Want a Dodge Dart? Might wanna pay for more than just the base model

[RavenSEAL]

I dunno about "A LOT". I find its styling very similar. They are just calling it a "Dart" to try and keep their retro theme going. THe only big difference I can see is the nose is longer and the headlights arent round

You're legally blind, right?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

You're legally blind, right?

well, theres no point in throwing insults around. I have my opinion, and you have yours, niether of us is going to change the others.

I think this car is bland, and therefore compares to the neon (its obvious predecessor) which was also bland.

 

[RavenSEAL]

well, theres no point in throwing insults around. I have my opinion, and you have yours, niether of us is going to change the others.

I think this car is bland, and therefore compares to the neon (its obvious predecessor) which was also bland.

Right. But you can't tell me that the Dart looks worst than the Neon...that's like telling me 1+1=3.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Right. But you can't tell me that the Dart looks worst than the Neon...that's like telling me 1+1=3.

When did i say that?

 

[ElFenix]

hoffmeister kink needs to go away

 

[ElFenix]

One of the Dart variants is apparently rated at 40mpg combined.

http://www.fiatspa.com/en-US/media_...st_in_Chrysler_Group_LLC_to_58,5_per_cent.pdf

"unadjusted"

that means the old EPA standard. that's still better than a plain focus, which is about 37 unadjusted combined.

 

[Childs]

Right. But you can't tell me that the Dart looks worst than the Neon...that's like telling me 1+1=3.

hhaha I dunno, I didn't really know which was which. Only real difference is the black in the front. Otherwise, the way the Dart was staged makes it look better. And better wheels. Not much of a difference tho...

 

[nerp]

By that I mean the 3.6L Pentastar® V6 w/283 Horsepower which won't happen...........yet!

The Pentastar has 298 HP, actually, and that's considered an underrated number.

 

[nerp]

I think this car looks pretty decent and much better than anything Dodge has put out for years. I wish they had a hatchback version...but maybe that will come later.

As for the manual vs. automatic. I am a big proponent of the manual and have been driving manual cars for a long time. I have always hated automatics and their complete lack of control. All of that being said, since I recently sold my car and have been driving around my wife's car regularly, I am surprised at how quickly I have come to like her automatic. It is a newer ZF automatic and it does a tremendous job of being in the right gear at the right time. If you want to push it, just put the transmission into S mode or change gears manually. Works very well. Not all automatics are created equal, but this one is a real peach. Maybe I'm getting old, but this automatic is making me a lot more open to them down the road.

I have the same transmission in my 2012 Charger. It's amazing. 8 gears of awesome. I push the pedal and it just flies, always seems to be in the perfect gear for the situation. Double overdrive means good mpg. And it shaved 2 seconds off the car's 0-60 time from the previous year with no difference other than the tranny.

 

[Doppel]

well, theres no point in throwing insults around. I have my opinion, and you have yours, niether of us is going to change the others.

I think this car is bland, and therefore compares to the neon (its obvious predecessor) which was also bland.

I find all these compacts bland. I can't understand the love affair they seem to get around here, not a damn one of them is inspiring to me. I think they are fine as entry level commute cars and "I just want to pay as little money as possible on a new car". But absolutely nothing more.

I am too young to know what genuine at-the-time reputation the dodge dart did or didn't have, but what I see here is a compact that looks decent (most of them do now) and nothing more. It's still small, it's still slow (R/T seems ok but most won't be R/T), it will be one of a million on the road, and the base price is ridiculous to include so little.

 

[dascoyne]

It's worse than ugly.
It's boring.

 

[LTC8K6]

Chrysler has a 9 speed transaxle coming soon.

 

[LTC8K6]

The Pentastar has 298 HP, actually, and that's considered an underrated number.

It's hp varies quite a bit, depending on the vehicle. 305 was the highest, I thought, in the Challenger.

Yes.

http://www.media.chrysler.com/dcxms/assets/specs/Pentastar_engine_spec.pdf

 

[mmntech]

Hehe, no A/C, manual entry AND transmission. Now that's what I call a base model! :awe:

So it's basically the 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt.

I wonder how the new 2013 Dodge Neon will stack up to its predecessors. I don't have high hopes with the way they were hyping it at the Canadian Auto Show. Chrysler's last attempt at a small car was an unmitigated disaster IMO. The Caliber was a piece of s--t.

 

[kaerflog]

The Dart is soooo much better looking than the old Neons that it shouldnt even be a discussion.

 

[BudAshes]

The Dart is soooo much better looking than the old Neons that it shouldnt even be a discussion.

Neon was the first thing I thought when I saw it...

Manual transmission with a peppy 4 cylinder will be fun though.

 

[Throckmorton]

I don't think it's similar at all. It looks more like a Focus. But the Neon was a nice looking car. Clean styling, and not frumpy like the competition at the time.

 

[RavenSEAL]

I don't think it's similar at all. It looks more like a Focus. But the Neon was a nice looking car. Clean styling, and not frumpy like the competition at the time.

I beg to differ. The stock look was HORRIBLE, although I've seen some customized versions that look quite respectable.

 

[jagec]

hhaha I dunno, I didn't really know which was which. Only real difference is the black in the front. Otherwise, the way the Dart was staged makes it look better. And better wheels. Not much of a difference tho...

I agree. Throw some rims on the Neon and give it the photoshop treatment, and the side shots would look pretty much the same.

Now, I'm sure that the differences would be more apparent from the front, which is good because the Neon had a pretty ugly face.

 

[cardiac]

it body double was the plymouth roadrunner

The RR isn't even the same platform. They were OK looking, but the Dart just looked better. The Dart is on the A-body platform and the Roadrunner was the B-body.....

 

[superccs]

Anyone else vomiting in their keyboard everytime they see a new retro car being announced? Can these design teams and engineers please make futuristic cars please? You know ones that can fly, drive through all types of terrain, don't need drivers???

Watch some sci fi movies automotive industry people

 

[PricklyPete]

I have the same transmission in my 2012 Charger. It's amazing. 8 gears of awesome. I push the pedal and it just flies, always seems to be in the perfect gear for the situation. Double overdrive means good mpg. And it shaved 2 seconds off the car's 0-60 time from the previous year with no difference other than the tranny.

:thumbsup: I was glad to hear Chrysler picked up ZF as a transmission supplier as Chrysler wasn't know for their transmissions (well other than being known for being crap). ZF is opening (or already opened) a plant in SC in the general vicinity of the BMW facilities. I believe this was directly related to supplying Chrysler. More jobs in the US and better transmissions for Chrysler...sounds great to me!

 

[Throckmorton]

Anyone else vomiting in their keyboard everytime they see a new retro car being announced? Can these design teams and engineers please make futuristic cars please? You know ones that can fly, drive through all types of terrain, don't need drivers???

Watch some sci fi movies automotive industry people

The Dart isn't retro at all. It only has a retro name.

 

[ultimatebob]

Wow, bad idea. Both the 2012 Chevy Sonic and Ford Fiesta can be found for less, and they both come with A/C standard.

Besides, if you wanna go REALLY cheap, you'll be going a Nissan Versa for $10,990.

 

[natto fire]

Yet they still managed to make it 3100+ lbs? I'll stick with old Toyotas if I need a stripped down econobox.