|
Plymouth Neon functions as subcompact commuter car or racer
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
Tearing around a rain-slick race route, the spunky coupe carved precise turns through 14 hard corners of a 2.1-mile loop around Belle Isle in the Detroit River.
Chrysler's president, Bob Lutz, steered an identical car poised immediately in front of this driver, wrapped in racing suit, encased in steel safety cage and pinned by 5-point harness to contours of a bolstered bucket seat.
In an hour famed IndyCar drivers would control this course at the Detroit Grand Prix, but for the next 12 laps a collection of 24 television stars, automotive journalists and auto industry executives raced each other in front of the all-seeing lenses of ESPN's television cameras.
Our cars, painted in vivid yellow with black letters spelling out each driver's name and number, were simply production models outfitted with special race gear -- roll cage, racing harness and special suspension settings.
The 5-speed stick shifter felt notchy and malleable, the 4-cylinder engine sounded macho when revved, while rack and pinion steering responded quickly when commanded.
Zipping around that confining course at high speed on a paved chute packed with so many other racers demanded keen driver skills, instant judgment and a lot of guts.
To be a contestant also required a Neon because this is the Neon Challenge.
Plymouth's little subcompact performs as a race car?
It certainly does, thanks to an inexpensive package of hardware added to a machine that's already agile even in bare base format.
With its debut in 1994 as a 1995 model, Chrysler's revolutionary subcompact exhibited excellent ride and drive characteristics, stocked an effusive 4-cylinder engine and provided surprising conveniences for a price that tallied up to only $13,000 for a reasonably equipped model.
Neon scored as the first modern subcompact in its wee price class to be conceived, designed and constructed within the United States by an all-American team.
The typical subcompact must be extremely inexpensive because that's the point, forcing designers to scale down the engine, strip away luxuries and forego safety systems.
Yet Neon dared to be different -- affordable but fun, small but spacious, cute but comfortable.
Neon's base 2.0-liter engine, with overhead cam and four valves for each of four cylinders, produces unexpected throttle response that climbs to 132 horsepower in high-revving arrangement.
An optional plant reaches 150 hp, thanks to dual overhead cam configuration. That boost puts incredible zip in the feel of Neon -- it flies in an aggressive manner unlike any competitive coupe.
Combine that power with Neon's stock 5-speed manual shifter and you'll think you're driving a sports car, not some conventional little subcompact.
Then Neon's cozy yet comfy interior compartment with cab-forward design and high wrap of windows provides safety systems like dual airbags and comfort touches such as form-fitting front bucket seats, a front console with twin cupholders, even floor carpeting.
Neon's cab-forward design, achieved by pushing wheels to corners of the rectangular plan, creates greater stability for handling and generates more than normal interior space -- almost 90 cubic feet.
This means you end up with more elbow room, more shoulder space and -- with those broad rear doors of the sedan -- easy backseat entry and exit.
Yet the best of all features is the one that's hard to find in this class: Neon feels exciting to drive.
Highly responsive and active, it allows an aggressive driver to sling that chassis around a tight-angle corner with confidence that the front-wheel-drive format will keep Neon rooted to roadbed.
I should know. To prepare for this year's Neon Challenge event, I spent multiple days in a race-ready Neon perfecting performance driving techniques on the hilly circuits of California's Sears Point Raceway.
Randy Buck, instructor at Skip Barber Racing School, offered a turn-by-turn critique from the passenger's seat: "The weight's distributed fairly evenly in Neon, and with traction applied to front wheels you can push it harder and faster into a curve than expected. It's very predictable under stressful driving situations."
Beneath its skin, Neon sports a 4-wheel independent suspension system which delivers a sporty quality to the ride character.
Also, there's no-nonsense rack and pinion steering aboard Neon, along with front disc brakes as standard issue.
Anti-lock brakes are available for the reasonable add-on figure of $565.
An efficient 3-speed automatic transmission is another option, as is an air conditioner and other perks packaged as a group for the base model.
Pricing of a base Neon sedan starts at $10,500.
A Highline edition with additional interior features and exterior trim elements totals to about $12,500, while the Sport version in sedan format, armed with sport suspension and larger tires, climbs to $13,300.
This is the identical car you'll find at a Dodge store, by the way, as both Dodge and Plymouth share the platform, name and pricing points.
Figures for Neon's cute coupe drop as low as $10,000. Like the sedan, Highline and Sport trims are available, with the Sport coming to $13,000.
Neon's Sport coupe carries the more powerful twin-cam engine, then offers power window and a sunroof.
An optional appearance package for Highline models, dubbed Expresso, attaches a bulging front hood, rear spoiler, tachometer and white wheel covers, plus air conditioning. It lists for an additional $935.
The competition package, necessary for SCCA-sanctioned racing events like Neon Challenge, brings a 5-speed performance gearbox, tachometer and alloy wheels, faster-ratio power steering, a heavy-duty radiator, 4-wheel disc brakes and competition suspension settings -- all for less than $2,000 added to coupe or sedan.
1996 PLYMOUTH NEON
|
| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1996 PLYMOUTH NEON Specs |
| Description: |
Subcompact sedan, coupe |
| Model Options: |
Subcompact sedan, coupe |
| Wheelbase: |
104.0 inches |
| Overall Length: |
171.8 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
SOHC 2.0-L I-4
DOHC 2.0-L I-4
|
| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/3 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Disc/drum/opt. ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
29/38 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 10,000 to $ 15,000 |
|
|
