bon voyage mon petit coupe

September 20, 2005 1:54 AM

Bye.
posted by delmoi (50 comments total)

Can't see this one lasting long ...
posted by daveg at 2:10 AM on September 20, 2005

Bye.
posted by NinjaPirate at 2:30 AM on September 20, 2005

If it's saying bye they should show the ass end of the car.
posted by dingobully at 2:31 AM on September 20, 2005

The concept Chrysler Akino (from the link) looks an awful lot like a SmartCar. Possible trend in SUVland? I hopehope hope?
posted by maryh at 2:34 AM on September 20, 2005

"The people who own Neons are like a family," she said. "They have something about them that makes them special."

Yeah. Special.
posted by recurve at 2:39 AM on September 20, 2005

.
posted by grouse at 2:39 AM on September 20, 2005

I remember having to watch some stupid dodge neon ad on a computer. Before playing X-Wing... on floppy disks. ick. DOS.
posted by adzm at 2:42 AM on September 20, 2005

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will replace the Neon early next year with the Dodge Caliber sport wagon, a vehicle that is more in line with a shift to bigger, more versatile vehicles in the small car market.

History seems to be repeating itself, again.

Having felt the sting of an oil crisis a few years prior and realizing that, indeed, fossil fuel is a finite entity, Americans began seriously considering (and buying) small, economical cars.

In 1976, the Honda Accord was launched. 30 years later the Accord goes hybrid and Daimler Chrysler is producing "bigger more versatile" vehicles.
posted by three blind mice at 2:44 AM on September 20, 2005

on floppy disks. ick. DOS.

Really? I think Windows came first before this car. Perhaps some people were still running dos apps. It was a pretty good marketing ploy, though. The car says hi to you, and looks kinda like a face from the front.
posted by dingobully at 2:50 AM on September 20, 2005

This has nothing to do with the ipod nano. Delete it immediately.
posted by showmethecalvino at 2:57 AM on September 20, 2005

Sweet! My Neon just doubled in value. Who is laughing now?
posted by lacus at 3:24 AM on September 20, 2005

The beast isn't dead, it's changed its stripes.

The PT Cruiser is a redressed version of the Neon, as it uses the same parts and chassis.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:40 AM on September 20, 2005

Cheap little death boxes, but at least the SRT-4 was one of the quickest cars on the road.
posted by caddis at 3:43 AM on September 20, 2005

My apathy meter just blew up.
posted by Plinko at 4:05 AM on September 20, 2005

I'm going to miss the Neon - I've owned two myself, a 1997 and a 2002 R/T, and I personally love the bastards. You take care of them, and they last forever. There was the shitty head gasket recall on the 1994-1998 models, which basically spelled death for the car. I *still* like the look of my 2002, whereas looking at a lot of other 2002 cars I feel they are a bit dated. But I'm sure a lot of that has to do with the fact that it's MY car, and I love it to pieces :)

As for the American makers focusing on bigger cars... Jesus. Idiots.
posted by antifuse at 4:29 AM on September 20, 2005

Before everyone uses the one sentence from the article as a basis to rip on Detroit automakers, let me point out that "larger" can mean different things, folks. Technically, the PT Cruiser is "larger" than the Neon (even though it's actually shorter in length). That's all I can say.
posted by pmurray63 at 4:55 AM on September 20, 2005

Chrysler's latest small car
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is expected to debut its Chrysler Akino small car concept at the Tokyo Auto Show in October. The five-passenger vehicle, named for Chrysler designer Akino Tsuchiya, hints at the direction of the automaker's compact cars. It also explores auto interiors of the future, with its bamboo flooring, mood lighting and throw pillows.

Is that a joke? That was such a weird idea that I went and checked, and Google returns zero hits for "Chrysler Akino", and useless spam hits for anything related, other than things that talk about Akino Tsuchiya. "Dodge Caliber" returns a number of hits for something that doesn't have any throw pillows and looks like a slightly less hideous PT Cruiser.
posted by blacklite at 5:17 AM on September 20, 2005

It was amazing to watch Dodge completly reinvent the small car and the family transport (the Neon and the Caravan, respectively) and then go on to so completely screw up thereafter.

The Neon really died in 2000, when they made it bigger and put a weaker engine in it, which ruined the charm of the "rational pocket rocket." Worse, the build quality, never stellar, went complete to crap. I enjoyed driving 1998 Neon, the 2002 Neons were noisy, rattling pieces of crap.

And yet, Honda still makes the Civic and (as mentioned) Accord.
posted by eriko at 5:35 AM on September 20, 2005

blacklite, that's why it's a concept car. all the weirdest, stupidest, most brilliant, most utterly boring and most laughably random ideas for a car are thrown onto a stage, called a "concept car" or "concept design," and then people are polled on their response to feature X. It's really just to get an idea on how to make changes for the next generation, and what to avoid at all costs.

antifuse
As for the American makers focusing on bigger cars... Jesus. Idiots.

