Hi,

I just picked up an '03 Neon SXT with roughly 26,000 miles on it last November.
After owning the car for almost a year I heard that the last Neon officially rolled off the assembly line in Sept. of '05. I took a look at the "car" that's supposed to replace the Neon
(The Dodge "Caliber") on the web. Man does that thing look FUGLY!! Is it a car?A station Wagon?An SUV? Supposedly the reason for discontinuing the Neon is that we're getting clobbered by the Japanese automakers when it comes to quality,performance & gas mileage and the sales on Neons has declined since 1996. The 2nd Gen Neons like mine are better looking but could use some modifications like perhaps a 2 door convertible model using the same frame but extending the doors a bit so it still looks good. Perhaps they could make an SRT model with a more powerful engine (possibly a 2.2 litre or a 2.4 litre without the turbo)and make it available with an automatic or "autostick" transmission. Perhaps Dodge could offer a "Tuner package" for those who want the "pimped out ride" look. In my opinion, I believe that the Caliber will do very poorly in sales because it only appeals to "Soccer moms" whereas Neons appealed to both the young and young at heart, male and female alike. If only the folks at Dodge would reconsider and bring back the Neon with some restyling & some additional power & a larger fuel tank then I think they would have a devoted following & sell lots more cars.
But then again...that's just my two cents.

 

I agree they should bring back the neon but maybe this will just be a break...but there should def. be a 2 dr and 4 dr....they originally competed w/ the honda civics being that they had two dr and four dr models but the 2nd gens took away the coupes. I would buy a coupe neon in a heartbeat if they made em in the future. An srt-4 neon Coupe!!!!! Hell yeah! Id buy one w/ out a question.

 

if there was one car that I had to live with for the rest of my life, it would have to be the neon. It's a nice looking car and it's great on gas. It serves my purposes and overall it's a fun little car. At times I wish it had more storage space, but that's what I've got my truck for. If any of you feel as strongly as I do about your Neon, maybe we should all get together and write letters to Dodge and ask them to re-consider the discontinuation of the Neon.

 

man i had no idea they would discontinue the neon. honestly this car has been my favorite car i have owned yet. i love my neon. i have had an 88 acura legend and a 94 toyota camry and this is by far the best one yet. they are cheaper in price, cheaper to make look nice than a lot of other cars and really easy to work on. hopefully dodge will reconsider because i would love to buy a newer one in the future so that i dont drive a 2001 in the year 2009 or something you know? plus i would hate to go out and buy a jap car and support their economy. if there is anything we can do about this replacement caliber let us know, maybe they can produce both of them. alrite then later

 

That seems to be the disturbing direction Dodge is headed. All the new cars are boxy SUV/Utility looking rides. I've seen Dodge's future line up at the Las Vegas premier show, I'm NOT impressed. They've made a few additions and revivals. The stealth... the dodge friggin stealth now looks like a lifted, SUV'd crossfire. 2006/2007 is gonna suck! I gotta try to sell this trash! I am, however, looking forward to the release of the switchback- the mid engine 3 cyinder-turbo RWD safari top(they're debating to keep the turbo or not). Either way, thats my next demo! But all in all, dodge has given up the sleek market they once had cornered.

But there IS a "Tuner Kit"- lip kit, lamps, choises of spoilers ect. PLus, there's a whole section in the Mopar Performance catalog for the Neon. Short shifters, suspension kits, shocks/struts, antiswaybars, strut tower braces, cams. Anything ya want right from your dodge dealership so ya know it'll work well.

 

stealth?? when are they making the stealth again...I have never heard anything on it??? you mean the AVENGER?

 

honestly, how long can any car last? Cars are always needing new parts, even if there are no accidents. It would be nice if Dodge allowed outsourcing of all of their designs to keep the Neon alive. If I had an inkling of how to pull it off, I'd produce Neon parts by the truckload. Cars are pretty cheap these days. I just did a stereo install on my car this past weekend, do you have any idea how much digging I had to do before I could find a some metal to ground to? Cars are all plastic these days, and they don't last as long as you'd want them to. I hate all of the new SUV junk that car makers are coming out with as of late. I could get by with a car, and for me, the Neon was it. Honestly guys, I'm going to put in a letter to Dodge conveying my distaste in the new lineup of cars and I suggest that you do the same.

 

Okay well how would we go about doing just that (submit a letter to diamler chrysler)???

 

I don't think it would be too hard. Just write to the address below:

Steven J. Landry <<< Chairmain, President and CEO
One Riverside Drive West
Windsor, Ontario
Canada
N9A 5K3

Now this also assumes that the letter actually makes it through to him or someone who's actually going to read it. I wouldn't send him any letters that have any exposed wiring or leaking strange substances; this could help the chances of the letter actually getting through.

 

They discontinued for this ugly thang that is a stupied move on dodges part the only good thang about the caliber is the 2.4


Dodge Caliber