1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
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Champion
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,650
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
question... how do the 2nd gen (from like 03-05) compare with handling to the 1st gen. Neons? and how big is the difference in performance? non R/T, ACR and SRT-4...
All Star
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 951
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From: Kankakee, IL
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
SRT4 04+ or 03 with LSD is king
2GN cars are heavier and slower but more suspension travel to play with.
2GN HO SOHC motors have best low end torque NA. 1GN and 2GN in similar states of tune 1GN should be faster due to a few hundred pounds left behind.
Would suggeest the
High-Performance Dodge Neon Builders Handbook from Mike Ancas over at speednation.com
Covers the differences in pretty good detail. With shipping and handling was about $20 and worth the price.
2GN cars are heavier and slower but more suspension travel to play with.
2GN HO SOHC motors have best low end torque NA. 1GN and 2GN in similar states of tune 1GN should be faster due to a few hundred pounds left behind.
Would suggeest the
High-Performance Dodge Neon Builders Handbook from Mike Ancas over at speednation.com
Covers the differences in pretty good detail. With shipping and handling was about $20 and worth the price.
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Champion
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,650
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
ok cause i was just on ebay tonight looking at 04 and 05 Neons and i got to thinking about how well would they race in the SCCA... cause if i were to spend more money on one of them then i would be able to race it longer in the series... just thinking i guess
Legend
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,543
Likes: 2
From: United States
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
If you plan on racing it then it depends on what class you plan to run in, but generally the 1st gen is the best all around. They are not only lighter, but they have far more mods available for them.
All Star
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 951
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From: Kankakee, IL
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
SCCA has from what I have been reading a 10 year time line on cars so a 2nd gen might be the best for you. Would stay earlier than 03 due to some sensor changes which limit aftermarket performance PCMs.
From there it is up to you. Just have fun.
From there it is up to you. Just have fun.
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Champion
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,650
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From: Ohio
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
thats what i was thinking with the 10 year limit...cause if i went with the 1st gen then i would have to get a 99 just to race it a couple of years...whereas if i go with a second gen. then i could race it a lot longer. but the only 2nd gen. that i like are the 03 and up lol
Legend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 9,284
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From: mendota, illinois
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
1st gens were more race care like....being the 95's were kinda introduced for race purposes.....2nd gens became more economy family cars
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Record Breaker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,822
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From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
not saying that either can't produce a good amount of HP, stock wise the 95-97 neons were sprty vehicles, meant perticularly to compete in stock autocross classes (being the ACR history of the neon). So, obviously... despite my 2004 neon, its 1st gen FTW in handelling
Grand Champion
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,258
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From: Charleston, SC
RE: 1Gen. Vs. 2Gen Handling and Performance
I would say all around any year Neon is ahead of the other cars in its class as far as stock handling goes...since your only talking about "Handling Performance", not engne performance, the same aftermarket parts are availabe for both. Considering the Neon SRT-4 and N/A 2nd Gen Neons have interchangeable suspension, sky's the limit as long as you have the money.
Car & Driver recently did a skidpad and autocross between a 1997 Cobra, Saturn, Neon, and Miata. On race slicks, the Neon was the *only* car able to pull over 1G of lateral acceleration.
Motor Trend ran a 2000 Neon ES in the slalom at 64.9 mph... Considering a Neon ES is only riding on 15 inch Goodyears, that's impressive. The Neon ES beat the AWD Suburu Impreza WRX -- which only managed a 61.4 MPH slalom! The Neon ES was also faster than a Pontiac Trams Am WS6 which only managed 64.6 MPH!
May 2002 issue of Grassroots Motorsports. This was no highbrow, stuffy whine-fest... they [took] 7 'pocket rockets under $20,000' to the local autocross to see how they matched up. While they were there, they put each car on a chassis dyno and also measured 0-60 times. The cars included 2002 versions of the Mazda MP3, VW Golf GTI turbo, Nissan Sentra SE-R, Focus SVT, Civic Si, Hyundai Tiburon V6, and the Neon ACR. ... When all was said and done, the Neon finished mid-pack in 0-60 (7.9 seconds). But on the road course the Neon spanked the others like a cruel stepmother. It finshed the course at least 1.5 seconds ahead of the Focus, and 2 or 3 seconds ahead of everything else. They loved the handling, saying if I remember, that with the car dialed in right (bear in mind it has adjustable suspension pieces from the factory) it had as close to perfect handling as it gets in this class. They found some complaint with every other car in the test, concerning handling. All this, gents, and it was easily the cheapest car in the test to boot!"