WHAT?! Listen, if you think whatever fucking country you're from can do any fucking better, then I suggest you get your...

oh wait. American car makers! I thought you were talking about all americans for a second! I swear, it's like I only read the bit with American and Idiots, and ignored the rest. Except Jesus. I read Jesus, too.
posted by shmegegge at 5:41 AM on September 20, 2005

I've owned two myself, a 1997 and a 2002 R/T, and I personally love the bastards. You take care of them, and they last forever.

I don't know if you can really say a 1997 vehicle has "lasted forever" just yet. Now, my 1985 Accord and 1991 Saab. Those are getting up there =)
posted by idontlikewords at 6:01 AM on September 20, 2005

Both favour, in differing degree, scaling back Germany's health, pension, unemployment, and welfare benefits, reducing corporate taxes and regulation, and weakening the unions and collective bargaining. The social democrats began implementing this program while in office. For the SDP, as Der Speigal notes, a coalition would allow for "a continuation of Gerhard Schröder's 'Agenda 2010' reform package, but without Schröder's name attached to it...", while the CDU could escape a potential confrontion with the unions, who would "roll up the flags" they were threatening to unfurl if the party governed on its own.
posted by slogger at 6:14 AM on September 20, 2005

.eulB ispeP
posted by odinsdream at 6:19 AM on September 20, 2005

I remember the "Hi" ad campaign!

When I was car shopping in 1997, the Neon was one of the cars I looked at. It was fun to drive, but I ended up going with a Saturn SC1. (Still have it.)

And that Chrysler Akino is ugggly!
posted by SisterHavana at 6:26 AM on September 20, 2005

antifuse: I'm going to miss the Neon - I've owned two myself, a 1997 and a 2002 R/T, and I personally love the bastards. You take care of them, and they last forever.

It's now 2005 and I'm a bit perplexed how a car that did not last even 8 years is one that lasted "forever" unless you managed to log 250K miles in the five years you owned the 1997 Neon (presuming you ceased to own it when acquiring the 2002 Neon).

I just traded in a 1992 Toyota pickup (120K miles) which pretty much was running fine, but you won't catch me saying 13 years is "forever." Do people who buy American cars really have such low expectations?

posted by mistersquid at 7:01 AM on September 20, 2005

Years ago, when the Neon was first being designed, Chrysler said it would have a revolutionary new direct-injection two-stroke engine. What happened to it?
posted by Popular Ethics at 7:02 AM on September 20, 2005

It will be an emotional day for Kelly Brookhart, 23, of Ridge, Md., who has a 1999 Neon and feels a connection with other Neon owners.

It's a fucking car, you dweeb.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:07 AM on September 20, 2005

I test drove an SRT-4, and it was an incredible ride, went like a bat out of hell, cornered on rails, very nice. Almost bought it.
posted by prodigalsun at 7:08 AM on September 20, 2005

The srt's are supposed to be decent. Look good too.

But I HATE stupid front page "mystery posts".

Bye.

Oh Well.

I can't describe my link.

I'm mysteeeerious.
posted by mecran01 at 7:17 AM on September 20, 2005

I hate the Neon and I could care less about posts like this, but if it was about the venerable VW beetle or similar we'd all be putting periods on the page. So, I guess what I'm saying is that metafilter is no longer something for the elite to read when we start caring about the extinction of a bland american car with no style and a horrible name.
posted by furtive at 7:35 AM on September 20, 2005

Is it too much to ask for a descriptive front page link? "Bye". I would never be able to find that article again if I searched for it on Mefi.

Just a crabby complaint that has nothing to do with the article.
posted by Jupiter Jones at 7:42 AM on September 20, 2005

They sold the right hand drive ones in the UK too.

About 3 as I remember.

Compared to the Ford Escort/Focus, the Vauxhall Astra or any of the europeon hatchbacks of similar price it had a bigger engine, coming with a 2 litre, so company car drivers had to pay more tax and it had high equipment levels, but it drove like all American cars do, like rubbish.

Rival it with the small Alfa Romeos, the Golf and then Audi A3, the Civic it never had a chance.

The Americans love of big engined cars that dont corner too well will never make sense to me. Smaller, lighter cars with a higher power to weight ratio and decent suspension set ups make cars much more interesting than simply being quick in a straight line.
posted by 13twelve at 7:47 AM on September 20, 2005

mistersquid:It's now 2005 and I'm a bit perplexed how a car that did not last even 8 years is one that lasted "forever" unless you managed to log 250K miles in the five years you owned the 1997 Neon (presuming you ceased to own it when acquiring the 2002 Neon).

I'm not saying that mine in particular lasted forever (though when I sold it in 2002, I had never had to take it in for repairs once, which is pretty impressive for a 5 year old car with 100,000 miles, at least in my experience of North American cars). I only sold it because I wanted a new car.

