Dodge Dart sales not doing well....

[JasonC]

The thing about the Focus (or Foci?) is they are very common and that makes them bland. Putting all hipsterness aside, I like my cars a little on the "unique and different" side (and seeing as how we pretty much all own E30s, I reckon it's more than just me). The Dart is indeed different and I bet will actually drive better than the Focus for a FWD sedan. I think the interior is a lot nicer on the Dodge side as well, if not more clever. Let's face it, this is the first new thing Dodge has really done since the whole bankruptcy government-bailouty thing and it's a fantastic first step. Everything else in Dodge's lineup is a bloated and somber remnant of the bloated, failing company of the past. The Dart is Dodge's future and it's a bright one.

I desided to go look at Darts the other day, i tried to keep my views of them using the Dart name on it out of my opinion. But first glance at the car it was different. I looked at a Rally, i guess you call it that. A black Turbo car with black and red int. I didn't drive it or stick around long cause i didn't want a salesman out there with his fake smile trying to sell me something. But anyways, the looks was ok, it was modern to say the least. I think the visability out of the back maybe a little sad, but i peeked into the int. It was pretty nice looking! I was kind of impressed. But looking it only comes in a 4 door... I think a 2 door hatch back would probably be a good seller for this model.

[EtaSax]

The thing about the Focus (or Foci?) is they are very common and that makes them bland. Putting all hipsterness aside, I like my cars a little on the "unique and different" side (and seeing as how we pretty much all own E30s, I reckon it's more than just me). The Dart is indeed different and I bet will actually drive better than the Focus for a FWD sedan. I think the interior is a lot nicer on the Dodge side as well, if not more clever. Let's face it, this is the first new thing Dodge has really done since the whole bankruptcy government-bailouty thing and it's a fantastic first step. Everything else in Dodge's lineup is a bloated and somber remnant of the bloated, failing company of the past. The Dart is Dodge's future and it's a bright one.

[nando]

Nobody wants a NEON with Italian reliability.

Ouch!

[tjts1]

Nobody wants a NEON with Italian reliability.

[JinormusJ]

When these auto companies have no discipline of failure, they aren't inclined to offer better cars the American people are willing to buy. They will just go back for another handout if sales aren't up to par.

Sounds like the norm of American society in general
OHHHHHH SHEEEEYYYYY
I went there


I can't get over that fugly grille. It's like its trying to copy the new 3 series with its "oh herro, look at me! I'm all goofy and my nose can touch my eyes!"
Both of which are incredibly ugly. Both of which suck

[Pac1373]

Yea. New Focus kills this imho. I am traditionally a Mopar guy. In fact my last 6 non BMW vehicles have been mopar of one division or another.(including jeeps)
I will be honest, out side of jeep dodge has exactly 1 ride i have any interest in. And the Challenger isn't much of a family DD.

[Shangsta]

These sales figues are really sad. I really hoped it would do well and was a huge fan of this car from day one. It was so different from what Dodge had been making that there seemed to be a glimmer of hope. For the longest time I hated the Dodge brand. I thought they made absolute crap cars (and they did). Then came the Dart it it looked like things were going to change. Honestly, if I had to buy a compact car new today, it would be the Dart Rallye w/ the 6-speed trans. Basically a Fiat 500 Abarth with two more doors. I dig it and it is far more interesting than the Focus or the Cruze.

Would it be better with RWD? Absolutely. However **put's on flame-retardant apparel** all FWD cars aren't bad. When the R/T or the Mopar versions come out I hope it can be a car that can make the legendary GTI a little nervous in terms of performance. If Dodge did that they'd be the one of the only manufacturers in this segment besides VW and Ford to really make a car to compete as a performance compact. If Dodged priced it bellow the Focus ST and the GTI I really believe they could have a really hot seller.
I hope for Dodge's sake this happens.

You think that this pos is more interesting than the new focus:shock: I think dodge should be looking to ford as they seem to be doing things right

[Pac1373]

^and...bring in Brady.

[semaj4712]

Maybe it is those AWFUL FUCKING COMMERCIALS THEY KEEP RUNNING!!!

[EtaSax]

These sales figues are really sad. I really hoped it would do well and was a huge fan of this car from day one. It was so different from what Dodge had been making that there seemed to be a glimmer of hope. For the longest time I hated the Dodge brand. I thought they made absolute crap cars (and they did). Then came the Dart it it looked like things were going to change. Honestly, if I had to buy a compact car new today, it would be the Dart Rallye w/ the 6-speed trans. Basically a Fiat 500 Abarth with two more doors. I dig it and it is far more interesting than the Focus or the Cruze.

Would it be better with RWD? Absolutely. However **put's on flame-retardant apparel** all FWD cars aren't bad. When the R/T or the Mopar versions come out I hope it can be a car that can make the legendary GTI a little nervous in terms of performance. If Dodge did that they'd be the one of the only manufacturers in this segment besides VW and Ford to really make a car to compete as a performance compact. If Dodged priced it bellow the Focus ST and the GTI I really believe they could have a really hot seller.
I hope for Dodge's sake this happens.

