Used 2003 Dodge Neon Consumer Reviews
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Va-Voom!
Bought a new Neon R/T with all the toys from a delaer for $13,500. While it may be 2 years old in a few months, it's still a new car to me since I keep one for about 5-6 years anyway. The '03 has more legroom and creature comforts than my old '98 did. The magnum engine has as much h.p. as the old 2.0 DOHC, but sounds quieter under load. The 4-wheel discs stop it quite well. The 5-speed makes this pocket rocket a blast to drive and the Goodyear P195/50R16's make it grab in the corners. I'll be upgrading the tires to Bridgestone's as soon as I wear the OEM Goodyear's out. All in all, I am very pleased with the Neon R/T.
Never a problem
I bought this car about a year ago and have put 30,000 miles on it since I purchased. I got it with 35k and the only maintenance I've really had to do was oil changes. I also did plugs and wired at 60k and rear brake, but thats all. They didn't really have to be done, but did them anyway. I'm a service technician and a BMW shop and I love my neon. Do want a little more pep, but can't complain about the get- up and go with this car, especially considering the 39 mpg I get on road trips. Simply love this car!
- SRT-4 SedanMSRP: $6,900858 mi away
- SXT SedanMSRP: $2,991980 mi away
- SXT SedanMSRP: $4,4951,073 mi away
My 2nd Neon
I brought this vehicle used with 62,127mi on it at a dealer my older sister boyfriend works at, so i got a really good deal on it. My 1st Neon was a 97 Highlight and its life ended around 238k give or take 5k so, I thought I might get lucky with this as well.....omg, I was WRONG!! The heater was not working right, so i took to Dodge(it was still under warranty) they claimed it was the thermostat, but in the process of replacing this thermostat they broke a senser on the intake manifold which made the car idle very high, but they fix that. I STILL HAVE NO HEATER!!! I had to replace the radio about 4weeks after all of that drama. she has been good to me but I will be trading up some for a VW.
Wow
This car is amazing it smokes so many v8 it is unbelievable watch out for the other SRT's to come. Great job dodge
Bad Car!
This vehicle is a piece of garbage! Ever since I have Had mine it has been nothing but problems. It has been in the shop 5 times. The car shakes everytime you come to a stop, it has had to have 2 batteries replaced in it, it has completly shut-off after it is started, ( Happened twice), and the a/c constantly runs, even when in the off position. I would not suggest any one to by this car.
Great inexpensive car
I've only had this car for 3 weeks, but I'm already in love with it. It's a great, sporty little car. When the Neons first came out, I thought they were ugly and didn't have any pep to them. Well, I'm wrong. They have changed the look of the car and they have more power than expected.
Lovin' my R/T
Overall I have been very pleased with the purchase of my R/T. It's loaded including side impact air bags, key- less entry, traction control, pwr moonroof, CD changer, etc. and the price tag was still under $20,000. It also has good gas mileage, sporty looks, more spacious interior than I was expecting and can handle my aggressive driving habits. The only downfall....it doesn't hold it's value!
SRT-4 is AWSOME
This is the ost fun I've had for years.
I miss my 2000 5M Neon!
I had a purple 2000 Neon with the 5 speed. I bought it for commuting, but quickly discovered that it was a blast to drive. The interior is very intuitive and the cupholders are wonderful. The sound system was incredible for a base model. Why do people trash Neons and their owners???
So far so good
My neon so far has been alright. However at 42 miles I noticed a small transmission lea k so I took it to the dealership to have it looked at and it turned out that the casing around the transmission was to porus and it was seeping fluid though. TO repair the problem they had to replace the whole transmission I am a little scared that I might have gotton a lemon but I am remaining hopeful.
Good car for me.
Bought new at the beginning of 2003, now have 110000 miles on it. Haven't had to much trouble with it in 6 years, had transmission replaced at 60002 miles under warranty, had to have steer rack replace six months ago since there was a loose passenger side tie rod(it was probably from hit a curb in a parking lot several years), and am currently have the alternator replaced. I'm not one to keep up with the maintenance schedule, fix it as it needs it. Most of the few other things that I have done are all normal things that wear out with mileage. Over all been very reliable, did have to have in towed a couple of weeks ago, one of the original rear brakes locked up, but it has been 110,000 miles.
Great Car
We have two 2003 neons and even though we have had bigger and better vehicles the gas mileage and economy of these cars is better than any truck or suv. Fun to drive and you do not have to watch the fuel gauge go down rapidly after it reaches half full.
This car is alright
I got more than I bagained for with this vehicle. I tried looking for all that I wanted with the Civic, Corolla, Focus, and Jetta. It gave gave me all of that with a nice price. Yeah there is noise but it is awesome to drive.
My first car was a disaster
Needed a car to get to work and college. Bought a used 2003 Dodge Neon from dealership with 54,000 miles on it. Ran great for the first few months. Then it idled rough so I replaced spark plugs and wires. Ran good for a while. Had trans flushed at 62,000 miles and things went downhill. Radiator ruptured two months later. Trans fluid leaked out, coolant fluid contaminated the trans. Replaced radiator. At 68,500 miles had AAMCO inspect it. Said trans was good but needed to replace motor mounts.The day before Thanksgiving the transmission went(71,000 miles) Mechanic says the coolant fluid that got in the trans, destroyed it. Thought it would be an easy maintenance first car. Boy was I wrong!
