2013 Dodge Dart

[GruuvenNorth]

Has anyone purchased/leased/rented one? Any impressions on it? I've spotted them on dealer lots this week and I like what I see. I'm thinking of picking up a black 1.4 turbo Ralleye they have...

Any comments/critisism?

[geofftii2002]

Don't know too much about them. Go drive one and report back!

[Aonarch]

Don't know too much about them. Go drive one and report back!

[Dr. Woo]

Don't know too much about them. Go drive one and report back!

This. I don't think we've had a TCLer drive one and report impressions.

[GruuvenNorth]

SOunds good. if i get time this week, i'll check it out. A test drive for me though needs to be a full day. a 5 minute around the block test drive doesn't really do justice for me. You start learning the car after sitting in it for an hour, then the nit-picking begins

[marknuck311]

Starting to see these show up as well, the wife and I stopped to look at them up close this past weekend.
Great looking vehicle, interior looks good too. Wifey was pretty well sold on it already.

Dodge is sending out SXT's and Rallye's now (fairly well-optioned) - base models and R/T's should start showing up throughout August.

Sticker price was just under $23K on the ones we saw.

[dcmix5]

I have a built in reflex to hate anything that is Dodge, but this car just looks cool to me. I think it is leagues ahead in design compared to the the 9th Gen Civic **** box that Honda has created. It still sells in droves though, right?

[FissionMailed]

I get the feeling they won't sell very well because they are pretty expensive.

That isn't a knock against the car- my GTI was pretty pricey for a small car, too. I just don't think Americans are going to pay premium prices for a small car.

That said, I like them a lot- I might have looked into one if they had been available when I was car shopping. The technology in them is pretty sweet. The digital dash/console is ridiculously cool.

[spongebob_squarepants]

It's bigger than people think. Longer than the latest Jetta. More of a midsize really.

I worry that the Abarth engine won't be much fun in the heavier / larger Dart.

[Swallow Doretti]

Production of automatic-equipped models didn't start until the 3rd week of June, which has held up sales a bit.

[Big Dac With Fries]

a 5 minute around the block test drive doesn't really do justice for me. You start learning the car after sitting in it for an hour, then the nit-picking begins

I went with a friend to test drive a bug-eye STI Impreza one weekend. Going around the industrial area block, we both had stupid childish grins on our faces. We took a wrong turn and wound up on a main street, stuck in traffic for about 30 mins.

We couldn't wait to return the car and walk away from it.

[Mike!]

Saw my first one yesterday parked in front of a dealer. It was black, which didn't help me get a good impression of its looks or size. I'm looking forward to seeing one of those red ones or a white one actually out on the road.

[cryption]

I really like the way they look. I'd be interested to find out how it drives - but I'll still wait a while to see if the quality is long term.

[kwik!gti]

I like it beacause.....Tom Brady is in the commercials.

GO PATS!

[cryption]

I like it beacause.....Tom Brady is in the commercials.

GO PATS!

Texans baby!

[kwik!gti]

Texans baby!

Who?!

[gtdude19]

I drove a 2.0L auto Limited a couple months back. It had the LCD instrument panel which was really cool, drove pretty well, the power was adequate even with the base engine and it definitely feels more like a midsize car than a compact. Build quality seemed pretty good, the interior felt pretty strokeable and the leather was the same as on the Charger and the 300.

[Joe Cook]

Really like the looks of this car. About the right size for me as well (though do wish it were a bit tidier/compact).

About the only thing that could keep me away from serious consideration it not being a hatchback. My next car is most likely going to have a hatch.

Still, it seems to be a pretty appealing package.

Joe C.

[classicjetta]

There was a quick Turbio! review in another thread, but I can't find it. I seem to recall he found the car reasonably impressive although not amazing.

[Heffernan]

GO RAVENS!

[BRealistic]

The dodge dealer near my house has a turbo manual model Dart.
I checked it out on my walk the other day and it is a sharp car.
But this car was 25k before the 2500 market adjustment.....

[NHDUBN#2]

The dodge dealer near my house has a turbo manual model Dart.
I checked it out on my walk the other day and it is a sharp car.
But this car was 25k before the 2500 market adjustment.....

