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2013 Dodge Dart

90 messages,  Last post on Apr 01, 2013 at 9:41 AM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Dart, Sedan

    

Messages Page 7 of 10

#57 of 90 Re: Dart on target - sort of [backy] by bpizzuti

Jun 30, 2012 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jun 30, 2012 3:32 pm)
I went by the local Dodge dealer (one of the two anyway, the less slimy one) and they had a single Rallye trim there, stick of course. I'd have to wait for the dual-clutch, unless I hold out for an R/T (have to see how the FE ends up with that). I found the front seat to be excellent and the wheel/pedal/shifter relationship to be right on. After adjusting the seat for myself, I could easily sit in the back...not COMFORTABLY, mind you, but easily. Not quite as good as an Impreza, but better than a Focus or Mazda3.
 
I swear sitting in that thing, it was begging me to drive it, had that "drive me" feeling that the Mazda3 has. I just really wish they'd left the hatch on it, but the car's appealing enough where I might ignore that deficiency.
 
Afterwards I went down the street and test drove the first Hyundai Elantra GT that showed up in the county (that we know of anyway). It was white so no way I'd ever buy it. I wonder if that colored the test drive for me, it drove good and felt good...and that was it. No grin, no happy tug of the heart strings. Steering an suspension are improved over the Elantra Touring, but nowhere near a Mazda3, and you can feel how short the engine is on torque when going uphill.

#58 of 90 Re: '13 Dodge Dart [dodgeman07] by farout

Jul 14, 2012 (1:20 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Jan 11, 2012 10:27 pm)
The Neon's actually had a strong sales history. Having had three and still have a 1996 with 197,300 miles on it and got as high as 36 mpg and most always in the 30 mpg range. The reason it gets so mush mpg is the weight, 2,400 lbs ment hp to weight ratio.
 
I think that before Fiat the 2 owners before drained every drop of money without improving the product. The interior of the cars and trucks were made as cheap as possible. However Fiat has made some real changes for the good. The Dart is the first real new made under Fiat, not including the Fiat 500.
 
Especially good is the dart in made in the USA. The introduction of the Dart is not real good as all the first run Darts given to the dealers are pretty much the same, 6 speed manual, turbo engine, red in color and some high end things. Most sticker prices $ 22,500 to 24,695. which is not close to the Ford Fiesta. When they start with auto trans, and more moderate under
 $ 20,000. prices then it should take off. We are anxious to test drive one.

#59 of 90 Re: Dart coming in June [backy] by farout

Jul 14, 2012 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: backy (Apr 28, 2012 8:47 pm)
Just to add one small detail that is sorta over looked, all but the 2.4 engines run on 92 octain fuel. So the actual mpg needs to be reduced by the extra cost compared to a Ford Fiesta which used 87 octain fuel.

#60 of 90 Re: What About Durability [Mr_Shiftright] by farout

Jul 14, 2012 (1:46 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 01, 2012 10:07 am)
The turbo used on the Jeep Liberty CRD I owned that Chrysler bought mine and others back, because they failed at regular intervals. The cost if you were out of warranty...over $ 7,000 usd. I know diesel and gas turbos are using different fuels but the principal is the same. For me no thanks on a turbo anything.

#61 of 90 Re: Dart coming in June [farout] by backy

Jul 14, 2012 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: farout (Jul 14, 2012 1:30 pm)
Uh... why would you compare the Dart to a car like the Ford Fiesta? Two totally different classes of cars.

#62 of 90 Think of the real cost by farout

Jul 14, 2012 (2:16 pm)

One thing that hit me, there someone in this forum born in the sixties and he had cars with no aircon in his car. I was born in 1945. I remember watching my dad install turn signals in a 1950 or 1952 Cheyy. No air, turn signals, power brakes, steering took real effort.
 
My new first car was a 1964 Chevy 2 with the 283 V8 and air, auto, P s, & brakes. Got about 16 mpg and paid $ 2,872. out the door. But now when we talk the price to get a nice family car with real room for parents and 3 kids, it takes near $24,000. Trucks are high too. The vehicles 10 years from now may well be starting about $ 30,000. How on earth can a couple starting out afford a new vehicle, unless both are working and the budget will be tite.
 
I an not keen on buying a used car but I think that is where most lower middle class people are headed likeit or not.
 
The Dodge Dart looks nice, and if it's as good as the Neon it will sell good.

#63 of 90 Re: Think of the real cost [farout] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 14, 2012 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: farout (Jul 14, 2012 2:16 pm)
I haven't had a chance to drive one yet. There have been a fair amount of complaints about the interior set-up on the Fiat 500 because it remains unchanged from the European ergonomics---and american drivers don't like some aspects of interior design that Europeans are quite used to.
 
I'm wondering if the same barrage of complaints about interior design will come to haunt the Dart as they are currently haunting the 500? (lack of cupholders, weird button and knob placements, awkward ergonomics, etc).

#64 of 90 Re: Think of the real cost [Mr_Shiftright] by farout

Jul 14, 2012 (3:53 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 14, 2012 2:54 pm)
I drove the Fiesta and did not like the tight feel of the drivers area in it or the Focus. The Focus had my respect because it was US made. The dart as it is now is 52% US goods. What I have seen on the web seems to me to be a higherpriced that I had hoped for. When you think every thousand dollars cost about $ 17. in your payment, that makes me wonder if the real value for me, is there.
 
The Fiat is really hig priced I think. A friend og mine won a Gucci one and he likes it. But he is 86 and does not drive much and he just bought a Ford Ranger last March.
 
But here is why I drive a Chrysler Pacifica Touring AWD. I think in an accident the bigger vehicle has a advantage. 4,800 lb against 3,200 lbs may well have a better chance. We have 128,000 miles on the PAC we bought in 8 of 07 it cane with the lifetime powertrain warranty, and we added to it the lifetime maxCare warranty. We put on 2,500 a month and the PAC is very comfortable, and easy to drive and ride shotgun. Little cars are fine for local driving but for us long trips are kinda hard on us older ones.

#65 of 90 Re: Think of the real cost [farout] by bpizzuti

Jul 14, 2012 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: farout (Jul 14, 2012 3:53 pm)
You know, everyone seems to think that their 4800 lb tank will give them a better chance in an accident. Well, that depends on what you hit...and if you can actually manage to stop that huge hunk of steel in the first place. And that it's well designed enough to survive the sudden unintended stop when you can't stop.
 
Give me a car with enough power and handling to avoid the accident in the first place, and I'm good.

#66 of 90 Re: Think of the real cost [bpizzuti] by hoosiergrandad

Jul 15, 2012 (5:36 am)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jul 14, 2012 4:14 pm)
"You know, everyone seems to think that their 4800 lb tank will give them a better chance in an accident."
 
Would that include insurance actuaries ..........?

Messages Page 7 of 10

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