[Shotimes] (OT) Marauder

[Ron Fleshman]

Neon?  I challenge anyone to drive the new Neon "boy racer" and the
Focus SVT.  No comparison.  None.  The Neon reminds me of my old Turbo
Shadow.  It went fine once the turbo got spooled up, but it handled
poorly and everything not permanently attached to the damn car fell off.
I finally gave up and traded the thing when I found out that Chrysler's
dealer system had no desire to fix anything wrong with the car since it
was all "your fault." 

I had the opportunity to drive the SVT Focus and was quite impressed.
It didn't get off the line like a late 60's supercar, but it was not
slow.  And it handled like nothing I've driven in a long time.  It had
no huge spoilers or tacky bodywork.  And it was comfortable and visually
pleasing (with the notable exception of those chrome pedals--ugh!  And
I've driven enough Neons to know that it will take more than Mercedes to
make one of those pig's ears one half the car the SVT is.  Ford has it's
customer relations problems, but compared to Chrysler, it's living at
the foot of the cross.


Ron
98 TR
92 White