I'm currently re-assessing my options financially speaking, and my VRS octy is quite literally bleeding my bank account dry every month what with finance and insurance payments, not to mention money I fork out on Super Unleaded as well every week. On my current salary the realisation has dawned that I cannot really afford to keep the car for the full term ie. another 2 years before I could trade in on something less costly to run, so what I'm thinking of doing is getting a bank loan, handing back octy early and paying the fee or buying the octy outright and trading it in on something less powerful/more frugal at around the

For the money you have to spend I think there are much better options availble to you. The 'Neon' is not the most interesting of cars and having an Octy vRS is certainly going to be a big come down. May I suggest a trip to your local car supermarket and perhaps check out a Ford Focus or maybe a Vauxhall Astra both a far better proposition than a Chrysler Neon IMHO.

The 2 litre petrol in the neon won't be significantly less thirsty than the octy , especially if you get an auto

Focus and Astra have never really grabbed me, probably are the sensible option, but dont think i could face four or five years driving either of them, would prefer something different whilst still reliable and cheap to run...

EDIT: MPG for Neon is quoted as around the 35+ mark combined, which is similar to Octy, but insurance would be around 300 cheaper!!!

Have a look on 'Parkers' reviews section.....usually a pretty handy guide.

Lance

Focus and Astra have never really grabbed me, probably are the sensible option, but dont think i could face four or five years driving either of them, would prefer something different whilst still reliable and cheap to run...

Not sure the Neon is either of the above. And funny as it might sound coming from a member on a Skoda forum, you'll never be able to sell the Neon!

Have you considered a Mazda 3? They're reliable, look good, hold their value well, and come with enough engine combinations for you to be able to adjust the performance : running cost ratio to suit your finances!

Not sure the Neon is either of the above. And funny as it might sound coming from a member on a Skoda forum' date=' you'll never be able to sell the Neon!

Have you considered a Mazda 3? They're reliable, look good, hold their value well, and come with enough engine combinations for you to be able to adjust the performance : running cost ratio to suit your finances![/quote']

True about not being able to sell Neon, they have monstrous depreciation from what I can see, but would be driving it into the ground over 5 years so wouldn't matter too much about resale values, Mazda 3 is interesting proposition, but just doesn't excite me at all, plus standard features on Neon are pretty comprehensive. Am swinging towards RT, performance is poor compared to Octy but not completely pish, really need something lowish mileage cos of time I would have it for (5yrs), rules out older, higher mileage VAG-type options that would come in at similar price...

In their domestic (US) market, Neon's are driven by kids aged from about 14 who have just passed their driving test.

If you're serious about saving dosh, surely you'd better look at a diesel? Diesel motors tend to go on for 150,000 miles+ easily and I bet you could find a nice tidy Focus or Astra TDi for your budget.

If you're serious about saving dosh, surely you'd better look at a diesel? Diesel motors tend to go on for 150,000 miles+ easily and I bet you could find a nice tidy Focus or Astra TDi for your budget.

The diesels can also be tweaked very cheaply via tuning boxes to give you a bit more go should you be tempted to mod it.

Chris

The diesels can also be tweaked very cheaply via tuning boxes to give you a bit more go should you be tempted to mod it.

Chris

Had Furby VRS before Octy, diesels aren't for me, good mpg but costly if they go wrong, they have a bad rep over here in NI ie. farmer's cars driven by young R-plate drivers who bling them up but cant hide the big black cloud that appears every time they accelerate, no defo prefer petrol...

Corsa 1.0 12v ?

Corsa 1.0 12v ?

Imagine driving a Corsa 1.0 for 5 years after having had a vRS Octy :weeping: , I'd definitely be better off financially, but it would be a nightmare!!!

The world should be your oyster for £4500.Don't think a Neon would be the best choice TBH.

Needs to be low-mileage, relatively new (2002+), Petrol, up to £4.5k and cheaper to insure than the octy, any ideas apart from Ford/Vauxhall/Peugeot/Citroen stuff?

don't know much about Neons - only know 2 people who have owned one. Both were over 50, and neither one of them said they would buy another....

