So im picking up a 1998 Neon 2.0 automatic as a new beater, with about 140k miles on it…and i need to know what i should keep an eye out for…what problems they’re known for, etc…
It was a driver ed car…so odds are its never seen more than 45mph, and no more than 3k rpms…still has the pasenger side brake pedal, and the second rear view mirror…i’m just skeptical because it’s in perfect visual shape, and is only $500…somethings gotta be up, you know the saying…if it sounds too good to be true…
apparently it needs front brakes…no big deal, the original owner thought it had a tranny problem, so he asked my gf’s dad to sell it (melissas dad works at a dealer, and offered to put this car on his lot as a favor to the owner, an apparent friend of his)…and upon inspection, the car has no tranny problem, just something was loose causing it to make a wierd noise, which is now fixed…everything else was fine…
this week though, the car wouldnt stop, and i think he said it was the crank angle sensor…which he is replacing tomorrow or the next day…
just looking for opinions…i’m pretty much sold on it though, since the guy on here selling the civic hatch for $200 hasnt been replying to any messages or posts…
Should be pretty solid. Mid-98 they started using the MLS headgasket that didn’t leak. If the HG has not been done, it should be. The timing belt/water pump should also be changed relatively soon as well. If you do your own work, the parts should only be like $150-200 for timing belt/water pump/headgasket.
i think for that money you could get a much better winter beater. Personally I wouldn’t touch a neon period let alone with that milage, it just seems like major problems will occur at any time. Just my opinion though, i see $500 tuning to over a $1,000 fast in a few repairs and by then you could have bought a honda.
Should be fine, just check the maintence items. Watch for rust, they rust like woah. Otherwise sounds like a decent deal as long as it’s not stolen or anything.
Ive got a 5 speed DOHC 97 neon for a beater. It roxors in the snow with a good set of tires on the front.
But lately ive been having some electrical issues with the gauges… aka the Tach & speedo kinda stop working from time to time. other than cleaning the fuel injectors & replacing an alternator & 75k miles. its been a decent car. & also replaced a rotted out radiator last year. but front brakes with new rotors i belive was $50 in parts. I dunno about the autotragic tho. MTranny For life.
Pull the cluster and check out the soldering on the back of it. The gauge issue is pretty common and usually easily solved with a basic resolder of a few of the connections. There is probably a how-to on neons.org somewhere.
the car is extremely clean, no rust anywhere…i’m gonna find out the maintenance history too to see if and what was done…like water pump, timing belt/chain (whichever it has), head gasket, plugs, brakes, filters, fluids, etc…i’ll prob check what i can on my own before i buy it too…
its a 98, you dont need to worry bout the rust issues…those were 95-96…eecept check under the weather stripping on the outside of the doors…they do rust there, but it shouldnt be bad if it has rust at all
honestly, listen to brent,…he has already told ya everything you need to know bout em…
make sure you got decent tires on the front cause neons are really good/FUN!!! in the snow
also, the headgasket isnt that hard of a job to diy, just gotta be careful putting the cam cap bolts back in place, and also make sure they are in the correct position
no more suggestions about rust please lol…it’s $500 for a car…all i expect is that it runs and has heat…rust doesnt bother me…it’s a beater, so it can look like hell for all i care…the fact that this one is so clean is just a bonus i guess…