2013 Dodge Dart

[Stew]

Originally Posted by coolman

You mean you hope they have a version that cost more than the competition's but still doesn't perform as well. I'm sure they'll live up to that.

What? the Neon SRT5 simply dominated evertything in it's class. the Caliber was just a too tall Wagon. The Dart on the other hand is a fully modern small car with a fully independant suspension that, BTW, cars such as the Cruze, lack. It will start out with at least 160 HP, compared to most makers 150 or less. The top end R/T and Limited will have the DI 2.4 with around 200 HP and that is not even considered performance models. If they do an SRT, which all signs point to them doing, it will have a the redone 2.4 turbo which should have upwards of 300 HP, along with the fully independant suspension, and things like Brembo brakes and additional SRT features, nothing in it's class will be able to touch it. You have a bad habit of spouting off guesses with no base in reality.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I guess I just don't get it then. When I'm driving a car, I tend to look out the windshield, not stare at the dashboard. I notice how the suspension feels, and what the engine sounds like, and the wind/road noise. But the dash? Its just sorta ... there. I see it, but I don't pay any attention to it. As long as the shapes look pleasant enough, and the radio/HVAC controls are easy to use I'm fine with the dash.

But most importantly, with regard to the nice soft leather covered dash shown for the Dart that initiated the comment, I have never found myself feeling up the dash of my car. It simply hasn't happened, not once. Closest I come is wiping off the dash when I'm cleaning the car but I wouldn't put that in the same category. I barely touch the soft inserts in the door of my Grand Am. If my left arm is resting on the door, its up by the window not down by the door handle. However, I do appreciate the leather wrapped steering wheel. Feels much better than a typical plastic job.

That is an easy dismissal for lackluster quality. The fact is you are spending as much as 40k for a car, performance or not the quality should be there. Other manufacturers can do it, so why not GM? The extra effects other than a more pleasing experience petting the dash (lol) is a better, but the look and the ability to resist cracking and squeaks and rattles. You say they didn't put performance in the Dart, correct, but it starts out around $7000 cheaper than the cheapest base Camaro. The Challenger and Mustang can both do it with high quality materials and performance, so.......

[DaBears]

Frankly ive always thought it is extremely stupid to take a small car such as the Dart/Cruze/Cobalt/Neon......etc.. and make it into a performance car? The hell? Why? If you want performance, buy a Camaro/Mustang/Challenger.

Makes no damn sense to me, but I guess thats just me.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by DaBears

Frankly ive always thought it is extremely stupid to take a small car such as the Dart/Cruze/Cobalt/Neon......etc.. and make it into a performance car? The hell? Why? If you want performance, buy a Camaro/Mustang/Challenger.

Makes no damn sense to me, but I guess thats just me.

Simple answer, low price for high performance. When the origional SRT4 came out for example, you had a low 14/high 13 second car for less than 20k. Same with the turbo Cobalt SS, but for 22k. they also generally get better real world fuel mileage and the FWD for these vehicles is more usable in snowy weather areas. But mainly the first reason LOL.

[Txmxracer]

Originally Posted by Stew

That is an easy dismissal for lackluster quality. The fact is you are spending as much as 40k for a car, performance or not the quality should be there. Other manufacturers can do it, so why not GM? The extra effects other than a more pleasing experience petting the dash (lol) is a better, but the look and the ability to resist cracking and squeaks and rattles. You say they didn't put performance in the Dart, correct, but it starts out around $7000 cheaper than the cheapest base Camaro. The Challenger and Mustang can both do it with high quality materials and performance, so.......

I don't think it is a dismissal; I think he is right. When I drive my truck, I don't stare at the dash or feel it in any way. In fact, I barely know what it looks like because I never look at it. I do know that it is a plastic dash that hasn't cracked and doesn't rattle, and my truck is at 225000 miles. Why invest money into something that has no real purpose for the driver (and buyer) of the car? High quality materials? I'm sorry but if I am buying a Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger, I couldn't care less about what my dash is made out of. My only priority is going fast in a car that looks great.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Txmxracer

I don't think it is a dismissal; I think he is right. When I drive my truck, I don't stare at the dash or feel it in any way. In fact, I barely know what it looks like because I never look at it. I do know that it is a plastic dash that hasn't cracked and doesn't rattle, and my truck is at 225000 miles. Why invest money into something that has no real purpose for the driver (and buyer) of the car? High quality materials? I'm sorry but if I am buying a Camaro, Mustang, or Challenger, I couldn't care less about what my dash is made out of. My only priority is going fast in a car that looks great.

You are not seeing the big picture. As one only interested in performance you make up around 1% of the buying population. others look for high quality materials on the exterior and interior, just a fact. And this includes those 100,000 Camaros that GM wants to sell a year. Fact is a very small percentage is buying it for perforamnce rather than look or design.

[Txmxracer]

Originally Posted by Stew

You are not seeing the big picture. As one only interested in performance you make up around 1% of the buying population. others look for high quality materials on the exterior and interior, just a fact. And this includes those 100,000 Camaros that GM wants to sell a year. Fact is a very small percentage is buying it for perforamnce rather than look or design.

