Considering buying a 97 Neon

[Praying4courage]

Hi,

I'm looking for advice. I'm considering buying a 97 Neon (automatic, 4 door, no known mechanical defects) that has approx 124,000 miles on it. The price is $1300. I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about this car and/or whether this is a reliable car to purchase. One mechanic told me that there is a 100% failure rate on the head gaskets of neons and that this usually happens between 80-100k miles. Any input would be appreciated. Feel free to e-mail me or IM me at [email protected].

Thanks,
Shana

[growe58]

Originally Posted by Praying4courage

Hi,

I'm looking for advice. I'm considering buying a 97 Neon (automatic, 4 door, no known mechanical defects) that has approx 124,000 miles on it. The price is $1300. I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about this car and/or whether this is a reliable car to purchase. One mechanic told me that there is a 100% failure rate on the head gaskets of neons and that this usually happens between 80-100k miles. Any input would be appreciated. Feel free to e-mail me or IM me at [email protected].

Thanks,
Shana

Reliability is about average for an American car of this vintage, nothing spectacular, but certainly not as bad as a Taurus. Big trouble spots are the head gasket (although if it is fixed properly with the upgraded head gasket, it will never be a problem again - see if you can check on that) and the timing belt (which is actually worse than the head gasket, cause it if breaks, it takes the cylinder head with it). Parts and labor are reasonable and if you have any mechanical aptitude, you can do a lot of the work yourself. The transmission seems to be pretty bullet proof.

You will like the gas mileage, peppy acceleration and the cute looks. The drivetrain is probably a little coarse compared with the class leaders. The price sounds about right.

Good luck whatever you choose!

[A97]

I don`t know about the head gaskets going at 80- 100k miles mine went at 35k, I heard from other people that usually after the warrenty expired that was when they started to leak. If it`s been replaced it should have the upgraded gasket and you should be ok. The other problem with them is dodge recommends replacing the timing belt at I think 104k miles if it hasn`t been done if you buy it go ahead and do it and while your at it replace the water pump regardless if its leaking or not beacuse its behind the timing cover anyways, you`ll save on labor. I wish someone would have told me that beacause I wound up doing the work twice. the only other problem I`ve run into was the rear main seal but those are the only major problems that their known for to my knowledge other than that you can pretty much run them into the ground. I`ve had my `99 since it was new and can`t complain, I drive 180 miles a day to work plus driving my ram around town I do about 60k miles a year and can`t complain about either

[maykelcj]

I don't know if is woth it were you live, but 124k its a lot of miles for a domestic car... mine has 106 on it and I bought it when it had 75k only and I paid 1500...

[EZFrank]

I would never buy another dodge chrysler vehicle again got screwed on a 1997 voyager and my niece got a 1996 neon and sister in law a 2000 neon and they been nothing but problems and spent all kinds of money on them and they still dont run right.