Dodge Neon Questions?

[daniel_surfer587]

So I have a few questions (mostly advice) about Dodge Neons. First of all, I am debating on whether to get a 1995 Neon or a 1998 Neon (both same price ($850)). I am wanting a car with good gas mileage, easy to drive, and sufficient room in the back seat/trunk for extra luggage. So keep all that in mind when answering, you can also give your honest opinion if you choose.
Second question I have is what I can do to make a Dodge Neon 4-cylinder automatic engine go a lot faster than it originally was built for (aftermarket parts, performance upgrades, etc.) And along with those things, list some more aftermarket parts that I could buy to make a Neon look more street racish???

 

[Kyle]

I'd say if you're willing to spend that much in parts after buying a 500 dollar car, you'd be better of combining the total and find a car that may already have stuff you want. Cold air intakes and headers and exhausts don't get you a lot of gain. It's really how everything is brought together and then you can do ignition timing tweaks on a Dyno. I think suspension is more important to start with, even for just linear speed gains, that way you can get more horses from the engine to the ground with less slipping away. As for body kits, I'd got a full one and had front and rear put on. Back is good and repositioned my exhaust to fit a cutout for it in the bumper but the front bumper got beat to hell, and I'm on a stock, non-lowered suspension. If you're going to rice out a bit like I did, you might consider actually getting a ricer. Accords of that time aren't much more and more things you can do plus better chance things already have been done to it, plus if you can get yourself a VTEC DOHC 4cyl, you could have years with it making it a side project if you wish. I personally have a VTEC 2.3L 02 Accord, and yes, that car itself is worth 10 times than what you have for the Neons, but Accords or Civics or Preludes have a looooot you can do with them.