Same here . the one i sat in was a silver limited with a 6spd manual. Love the interior of this car. Did not get a chance to drive it. And it was around 25K but i think with the 6spd and the turbo (depending on how it drives) I could spend that on this car.

[6cylVWguy]

They seem to specing the first of the first of these cars with manuals, which I find quite surprising. I checked out 2 this past weekend--one was a rallye and the other an SXT. They were both in the low 20s and both had the optional 1.4t motor.

The interior is a definite improvement over previous compact chrysler products, that's for sure. I didn't drive one, but the reviews seem to be rather lukewarm. I don't recall if it was Motortrend or Automobile, but one of them was really critical of how the car drove when driven aggressively.

[VDub2625]

I drove a 2.0L auto Limited a couple months back.

Production of automatic-equipped models didn't start until the 3rd week of June, which has held up sales a bit.

May I ask where? probably a preproduction model?

[VW_Enthu1]

Huh? Nobody in their right mind is going to pay a $2500 mark-up on Dodge Dart.

[TCBeekley]

I think it looks pretty cool. Like someone said earlier, I have predisposition to hate anything Dodge so I will have to hold off judgments until someone drives it.

[2.0_Mazda]

I like the car, but...

[urogolf]

I like the car, but...

easy problem to fix..... Dont buy that color

[Inspector Detector]

From what I've been reading about it, the strongest point seems to be the interior. And that's a big turn around for the Dodge boys who were never well known for offering nice interiors. Other notables about this car too are it's a well disguised Alfa Romeo Giulietta too I guess I can handle that now, since not too long ago Benz parts were being used at Chrysler.

[VDub2625]

easy problem to fix..... Dont buy that color

I like this car. This and the new XTS have me excited for America.

What models have the black grille inserts? i like those.

[Swallow Doretti]

They seem to specing the first of the first of these cars with manuals, which I find quite surprising. I checked out 2 this past weekend--one was a rallye and the other an SXT. They were both in the low 20s and both had the optional 1.4t motor.

As I said earlier:

Production of automatic-equipped models didn't start until the 3rd week of June, which has held up sales a bit.

The automatic version wasn't ready until the end of May, so the only automatics were pre-production. Chrysler and Hyundai had to redesign the automatic transmission three times to meet both quality and mileage goals.

[Sleepysapper]

Test Drove the rallaye one (think that's how it's spelled), Disliked it strongly for several reasons

cons
1. engine felt underpowered compared to what I'm used to
2. throttle response was some what laggy and once it did respond it was revving it's self up to 6k in no time.
3. car felt low to the ground but the seat made you feel up high
4. gas felt like it was positioned in an awkward way and the clutch felt like it wasn't even there

Pros
1. 8.4 touch screen interface was impressive And I liked how many things you could change about the car with just a couple of button presses, screen was very responsive and extremely easy to use
2. Interior felt nice and I liked the pattern on the seats.
3. rear leg room was impressive

All in all it was I guess and okay car but in no way shape or forum from the 25 minutes I spent in the car did I feel it was worth the 25k they were asking but maybe and extended drive I would have found other things That made it worth it but Idk.

[warren_s]

Test Drove the rallaye one (think that's how it's spelled), Disliked it strongly for several reasons

cons
1. engine felt underpowered compared to what I'm used to
2. throttle response was some what laggy and once it did respond it was revving it's self up to 6k in no time.
3. car felt low to the ground but the seat made you feel up high
4. gas felt like it was positioned in an awkward way and the clutch felt like it wasn't even there

I've heard this a few times now about the Dart -- it's not as engaging to drive as it looks.

[2.0_Mazda]

I like this car. This and the new XTS have me excited for America.

What models have the black grille inserts? i like those.

from the website

[classicjetta]

The automatic version wasn't ready until the end of May, so the only automatics were pre-production. Chrysler and Hyundai had to redesign the automatic transmission three times to meet both quality and mileage goals.

Wow Brian you give us all sorts of interesting tidbits. Hopefully third time is the charm and we don't have the Ultradrive revisited.