by Plymouth Neon's more sophisticated approach is its automatic transmission. A five-speed manual is standard and the better choice. Plunking down an additional $600 replaces the manual with a three-speed, rather than a four-speed, automatic. Even with the three-speed, Plymouth Neon manages an Environmental Protection Agency miles-per-gallon rating of 25 city and 31 highway. The manual transmission improves fuel consumption to 27 city and 36 highway.
With a bit more ground clearance engineered in, Plymouth Neon rides on a redesigned four-wheel independent suspension. There is more give in this architecture (15 percent in front and 30 percent in the rear), greatly reducing Plymouth Neon's tendency to bottom out over rougher roads. This is a stiffer, more rigid Plymouth Neon than last year's edition. Both steering and handling are improved. Fifteen-inch wheels and tires are standard.
Inside, Plymouth Neon's larger exterior translates into more shoulder, hip and headroom. A much larger trunk adds to this sedan's versatility. Seats are comfortable and covered with a more "grown-up" fabric. Screwed together with care, the interior pieces fit snugly, creating a refreshing bit of interior styling. There are four cup holders and an impressive six-speaker AM/FM stereo/cassette. Carpeted floor mats are also standard.
Base price of the Plymouth Neon LX is $12,390. Standard features not already mentioned include dual air bags, power rack-and-pinion steering, rear-window defroster, center console, auxiliary power point and door-mounted map pockets. My test LX also had the automatic transmission ($600), cruise control ($225), upgraded audio system with CD player ($125), upgraded aluminum wheels ($355), light group ($130), anti-lock brake group ($740) with four-wheel disc brakes/traction control, and a Preferred Option Package ($2,635) with air conditioning, power windows/locks, power heated outboard mirrors, remote keyless entry, anti-theft security system, larger wheel covers, leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel, tachometer, fog lamps and passenger assist handles.
Total package discounts amounted to $1,020, while the destination charge added $500 to the bottom line. The price as tested totaled $16,680.
The Washington Times May 7, 1999 Heaps, Russ
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