Don't buy a dodge
Had to replace both front wheel bearings at 34,000 74,000 and 100,000 miles. Thats right 3 times. Transmission and radiator at 90,000 pads and rotors 3 times and many check engine light problems
A good first new car...
I bought my Neon new in 2003, and for the most part, enjoyed it. I've had some rough idling issues which were covered under the powertrain warranty, but other than that no major repairs. Considering I spend about $12,000 for the car, it's been well worth the money. I'd definitely take a look at this car if you're looking for a commute vehicle. I probably average about 28 mpg with 85% highway/15% city driving. Not bad at all!
It's a great car
Bought an SXT neon with the 4 speed automatic trans everyone complains about. It is quite a bit slower than the manual, but about the same as other automatics in it's class and not all that slow. Passing power is very good. Gas mileage isn't that good. About 23 mpg. It could be better. It's a pleasure to drive this car. It handles like a sports car and the brakes are incredible. Try one - you'll like it.
cool car
i love this car...i drive one
Dodge Neon SXT 2003
Just bought SXT, traded in a KIA.... need I say more. So far so good, love the sportiness. Only have 350 miles on it, but I already love it. Owned a 98 Neon Expresso and 99 Neon R/T, new, after other non-dodge products.... we went back to the most reliable....
mostly positive
I purchased a 2003 sxt 4 door in october. I haven't had any problems with the car. The gas mileage really needs to be worked on. I have a friend who drives a 1995 neon and she gets better gas mileage than me. Even the chevy cavy's got better gas mileage. The car handles curves and turns like a dream.
This car is Great
Just got this car a week ago,already have 750 miles.Great power,the Turbo kicks you in the...uh... butt. The seats are nice.Anybody that complains about the gas mileage needs to remember this is a sports car, and it does get better mileage than my 67 Chevelle SS.
Very good car
Its a good car. it handles very well. The fuel is awesome. you do not have to spend a lot of money on fuel. very very comfortable. The interior design is fun, sleek, roomy. It's a very good car and it's price very well
Been in the shop 4 times.
I bought this car to drive back and forth from college and home which is a 400 mile trip. This car was fine for the first eight months of ownership. It has real hesitation starting sometimes, chugs and has been in the shop 4 times because the engine light comes on. I feel this car has faulty craftsmanship and low quality parts.
Incredible value and fun to drive
Purchased a 2003 Neon SXT with 4-speed auto for my wife. For $12,159 got 6- speaker stereo w/ CD, pwr windows, pwr locks, pwr mirrors, alum whls, tilt whl, keyless entry, pwr trunk, lo- profile tires, tach. What a value! Handles like a sports car. Very comfortable. Great sounding stereo.
Good Value
Car has worked real efficiently. I drive lots of miles each day and I needed a reliable inexpensive mode of transportation. It has a sporty feel and corners very well for an economy car. The sound system is impressive as well.
consumer
ots a very fun car for its price
Needs refinement
The seats are uncomfortable. My lower back begins to hurt after driving it for more than an hour at a time.
Lemon
I have had my Neon's Transmission fall completely out three times in the last three weeks. It locked completely up and put my family and myself in great danger. I have only had lies and grief from not only Daytona Beach Dodge in the repair of this car and from Diamond Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, MI as well. This car is advertised with a 7 year/70000 mile warranty on the power train. BE VERY AWARE!!!!!Chrysler Corporation told me that it is subject to change (daily). You may be driving one right now with no warranty. Shame on you Daytona Dodge and Chrysler Corporation, shame on you....
The Customer Loses
The car only has 5000 miles and the brakes make noise. The car has been back 3 times for this problem and the area rep from Chrysler states that this is normal. I didn't know noise from the brakes was an available option.
Dodge SRT-4
The car is a blast to own and drive. Lots of looks and fun to play with. I sell EVO's and I would rather have the SRT-4 even if the EVO was $21,000.
Work Horse
I bought this car new and have put 145K (mostly highway) miles on it so far. Absolutely no problems whatsoever. Normal maintenance ie change timing belt at 100K, regular oil changes etc. Fun to drive. Now working in rural area and car is handling the rough terrain and dirt roads without a problem.
Dodge SRT-4 by Actual owner
Excellent performance. The best performance car for the money.Fun to drive.
Fun car
Great car, lots of features. Much better value than the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla and it's a blast to drive. The RT has alot of power, though i'd like to see that power in the SXT model.
Neon
This is my second Neon, it is a much better car than my '98. Smoother, quieter,better build quality, very fun to drive,better fuel economy than my '98 Neon 5-speed, just an all around nicer car. I also have a Mazda 323, which doesn't hold a candle to my Neon. Any friends or family that have ridden in it can't get over the room, ride, and comfort, and my friends with V8 powered SUV's are embarassed after engaging in a little stoplight gran prix. Finally, take a look at the price compared compact cars of similar refinement and performance, and you will agree the neon is one of the best values around.
