I have been searching around for daily driver neon. Found some 02/03 manual\auto with less than 100k miles for less than $4k.
Which is best auto or manual and I do drive over 100 miles about 50% of the week?
Should I continue looking for maybe an 04/05 with about 60k - 80k miles for about $6k+?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

I wish that was all I drove a week. Looking back, **** the automatic IMO. I don't like it. Been nothing but a PITA since I bought it.

 

I have a 2000 neon es with 194k with an auto and its been bullet proof for me. I know people diss the auto for the neon and the manual is proabably the better choice for stock options. I modded my auto with a valve body upgrade and I can shift it manually and it performs 100 times better now than in stock form. So if you go for the auto I would put the shift kit in. Its only 60 dollars and takes a few hours to install.

 

Proof of this?

 

What proof do ya need lol I was just giving the dude some input on my auto. I got the shift kit from Superior Shift. My buddy installed it for me. I have had it in for about a year. I have had no problems with my tranny since I got the car with 18k. I take meticulous care of my car with all the fluid and filter changes. I'm not bragging that my car is better than anyone else, I'm just saying the shift kits makes the stock slush box turn into a fun box. It comes in three installation choices, light duty, heavy duty, and full manual. If you want to use manual you put it down into 1 and hit the gas, the rpms will go to the redline and you shift accordingly up to 2, it slam into 2nd gear and you can ride the rpms to the red line in 2, then you slide it into 3rd. And when ur on the highway you can downshift it into 2nd for a boost of power, just have to watch the tach as you accelerate. I also have a cold air intake, magnflow exhaust, and soon to be header. Here is the copy of the text from the wed site I got it from.

This valve body kit deals with these problems:

Premature band failure
Sticking governor
Overlap 2-3 shift
Premature clutch failure
Improves overall performance
3 level options: regular, heavy duty, plus full manual

Superior's versatile 404- thru 670 kit is easy to install and is designed for use on regular, heavy duty and full manual Dodge applications. From minivans to street racers, this one kit truly fits all. Like all Superior products the 404 thru 670 kit is made from top-quality, precision-crafted parts, offers consistent performance and comes with easy-to-use instructions.
Heres the link too the web site too.
http://www.superior-transmission.com...n/k404-670.htm.. I guess heres a little proof of what I got...

 

just find something with low miles no matter what year, if its older year it will usually book for less, but as long as its got low miles good deal.

Auto or Manual... what do you like to drive? me personally i hate auto, refuse to own them... but theres alot of things to take into consideration

If you have problems outta your left knee/leg, your drive is stop and go traffic, not very experienced driving a manual, then i think you would be better with an auto.

But other than that, i think manual is always the way to go, better gas milage, fun to drive, and off the line faster *most the time*

 

Thanks for all the replies. I will start doing some test drives tomorrow. My wagon is auto and a great car, but guzzles gas due to all the stop and go that I do. I can drive manual its been a while. I am going to test drive them on highways before I can make a decision! thanks again!

 

Auto or manual, doesn't matter, will guzzle gas in stop and go.

 

wow a 3 speed es eh???
dodge really messed with the package options.
i have an 02 es with a 4-speed auto.
its nice to do this

 

i love the white face gauges, i wish i had a set for mine... im too cheap to but some tho LOL.... Id accually LOVE to have the 05 SRT4 cluster, thats are nice