Ok i've got about 2k budget and im looking for a nice sporty daily driver that i can mod if when i see necessary ( probly shortly after purchase)
Which Neon should i look for, i've reviewd the Recycler.com and i can find a 95/97 4 door for around my budget.
My question is what makes the base model different from say the ES/Highlin/sport ?
what should i look for when buying a neon?

How well do they handle stock and what kind of speed should i expect from a neon?

Are they expensive to moderately modify? intake/exsaust/bolt ons.

As fat as reliability, should i expect to make alot of repairs and oftin? or does it have a Hondas relyablity?

How good are they on gas?

thanks for any help

Get whatever you can find...

If you can drive a manual/stick or willing to learn, get a manaul. DO NOT GET AN AUTOMATIC. These cars are fun to drive and the automatic kills that.

'95's are going to be the cheapest and Base models can be found in near mint condition for under $2,000 depending where you are in the country.

Sports and Highlines will me slightly higher depending on condition and mileage.

ACR's are rare in '95 model year, you'll have better luck getting a '97 or newer ACR sedan or coupe.

ACR is the best performance model, its the lightest. '97-'99 cars have Koni struts installed, front and rear sway bars and 4 wheel disc brakes non-ABS.

For $2,000 I would suggest get as much Neon as you can get for that price. I just got a '95 Highline sedan with every option but Automatic and the Sunroof for $1,700. It had some minor issues I fixed this past weekend (Cruise didn't work, fixed, new plugs, new wires, can of Cumbustion Chamber Cleaner, new filter, runs great!).

Good luck on your search...

I'm in the LA area, the recycler has a few cars but im leaning twards a 97+ neon manual if possible twin cam but single isnt so bad either i guess.

would the sport be worth 2500 or so?

what does the sport come with?

I'm in the LA area, the recycler has a few cars but im leaning twards a 97+ neon manual if possible twin cam but single isnt so bad either i guess.

would the sport be worth 2500 or so?

what does the sport come with?

Like I said, get whatever you can. $2500 for a Sport is a good price, depending on condition and mileage. Since your in the LA area, I live in the San Fernando Valley. I have owned 5 Neons total since 1997, so I know the car more than very well. I can take a look at the Neon you have in mind when you go to look at it if you want.

The Sport in '95 was a seperate car from the Highline and Base only in 1995 and 1996. After '96 it became an option package for the Highline model, which became the standard car.

For information on the Sport and other Neon models, use this - http://www.neons.org/faq/faq/

Neon Sport and Expresso Sedan/Coupe

The Neon Sport debuted as the top-of-the line model. Most of the features that were optional on other cars were standard for the Sport, such as antilock brakes and 14-inch wheels. Very early Sports had steel wheels; alloys became standard when the Sport Coupe appeared in late 1994. Other identifying factors are the special fascia with fog lights; when the DOHC appeared, all Sports received the "power bulge" hood, even for SOHCs.

The Sport line has undergone more changes than any other. Like all Neons, it was originally available only as the SOHC-powered Sedan. This car had the same SDC (Touring) suspension as the Highline. The Sport Coupe, which appeared at the end of 1994, was a somewhat different animal. While keeping all of the standard Sport features, it added standard DOHC (which could be deleted for credit) and performance ratio gearing for manual transmission cars. It also featured the SDE (Sport) suspension, with stiffer struts (not quite the ACR competition-stiff units), front and rear swaybars, and the slightly quicker steering ratio found on the ACR.

In the 1996 m/y, Chrysler introduced the Expresso for both Dodge and Plymouth, which was an option package based on the Highline car. It had most of the comfort and appearance items of the Sport, though alloy wheels were no longer standard (all '96 Expressos had white bubble wheelcovers or white alloys, regardless of body color), and Coupes used the SDC suspension. Antilock brakes were optional rather than standard. The seats were the Sport level, with a special Tango upholstery, also known as "confetti".

For 1997 and up Neons, the Sport was made into a similar option package, rather than an individual model. Dodge cars are called Sport, Plymouth uses the Expresso name. Both are similar to the '96 Expresso, though the newer style alloy wheels are optional and are silver on non-white cars. This package relates to the Highline car the way the R/T relates to the ACR.

Oh Neons are very good on gas. They average 30-32mpg with mixed street/freeway use. As high as 35mpg with mostly freeway/highway long distance driving and as low as 27-28mpg in city only driving.

Your mileage may vary depending on the overall condition of the car, but even bad running Neons get close to those numbers.