This is a Great Car.
This a great car to drive. It looks like a sports car without the expense of owning one. It has a powerful engine for a 4 Cylinder car. I got my car from 0 to 60 in about 5 and 1/3 seconds. Good on turns. Nice Stereo system, six speakers, cd player, good range on FM and AM stations. Nice trunk space.
Great car, needs more juice
First off, this car is definitely worth the money, just for interior space alone. I'm somewhere in the 6'7" to 6'8" range and I still fit comfortably (albeit with the seat all the way back and tilted a bit). I've also driven it about 33,000 miles and no problems at all other than the occasional flat (weird tire size, Walmart doesn't even carry them). This car's one main drawback is it's not very quick off the line, no real torque. Luckily, the Neon is a sport compact tuner car, so lots of performance parts are made to remedy this, if you have the money for em. Speakers are incredible, I don't even have the urge to switch them out. All in all, a great car for the money.
13.8 in 1/4 mile all stock!
Very fast and stylish for the money even with dealer mark-ups. I would recommend this car over WRX and EVO.
Neon
Performance is great with 5 speed manual tranny. Car is a looker. MPG is acceptable (getting 30 mpg overall). This ain't a Corvette, so saying performance is poor... bad logic! If you want racing speed, buy the Vette at $ 31,000 more! The car has a 7 yr, 70,000 warranty on the engine and tranny, so take it to the dealer under warranty, if you maintained it properly!? With cash back and lease incentives this car cost me $ 11,000 brand new! About six thousand less than a Honda Civic! Have 53,000 miles with only normal maintenance costs, plus $320 for new bushings in front suspension. Amazing how people buy a low sticker price car then expect BMW performance!
Eh
Frankly, this car really didn't light my fire. I really would've rather gone with a Ford Focus or Mazda Protege for the money.
Owner
I like the comfort and the sound system. When the air conditioner is on, it seems to drag a little. Drive's good in pouring rain, not much hydroplaning.
Fun to drive
I just bought a 2003 R/T and it's really fun to drive. Good performance from the engine, although it could use a little more power. Many aftermarket parts are available to increase horsepower if you want that though. This is a great car to drive that feels like a sports car, and at a low cost compared to others of the same type. An especially good value if you buy it used like I did, only 24,000 miles and a fraction of the original cost.
There are no other cars in this class.
The engine is fantastic. There is a bit of turbo lag, When it kicks in, look out. Handling is superb. Somewhat small turning radius. Smooth clutch. 5th gear is mainly an OD gear, going 80mph you're hanging around 2800rpm. Racing seats take some getting used to. Slightly cheap interior. Since there are only going to be 2500 of these a year, plan on not paying MSRP. At the dealership they were asking 25,500. Autonation.com: 18,756. Loads of fun for a very small price. Also Dodge has in the works Stage 1-3 upgrades which don't violate the warranty.
Good car for the money.
Bought this car 1 1/2+ years ago for $7500 and have put 20,000+ miles on it. Knowing what I know now would buy it again. Only problems I've had are I've had to replace the front brake pads twice already. I put in the least expensive pads. But other than that this had been real good dependable car. Plenty of power for passing and in the hills. Decent gas mileage as I've always gotten 29-30 any time I've checked it. Also pretty comfortable car. My hip don't get stiff and sore on longer trips like it does when I drive my Jeep.
my 2003 neon
I recently bought a 2003 neon. I have never really liked neons in the past, so I was sure that I wouldn't want one. When I saw this car for the first time, I actually was impressed. The body style and interior were nice. The car drives good, and it has more power than I expected. I am very satisfied with this car.
A sporty gem
I recently purchased a 2003 Neon SXT. I found this car to be value-packed and priced better than many of the imports. It feels like a more substantial car than the Nissan Sentra and Mazda Protege' and costs thousands less (with available 2K rebate) than the 2003 Toyota Corolla (still a very dull car, particularly the interior) and Honda Civic.
SO FAR SO GOOD !
This is my first NEON , not my first chrysler product. I bought it for the price ( I work for D/C ) employee discount and all that . so far so good . it has 9500 mi only a loose door check I fixed it myself witha 10mm socket. it is getting about 34 mpg now , it has gotten better it was 31 when i first checked .
Fast!
This car has to be one of the best cars dodge has ever produced.. High performance and a reliable car as well. I've had the car for about 1 year now.. and I've had 0 problems. Very easy to mod and it has great factory support.. can't beat a 19,999 pocket rocket!
So far so good
Make sure you buy the stick shift in this model. The automatic is really slow. Driving this model with the stick has been great. It more than keeps up with similar vehiles in this class. Haven't had one single problem with the engine. Gas mileage is great, getting over 32mpg
srt-4
Best bang for the buck...literally.
The best first car ever!
I love, I mean love this car! wicked fun to drive, and so easy to handle. I fell for it when my eyes saw it, so cute and really reliable