REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

More Spirited

It ’ s roomier, more refined, and better made. This new version of the Neon is also more sensible and available only as a sedan this time. But the big news is the introduction of a 4-speed auto transmission; journalist will now have to complain on something else…First-time car buyers were the previous generation ’ s admitted target, but they haven ’ t being returning the smile on the Neon ’ s grill since it first appeared in January 1994. Never mind that, though. Chrysler intends to court the roughly 1.5 million drivers (average age: 36) who already have a place reserved for it in their driveways. So they gave the Neon a makeover. They traded in its youthful features for a more serious, mature look and, to further convince us, swapped its candy floss wardrobe for some more sober outfits. Its smarter and slightly less aerodynamic lines surround a longer, wider frame intended to offer more interior room and stabler road handling. The Neon ’ s chassis has also been made more rigid through the use of solid door frames. Unlike its previous incarnation, it can now stand up to the powerful water jets in automatic car washes and the gusts of wind that used to infiltrate the passenger compartment. Is it because of the windshield ’ s new, steeper angle that the instrument panel seems less intrusive to the front seat passengers? Well, no. The instrument panel has been changed, you might say it ’ s like one from a miniaturized Intrepid: the instrumentation is clearly legible and the easy to use controls are placed in the driver ’ s immediate environment. The driving position is comfortable enough, as long as you develop the habit of pivoting your left knee when using the clutch on manual transmission models, to avoid bumping the rim of the steering wheel with your knee.Taking advantage of a longer wheelbase than the model it is replacing, the Neon can now boast of a more pleasant interior. I ’ m not prepared to go the extra step, however, and agree with Chrysler ’ s claim that it can seat five adults. On the other hand, it is true that the back seat seems easier to get into and you no longer have to feel the hump of the wheel well rubbing against your derriere. Also true is that the rear trunk is roomier, with the same low threshold making it easier to load heavy objects. One disappointing fact is that there is no interior remote control for opening the trunk. This is only available with the power remote door locks available as an option with the LE. Despite the many improvements that have been made to it, this 2.0 litre, four cylinder 132 horsepower motor (150 horses available on the R/T) with a single overhead cam shaft (SOHC) runs just as roughly and noisily as before, though the new engine mounts and insulating materials make the wailing less audible. However, it should still be noted that it can be heard over a wider operating range and is fairly pronounced at low and medium speeds. As for performance, the 2000 Neon has lost nothing compared to its predecessor, since it has an almost equivalent weight to power ratio. The Neon stands on a suspension system that has received a major overhaul to improve its clearance on bad road surfaces. Furthermore, the rear suspension now boasts an anti-sway bar intended to help control body movement on turns. The weight is better distributed, the track wider, and the 15-inch tires ensure that the Neon can offer well-balanced vehicle handling with no surprises at all. As for the power steering, they ’ ve attempted to keep it as balanced as before, but it no longer conveys the contours of the road with the same sharpness. One note: the Neon has lost none of its maneuverability in this overhaul. Its turning radius is identical to the earlier model. So what is the most striking difference between the new Neon and its predecessor? Definitely, the brakes. Naturally, the classic disc-drum combination is still there, but the pedal action has been greatly improved and feels much more reassuring than in the past. Does it stop well over short distances? We ’ ll be able to tell by testing it with our usual instruments. It is nonetheless worth noting that the antilock feature is still available for a little more money and that it includes the bonus of a low-speed antiskid feature, the first time on a Neon. This second-generation Neon isn ’ t quite the car of the century we were hoping for. Rather, it is the necessary next step in the evolution of a decent, well-equipped, inexpensive and indeed, spacious sub-compact.

PROS
Spacious interior
Straightforward road handling

CONS
Noisy standard motor
Rising price

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * *
Passenger: * * *