Depending on the year, neons are really safe in my book.
I had bought my girlfriend a 98 neon which got totalled by her sister. She got t-boned on the passenger side by a old dodge
Daytona at about 50 mph. All (4) passengers walked away with minor injuries, well except the front passenger which suffered a fractured leg. Still, after the door was ripped off by the jaws of life, a slight oil leak, and the steering wheel being out of alignment, I was able to drive the car a good twenty miles or so from the accident back to my place with no problems, and it still drove straight!!!
Not to mention all the strange looks I got from people on the road.