And being a bit of a Neon enthusiast (I used to be a member of NeonCanada, and still hang out on the boards there from time to time) I know a good number of people with Neons that have easily cleared 200,000 miles. Yeah, it's no comparison to an '81 Accord with 600,000 miles, but for a car that's only been around for 11 years it's not too shabby.
posted by antifuse at 7:53 AM on September 20, 2005

13twelve:The Americans love of big engined cars that dont corner too well will never make sense to me.

That's because Americans have lots of big straight flat roads. Nothing at all like the windy hilly roads found all around Europe. Living in Dublin, I've found that it's no wonder the Europeans love their tiny cars that handle like crazy - they drive like MANIACS on these twisty skinny roads, and if you tried to bust out the American cars here, they would be flipping over on a fairly regular basis. :)

Oh, and incidentally, 2 of those 3 UK Neons must have been sold in Dublin, because they are both in my neighbourhood - the only ones I've ever seen over here. :)
posted by antifuse at 7:57 AM on September 20, 2005

My Volvo 240 is 18 years old and has set me back $0.00 in repair for the past several years.

Now that's "lasting forever."
posted by sourwookie at 8:04 AM on September 20, 2005

I had a neighbor that bought a Neon in 1994, their first year. I was in love with her, and I thought her car was kind of cute (it was a purpleish blue).

Alas, that is my only connection to the Neon.
posted by teece at 8:22 AM on September 20, 2005

I would never be able to find that article again if I searched for it on Mefi.

That's why we have tags. I usually don't like non-descript posts, but I found this one hilarious.
posted by knave at 8:40 AM on September 20, 2005

idontlikewords writes "Now, my 1985 Accord and 1991 Saab. Those are getting up there =)"

Bloody teenagers, now my 72 Powerwagon and 66 Chrysler are getting up there without yet being crochetty enough to be concerned about the lawn.
posted by Mitheral at 8:46 AM on September 20, 2005

Crazy kids, now my model A hasn't needed a repair in several years.

I learned to drive in a Neon. When I was younger I wouldn't have minded owning one.
posted by drezdn at 9:19 AM on September 20, 2005

What year A do you have drezdn? I've always anted to own a Model AA stake body.
posted by Mitheral at 9:48 AM on September 20, 2005

mecran01 and jupiter,

if you remember when Neon launched their ad campaign there were billboards and magazine ads everywhere that simply said "hi."

delmoi's link and word choice was perfect.
posted by tsarfan at 10:17 AM on September 20, 2005

...and spelled correctly, to boot.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:34 AM on September 20, 2005

extinction of a bland american car with no style and a horrible name

My girlfriend named hers Iris. '97, still kicking pretty well, though the odometer/spedometer goes in/out these days.

I hate cars. And drivers. Especially Volvo drivers. Except my girlfriend.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:05 AM on September 20, 2005

antifuse: What would a UK Neon be doing in Dublin?

/never heard of the car, myself.
posted by salmacis at 11:13 AM on September 20, 2005

if you remember when Neon launched their ad campaign there were billboards and magazine ads everywhere that simply said "hi."

And these spawned fake graffiti ads where the car had a mohawk or something and it said "hip". Also plenty of real graffiti with other letters added.
posted by Jawn at 1:01 PM on September 20, 2005

The 64 Valiant. Now that was a car. *sobs quietly in rememberance for mine, which finally had to be hauled off to the wrecker's yard*
posted by jokeefe at 1:36 PM on September 20, 2005

Ooooh, they have their own museum now! [/derail]
posted by jokeefe at 1:38 PM on September 20, 2005

Awwww, lookit.

I should have just made an FPP out of this.
posted by jokeefe at 1:50 PM on September 20, 2005

jokeefe writes "The 64 Valiant. Now that was a car."

My choice in a 64 Valiant would be the Barracuda. I haven't seen one of those old fishes in quite a while.

The Neon was very much the modern incarnation of the Valiant. Good engineering, different looking, and cheap.
posted by Mitheral at 2:09 PM on September 20, 2005

"Do people who buy American cars really have such low expectations?"

Well, I drive a '79 Ford, and my son a '78 Chrysler, but they only have 120K miles or so on them so I suppose that doesn't count for much yet. Maybe I should revisit this thread in another 27 years and see who's still driving a 2005 *whatever*.

This whole American/Asian car wars thing is crap, as far as I'm concerned. Maintain your vehicle and it'll last longer than you want it to. Abuse it, and it'll be junk before you've managed to pay it off.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:13 PM on September 20, 2005

I have a 1996 Neon, that I bought new. It's small and simple, but I have had genuine enthusiasm for it, which for me with respect to a car is impressive.

I love how everything a clueless driver might need under the hood is identified in bright yellow. Maybe that's par for the course these days, but it was new to me and amused me greatly.

I freely admit that I'm not a car person, and that the poor thing is parked a lot of the time.
posted by sueinnyc at 10:15 PM on September 20, 2005