Distrust

"Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker)
12/13/2015 at 00:30 • Filed to: SRT4

When it comes to cars like this I have an inherent distrust towards a person that will not replace something like an O2 sensor. If you’re not willing to do that is it a sign of how well the rest of it was taken care of during your ownership? Am I paranoid? Am I just looking for an excuse to not even think of becoming a Neon owner?

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Side Note: Check out those sweet tire tread stripe stickers.

DISCUSSION (39)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 00:38

Things I love about the SRT4 neon.

1 That little spindly shifter

2 turbo

Things I hate about the SRT4 Neon

1 The kids that own them.

PS9 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/13/2015 at 00:40

Hey, wasn’t it awesome to have an owner interject when you’re talking to someone about it and say, “IT’S NOT A NEON, IT’S AN SRT4!!!!!!” like you’d just confused a basketball and a watermelon? Good times.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 00:43

Don’t do it. There isn’t a single one of these left that hasn’t been beaten on in one way or another

Frenchlicker > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/13/2015 at 00:43

Exactly how I feel about them. I'm 22 and people would automatically assume I am one of those types of I were to own it.

Frenchlicker > PS9
12/13/2015 at 00:44

Those are the worst, and the exact reason I put Neon in the post.

Birddog > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 00:44

SRT 4 “Don’t call it a Neon” folks are odd.

Normally they don’t neglect. That thing is.. Uhm..

Look over there! A Loon!

Frenchlicker > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
12/13/2015 at 00:45

I know, that's exactly why I won't be doing it. To be honest I despise red cars too, I don't believe I could bring myself to buy one.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 00:46

Yeah I know. I try to not be judgemental as a car guy, but I’ve never metal an SRt4 owner that wasn’t a tool. And those “eyebrows” aren’t helping the stigma here.

Frenchlicker > Birddog
12/13/2015 at 00:47

A loon as in someone that owns a wrx sti or the bird? I could totally go to a bugeye Subie, depending on what my insurance company was to say.

Frenchlicker > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/13/2015 at 00:48

I may like the tire tread stickers but that definitely points towards the wrong end of the spectrum

Birddog > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 00:52

The Bird.

dogisbadob > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 00:58

Don’t forget the PT Cruiser GT. Same fun shit as the SRT4 in a wagon body, or even a convertible if you prefer. They’re also much cheaper than a decent Neon SRT4 and without the bro image. Plus, ALL FOUR power windows!!! Neons only had power windows up front, and manual windows in the back. If it even had them at all.

And I totally agree about the oxygen sensor. Not to mention the transmission problem this particular example has. Are the o2’s difficult to do on these cars?

Frenchlicker > dogisbadob
12/13/2015 at 01:01

PT Cruiser is less likely to be bought than this. On the transmission front I have no clue. However I would attribute it being thrashed by what is most likely the third or fourth owner that absolutely did not care at all.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 01:02

Looking at that front bumper the car’s defs been crashed.

Frenchlicker > Birddog
12/13/2015 at 01:04

I don't believe I've ever seen one.

Frenchlicker > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/13/2015 at 01:05

I'm thinking CP all the way around really.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > dogisbadob
12/13/2015 at 01:18

There’s already not a lot of room to work in the regular 2.0 cars, bore that out to 2.4 and add all the turbo stuff and you have one hell of a cramped engine bay.

dogisbadob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/13/2015 at 01:22

How is it compared to a transverse V6? Like the A32 Maxima?

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/13/2015 at 01:27

Not all owners.

Kinja'd!!!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > dogisbadob
12/13/2015 at 01:37

Kinja'd!!!

Not that bad, the plugs, coil pack, and oil filter are pretty easy to get to, but the belts are a huge bitch that require removing a wheel to get to the lower pulleys. It’s a compact with an engine size that’s usually reserved for mid-sized cars, so everything is packed in there tight.

Tohru > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 01:52

O2 sensors aren’t cheap, can be a real pain in the ass to change sometimes, and a lot of people don’t bother because they see it as just emissions crap.

