Best Used Dodge Coupe - Neon, Avenger, Viper
Dodge, like several other domestic automakers, has a proud history of producing interesting and fun to drive coupes. While some of their more elegant examples might date back to the 1940s and 1950s, the company is especially proud to highlight the contributions that they made to the muscle car era, specifically the two-door editions of the HEMI-powered Coronet (labeled the Super Bee), and the Trans Am racing series-inspired Challenger. The latter car became such an icon that it was recently treated to a modern re-interpretation and released back out onto the streets.
When the 1980s ushered in a darker time for automotive performance, Dodge refused to sit on their hands like so many other car companies when it came to producing quick and affordable coupes. Instead, they rolled with the times and decided that if emissions regulations were going to keep big-block V-8s out of the picture then turbocharged 4-cylinder power plants would have to do. Dodge even partnered with racing legend Carroll Shelby to produce some of the more interesting front-wheel drive two-doors of the era, vehicles which have begun to achieve collector car status amongst automotive aficionados.
By the end of the decade, Dodge was looking for a halo car - something that could help elevate the company in the minds of consumers, and which could also attract attention to their evolving line of products. The result was the Dodge Viper, which initially appeared as a roadster but was made available as a coupe by 1996. Joining the Viper in Dodge's two-door pantheon would be the bargain-priced Neon coupe and the mid-size Avenger cruiser. These three vehicles would from the crux of the company's coupe attack heading into the year 2000. The Neon would see a performance package of its own in the form of the ACR trim level, an inexpensive group of options that would help to transform the vehicle into a popular amateur racing platform. The Avenger was an import in disguise, a vehicle built in collaboration with Mitsubishi as part of the Diamond Star Motors organization.
This article takes a look at the three best used coupes available from Dodge. While each is intended to serve a very different audience, these vehicles manage to represent a fairly wide cross-section of what the typical coupe buyer is looking for in a personal vehicle at three very specific price points.
1998 - 1999 Dodge Neon
The final two years of the first generation Dodge Neon also provided buyers with their final chance to experience the vehicle in two-door form - the vehicle would be available exclusively as a sedan from the year 2000 on. This is unfortunate, as the Neon coupe was one of the most fun economy cars on the road during its short lifespan. While never truly offering startling performance or amazing driving dynamics, the Neon made the most of its inexpensive platform and rewarded drivers with an engaging experience behind the wheel.
Each 1998 - 1999 Neon coupe can be had with one of two 4-cylinder engines. The first is the base 132 horsepower 2.0-liter unit, and the second is a more refined version of the same motor that uses dual overhead camshafts to make an additional 28 horsepower. The vehicle can be ordered with either a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission, and each engine gets excellent fuel economy: 28 miles per gallon in the city and 39 miles per gallon on the highway. There are also a number of different options packages that can be ordered as a way of improving the vehicle's handling. The R/T package adds rear disc brakes and ABS, while the ACR package removes a number of features in order to provide as light a vehicle as possible for campaigning in autocross or other forms of driving competition.
The 1998 - 1999 Dodge Neon coupe provides generous interior room, even when compared to the sedan version of the vehicle. Rear passengers do not have to make as many sacrifices with regards to comfort as they are called upon to do in many other compact two-doors, thanks to the car's extended chassis. While the passenger compartment is far from luxurious, it does well with easy to read gauges and a clear dashboard design.
When it comes to inexpensive transportation, the 1998 - 1999 Dodge Neon is a used coupe that will keep drivers interested without forcing them to spend a lot of money.
1998 - 2000 Dodge Avenger
While Dodge had frequently taken advantage of their relationship with Mitsubishi to produce hot hatchbacks and economy-oriented performance cars, in the mid-1990's they decided to do something different. The Avenger was built not to win over the hearts of speed demons but instead to provide a practical coupe alternative to the average buyer who may have been shopping for a sedan. The sporty-looking car managed to provide a backseat that was large enough to give the vehicle a level of convenience not often found in a two-door, yet it also maintained the image of exclusivity associated with a coupe.
The front-wheel drive 1998 - 2000 Dodge Avenger coupe uses a 140 horsepower, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine as its entry-level power plant. This motor comes with a 5-speed manual transmission, but has the option of a 4-speed automatic. The more luxury-appointed Avenger ES is powered by a 2.5-liter V-6 that generates 163 ponies and 170 lb-ft of torque, and is automatic only. In the final year of production, the V-6 was the only available engine. The vehicle's suspension is tuned to provide excellent stability and comfort, helping it to effortlessly carve up most roads it is presented with. While not a high performance vehicle, the Avenger does exhibit more than adequate acceleration when equipped with the 6-cylinder.
In addition to the excellent interior room, the 1998 - 2000 Dodge Avenger coupe also offers a level of sophistication when it comes to trim and design that helps to make drivers feel as though they are piloting something special. The ES adds in nice leather seats, power windows and door locks, a superb stereo system and an optional sunroof. The Avenger coupe bridges the gap nicely between entry-level and near-luxury.
In terms of used coupes which are useful enough to serve as a dedicated daily driver, the 1998 - 2000 Dodge Avenger is a fine example that adds a splash of fun to the morning commute.
1996 - 2002 Dodge Viper GTS
When Dodge released the second generation of their incredibly potent Dodge Viper roadster in 1996, they also added a coupe edition that not only provided beautifully sculpted lines but also managed to improve the vehicle's performance thanks to the extra stiffness and improved aerodynamics afforded by a fixed roof. The newer Viper no longer sported side pipes - in an effort to conform to EPA noise regulations - but it did receive a more aggressive front end treatment that included an air inlet at the center of the hood.
The 1996 - 2002 Dodge Viper GTS offers incredible amounts of horsepower from an 8.0-liter V-10 engine. Pushing down on the coupe's gas pedal unleashes 450 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed manual transmission. This is enough motivation to send the Viper GTS from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in only 4.0 seconds and give it a top speed of over 190 miles per hour. Late model Vipers receive some civilizing features such as ABS in 2001, but on the whole the vehicle remains one of the most savage driving experiences to be found in modern motoring. There is no electronic stability control or traction control to be found in the Viper - only the skill of the person behind the wheel can be counted on to keep the vehicle right-side up.
The interior of the Viper GTS has more in common with a race car than a street car, with a wide center console separating the two seats and a straightforward line of gauges spread across the dashboard so that the owner can keep a watchful eye on the vehicle's engine status. A special Cognac Connolly leather package can be found in some cars which adds deeply hued leather seats and trim to the cockpit, giving it a more upscale appearance.
The 1996 - 2002 Dodge Viper GTS is the ultimate in used coupe performance, a vehicle which feeds into a driver's racing fantasies and which outmuscles nearly every other car on the road.