Chrysler 200 & Dodge Dart production will end

[ElFenix]

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.

it's not that big, only a few inches longer than a focus, on a longer wheelbase. should be a big seller with lots of back seat room or something.

but why does it weigh as much as a nissan altima?

edit: mileage isn't too bad either, at least so far as similar (small end of EPA midsize class) cars such as the elantra. 26/27 combined vs. 27/28 for the much lighter elantra.

 

[npaladin-2000]

it's not that big, only a few inches longer than a focus, on a longer wheelbase. should be a big seller with lots of back seat room or something.

but why does it weigh as much as a nissan altima?

edit: mileage isn't too bad either, at least so far as similar (small end of EPA midsize class) cars such as the elantra. 26/27 combined vs. 27/28 for the much lighter elantra.

That's the problem, they positioned it as a Focus competitor, but it was as big and thirsty as a Fusion.

 

[ElFenix]

That's the problem, they positioned it as a Focus competitor, but it was as big and thirsty as a Fusion.

It's 8" shorter than a fusion and gets similar mileage as the cruze and elantra, which share the tweener space with the dart.

 

[npaladin-2000]

It's 8" shorter than a fusion and gets similar mileage as the cruze and elantra, which share the tweener space with the dart.

Wrong. The Cruze and Elantra are marketed as compacts. The Dart was marketed as a midcompactersize. Except it's too heavy to be a compact, and too small to be a mid-size, so it sucked at either.

 

[ElFenix]

Not really sure how I'm wrong about objective fact. All available on fueleconomy.gov. And the cruze and elantra don't get very good mileage compared to proper compacts and the corolla (which is also a tweener). Haven't really seen the dart marketed as a tweener specifically, but maybe I'm not paying attention.

 

[npaladin-2000]

The Dart was always intended to replace the Avenger as well as cover the compact segment. That's why Avenger was canned in 2014 with no replacement, and why the Dart is such a big boy for a compact. Most "compacts" edge on being "midsize" based on interior volume, but they're still sold as compacts, and are essentially compacts based on exterior dimensions. The Dart was unapologetically large both inside and outside (hence "compact-WIDE" platform). It was originally intended to be a selling point, but as it turns out, compact car shoppers want a compact car, not a small midsize. And midsize sedan shoppers want a midsize, not a wide compact.

That's why the Elantra is still sold as a compact, not a "tweener" or anything...and the Sonata is there as the midsize. Same with Cruze/Malibu, and all the others. Of course, the point is moot since now they're all switching to crossover SUVs anyway (compact sedan -> subcompact SUV, midsize sedan -> compact SUV).

 

[slag]

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

I won't miss the 200 either-had one as a rental. Underpowered while being a gas guzzler at the same time, unappealing, crappy in the snow, etc. The best part of the experience was turning that turkey in.

Chrysler has never known how to design or build small cars, and the association with Fiat seems to have given them surprisingly little help in that field.

Does sound like we will be in line for Chrysler bailout #3 when gas pops back up again though.

The dart was actually a pretty sweet car. I dated a girl in college in the 90s who had a dodge dart swinger with a 318 in it and that car was awesome and a blast to drive.

 

[npaladin-2000]

The dart was actually a pretty sweet car. I dated a girl in college in the 90s who had a dodge dart swinger with a 318 in it and that car was awesome and a blast to drive.

Methinks you had such a good time in the car not because of the car, but because of the accessory in the passenger seat. 😎

 

[Torn Mind]

Methinks you had such a good time in the car not because of the car, but because of the accessory in the passenger seat. 😎

You mean the owner in the driver's seat, since it was her car.😉

 

[darkswordsman17]

The Dart was always intended to replace the Avenger as well as cover the compact segment. That's why Avenger was canned in 2014 with no replacement, and why the Dart is such a big boy for a compact. Most "compacts" edge on being "midsize" based on interior volume, but they're still sold as compacts, and are essentially compacts based on exterior dimensions. The Dart was unapologetically large both inside and outside (hence "compact-WIDE" platform). It was originally intended to be a selling point, but as it turns out, compact car shoppers want a compact car, not a small midsize. And midsize sedan shoppers want a midsize, not a wide compact.

That's why the Elantra is still sold as a compact, not a "tweener" or anything...and the Sonata is there as the midsize. Same with Cruze/Malibu, and all the others. Of course, the point is moot since now they're all switching to crossover SUVs anyway (compact sedan -> subcompact SUV, midsize sedan -> compact SUV).

No it wasn't. The Dart replaced the Neon, or at least was intended for that segment of the market. Most of the compacts grew in size as that's just how the companies went (Dodge was chasing others in upsizing). The whole sedan market got stupid as they blurred the compact, midsize, and large sedans.

The Avenger had no replacement because they were trying to stop all the badge engineering and so the Avenger was killed to focus that segment on the 200.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

What exactly has Marchione done as CEO besides cut nameplates and dump money into niche brands like Alfa and Maserati? Marchione needs to be fired. Putting all your eggs in crossovers and trucks? What could go wrong.

If you want more proof of the above, just look at all the issues with the Alfa Giulia.

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/10/alfa-romeo-giulia-needs-help-fedeli/

I feel bad for Chrysler, I really do. From one money sucking parasite to another. First Daimler, now Fiat. Chrysler has been a dead man walking for decades, but their ownership seemingly does whatever they can to make a bad problem worse.

 

[npaladin-2000]

If you want more proof of the above, just look at all the issues with the Alfa Giulia.

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/02/10/alfa-romeo-giulia-needs-help-fedeli/

I feel bad for Chrysler, I really do. From one money sucking parasite to another. First Daimler, now Fiat. Chrysler has been a dead man walking for decades, but their ownership seemingly does whatever they can to make a bad problem worse.

I like the 4C that came out of Alfa (especially the powertrain), but otherwise I question needing both Alfa and Dodge around..the 4C could just as easily been branded a Dodge and probably would have been right at home. I think they're essentially going to be re-badges of each other, much like Chrysler/Lancia were. I see the Giulia essentially becoming a Dodge Hornet, and filling the slot that would have otherwise been occupied by the Dart.

 

[gorcorps]

I like the look of the Dart above the others you listed (and I own a Focus). In fact, I like the look of almost all Chrysler vehicles above their competitors. If they had created the long-rumored Dart SRT4, I would have considered it when I bought my ST.

For some reason my youngest son loves the look of the 200. It's not bad but not distinctive enough to stand out IMO.

Agreed. I'm a big fan of Chrysler styling both inside and out for the most part. Damn shame they can't put that much thought into making the electrical system last