1995 Plymouth - Dodge Neon vs 1994 Plymouth Sundance / Dodge Shadow
The 1995 Neon or the 1994 Sundance (P-body)?
| Comparison | Neon | Sundance/Shadow/Duster | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doors | Poorly designed frameless windows, prone to noise and leaks | Traditional doors that open all the way. | P-Body |
| Price | Competitive, starting at $10K | Bargain!, starting at $8K, with rebates dropping the price further | P-Body |
| Power (base) | Vroom! after 3,000 rpm or so. 132 hp, 129 lb-ft. | Better from idle than the Neon, but no vroom! 93 hp 2.2 or 100 hp 2.5. If you don't rev high, Shadow wins. Acceleration on Neon under full throttle is far superior | Neon, with qualifications |
| Power (optional) | 150 hp. | 140 - 150 hp but more power at low rpms; gas mileage penalty | Depends on taste |
| Torque (base) | Good at about 130 lb-ft. | Good at about 130 lb-ft. Kicks in earlier. Goes uphill in fourth at 25 mph with a/c. | P-Body |
| Torque (optional) | Same as base engine! | Kicks in earlier than Neon. | P-Body |
| A/C | Excellent cooling but prone to leaks. | Longer-lasting but using R12 makes refills harder. | P-Body |
| Heat | Excellent - warms up incredibly fast. | Good - warms up fast. | Neon |
| Visibility | Good, one blind spot. | Good. | P-Body |
| Wipers | Excellent coverage but oddball size; large blades wear out faster | Excellent coverage. | P-Body |
| MPG (stick) | 29/38 | 27/33 (2.2), 26/32 (2.5)- less for V6, more for turbo | Neon |
| MPG (auto) | tops out at 33 | tops out at about 31 | Neon |
| Manual trans | good stick feel | clutch could be a LOT smoother, OK stick feel, balky reverse. | Neon |
| Trunk | Normal for class | Large for class | P-Body |
| Back seat room | Large | Normal for class | Neon |
| Front seat room | Normal for class | Normal for class | Draw |
| Squeaks and rattles | Long term, fewer squeaks and rattles, once windows are fixed | Windows are fine but the rest of the car ... | Neon |
| Reliability | Matter of opinion | Matter of opinion | n/a |
| Warranty | 3/36 or 7/70 plus roadside assistance. | 3/36 or 7/70. | Neon |
| Maintenance | Replace the plugs and oil. | Also have to do the timing and rotor. | Neon |
Updated in 2008.