Just wondering.....

PioneerUrban · Post by **PioneerUrban** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:22 pm

Since the Neon is very popular, I'm wondering why Dodge doesn't bring it back?

The car looks great, gets great fuel mileage, a blast to drive, etc.....

LionheartedSXT · Post by **LionheartedSXT** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:27 pm

I guess after a 10 year run Dodge decided it was time for something new, something ugly, and probably the worst mistake of their lives...the caliber...

[DJ]Tomski · Post by **[DJ]Tomski** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:30 pm

i thought dodge stopped making them because of poor sales?

2k1MotorSport · Post by **2k1MotorSport** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:31 pm

LionheartedSXT wrote:I guess after a 10 year run Dodge decided it was time for something new, something ugly, and probably the worst mistake of their lives...the caliber...

I also thought it was because sales were dropping for the neon. And since people were getting bigger and faster cars it wouldn't be worth it to keep producing it.

I'm sure it has come up in a few board meetings.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:41 pm

The Caliber does not fail at what it is, a compact crossover. A small version of the Journey if you will.

2k1MotorSport · Post by **2k1MotorSport** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:43 pm

but it also gets horrible ratings

LionheartedSXT · Post by **LionheartedSXT** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:10 pm

2k1MotorSport wrote:I also thought it was because sales were dropping for the neon. And since people were getting bigger and faster cars it wouldn't be worth it to keep producing it.

I'm sure it has come up in a few board meetings.

I would not consider an aveo or a caliber in either category...

neon>caliber>aveo

PioneerUrban · Post by **PioneerUrban** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:23 pm

I see people driving them all over here in WV. So, they must be popular. We have three of them.

All I know is that I absolutely LOVE my SXT! Even though it isn't a SRT ( I will have one), it's still a blast to drive!

It has all the features that I've ever wanted (besides a SRT) on a car. Did I mention that it's a blast to drive?

Is Dodge coming out with a small car, or do they already have one?

YA'LL HAVE CONVERTED ME!!!! BRING BACK THE NEON!!!!!!!!

I used to be a Camaro guy.

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:27 pm

The Neon is dead, get over it.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:29 pm

The Caliber is a small car (believe it or not)

The specs are nearly the same...wheelbase, track, overall length. The Caliber is slightly wider, and of course taller.

I didn't believe they were so close in specs until I parked my Neon next to the wife's Caliber. Sheetmetal does a lot to change the look of a vehicle

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:25 pm

Dodge is supposed to bring out the Nitro next year. It's supposed to compete with the Mini Cooper... Looking at some of the pics they have at Car+Driver, I THINK it's boosted... Though I like the rear suicide doors!

EDIT: oops not the Nitro (that's an SUV, DUHHH

) I meant the Dodge Hornet. It's in the newest Car and Driver mag out now. ( linky Pointing to an old article about it. It STILL looks the same... --> http://www.caranddriver.com/news/auto_s ... d-263.html

)

Later
Allex

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:22 pm

MoxHair wrote:The Neon is dead, get over it.

Time to move onto a new platform. Something car based with coupe and sedan options with a possible SRT package on both styles.

Fuzzyneon · Post by **Fuzzyneon** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:01 pm

they need to make a coupe sports car yeah like mox has said 8432765435 times unfortunately i agree the neon is dead

rOniN · Post by **rOniN** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:08 pm

As for another reason...neons are horrible in crash ratings and the body style would not hold up to new standards without making it more expensive to build.

trinity_rush2001 · Post by **trinity_rush2001** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:13 am

idk i think the neon/srt4's are gonna be like the older 70's challengers and chargers somewhere down the line there probably gonna recreate them

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:27 am

trinity_rush2001 wrote:idk i think the neon/srt4's are gonna be like the older 70's challengers and chargers somewhere down the line there probably gonna recreate them

Here are a few things that quickly come to my mind about what killed the Neon:
1) Slipping quality (DCX's infamous "decontenting"- quietly removing features year after year to keep the MSRP down until the car actually earned the rep that Consumer Reports had always given it- a cheap car);
2) Zero-to-no advertising (I never saw a TV commercial for the SRT-4 until I found one for the California market on youtube and couldn't believe it

);
3) No 2GN coupe.

The Caliber did not and will not replace the Neon and Chrysler knows it. But stamping a Dodge badge on a Communist-made POC isn't the answer either.

OB · Post by OB » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:39 am

I think dodge should definatly consider bringing the Neon back. Though with the Neon's bad reputation (mainly from the 1st gen) I doubt the actual model name will ever return. An affordable, peppy econobox should be part of every manufacturers lineup IMO. Honda was smart in keeping the Civic around, while Chevy has the Aveo and Ford the Focus. Dodge screwed up on this one IMO.

