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

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brainhulk said:
that looks sic! looks like a more compact challenger/charger
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it body double was the plymouth roadrunner

1971_plymouth_road_runner-pic-49732.jpeg
 
$15.9k for a compact car without A/C is absurd. For $500 more you can get a Focus with power locks/windows, A/C and a quite decent stereo.

For $15,200 you can get a Kia Forte with bluetooth, A/C, and USB inputs in the stereo.

The base model Dart will be nothing more than a marketing ploy.
 
Bignate603 said:
If I was just going to use it as a commuter or running around town I'd prefer an automatic. The enjoyment of a manual transmission is lost when you're spending your time in stop and go traffic or going from stoplight to stoplight.
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That's how I feel. Manual was fun when I was younger, but now I'm stuck behind school buses and multiple stop lights all the fucking time and it just causes my leg to cramp up and for me to get pissed off. And since my wife refused to learn to drive stick its not even an option.

Auto and A/C are the only things I MUST HAVE on a car. Call me a fat spoiled American if you want, I'm not interested in needing a shower every time I drive somewhere during the summer anymore.
 
I know how to use a key, and I don't care if my windows "roll down" vs "push a button to open them", Theer's a lot of stuff that's standard in most cars that I don't care about.

One thing that is important to me however, is a good air conditioner. I want my car to be like a walk in cooler.
 
jagec said:
Manual transmission >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> automatic.

Now, no AC or power locks is a little silly in this day and age.
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Manual gears are better than auto for doing burnouts and driving like a madman, but suuuuuck in traffic.

What's weird is that the power locks and windows are actually lighter and easier to source.

The AC part is kind of funny. You never think you need AC until you have driven a car that doesn't have AC. Your next car will have AC.
 
superccs said:
Manual gears are better than auto for doing burnouts and driving like a madman, but suuuuuck in traffic.
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It's not that bad. Drove stick for years until I moved close enough to work to sell my car.

I mean, I'm sure that it's easier to wax your face than to use a razor all the time, but I still reserve the right to make fun of any guy who does so.

But back on topic: the gold standard of econoboxes, the base Honda Civic, starts at $15.7k for the 2012 manual DX, and so I doubt that anyone shopping for a no-frills car is going to go for a Dodge.
 
Bignate603 said:
I wouldn't mind a stripped base model of a car, the only thing I couldn't live without is AC.
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This.

So. Very. This.

I would actually prefer a base model without an automatic transmission, power windows/locks, remote start, nav system, premium audio, etc. You know...a car for people that like driving, not gadgets...

But drive without air conditioning? In the South? Fuck that.
 
My first car was a 79 Rabbit. Manual, no A/C, no radio, vinyl seats, and I had to push it seven miles to and from school, up hill both ways. At least it was fuel injected.
 
There's nothing like stepping into an already chilled car on a hot summer day, or an already warm and defrosted car on a winter morning.

Remote start and auto climate control please.
 
ThatsABigOne said:
Why? You are backwards! :biggrin:

I would take a manual over the automatic any day!
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I've only every owned manual transmission cars and still drive manual every day. Now that I'm older, I get tired from work and want to just drive and relax on my way home. Plus it's LA traffic so it's definitely the worst of the worst traffic. I'd want my manual car as my weekend/have fun car and auto for going to and fro work and other places.
 
RavenSEAL said:
The cheapest model is manual, that's part of what the article is about :whiste:
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Heh, ok. :biggrin:

zerocool84 said:
I've only every owned manual transmission cars and still drive manual every day. Now that I'm older, I get tired from work and want to just drive and relax on my way home. Plus it's LA traffic so it's definitely the worst of the worst traffic. I'd want my manual car as my weekend/have fun car and auto for going to and fro work and other places.
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No worries, makes sense. I live in mormonistic Utah, where traffic on I80 is a little bit more under control. 🙂
 
Its interesting that so many people mind a manual in traffic. I honestly dont even think about it, as its second nature. The only time is maybe when I'm in San Francisco.
 
Childs said:
Its interesting that so many people mind a manual in traffic. I honestly dont even think about it, as its second nature. The only time is maybe when I'm in San Francisco.
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I could understand if we were talking about something with a heavy clutch but this is just an economy car. A 90 year old lady could handle the clutch in one of these things all day.
 
Childs said:
Its interesting that so many people mind a manual in traffic. I honestly dont even think about it, as its second nature. The only time is maybe when I'm in San Francisco.
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Hill-holder clutch takes care of that problem 😉

I do love how all the glamour shots show the 6MT which will likely account for <10% of sales.
 
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.
 
RavenSEAL said:
Are we talking about the current Neons? Because the Dart sure as hell looks A LOT better.
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neonvsdart2.jpg


neonvsdart.jpg



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
 
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