Chrysler 200 & Dodge Dart production will end

[Torn Mind]

Catchy ads can't make up for the actual product...and the previous reputation of Chrysler vehicles.

 

[Subyman]

has mopar had a competitive midsize in the fwd era? maybe the dodge stratus before will ferrel torpedoed it? though, even then iirc that car was a bit small for the segment (then again, the accord was EPA compact until 1997, and thus smaller than the cirrus/stratus which were EPA midsize from the get-go)

The neon sold well I think? It was a huge pile of trash.

 

[Torn Mind]

The neon sold well I think? It was a huge pile of trash.

The ones with the 2.7L are literally doomed by design. The four-cylinders were not so bad, or so I have read.

 

[ElFenix]

The neon sold well I think? It was a huge pile of trash.

Not a midsize

 

[zerocool84]

Too many good choices to choose from if you're a buyer for a compact or family sedan. You always have the standard Civic/Corolla or Camry/Accord.

I just upgraded from a 2005 Neon to a brand new Accord. The Accord is vastly better than the 200 which is why I chose Accord.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I don't know why they haven't made a more competitive 4cyl engine family since Fiat took over. You would think that would be relatively easy.

They're still using that tigershark BS with some minor enhancements from the early 2000's

Yeah. I remember them saying how they were going to integrate Fiat's Multi-Air valve tech into all their cars. I'm not sure they put it on anything.

I agree too and think a good 4 cylinder (and turbo 4) was far more needed than the Pentastar. They could have really set themselves apart too, have like a 2.5L 4 with 225hp/200torque, and then a turbo version with between 250/325hp and 275-350torque. It would have given the Dart probably best in class (aside from something like the Focus RS) power, would have been good enough to be the base engine in everything up to the 300 and Grand Cherokee (turbo versions at least), would have simplified packaging (big plus for say minivans, small cars, and smallish crossovers). Plus they could have made a special performance version for the lower cars, give it a cutesy name and cash in like they did with Hellcat (which I've seen a ton of people go "I hate Chrysler/Dodge, but I seriously want/seriously am considering a Hellcat Charger").

The neon sold well I think? It was a huge pile of trash.

It did ok I think. It and the PT Cruiser sold fairly well I believe. And yeah it was crappy, but it had personality. And that is what is missing from both the Dart and the 200.

 

[NutBucket]

Too many good choices to choose from if you're a buyer for a compact or family sedan. You always have the standard Civic/Corolla or Camry/Accord.

Agreed. And even the Cruze/Malibu/Focus/Fusion are light years more advanced and refined.

 

[LTC8K6]

MultiAir was used on two of the FCA engines in a variety of vehicles including the Dart and the 200.

The 1.4L turbo and the 2.4L na.

1.4T was MultiAir
2.4 was MultiAir2

There is a 1.4T MultiAir2 engine in Europe.

 

[MongGrel]

I never understood why they revived the Dart name. It was widely known as a total POS the first time around.

I drove around an old '68 Dart with a slant 6 when I was in the Marines in Hawaii in the early 80's. That thing was a tank, and had been sold down from several people on base there over the years.

It finally threw a rod and died on me about the time I was shipping out there, used to poor a quart of oil in that thing about once every two weeks. I was never interested in the new ones myself.

Many parties were found/started.

R.I.P. , old Beach Bomber.

Mine was white and a 68 though.

 

[Brian Stirling]

The 200 and the Dart are smaller cars at a time of very low gas prices and during this period people are buying big and bigger so small and smaller are losing out. This is the reverse pattern of a decade ago when gas prices were upwards of $5/gal and people were walking away from there large pickup and SUV's and buying smaller.

The car makers make more money selling big and bigger vehicles so it should be of little surprise that they'd be moving to fill a more profitable market than a less profitable one.

Economics 101...


Brian

 

[LTC8K6]

The 200 and the Dart are smaller cars at a time of very low gas prices and during this period people are buying big and bigger so small and smaller are losing out. This is the reverse pattern of a decade ago when gas prices were upwards of $5/gal and people were walking away from there large pickup and SUV's and buying smaller.

The car makers make more money selling big and bigger vehicles so it should be of little surprise that they'd be moving to fill a more profitable market than a less profitable one.

Economics 101...


Brian

They are stuck with CAFE requirements, though.

 

[Rvenger]

Traded my 2015 200 Limited w/ 8.1a Navi for a 2016 Civic. The car Bluebooked at $11,800 at 8100mi. I paid 26k brand new.

Glad to be rid of Chrysler.. that transmission was the biggest piece I have ever owned. Ended up lowering my payments due to the 1.99% @ 72mo they were offering.

 

[master_shake_]

And nothing of value was lost.

 

[ElFenix]

225/200 seems like a lot. Neither Nissan or Mazda get close with their 2.5L 4s.

 

[evident]

while it doesnt look half bad, the 200 is a complete POS.