The Caliber is not a car, it's a crossover (which basically means baby SUV). The non SRT models are slow, and useless in the corners (same as a Neon, sans the corner part

). A 10 foot tall SUV thing is never going to appeal to the compact crowd, and should not be considered a replacement for the Neon by ANY means. A Saturn Vue is not a car, nor is the Hyundai Sante Fe, or any of the million other mini SUV POS's running around. The word 'car' is usually used pretty freely, to describe anything with four wheels and an engine. But in my book, a car and any type of SUV relative do not belong in the same sentence.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:50 am

OB wrote:Chevy has the Aveo...

Eh, "Chevrolet" in name only, actually a Daewoo... but I digress.[/off-topic]

OB · Post by OB » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:52 am

Really? New info to me, explain please.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:54 am

^^I've heard that it is really a reskinned Daewoo. Not built in the US (or North America for that matter) so it doesn't really count as a Chevy if you ask me.

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:08 am

OB wrote:
Chevy has the Aveo...
Eh, "Chevrolet" in name only, actually a Daewoo... but I digress.[/off-topic]

Don't forget Chevy has the Cobalt that replaced the Cavalier. Even that has an SS model and the SS/SC performance versions. Even the SC versions have been replaced w/ a turbocharger vs supercharger for 09...

Dodge? nothin'.

Later
Allex

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:16 pm

Midnight_Rider wrote:^^I've heard that it is really a reskinned Daewoo. Not built in the US (or North America for that matter) so it doesn't really count as a Chevy if you ask me.

GM quietly bought Daewoo, and shut down the dealerships here in the States, so technically it is a GM prouduct.
Damn Alien lookin' Logo anyways!

Edit: Back on topic.... If thet did bring back the Neon it would be far worse to mod than the '05's so what's the point? There would be no throttle cable-drive by wire like all the other new cars. Any upgrades would be overpriced items from the dealer. Um like the Caliber... The only advantage would be a car that might get 40 mpg.

P.S.
Keep the annoying Neon topics coming, too. Mox is getting off easy lately. Gotta keep the Pain Train running!

OB · Post by OB » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:15 pm

asanti wrote:
OB wrote:
Chevy has the Aveo...
Eh, "Chevrolet" in name only, actually a Daewoo... but I digress.[/off-topic]
Don't forget Chevy has the Cobalt that replaced the Cavalier. Even that has an SS model and the SS/SC performance versions. Even the SC versions have been replaced w/ a turbocharger vs supercharger for 09... Dodge? nothin'.

Later
Allex

how could I forget! haha and I used the Aveo in my comparison. Forgive me car gods.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:33 pm

occasional demons wrote:Edit: Back on topic.... If thet did bring back the Neon it would be far worse to mod than the '05's so what's the point? There would be no throttle cable-drive by wire like all the other new cars. Any upgrades would be overpriced items from the dealer. Um like the Caliber... The only advantage would be a car that might get 40 mpg.

Maybe I mis-understood, but the Caliber does have e-throttle. And I have no real complaints about the performance upgrade prices for the Caliber from Chrysler so far....except the DUB bodykit

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:01 pm

I caliber is the most un-ergonomic piece of shit on the market. Horrible vehicle.

patton98 · Post by **patton98** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:12 pm

Here is what i found on the death of the neon....

http://groups.cardomain.com/groups/13114/pages/18562

Post by **occasional demons** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:18 pm

Danteneon wrote:
occasional demons wrote:Edit: Back on topic.... If thet did bring back the Neon it would be far worse to mod than the '05's so what's the point? There would be no throttle cable-drive by wire like all the other new cars. Any upgrades would be overpriced items from the dealer. Um like the Caliber... The only advantage would be a car that might get 40 mpg.
Maybe I mis-understood, but the Caliber does have e-throttle. And I have no real complaints about the performance upgrade prices for the Caliber from Chrysler so far....except the DUB bodykit

77060012 Cold Air Intake (2007 Dodge caliber) 1.8L/2.0L/2.4L $349.00

P5153564 Cat-Back Exhaust System (2007 FWD Caliber) $799.00

P5153566 Header FWD (2007 Caliber, Compass and Patriot) $339.00
Total: $1487.00 plus tax
That is well beyond my budget for the cost VS gains. Of couse the header might be the only thing I would consider. I'm sure the aftermarket will pick up, but Carb Exempt is a killer.

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:27 pm

You just got killed my a Daewoo Lanos, motherfucker!

DoubtedNeon · Post by **DoubtedNeon** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 4:52 pm

if they made a new car even insipired by the neon, it wouldnt have the same name, or shape i dont think, the bad rep with this car isnt something u can cover up

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:15 am

sidepipe87 wrote:You just got killed my a Daewoo Lanos, motherfucker!

Almost a week later and I STILL don't have a clue as to what this kid means.....