I’d be more concerned about those absolutely disgusting aftermarket headlights and taillights.

Also, you should never want to be a Neon owner. They’re awful junk built to low standards by people who didn’t give a shit. Chrysler is the British Leyland of the American automotive industry.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 02:56

Totally reasonable. For any car really. For one, oxygen sensors are usually inexpensive and easy to replace. Two, they’re not as common as craigslist ads would indicate meaning there is probably either a larger problem or a very difficult to diagnose problem. And three, like you said it’s an indicator of poor maintenance.

Frenchlicker > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/13/2015 at 03:01

I did a quick RockAuto search and the most expensive O2 sensor for this car is $78 and some change, most are almost half that. I would assume something further upstream is messing up and it fouled up the sensor. That's bad enough before remembering the transmission problem.

GUYMANDUDE > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 06:35

I’m assuming post-cat O2 and 3rd gear synchro. That would be best case scenario.

desertdog5051 > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 08:21

“Have you changed the timing belt”?

“Dude, I change the oil every 2500 miles. The timing belt is in good shape.”

wheelhop > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 08:53

So as a former owner I’m on the “nice price” side of this one. It has the usual problems. The O2 sensor is an easy replacement. The 3rd gear pop out of super common, it’s most likely the syncro needs replacing. The car has some mods. (Mopar CAI, MSD coil pack, SAMCO hoses, aftermarket BOV) If you want a fun daily that will most likely need a little wrenching I would offer him 4500 bucks and have a car that is probably more fun then it should be.

TheNeonDriver - Now with More BMW! > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 09:37

I always called it the Neon SRT-4, so to avoid confusion with the Terrible Caliber SRT-4. Turrible.

Frenchlicker > GUYMANDUDE
12/13/2015 at 11:26

I've learned to never buy anything I need to DD and hope for best case scenario.

Frenchlicker > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/13/2015 at 11:27

I would buy it in a heartbeat if it looked like that.

Frenchlicker > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/13/2015 at 11:29

Which means I'm too big to work on most things. My hands can barely fit places on a Taurus.

Frenchlicker > wheelhop
12/13/2015 at 11:31

The thought of buying a car with problems in a college town and hoping for best case scenario is kind of terrifying.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 11:32

Honestly the biggest issue I had with my Neon was that the front was too low to even get my head under without jacking it up first.

AfromanGTO > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 11:53

Kinja'd!!!

It’s a Skittle!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 15:36

Could be a bad turbo, low compression, head gasket, vacuum or boost leak, fuel injectors, etc. Or it may not even be related to am oxygen sensor at all. It seems to be the generic “go to” answer when craigslist sellers have a CEL. In my experience the only conclusion that can be drawn from that statement in a craigslist ad is “don’t buy this car, it’s current owner is either a moron or hiding something".

Frenchlicker > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/13/2015 at 15:46

That’s my feelings on the random craiglist add one sees. It kind of like the old “air conditioner just needs a recharge.” It cost what, $20 to do that yourself on a cheap car?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Frenchlicker
12/13/2015 at 15:53

Right? Not to mention that “needing a recharge” is often indicative of a leak or a dead compressor.

Frenchlicker > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/13/2015 at 15:58

Craigslist is just a place to not trust anyone. A majority of them do not know real problems and are going with what the Internet told them is wrong.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Frenchlicker
12/14/2015 at 10:27

Whenever I see an ad and it says. Runs great, just needs (insert $25 part here). I automatically pass.

If you can’t be bothered to change the simplest of cheap parts. I can’t be bothered to go check it out.

When I sell something I’ll make the vehicle as good as it can reasonably be therefore you’ll get top dollar for it.

On the other hand my buddy just bought a Pontiac grand prix and the power steering pump was making some noise. got the seller to drop the price by $700 bucks and all we had to do was top off the reservoir.

Frenchlicker > Luc - The Acadian Oppo
12/14/2015 at 10:42

That's not bad, I wish I had that kind of luck.