 

[ElFenix]

has mopar had a competitive midsize in the fwd era? maybe the dodge stratus before will ferrel torpedoed it? though, even then iirc that car was a bit small for the segment (then again, the accord was EPA compact until 1997, and thus smaller than the cirrus/stratus which were EPA midsize from the get-go)

The neon sold well I think? It was a huge pile of trash.

k-cars were EPA midsize, i guess i overlooked them due to the common dodge ares/plymouth reliants being really small in exterior dimensions (mazda3 is larger).

 

[NutBucket]

My dad almost bought a k-car in '91. Thank god he didn't.

 

[darkswordsman17]

MultiAir was used on two of the FCA engines in a variety of vehicles including the Dart and the 200.

The 1.4L turbo and the 2.4L na.

1.4T was MultiAir
2.4 was MultiAir2

There is a 1.4T MultiAir2 engine in Europe.

Are either of those (I'm assuming the 2.4 is) normal Chrysler engines? Isn't the 1.4T largely Fiat? IIRC Marchionne said Multi-Air would go on everything within like a couple of years, and even explicitly said the V-8s and stuff too.

225/200 seems like a lot. Neither Nissan or Mazda get close with their 2.5L 4s.

Ah, I wasn't sure where the average in NA 4 cylinders was. I thought most had 2.0L ones pushing 175, so figured another half-liter of displacement would give them plenty to get to 220 or so.

 

[LTC8K6]

Are either of those (I'm assuming the 2.4 is) normal Chrysler engines? Isn't the 1.4T largely Fiat? IIRC Marchionne said Multi-Air would go on everything within like a couple of years, and even explicitly said the V-8s and stuff too.



Ah, I wasn't sure where the average in NA 4 cylinders was. I thought most had 2.0L ones pushing 175, so figured another half-liter of displacement would give them plenty to get to 220 or so.

1.4T is a Fiat FIRE engine.

2.4 is a Chrysler Tigershark, built after the Fiat acquisition, so it is Fiat influenced.

 

[foghorn67]

This also proves they weren't in it for the long haul. They wanted an easy hit with no commitment.
How many times has Chrysler had success, but left things to die? Tons. PT cruiser, LH sedans, Chrysler Cirrus and twins, etc.
The mid cycle refresh were half baked. And the one that got a complete refresh, sucked. Mainly, because the multi platform aspirations killed the Neon.
The FCA took the crap Sebring and did all they could with instead of developing something entirely new. For the Dart, they took an existing Fiat and tried to market it in the US as a small car. But it was too big and ungainly to be efficient or fun to drive. And the engines did nothing to help define the Dart. Too slow to be fun, to thirsty to take on the Focus and Civic.

 

[NutBucket]

I would say the PT Cruiser is a bad example. It was a fad. The problem with the Neon replacement is it was terrible! That ugly hatch/crossover looking thing? Should have stuck with a normal, mainstream sedan.

 

[heymrdj]

I'll miss the dart, had a 2014 and it was a great car. I dare anyone to name a car in 2014 that had it's level of features at a sub 23K price tag. That means moonroof, navigation, huge touch screen, leather heated seats, heated steering wheel, HID headlamps remote start by fob and by phone app. The car was a great value, and one of the few sedans with any attitude.

 

[NutBucket]

Probably a Hyundai Elantra (seriously)

EDIT: So if you loved it so much why did you get rid of it?

 

[heymrdj]

Probably a Hyundai Elantra (seriously)

EDIT: So if you loved it so much why did you get rid of it?

I can't go to the build it site for that age Elantra, but you're probably right on features. Can't tell the price. I thought the model I drove in 2013 had pretty bad fit and finish, but that's just personal. I also don't think it had ambient lighting in it.

Between me and the wife there's literally a different car every year or so in the driveway, we get bored easily with them. My stable was a 2004 Expedition, 2007 Ford Ranger, and 2012 Civic. Hers was an older buick. Then a 2004 Buick. Then she had a Jeep Liberty for a bit, I got rid of the ranger, the civic got totaled and I got a 2014 Fiesta. She got a 2013 Dart. She then got the safety bug, wanting blindspot monitoring and those things and a more refined ride (the main complaint for her was the Dart was too sporty). So we traded the Dart on a 2014 Buick Verano. Now I'm looking at a new truck cause it's my turn 😀, that will be this year. She's going to be looking at either a Terrain or an Escape next year.

 

[npaladin-2000]

This may seem like a weird move on the surface, but Chrysler has never been all that competitive in the compact and midsize sedan categories. It makes sense to stop wasting money in that area. SUVs are more profitable anyway, and the Jeep name has a lot of positive equity. The Renegade and 500X can serve the "compact sedan" market, and the Cherokee can serve the "midsize sedan" market. Later on, maybe FIAT can make something a little bigger for the compact segment, or they can partner with Mazda or something.