The R models are very quick
My old ZS180 had a 0-60 of 7.3 which for when it came out, 2001 I think, was pretty good for the size of the car.
A lot of the newer 170bhp plus diesels feel a lot quicker than the stats would indicate, probably due to the earth rotating swell of torque they offer.
The Dodge Neon is a sleeper car that is very moddable. My brother-in-law has a Neon 2.4L that he slapped a big turbo on, bolted the head and did a few other things to and it goes like a bat out of hell. It has some crazy pull, but on the outside (as long as it's not running- it is VERY loud with the straight pipe coming out of the side of the car) it doesn't look like much.
No, it's not. Aero drag is negligible below 60 MPH. It's just physics, aero drag just is not a part of the 0-60 equation.