Dodge Neon real world gas miliage

[71dart666]

Ok I am looking into buying a 2002-2005ish Dodge Neon for a daily driver. My Ford Escort threw a rod or broke a piston or something with only 75,000 miles on the odometer so I think I am done with Fords for now. My Escort did however pull an average 25 mpg with mostly city driving. I am looking into getting a Neon with a 5 speed manual for the extra speed and efficiency. Anybody here tell me what they truely get gas miliage wise?

[DanL]

My daughter has a 2002 Neon. When I drive it (not often), it consistently gets 35-40 MPG. This is on a 70-mile commute, very few stops, relatively straight but hilly roads, with my very light foot.

I have absolutely no idea what she gets, she's never measured it, I'm sure. But she has a lead foot, so I'm sure it's less.

[Walkercolt]

With the 4 speed auto, the '03 loaner I got from the dealer got 25+MPG in town with the A/C on all the time, and me not "babying it" for mileage. You really won't do alot better with a 5speed manual, unless you have a "feather foot" on the thottle and clutch. BTW, the Neon will blow the doors off an Escort, and still get 25MPG, plus it handles and rides 1000% better. I think I could have gotten 35+MPG hiway driving with the cruse set, especially if I drove 55-60MPH. One thing I like about the Neon is they come stock with 14" wheels and optional "handling pkg" 15", which beat 13" tires for life and ride to pieces. The SRT-4 is a blast to drive and will handle as good as a Miata, and probably run with it too. I just test drove the SRT-4, and it's a great little econo-box with super handling and FUN to drive...like a go-cart on steroids. If I wanted an economy car, the SRT-4 would probably be the car I'd buy. Much much cheaper than a Honda Civic or a Toyota Corolla, and more power and better handling to boot. Now the Toyota will blast the Neon on gas mileage...41MPG hiway(30+ in town) with auto and A/C and the re-sale on the Toy will be MUCH higher, but the SRT-4 is more fun.

[M1]

I've been watching my milage in my 2000 automatic and she has about 89k miles on her. I consistantly get 24mpg in DC area highway traffic (steady around 40-50mph if you're lucky but usually stop & go at about 25mph) & around town.
However, on a road trip to PA with it in cruise control at 75-80 and no A/C I got 30mpg.

[71dart666]

thanks for the input, my issue with the autos is that...at least as far as I know they are only 3 speed with no overdrive. That was the case on the 95 I used to drive briefly and I find that rather crude for modern vehicle standards. I am currently lookin at a 98 coupe with a 5 speed manual, older Neons are smaller cars and are much cheaper then the current gen.

[cageman]

I have been cruising around in my little bro's 95 Neon, It has gotten a steady 32 mpg, 3 speed auto. It is a neat little car, the thing is like a go cart, handles pretty good, I can see why they ACR'd these cars.

[Walkercolt]

In either '01 or '02 they went to a 4 speed OD transaxle in the Neon...really only gained 1-2MPG hiway tops. OD on a four-banger is WAAAAY overrated. I had an Alfa-Romeo that 4 and 5 were OD on. Yeah, it would do 160MPH @12,000 RPM but it took a week to get there. With it's tall rear-end ratio, it was a bitch to drive in stop and go traffic. BTW, you couldn't over-rev an Alfa; it had desdomonic valves....push open, pulled closed. And Alfa-Romeo means TURN in Italian! No other countries' cars will turn with Italian cars, because the hiways in Italy are one lane cow-tracks. Even the Auto-Strassa is only two and three(passing) lanes. You need to hear a turbo-Carrerra and a Ferrari Boxer-Berliner duke it out at 300KPH. Seeing it is just plain scary.