[King Mufasa]

I was readind they built a Dart for the Global Rally Cross Championship. With a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, 16-valve turbo-charged engine rated 600 hp (447 kW) and over 550 lb·ft (746 N·m) of torque, Sedav 4-wheel drive transmission.

Check this site it has the video of it doing its thing. I think its bad azz

http://www.dodge.com/en/2013/dart/grc/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEvw0Gs2_ko&feature=player_embedded

Hopefully this continues its history. despite the haters

[JasonC]

Its not even a rebadged Alfa, its a rebadged Fiat. Fiat has destroyed the Alfa name and image. Rather than offering Alfa as the mid-high end line (since Fiat also owns Ferrari) they have turned the company into the red headed stepchild and have beaten it into submission. Its really sad to be honest. They even closed the Alfa Museum and fired all the employees, many who have been there since before Fiat acquired Alfa. You used to be able to send the Alfa Historic society at the museum your VIN# and within a day they would give you all the info on your car they had. Not any more. As far as I know the place is closed tight and boarded up. There has been talk of selling off the collection. Fiat doesn't want anything to do with Alfa, but they won't sell it off either.

As for the Dodge, it offers nothing special. It looks like a Honda Civic, and is less than boring in every way. A bad case of design fail as well as marketing fail. Still, if it were badged as an Alfa people here in the US would buy it because they remember what Alfa used to be (in the '70s). They would also be let down after they bought it or drove it. It doesn't surprise me at all that they fail to sell.

Will

I'm thinking most people don't really know what an Alfa is... And if they did, they would remember a goofy looking car.

Most think of the Dart as a cheaper compact car from the 60's-70's. But most don't realize is that it came out as something not as compact. Yes it was a bit smaller then what was offered at the time and marketed as a cheaper car for the masses.



I'd think a 2 door hatch back would be a good seller on this model. But still that name on it... But yet they did use the Charger name in the 80's on a fwd. And on the behemoths of the mid 70's. Plus on the new 4 doors today.

[King Mufasa]

Its not even a rebadged Alfa, its a rebadged Fiat. Fiat has destroyed the Alfa name and image. Rather than offering Alfa as the mid-high end line (since Fiat also owns Ferrari) they have turned the company into the red headed stepchild and have beaten it into submission. Its really sad to be honest. They even closed the Alfa Museum and fired all the employees, many who have been there since before Fiat acquired Alfa. You used to be able to send the Alfa Historic society at the museum your VIN# and within a day they would give you all the info on your car they had. Not any more. As far as I know the place is closed tight and boarded up. There has been talk of selling off the collection. Fiat doesn't want anything to do with Alfa, but they won't sell it off either.

As for the Dodge, it offers nothing special. It looks like a Honda Civic, and is less than boring in every way. A bad case of design fail as well as marketing fail. Still, if it were badged as an Alfa people here in the US would buy it because they remember what Alfa used to be (in the '70s). They would also be let down after they bought it or drove it. It doesn't surprise me at all that they fail to sell.

Will

I dont think its poor design alot of people dont think so. Its just not your performance oriented space ship that we all expected to see. But I do hope it sells for our economy sake.

old school



New school
new car based on the Alfa with 3 engine choices



Personally I think she has to much ass but at least the car has a history Behind the the name

[BlackbirdM3]

the commercials are so stupid they act like its a break through car when its just a rebadged alfa romeo

Its not even a rebadged Alfa, its a rebadged Fiat. Fiat has destroyed the Alfa name and image. Rather than offering Alfa as the mid-high end line (since Fiat also owns Ferrari) they have turned the company into the red headed stepchild and have beaten it into submission. Its really sad to be honest. They even closed the Alfa Museum and fired all the employees, many who have been there since before Fiat acquired Alfa. You used to be able to send the Alfa Historic society at the museum your VIN# and within a day they would give you all the info on your car they had. Not any more. As far as I know the place is closed tight and boarded up. There has been talk of selling off the collection. Fiat doesn't want anything to do with Alfa, but they won't sell it off either.

As for the Dodge, it offers nothing special. It looks like a Honda Civic, and is less than boring in every way. A bad case of design fail as well as marketing fail. Still, if it were badged as an Alfa people here in the US would buy it because they remember what Alfa used to be (in the '70s). They would also be let down after they bought it or drove it. It doesn't surprise me at all that they fail to sell.

Will

[Pac1373]

Fuck anything with a sideways engine up front that isn't an old Mini.

Want to do something different? Go RWD and make a fun car, again, like the BRZ/FR-S. Those things are flying off the lots and need some competition.

those cars were fast but they were also 3 of the most horrible cars ever made. being fast isn't good enough to sell millions of cars because most people want to buy a throw away Toyota that just works.

AWD and FI for under $20k? and have it not be a total pile of steaming shit? you're dreaming.

so the dart isnt rwd? wtf are they trying to sell?

If it looks like a NEON and it stinks like a NEON it must be a...

The only crowd I can see this car appealing to is people who

A. Don't know any better
B. View driving as a chore

Yes to all of this.