If you could have another car that's not a Neon... which?

[Diablo0]

My wife asked me this the other day and I'm curious to hear what others would say...

I have a few different ones...

Challenger T/A 392
2018+ Wrangler Rubicon
Tesla Model S w/ AutoPilot

Ideally, I like the styling of the Charger more than the Challenger, but the Charger doesn't come in an MTX. The Tesla isn't an MTX for obvious reasons, but I think I'd make the sacrifice for the speed and having AutoPilot. I could charge it at work too which would save us over $100/month in Gas.

What's everyone elses?

[Midnight_Rider]

The last Dodge Dart, if I could still find one on a dealer's lot. The most outrageous choice would be a restored 1971 Chrysler Valiant Charger E49 but converting it to LHD would kill the value of it so this is really just a daydream.

[theColonel]

See post dated May 25, 2018

[occasional demons]

Not a "car", but meh...

[INVUJerry]

If I had to go out today and buy a brand new car? It would be a hard hard choice for me. I had eyed up 3.6 chargers and challengers for quite a while. An ecodiesel ram would be nice to tow with and not have the uptick in vehicle registration fees that a 3/4-1ton would.

For something manual transmission and fun I can no longer look at mopar, so maybe a focus or fiesta ST. Esteinmaier loves his fiesta ST to death, just bought a big turbo kit for it. a23danger had a fiesta st for a while and I got to drive it. Even with 3 people in the car it was really sporty and fun. A focus I might end up with because they’re bigger and with kids that means a lot to me.

Tesla’s would be fun but they’re out of my price range for now and with my long commute I’d get range anxiety.

[JeremyJ]

If/when I get a better paying job, I'm going to aim for a 2012-2014 300C SRT-8. Something fast, fun, and plenty big for the family. They're coming down in price now, too. If I don't have to talk about realistic budgeting, then I'd go after a Destroyer Grey Hellcat Charger.

[jonnymopar]

Realistically, top of my list would be a 1st or 2nd gen Mazda3. The new ones haven't grown on me yet, but the same used to be true about the 2nd gens. Focus is way up there, as is the Forte.

Keep in mind this is all taking into consideration that I'd still have the Daytona. If I had to merge the Daytona and the Neon into one car, I'd have something a bit uncharacteristic for me: a Volvo C30 T5.

[MyNeonSaysHi]

Well to replace the Neon would have to replace my "fun" car. So it would have to be a stick shift. I cannot go without having a stickshift car in my stable. That is a tough question. Probably a low mileage C6 GrandSport vette. I like the new GTI's and they respond well to mods it looks like. 300whp GTI would be fun and be ideal.

[rondert]

A classic car like the Porche 911 rs.

[theColonel]

2019 Hyundai Veloster R-Spec

http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews ... dailydrive

[sidepipe87]

For a toy.... probably a Plum Crazy Scat Pack 392 Shaker Challenger. For a DD..... The Challenger I currently own.

[03_SXT]

I'd love to know everyone's thought's on what car they'd buy now, since many people took my Challenger out on a thrill ride

[theColonel]

Well to replace the Neon would have to replace my "fun" car. So it would have to be a stick shift. I cannot go without having a stickshift car in my stable. That is a tough question. Probably a low mileage C6 GrandSport vette. I like the new GTI's and they respond well to mods it looks like. 300whp GTI would be fun and be ideal.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/volkswagen/gti

[occasional demons]

LOL, 32-33 MPG hwy from a 220 hp engine is "poor fuel economy"....

COMPARED TO WHAT?

The GTI gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with an automatic transmission. That's one of the lowest fuel economy ratings in the class (though few compact cars are tuned for performance as the GTI is)

So as usual, pretty much a baseless comparison.

Another reason to take most of these car ratings with a grain of salt.

I would love to have a 220 HP neon that got 33 mpg hwy.

A lot of 132 hp ATX neons barely make that.

Not really a VW fan, but just amazed at how out of touch that "poor fuel economy" remark is.

[INVUJerry]

A turbo 3.55 sohc 2.0 would make 220 and get 32+ on the highway. My SRT4 doesn’t do great but I think half of it is due to being a tiny turbo and not being on solenoid controlled boost.

[jonnymopar]

I cannot for the life of me understand why SRT-4 owners get the gas mileage that they do. How fat did Dodge run the 2.4 turbo from the factory??? My setup which now has close to 60k miles on it gets 31-33mpg on the highway (not using the in-dash navigator - using actual calculations tank to tank). I've easily proven that with 10 trips to Carlisle.

My usual commute is some highway, some side roads, some normal driving, some animalistic driving, and my weekly average is around 27mpg. That's in a car that's significantly heavier and likely less aerodynamic than a Neon (especially with the tops off), using old-school distributor ignition and batch-fired injectors! I don't know what it's making for power, but it's definitely more than 220whp.

[theColonel]

I cannot for the life of me understand why SRT-4 owners get the gas mileage that they do. How fat did Dodge run the 2.4 turbo from the factory??? My setup which now has close to 60k miles on it gets 31-33mpg on the highway (not using the in-dash navigator - using actual calculations tank to tank). I've easily proven that with 10 trips to Carlisle.

