Well.. we'll find out very soon now. The car is due on dealer lots.

The fact that you guys are making such a big deal of it shows that you CARE in some capacity. Why would you CARE if it was only a POS Neon? Hrmm...? Maybe because it IS interesting or IS a performance threat?

Get a grip folks.

 

You may be able to find some Neon model that will give a 350Z a race in a 1/4 mile. That's fine, but to compare the Z to a Neon as a sports car would be a joke. The Z was designed from the ground up as a serious sports car for the masses. The Neon was designed for economy fleet rentals. So sure, put enough boost or the bottle on a Neon, and it might be faster in a straight line, but the Zs suspension will allow it to run away from a Neon on the track, because the Z was designed for the track.

The Z's ride is punishing on rough roads because it's suspension is so tight, but on smooth roads like those I drove that snake throught the mountains of West Virginia, the Z handles incredibly well, just sticks to the road around any turn at ungodly speeds.

It's very easy to go very fast in a Z. I've read the 350Z will be running in the ALMS. When I see a Neon in the ALMS, I'll have to reconsider it as a sports car.

 

ezee-

Nobody (including me) is going to argue with you on those totally valid points.

I just give no credit to the guys saying, "Dodge sucks! The Neon sucks because... uh... I said so... and my sister got one and uh... yeah the whole car blew up before she even left the lot. Uhm, yes, it's a POS!!"

Give it up folks, it's just another car. One I expect nobody here is seriously considering buying.

 

I don't understand why everyone has such a problem with the Neon. It is starting to look like American sport compacts are going to be on top, and I don't see any problem with that. A horsepower war will only be good for us, just wait until there are more threats to the 350Z and the power will get raised. I'm glad to see Ford and Dodge coming out with some new cars to compete (and beat) the japanese and europeans.
I also don't understand why people think the Neon motor will blow when you start cranking the boost. This motor was designed for boost, and Chrysler has a history with turbo cars. Have you ever seen the 12 second turbo mini-vans or the 11 second Dodge Shadows? They are some nasty cars in a straight line if done right. In terms of refinement, the Z has the Neon beat, but in terms of bang for the buck you can't argue with the Neon.

 

Dodge Neon?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


wake me when its over....

 

Well I just want to say I want to get the Z because I think it will be fun to drive and its a nice looking car.

But I will say this once I hope that Neon never beats me or its to the tuner shop.



BTW I am curious to see the evo7 and wrx sti race the Z. See how the Z does.

 

Where did these numbers come from? Wait, don't tell me. Let me guess--Road and Driver Trend, right?

What a magazine says and what happens in real life are two different things. Usually two significantly different things.

And even if that Neon is fast, so what? 1. It's wrong-wheel drive, and 2. It's a freakin' NEON.

Hi.

 

Come on now. "Its a freakin Neon" doesn't change ****. Nobody is saying go out and buy one we are talking about performance.

So if you race a neon and it beats its ok because its a neon? How is that work.

I am buying the Z for a fun drive but I also want to know that once I get one. No Neon will come close. Or anyother little 4 banger.

 

Never judge a car by its price or look...now lets just forget the Neon for a moment...how bout a 12 sec Dodge Caravan??!!
http://www.turbovan.net/turbovan.html

 

I find it hard to belive the neon can get a 5.8 0-60 time when it only has 223 hp in addition to the launching difficulities inherent to a FWD car.

 

Sorry guys, but I can't resist the temptation to flame here...

One of two things will happen if some 16 year old punk tries to race me in my Z in a Neon SR-4:

1. I'll blow his doors off because while I'm hitting second, he'll be JUST getting enough FWD traction to get through the intersection, or
2. I'll be too busy laughing at his spoiler'd and hood scoop'd econobox to bother playing the game.

#2 is more likely...

Dodge is putting in a good effort by putting out a high-performance, sales-boosting car targetted at the boy-racer croud. I'll commend them for that.

I loved my Eagle Talon TSi AWD, and that was similar in effect to the new Neon, but it had two things a Neon lacks:

A. Style
B. AWD

I give them a B+ for effort... but I doubt if anyone looking at the Z would even consider (seriously) a Neon no matter how fast they made it.

If I wanted an ugly-duckling, high-performance car I would've bought a WRX...

 

I don't get it. You comment on how a turbo would void a 350's warranty yet you suggest something for the neon that will also void its warranty.

 

How many times are people going to right about this and clutter up this site with crap.

 

Right now the only place you can get a turbo for the Z is the aftermarket. Mopar is a aftermarket parts division of Chrysler, sort of like Nismo. SO, their parts are covered under Dode's warranty for the SRT-4. so basically, an srt-4 owner can make his **** scream and still have it fully protected under warranty, while Z drivers cant. That is, until Nismo fully launches its American division this Fall.

 

look... it's not in production yet

that's 1

second, you'll have a supercharger/exhaust/intake/ecu option before you know it.

 

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PULLED UP TO A LIGHT AND THERE WAS A BABE NEXT TO YA AND SHE SAID NICE CAR IS THAT A PORSHE ???
I CAN ASURE YOU THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN A NEON NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO IT

Z VS NEON ARE YOU STONED OR ON CRACK LOLOLOL

 

well. first of all, i agree with Jason's post on the first page to this thread. second, shouldn't we all be happy that nother enthusisast's car will be released soon? third, neon's despite their reliability reputations absolutely clean up at auto X adn track events....with proper basic suspension modifications to both cars (the Z and teh the neon...all else stock), the neon will RAPE a Z(yes that car was a ringer, but i'm guessing a real one will be close to a 6.1s car or so based on the low wieght and rated hp and torque, as well as how early the torque comes on). Weight and suspension deisgn are the 2 most important things in going aroudn a track or auto-x course(besides tires of course!). neon's are light (thank the cheap parts for that one!), Z's are not heavy, but not light either. that being said, both are great cars for what they are...and thats teh important thing!

btw, pick up a copy of GRM and take a look at where neon's finish....