In recent times, a trend has emerged: folks are appreciating 1990s vehicles that were once common, but in many cases, quickly disposed of once they began falling apart. Often, especially with domestic makes, it felt like these vehicles weren’t exactly built to last, making this 1995 Dodge Neon that Barn Finds reader Pat L. found here on Craigslist quite a surprising find.
This Neon is available in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a clean title. Unfortunately, the seller doesn’t provide a very detailed description of the vehicle, only noting “very clean, low miles, runs excellent, like new interior and tires.” Luckily, the photos tell a story, and they show that this Neon is a very clean survivor example. Spare for a crease on the rear passenger door and quarter panel, the exterior of this compact is in impressive shape.
Inside, you’ll find an extremely clean cabin. While the grey cloth upholstery isn’t fancy by any means, both the front and rear seats are free of tears and stains, as are the carpets. Also, all four windows are manually operated, which is excellent – it means fewer instances of dealing with Chrysler electronics.
Just 47,405 miles are on this Neon’s dashboard.
Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which pairs to a 3-speed automatic transmission to drive the front wheels.
For $2,950, you can call this Neon your own. To some people, this would make a great learner car for a first-time driver, but with the growing number of ‘90s econobox enthusiasts, there are definitely folks cringing at the thought of using this survivor example for daily transportation. How would you use this Neon?
A fellow at work uses these exclusively for daily drivers. Usually with aluminum rims and fog lights. I don’t know where he keeps finding them. Toronto streets are generally not too friendly to old cars.
I bought 3 neons new not all at once! great cars for what they were meant for! good solid transportation ! never had a problem with 2 of them # 3 the engine started to knock when you started up in the morning! took it to the dealer they had it for a week! when I got it back !new motor , transmission, rad, alternator, ac pump and all under warranty! how can you complain about that! I traded it in later on a neon srt4 that I had the hots for!! 15000 kms on the power train saw it on their used car lot 4 new tires new brakes some body got a used new car!
I owned a 1995 Plymouth Neon Sport…5 speed, 4 door…had to specially order it from the factory…it was $13,000 new. Car was fantastic…went 102K before it was totaled by a deer…brakes lasted 75K up front and 82K in the back. Not a fancy car by any means, but solid basic transportation.
I had one. Blew up motor.
Ex girlfriend had one. Drove from PA to AR and blew up three days later.
I wouldn’t give $47.50 for it
Not a car that registers anywhere on my bucket list. Too many other cool vehicles from that era.
Technology was there, as it should’ve had a four speed automatic to start with right away. The Neon eventually got it a few years after it debuted. My future wife had one for six months, on a love it or leave it lease deal. The Neon wasn’t big enough for for two growing boys, so the Neon was left. Upgraded for a ‘96 Chrysler Cirrus that lasted for almost ten years with us. The Cirrus had the four speed auto, and still ran great when it was sold off. Liked the Neon, but it would’ve been better with the four speed auto. As my “stick” days were over already back then.
Tim, I didn’t have a Cirrus, but the Dodge equivalent Stratus, a ’97. I drove it for 18 years and 200,000 miles with no major problems until a woman decided she couldn’t spare 10 seconds to stop at a stop sign and totaled it. As old and beat up as that car was, before it lost its life, it deployed its airbag and saved mine. I’ve had many classic cars over the years, but that old Stratus was the only car I shed a tear for when it was gone.
The 3-speed was an extremely robust Torqueflight. The corporate electronic 4-speed was junk by comparison–it’s been a weak point in every vehicle that received it (including the 2002-2005 Neons).
You are probably right on the four speed, I was just thinking about better highway mpg. Chrysler torqueflights were without a doubt some of the best transmissions around.
The ‘Cloud’ Cars had an excellent chassis that gave them an NHTSA crash rating of 5 Stars (the best). I scrapped a 2000 base Cirrus because it was going to need too much work to pass the next Pa State Inspection. It still looked like a nice car when I took it to the scrapper and it still ran well with a good ride and handling. I regret needing to do that, but I had hit financial hard times and it was the most money I could get for it.
The Neons were great. I prefer the 5 speed. I sold an ACR coupe in Nitro yellow green that I really liked and wouldn’t mind finding one that was not raced.