Do you have a source for your facts?

Beyond the point, I do not think anyone's decision on buying any car rests on how the dash looks and feels. The steering wheel grip, how comfortable the seats are, how well the car shifts, the exterior, fuel economy (which is performance), and power are components of a car that really influence buyers. The dash? I wouldn't say so.

[The IOM Ninja]

Originally Posted by Stew

You are not seeing the big picture. As one only interested in performance you make up around 1% of the buying population. others look for high quality materials on the exterior and interior, just a fact. And this includes those 100,000 Camaros that GM wants to sell a year. Fact is a very small percentage is buying it for perforamnce rather than look or design.

Exactly my point, the Camaro's Interior from a design aspect is perfect, from a material or feature aspect it is absolutely horrible. The Mustang has a best in class Navigation System, soft touch and aluminum accents, there is no denying that the Mustang has a much higher quality interior than the Camaro. However you can argue all you want that the Mustangs interior features, Full Cabin ABL, Track Apps, etc are just a bunch of gimmicks but then you have to do the same to the Camaro, HUD, Door ABL are Gimmicks but at that point you are still surrounded by pure plastic. The fact is Chevy showed off an incredible interior with the Camaro Concept Car and we got shafted and the people who buy a Dodge Dart will have a clearly better interior than us and their car will cost significantly less, depending on the trim. It's not acceptable for a ZL1 to have a worse interior than a Chevrolet Cruze....

[Stew]

Originally Posted by Txmxracer

Do you have a source for your facts?

Beyond the point, I do not think anyone's decision on buying any car rests on how the dash looks and feels. The steering wheel grip, how comfortable the seats are, how well the car shifts, the exterior, fuel economy (which is performance), and power are components of a car that really influence buyers. The dash? I wouldn't say so.

It's not really that hard to grasp. For most of the public a decent interior and good materials means a quality vehicle. if it didn't matter and people didn't care, do you really think GM, Ford and Chrysler would be spending the millions to upgrade those interior materials if no one cared? Wopuld GM be offering leather Dash options on the Corvette? People want MORE than what they pay for, so a good use of softtouch materials is a sign of quality these days.

Originally Posted by The IOM Ninja

Exactly my point, the Camaro's Interior from a design aspect is perfect, from a material or feature aspect it is absolutely horrible. The Mustang has a best in class Navigation System, soft touch and aluminum accents, there is no denying that the Mustang has a much higher quality interior than the Camaro. However you can argue all you want that the Mustangs interior features, Full Cabin ABL, Track Apps, etc are just a bunch of gimmicks but then you have to do the same to the Camaro, HUD, Door ABL are Gimmicks but at that point you are still surrounded by pure plastic. The fact is Chevy showed off an incredible interior with the Camaro Concept Car and we got shafted and the people who buy a Dodge Dart will have a clearly better interior than us and their car will cost significantly less, depending on the trim. It's not acceptable for a ZL1 to have a worse interior than a Chevrolet Cruze....

Precisely

[coolman]

Originally Posted by Stew

What? the Neon SRT5 simply dominated evertything in it's class. the Caliber was just a too tall Wagon. The Dart on the other hand is a fully modern small car with a fully independant suspension that, BTW, cars such as the Cruze, lack. It will start out with at least 160 HP, compared to most makers 150 or less. The top end R/T and Limited will have the DI 2.4 with around 200 HP and that is not even considered performance models. If they do an SRT, which all signs point to them doing, it will have a the redone 2.4 turbo which should have upwards of 300 HP, along with the fully independant suspension, and things like Brembo brakes and additional SRT features, nothing in it's class will be able to touch it. You have a bad habit of spouting off guesses with no base in reality.

Haha!! Just call em like I see them. I've had more mopars than any other make. I used to drag race a 69 dart GT. But, I've also see a company that once made products that people want ,and now they're just trying to hold on. I know they've made some advancement lately ,and I hope they turn it around. But it's not the dodge that I loved for all the years and I guess I resent the fact that they are using Iconic names just as marketing ploys anymore plus they aren't really even an American car company anymore.

By the way, What year did they make the SRT5 neon? I never heard of it.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by coolman

By the way, What year did they make the SRT5 neon? I never heard of it.

now now ... we all make typo's ...
(and yes ... I've ribbed more than a few people about them too)

[jandaseve]

I wonder if this car is actually going to be produced. Were'nt we supposed to see the new Dodge Demon reintroduced as a two seater sports car by now?

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by jandaseve

I wonder if this car is actually going to be produced. Were'nt we supposed to see the new Dodge Demon reintroduced as a two seater sports car by now?

I'm assuming the Demon got axed when Chrysler went bankrupt.

But yes, the Dart will get built. They even have space on their website for the 2013 Dart.

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by jandaseve

I wonder if this car is actually going to be produced. Were'nt we supposed to see the new Dodge Demon reintroduced as a two seater sports car by now?

The Demon was just a concept I think, there are prepreduction cars running around for the Dart.