Octy Elegance 1.8T?

OK the MPG is equally poor butinsurance is less.

maybe a PD130 Octavia/Bora/Golf ? You should be able to find a PD130 Octavia with 100k on the clock and full Skoda history for under £4500

Lots of kit in a Neon but the 2.0 petrol engine is rough and unrefined. Build quality aint the best either from what i can remember.

Don't laugh but you can get Fiat Brava/Bravos for less than your budget. They never really took off but they are actually pretty good little motors and an absolute bargain too. Even the 1.2 16v is nippy enough for its size and if you look around there's 6 spd versions too.

I wouldnt touch a Vauxhall but you cant go wrong with a Ford Focus. Very reliable and does everything right. 1.6 Petrol is the best choice IMO.

Bang for buck a 2002 Rover 75 2.5 V6 can be got for less than

Just looking on Autotrader there, lot of variety about for my budget, 02 1.8 Mondeo for just under

i have to admit i love the srt-4 neon to death,great car but even if you research it even the americans will say that is the only one to consider,r/t is okish but ive seen videos of some being rolling roaded at less than 100bhp!!!! from a 2 litre!!!

i would go with goochie on a pd130 bora or octy

Do you mean this thing?

http://www.allpar.com/neon/neon-srt-4.html

Do you mean this thing?

http://www.allpar.com/neon/neon-srt-4.html

yep thats the one,only 5 in the uk 2 yellow,one red,one black and one blue

edit theres 6 2 black 2 silver,1 yellow and 1 orange/red

Hi

I had an old shape Neon for around 40,000 miles (bought it when it had 42,000 on the clock) and have to say it was very good. The big advantage you get when buying a Neon is that they are not well known in the UK so depreciation brings you a late low miler for the same as you would pay for an older 50 / 75,000 mile Astra or Focus. The guy who bought mine was getting rid of his Focus 2.0l for the Neon.

The old one was light and reasonably quick. A Jetex panel filter made a big difference. Traction and front end grip were exceptional and tyre wear completely even. The ride was firm and sometimes a bit harsh. The US spec Goodyears that the cars are imported on are ****e and ruin the ride / handling. I found Firestone F700 really complimented the car well. TZ200 are current best bet on that basis. Handling was well balanced and certainly as good as the 1.4 Zetec Fiesta it replaced.

Dont get the auto. The manuals are tall geared for relaxed cruising, so although a bit harsh when pushed, you never suffer on long journeys. I used to see an average of 35+mpg commuting and over 42mpg on the motorway (back then I used to cruise at 95-98MPH everywhere on Mways).

Reliability wise, mine went 40,000 with no problems. Nothing at all squeaked or rattled, not under the dash, in the doors or under the car. I reckon these are well underrated and a bargain. You have nothing to lose by trying one.

Chris

Thanks for that Chris, thats what I was hoping to hear, a satisfied former owner, I haven't really heard many good reviews about them, seems to get average reviews for everything, am going to go and have a look at one, a 2.0 ltr lx, as its the closest to me, that way I can judge whether the less expensive but further away RT would be suitable.

My Opinion is look at an MG Rover. You could get a ZS 120 for that - or possibly a 75.

That said talk to your dealer. Had a similar situation with an Alfa 156 and ended up in a Fiat Stillo JTD Demo. Not perfect but better than the unknown.

Maybe a skoda dealer can put you in a higher mileage Octy - worth a try.

My Opinion is look at an MG Rover. You could get a ZS 120 for that - or possibly a 75.

That said talk to your dealer. Had a similar situation with an Alfa 156 and ended up in a Fiat Stillo JTD Demo. Not perfect but better than the unknown.

Maybe a skoda dealer can put you in a higher mileage Octy - worth a try.

Defo not MG, never liked them, never will, don't know if I could face another Skoda either, especially for 4/5-years, although would be a safe option reliability-wise. Not picky or anything am I, just like to drive something a bit different to the norm...