ztroll already summed it up for me. At the end of the day, it's still a Neon. Have you ever heard automotive engineers from Chryslers competitors speak about the Neon. The folks that reverse-engineer competitors cars for Ford and GM have mentioned that the Neon scares the ever-living **** out of them once you tear into the subframe and realize what a death trap that car is.

I'd take ANYTHING over a Neon. Even a Kia!

 

A few years back, there were 2 cars that failed the Insurance Institute's offset crash test -- the Neon and the Tiburon. The video for the Neon was disturbing:

- At impact, the rear of the car came off of the ground and bowed upward, creasing the roof just behind the driver's seat.
- The drivetrain bowed downward and actually snapped.
- the A-pillar separated from the driver's door, leaving a gaping hole for the crash test dummy's head and arm to fly through.

I swear, I watched that video online 20 times out of morbid fascination...

Doesn't the PT Cruiser share the same platform as the neon?
Josh

 

I liked the "It's called tourque!!" comment.

Is that kind of a touring keyword?

They have tourque, we have torque.

 

I think somebody forgot to mention in their thread that the 350z doesnt have a kick like the honda gets from vtec, cuz the 350z has continious variable valve timing and therefore, it doesnt get a big kick like a VTEC Honda gets at 4000 - 5000 rpm.

 

Honestly, if a Z runs into a good driver in a SRT-4 it's gonna be really close....but come on 96% of drivers of neons are idiots who can't shift to save their lives...

 

The 2 cars are going to be pretty close from the factory, but the problem is Turbo or FI cars in general will always make better gains with just basic mods. Intake, Exahaust, Downpipe and Boost controller will probably get the car into the low 13's. So basically for a little over $1k the car will outrun the 350z. But then again it is still a Neon.

 

The "insanity" is the fact that everything has to be a pissing contest. Different people have different tastes, and therefore buy different cars. Just enjoy your car, and don't worry about everyone else!

 

Neon = POS

Neon SRT = POS with a turbo. What's the big deal?

 

Neon = POS

Neon SRT = POS with a blown engine

 

Um, maybe that should be blown-UP engine.

Bottom line the Z is not about 1/4 mile times. It is pretty fast but that's not why you should buy one. If the Z was a 15 sec car and the neon was a 13 sec car, I'd still take the Z. But as it stands the Neon just about the same speed as the Z.

I'd take a WRX any day and twice in sunday over the neon.