Recently (4/16/03) I purchased my first car via an internet dealer using Autotrader.com; a 1998 Dodge Neon Highline 2 door coupe. I have been looking for a new car for what seems like an eternity now with no luck. While a '98 Dodge Neon was not the 2002 Honda Civic or 2003 Toyota Corolla I was looking for, for the price ($2,000) I paid I could not go wrong.

I have always been a fan of the Dodge/Plymouth Neon. While the quality and craftsmanship of these cars could have been improved immensely during the '90s, the Neon still offered excellent bang for your buck.

Driving Impressions:

Chrysler's 2.0 SOHC 16 valve engine is not my favorite engine in the world, though it does provide a great deal of umph in the lightweight Neon. Despite some initial harsh powertrain noise on take-off, the Neon's engine calms down significantly post 3rd gear. If you have only driven a base Neon coupled with the 3-speed automatic you probably have a strong opinion that these cars are anything but quick. The 5-speed equipped Neon is not a road rocket by any means, however the 5-speed coupled to this engine allows for some of the best acceleration coming from a car with an original list price of less than $14,000 during the '98 model year. The 5-speed offers relatively short throws (compared to many economy cars), good gearing, and provides nearly effortless shifting.

A huge surprise is the '98 Neon's handling manners. The Neon is a blast to drive on twisty roads. Very little body lean/roll is experienced on even the most demanding of roads. Cars in this same price bracket, i.e. the base '98 Ford Escort, '98 Chevy Cavalier, etc. could only dream of offering similar handling attributes. Unfortunately the Neon has less than sporty tires, P185/65R/14s are standard equipment. Even with these cheap-o tires the Dodge Neon sill offers a fair amount of grip, though this grip can be furthered greatly by going with a more sport oriented tire.

The '98 Neon's ride is anything but smooth. Despite top gear engine noise being almost completely nonexistent, during highway traveling the Dodge Neon shows unnecessary wind noise, and roadgrain noise. The '98 Neon's plastics also have a tendency to rattle on less than smooth surfaces (this has been dramatically reduced on post '2000 models). A slight gripe would be that the Dodge Neon Highline does need to be down-shifted on the even slight inclines. While this is to be expected with most economy cars, my Geo Strom boasting a mere 95 horses and a heavier curb weight provides better hill climbing power in top gear. Don't get me wrong, my Neon is a hill climbing champ when down-shifted into 4th gear, though 5th gear is too tall for tackling steep grades.

Braking is a bit disappointing. The standard power front disc/rear drum brakes take quite a bit of right foot power to stop this car. Like most economy cars boasting this sort of braking set-up, the '98 Neon feels as if it received its brakes out of a 1956 Ford Fairlane versus having the modern braking system that should have been provided.

Fuel economy has been excellent so far. The EPA rated the '98 Dodge Neon Highline equipped with the 5-speed manual at 29/39, this made the Neon the most economical car sold in the USA boasting and engine greater in size than 1.8 liters, not to mention the most economical car with a horsepower rating above 130. I have observed about 40 MPG while driving 65 MPH from Spokane Washington (where I traveled to buy the car). Since the Neon is equipped with a 12 gallon fuel tank, I was able to drive about 400 miles before fill-ups during all highway driving.

Interior Accommodation:

My major gripes lie in the interior department. I wonder what Dodge was thinking when they designed this interior. While the performance offered from the Neon is some of the best offered in this class, the interior is a myriad of cheap plastics and exposed screws. The interior does have a moderm air to it, however instead of using soft plastics, the interior of the '98 Dodge Neon Highline is filled to the brim with your typical economy car Fisher Price variety of hard plastics; ala Pinto.

The drivers position is adequate, though much could be improved here as well. With the non adjusting seats it seems as if I can never get the drivers seat in a position where I can reach all the HVAC controls easily without hitting my knees on the non tilting steering wheel. Rear vision is also an issue. While a cab foreword design aids in room, it has limits rear vision with the Neon. It seems like the only thing I can see when I look out my back window is the California sky, not the road or the cars behind me.

Not only are the interior plastics cheap, but the instrument cluster lacks a tachometer! Before I purchased this car I guess I was just expecting it to come with a tachometer; not so (a tach is only optional). Since my Dodge Neon only came with the basic standard features, there is not exactly much to talk about here. 2 cup holders, 1 12 volt power outlet, and an AM/FM radio is about all the noteworthy features this car came with. I plan on upgrading the interior ASAP.

Seating is horrible. The stock front bucket seats offer almost no upper body or lower body support for aggressive driving. I always feel as if I'm going to slip into my passenger's lap every time I take a sharp turn. It is a shame that the Neon did not come equipped with seats to match its good performance. The hard cloth seats also have wore terribly over time. The drivers seat already is showing signs of wear after only 56,000 miles on the odometer.

Room, and storage are excellent. Thanks to the cab foreword design, the Neon offers plenty of head and leg room for both the driver and all passengers. Stowage space is also good. The trunk is not exactly huge, however there is enough room for a weeks worth of groceries.

Exterior Innovation:

During late 1994 the Dodge Neon's design was all the rage, much of the American public (mostly young adults) had never seen such an interesting yet handsome looking economy car. I have to give Chrysler 2 thumbs up on this cute design. Even though today you most likely will not take a second glance when seeing a stock Dodge Neon cruising down the road, during its day ('94-'95) it was equivalent to the 98 VW Beetle or the 2001 PT Cruiser; it was quite the head turner. The 2 door coupe definitely gives the Neon an edge in the looks department, adding a slight sporting edge versus the 4 door. If you are looking for an even more sporty design, going with an R/T might be your best bet, which also offers an upgraded suspension, and a DOHC version of the base engine generating 18 more horsepower.

Price and Reliability:

In 1998 the base Dodge Neon Highline ran for around $13,000, fast forwaord to 2003 you can most likely find these cars for about $3,000-$5,000. Since Autotrader.com had an advertised private dealer in Washington that needed to get rid of this car to make room for new cars in her garage, I got an awesome deal. I ended up paying $2,000 total for my '98 Neon with only 53,000 original miles on the odometer. Reliability, as far as I know, has been good. According to the private dealer, the original owner had never had the infamous head gasket problem I so often hear about, nor did the original owner have any sort of electrical problems. From what the dealer claims, there had not been no major problems with this Neon since the original owner purchased the car brand new in '99. I will definitely update this review with mechanical problems or other problems I have with this car as time goes by.

Final Thoughts:

I do recommend the 1998 Dodge Neon Highline for those looking for a cheap, used, economy car that offers excellent performance and fuel economy. I also recommend this car if you can live with the compromise of uncomfortable seats, and a cheap interior (or plan to upgrade in the after market). If a Neon is a must on your shopping list, I highly suggest checking out the post '99 models, as they are aeons ahead of the '94-'99 models in terms of refinement, and overall build quality.

Looking for a newer model Neon? Here is a link to my 2002 Neon Review


-Happy Car Shopping



Amount Paid (US$): 2,000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1998
Model and Options: Neon Highline Coupe