My usual commute is some highway, some side roads, some normal driving, some animalistic driving, and my weekly average is around 27mpg. That's in a car that's significantly heavier and likely less aerodynamic than a Neon (especially with the tops off), using old-school distributor ignition and batch-fired injectors! I don't know what it's making for power, but it's definitely more than 220whp.

Who in the fuck bought a Neon SRT-4 for great gas mileage ?

[occasional demons]

A turbo 3.55 sohc 2.0 would make 220 and get 32+ on the highway. My SRT4 doesn’t do great but I think half of it is due to being a tiny turbo and not being on solenoid controlled boost.

For an MTX neon yes, but those numbers are with an ATX.

When my 2.4 swap was running a bit lean, when I first had it running, I got 40 mpg on the way to Carlisle. Not so much now with newer injectors. It only averages about 30 mpg. 3.55/.72

[INVUJerry]

I cannot for the life of me understand why SRT-4 owners get the gas mileage that they do. How fat did Dodge run the 2.4 turbo from the factory??? My setup which now has close to 60k miles on it gets 31-33mpg on the highway (not using the in-dash navigator - using actual calculations tank to tank). I've easily proven that with 10 trips to Carlisle.

My usual commute is some highway, some side roads, some normal driving, some animalistic driving, and my weekly average is around 27mpg. That's in a car that's significantly heavier and likely less aerodynamic than a Neon (especially with the tops off), using old-school distributor ignition and batch-fired injectors! I don't know what it's making for power, but it's definitely more than 220whp.

For some reason my SRT-4's never did great on gas milleage. The wagon does better than the SRT, and it runs rich as fuck when I'm wide open with the stage 2 stuff.

Who in the fuck bought a Neon SRT-4 for great gas mileage ?

It's EPA is advertised at 22 city, 30 highway. It should at least be able to do that. My SRT averaged 24 before I got rid of the heavy ass SRT-4 wheels. It's still not great though.

[jonnymopar]

Who in the fuck bought a Neon SRT-4 for great gas mileage ?

Hehe, nobody, but that wasn't the point of my post. I'm comparing my home-brewed cobbled together setup stuffed in a heavy old car compared to a bone-stock 2.4 turbo properly placed in a nice light car from the factory. From what I remember, my A555 has similar gear ratios as the T850. I just can't make sense of it.

For some reason my SRT-4's never did great on gas milleage. The wagon does better than the SRT, and it runs rich as fuck when I'm wide open with the stage 2 stuff.

Turbo Dodge magic I guess.

[Midnight_Rider]

Who in the **** bought a Neon SRT-4 for great gas mileage ?

I did. I figured that I would get mileage less than but similar to the non-turbo Neons I had been driving for years and I haven't been disappointed. Usually get around 27 MPG but have broken 30 many times (especially during the to and from for Carlisle).

[occasional demons]

For some reason my SRT-4's never did great on gas milleage.

Front fascia.

Large opening is directing air into the engine bay and under the car.

I attribute the high freeway mileage my '01 got, due mostly to the Kaminari fascia, which has a smaller opening at the bottom, and is closed off at the top. Most of the air goes over/around the car. Even when plowing through deep snow, most of it went over the hood and up the windshield. A bit unnerving when you are blasting along at 40 mph to keep momentum up.

[theColonel]

Who in the FUCK bought a Neon SRT-4 for great gas mileage ?

I did. I figured that I would get mileage less than but similar to the non-turbo Neons I had been driving for years and I haven't been disappointed.
Usually get around 27 MPG but have broken 30 many times (especially during the to and from for Carlisle).

For less money you get better mileage, on cheaper gas with an SXT ... however the SRT-4 is definitely more fun to drive !

[Midnight_Rider]

Yes, I could have bought another SXT (I had already owned two of them) and, yes, I know that regular is cheaper than premium. And your point is what? You asked a question and I answered it.

[occasional demons]

And your point is what?

To annoy you.

[Midnight_Rider]

And your point is what?

To annoy you.

LOLZ

[theColonel]

And your point is what?

To annoy you.

LOLZ

It could have been worse ... at least you didn't buy a Viper, pay the gas guzzler tax, and still expect economy car fuel efficiency

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Neon_SRT-4

[Midnight_Rider]

Reached 33 MPG in my SRT-4 yesterday going to and from the auto auction at Auburn, IN. I'm satisfied.

[theColonel]

Reached 33 MPG in my SRT-4 yesterday going to and from the auto auction at Auburn, IN. I'm satisfied.

https://www.autotrader.com/best-cars/11 ... ids-222099

[Midnight_Rider]

...we've listed the 11 most fuel-efficient 2014 models available today.

Sure, if I were looking for (mostly) imported vehicles of the 2014 model year, especially hybrid models. You had earlier made the point that no one would purchase an SRT-4 if thinking of gas mileage so I decided to post the mileage that my SRT-4 is capable of.