The thought of even owning it makes me cringe, never mind driving the thing.
I thought the Neon was fine. Reminded me of a go kart. Was great in less than four inches of snow as well!
Are these becoming collectible? Up here in Maine you see em’ on Craigslist all the time for $300. I see them as perfect demolition derby cars, this and mini vans.
Is this a joke a economy box on barn finds . Time to look for something else.
The Maverick of the ’90’s.
From someone who has owned both, YES! You couldn’t pay me to take either of them back!
Really need the 5 speed with one of these.
My late wife and I rented one while our car was in the shop. We liked it very
much. Would’ve bought one if we’d
had the money to buy it. Need my
pickup more than I need this. Awful
nice for what it is. Hope it finds a
good home–and with a ricer!
I’ve owned 5 Neons by choice. They’re incredibly hard to beat or match for cost of buy-in, cost of ownership, ease of repair, interior and trunk space, durability (with proper maintenance), and fun factor. A little cheap, for sure, but plucky all the same. All of mine were great to drive on curvy roads and were very reliable (until I took one of them way too far). The last one was a 2002 ACR which remains the best handling FWD car I’ve ever driven…unfortunately, it was horribly unsuitable for daily driving on crappy PA roads.
I’m an unrepentant econo-box guy. Love to see stuff like this but unfortunately the automatic is a show-stopper for any economy car. If you have full use of your limbs always get a manual transmission in a small car (full use of your senses is another matter).
I’d take a Neon ACR if I could find one or a later RT. My real holy grail is a 1st generation Dodge Colt Turbo with twin stick transmission. Oooh baby!
Inherited my aunt’s 2002 Neon with a little over 100,000…..she always said it had a good A/C and it’s still cold…..use it to run around in….
Run. Run fast and run far. I had one of these. The only car I ever had that I hated. Blew out a gasket–known issue for these. Fortunately under warranty. Then the transmission started slipping. Also fortunately under warranty. Then it had an electrical gremlin–be driving along and all the gauges would start going crazy. It refused to do it at the garage so never got that fixed. Then one day I jump started my boss’s car with it and it never did it again. I guess I “fixed” it myself. Absolute crap in the snow. Couldn’t drive up a steep hill with four passengers without having to turn off the AC and pray you’d make it. Made it to 76K miles before it developed an oil leak that wasn’t worth fixing. Traded it in–the last time I saw it, it was shoved at the back of the dealer’s lot sitting on a flat tire… Nope. You couldn’t PAY me to take it.
These are great little cars, even second hand, provided you do regular maintenance, and don’t beat the snot out of it! I’ve been daily driving my 1998 neon R/T for eight years, and even after 440,000 km (275,000 miles), there’s only three creature comforts that have packed it in (and I’ve chosen NOT to repair): the sunroof, the power locks (still work sometimes), and the A/C compressor.
The head gasket issue plaguing these cars was addressed halfway through 1997, when they received a Multi-Layer Steel (MLS) gasket. The original MLS gasket in my own car went out at 220,000 miles, after 17 years of service – not bad!
If you want one of these cars, definitely look for a 1998 or 1999 model, or just buy the MLS gasket and do it sooner than later on the earlier 1995-1997 models. They’re a lot of fun, they handle like go carts, and cheap to run. Chrysler’s ‘Cab Forward’ design means there’s lots of room inside too.
Had a 95 from 97 till 2005 and it was a fun little car. I always felt it was small I commuted at night and wanted something bigger for safety. After I stopped commuting I got a 95 Taurus Wagon in 05. Loved it it was a tank and cost me $1500 at auction. No major problems. My Neon has the typical paint issues of that era. I was sad when I sold it. Many memories. First car I bought myself. In fact because I commuted I bought a little truck (hated it to tight) and the salesman asked for my Neon reg title and keys. I asked why and he said for the trade in. I said no I floated thr 800 I still owed in the loan so my loan I’m paying means I still own the car. He tried to convince me by showing $100 trade in on the invoice. I said oh ok here is a $100 bill the car is mine. The dealer after a few threats for misrepresentation eventually fixed the invoice. I drove the Neon home and left the truck till the next day. I never trade cars in. I even said when I went in I was keeping the old one.