VERY general Neon question.. moving.

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:14 pm

I suppose this is the best category for this question. If everything works out, after the Fall/Spring 2012-2013 semesters, I'll be continuing my education in Arizona. For me, it's about a 36 hour drive (which undoubtedly can't be done without several stops), and 2,200 miles. I'll still have my lovely 2001 R/T, which in a year should not hopefully have more than 87,000 miles on it. My question is, provided the car is in good shape, how well do these cars move long distances? Would it be worth it to haul it across country with its age, or would I be better off selling it

? I'll likely be in a city with public transportation, so I won't necessarily need it, except for exploring the rest of the state.. which I want to do.

I really want to take it with me. Is there any preventative maintenance which should/can be done.. specific things to check for/replace before taking on such a long trip? I know I'm a little more than a year ahead of myself, but I don't want to be stuck with this last minute. My father helps me with most/all maintenance on my car (other than changing most fluids and such), and obviously my parents aren't coming.. although they've thought about it :p.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 7:34 pm

Even tho it would be a bit premature, I would change the timing belt/water pump/tensioner. Of course a fresh oil change before you start the trip, new belts, little things like that.

Maybe a new clutch, so it won't be a worry when you are on the other side of the country from your "mechanic".

As far as long trips, the only thing that lacks is the seating. But youth will help in that department. I began to hate the neon seats after an hour and a half. Thus why I have Chrysler Concorde seats now.

Things like wheel bearings are any ones guess. I have 179,000 on three out of four. Just the passenger rear has failed.

Having the suspension thoroughly inspected, and anything that needs done, done before leaving will help return some fuel savings for a trip that long. Fuel prices might be fairly unforgiving by then.

A little out there, but would make a trip that long easier on the engine, and your fatigue:

A 3.55 over the 3.94 would be a better choice for MTX, but that would be a bit extreme... Unless you could source an '02/newer PT t350 for a song. At least the highway gearing would be on par with the .81 fifth 3.55 MTX's. And you would retain the R/T fun for 1st through 4th gears.

thttxboy · Post by **thttxboy** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:57 pm

When I bought my 01 r/t. It was in michigan and had several issues and over 120k with the orignal timing belt and clutch, and I flew out and saw the car in person for the first time. The first time I drove is when I started driving it home like 12 hours something like that. Made it home no prob. Since then I changed the timing belt, tensioner and water pump, flushed the coolant and changed the thermostat, alternator belt and serpentine belt. I drive the car at least 1500 miles month and if you asked me to drive the car to california and back I would. I think these cars are as realiable as you make them. I say drive it there. But obviously have your car serviced before you go

With your mileage I say change out
Timing belt, tensioner, water pump and thermostat and flush the cooalnt. Both alternator and serpentine blets. Also a good tune up before you go would be a good idea.

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:51 pm

I'm glad to hear they travel far well

. I definitely plan on taking it with me. I'll save up to have all those things replaced/done, although the transmission I'll only be able to do of course if I can find the PT one for a good price as said.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:41 pm

To be honest, my neon handles being parked worse than putting the km on it. Mine's made 1500km continuous trips for years running between northern and southern ontario. It's starting to show it's age now, but at 335000km it still runs strong, though the body is hurting. The number of original parts on the car is mind boggling. Regular maint is key.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:45 pm

fixitmattman wrote:To be honest, my neon handles being parked worse than putting the km on it.

This.

Especially if it is parked outside, or parked inside, and not washed.

NyNeon0813 · Post by **NyNeon0813** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:48 pm

Ive driven to florida from new york and back with no problems... But it does get uncomfortable after a while!

black03rt · Post by **black03rt** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:08 pm

Drove my R/T with SRT axle back from Central Illinois to Delaware and the only problems I had were
1. Very uncomfortable
2. Exhaust was loud (my own fault)
3. Driving stick in stop and go traffic gets tiring after a while

Other than those things, no problems at all. And even with the H.O motor and bad cat, I made about 36 mpg.

Midnight_Rider · Post by **Midnight_Rider** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:20 am

The only problem that I have had in my SRT to/from Carlisle has been the seatback getting wet from sweat.

I used to do a 13 hour drive to Toronto in my 1GN and it was always comfortable. 36 hours would be a little more tough though.

2005.Neon.SXT · Post by **2005.Neon.SXT** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:11 am

We went from North Carolina to Colorado a year and a half ago, granted my car is still pretty young (it was at about 50k miles then). It took us 35 hours, including a 5 hour nap.

We didn't have any issues with driving. Even after a car ran us off the road, and we skid through the center median (the grassy part), it still picked up and drove off fine (phew! lol). Thank God there wasn't a metal fence splitting the highway on the part we were at.

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:11 am

I wish I had cruise control

. Any trip that takes over an hour does NOT sound appealing to me lol. Regular maintenance and a few preventative measures and you're good!

S/n, CONCORDE SEATS WILL FIT IN OUR CARS?!!

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:19 am

Glad to hear all the good trips these cars have had

. I had a Sunfire that I really couldn't trust to go 3 hours away and back :/.

dvon17 · Post by **dvon17** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:24 am

Lol. I hate Sunfires

heyybaker · Post by **heyybaker** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 1:31 am

dvon17 wrote:Lol. I hate Sunfires

^ That :thumbup:. I never want to be in one again. SO many problems.. sooo many..

Post by **jonnymopar** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 6:49 pm

The longest I've ever driven my Neon without stopping (except for gas) is 11 hours. I've done that 3 times, all 3 with more mileage than you have right now.

Check your fluids, check your tire pressure, put gas in it, put some good music on, and off you go. Hopefully I don't get flamed on this one, but honestly, with the mileage you have, I personally wouldn't worry about the timing belt and all that stuff quite yet. Especially after seeing Matt00ES drive 400 miles to Carlisle on a timing belt and water pump with over 150k miles on them, haha. However, if you have a mechanic that you go to where you live now that you trust, then maybe get it done. If you plan on doing it yourself, then naturally it doesn't really matter where you are.

JeffM · Post by **JeffM** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 7:16 pm

Jon, she totaled that car months ago...

Prepping it isn't gonna help much now.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:03 pm

Dammit... owned by post date.

Man, it sucks because, long ago, if you scrolled down to the bottom of page 1 of the General 2nd Gen section, you'd only go back about two weeks. Just another way for the world to remind me that I'm getting old. (no offense Bill, David, Lane, Chuck, and the others that are older than me)

/end rant

Post by **Canada** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:45 pm

Which is amusing because she posted how much she hates Sunfires, yet she bought another J body car...