What do you guys think of the new Dodge Neon?

[jimmy169]

Ok well I was thinking how a non-turbo eclipse has a dodge neon engine (right?) and just IMO i hated Neons but then I stumbled on a preview to a the new turbo neon. I love the eclipse shape though so I'm wondering if you guys think the turbo neon engine is a lot like the engine in a non-turbo eclipse. Also, what do you guys think of the car itself...I'm trying to stay on topic as best I can by keeping it an eclipse discussion

 

[Malenko]

its not a neon engine, its a 420A . It just happens to be in a non turbo eclipse. I still say the neons have a non turbo eclipse engine in them

I work for chrysler, but my answer will surprise you....
I dont like em. The body style is too corny, it looks like a Neon got raped by a lancer and thats the result. Kind alike "Im made by american company owed by a german company that owns a large stake in a japanese one yet Im manufactered in mexico"
well, I digress thats exactly what it is.

As for the engine, its a 2.4 Liter turbo charged 420A, and if I read the booklets they passed otu at the plant I worj at the turbo is part of the exhaust manifold , and no Im not stupid I knwo all turbos are there but its like a one piece design, so in order to upgrade the turbo you'll need a new exhaust manifold.

Poor chassis design and lotsa body roll, my moms minivan has a smaller turning radius.

I dont shun the car, Im hoping it will just yeild more parts for my car in the long run.

/rant


NOTE: This is not a non turbo performance discussion and should be in the hangout section. Mods, please do whatcha gotta do

 

[jimmy169]

I have to agree with you that I still hate the neon shapes. It's just the closest thing I can think of to a turbo eclipse, I would love to get a turbo eclipse but that damn crankwalk is a selfdestruct timer waiting to happen. The non-turbo eclipse is sweet too but a turbo cost so much and it decreases the value of the car a lot too :-/ This was a stock turbo car that reminded me of the eclipse without the crankwalk...i wish it had the eclipse bodystyle though, i guess it's still a neon.

I saw a clip of the car and I don't know if this has anything to do with the one peice design of the turbo but I didn't hear any psst turbo sound, do you know if it will have the sound or will the buyer have to get performance BOV's to get the sound.

I had no idea where to put this and I'm sorry it doesn't belong here, if a mod could please help move it to the right place, I'm sorry for posting it here.

 

[CLB]

well.. i havent seen what the new neons look like but i fukng hate neons.. because there so cheap i see them all over, and beleive me ive seen my fair share of riced out neons ALLOVER... i hate em

 

[green95hrcgs]

I think that the new Neon has the potential to be a little beast once the aftermarket catches up. I think that it looks much better than the previous Neon's styling, but the look still isn't my cup of tea. Be neat to see someone swap the 2.4L turbo into the Eclipse or Talon if possible.

 

[Red99]

i heard talk at the pittsburgh dsm meet thta the new turbo neon should be able to provide a compleat bolt up/on turbo for my eclipse, with both having the 420a in them. from what dude was telling me it might be cheaper than the hann acording to him. then i read about it in the super street mag that it puts out repectable numbers on the dino but doesnt spool till like 4000rpm i don't pretend to know anything about cars but that sounds kinda realy high to me. any ways what i'mn trying to ask is if this turbo for a 2.4ltr. motor will go nicely in to my little 2.0 420a or should i just save an get a hann

 

[abstraction]

nah, it's gotta spool quicker than that... it's a stock turbo, they're usually pretty small. and given the quick 0-60 times, i'm guessing that it spools before 4000. It be pretty sweet if there was a decent set of swapable parts from the SRT4 to the 2GNTs

 

[jimmy169]

I wish the whole engine could be swapped. I doubt it but that would be awsome, it would be like having a stock turbo engine better than the GS-T's.

 

[Misundaztood]

I think for the money it's very cool & fast. I know it's ugly but with a bodykit & rims I bet it would not look soo bad. You know what I've been thinking. Could you tranplant that motor in a non-turbo DSM? We always talk bout' how difficult it is to drop a 4G63 motor in but that's a 2.4 420a. Would it work? The only thing would be, it would cost a ton of money I bet...

 

[mavisky]

http://www.members.aol.com/mopartek/ptturbo.html

that's the info showing that hideous design of the turbo/manifold/wastegate/blow off valve all in one setup.

say hello to $2000 turbo upgrades due to all the shite you have to replace.

 

[green95hrcgs]

Yeah I saw the same article that said it does't spool to 4000RPM. That would suck if the article is correct. I imagine the cost of awapping in the new Neon motor would be pretty pricey right now. I don't even wanna know how much. I think right now a Hahn kit will still be much cheaper. Maybe when the Neon is older and some people have crashed them it might be a better swap option than buying the Hahn kit.

 

[sand14s]

I know what you mean, I don't like the looks of the neon's and the fact that everybody has one, the other day I was on a road out in the middle of nowhere, and wow, I had a neon in front of me and a neon behind me, there are just too many of them.....I was curious about the turbo car, I went and test drove a turbo pt cruiser, they only had one and it was an automatic w/autostick, didn't have much in auto. but with the autostick it was a lot more fun. I still really really hate the fact that a cruiser would dominate my car!

 

[green95hrcgs]

Granted that the new Neon looks much better than the previous model, I still can't get the "Hi I'm #@%#@%#@%" look of the old model, resemblance outta my head when I look at the new one. Maybe I'm just being an ass. But the new one is still much better looking with some power too. I guess the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[jimmy169]

the one thing i am very curious about is whether or not the engine can be swapped into the gs eclipse. I want to buy an eclipse so bad but with the problems I've been hearing, I just don't think I can maintain it. If the engine can be swapped, that would solve everything for me because the eclipse right now is pretty affordable so with the engine swap, I will have the perfect car that I've always wanted I was thinking of putting a turbo into a GS but I still doubt I'll be able to maintain it because I am horrible with engines and my friend, who has a GS, is pretty mad at it's problems its been giving him (but damn I love the car!!).

Do you think the engine could be swapped kind of like the honda engines are always swapped? I know they r 420a engines right, so....I guess we'll have to wait and see when the car comes out and if someone tries to do it.

 

[not2fast]

my understanding of the new r/t neon is thar the engine short block is the same one in the pt cruiser, status, etc. the engine code is 566a or something to that end. yes it has the same trans bolt up as our car, but the rt engine mount is all wrong, needs to be fabricated. the head is entirely bass ackwards for our cars, intake is on the oposite side, the same problems we have putting a 2.4 in our car now.

 

[jimmy169]

dang! so it can't be done can it. If it can it sounds like it'll have a lot of problems :-/

 

[ginsu417]

So, for shits and giggles, this manifold/turbo/bov crap will fit the 3rd gen eclipses? Sorry if it's a stupid question. I'm really stupid about 3rd gen tech.

- K

 

[fast1.8sohcDSM]

For laughs, doesn't everyone think that modificatiosn for this thing will be a PITA? I mean seriously guys, check that out, the manifold is built into the turbocharger exhaust housing. I guess you could just leave the carthridge, but still, check out the o2 housing, it goes right into the exhaust manifold. Seems like they made that exhaust setup to stay for life