Ten months in a Dart

I don’t tend to talk about my DDs because I am a bit biased by my job. I also lease them which is a pretty anti-GRM thing to do because A-it’s a lease and B- it’s a new car when I could buy a 94 Miata for less.

Anyway, after 10 months and 32411 miles I bid farewell last week to my 2013 Dart Rallye with the 1.4 and 6 speed manual. Like any new car the internet is divided on it. I thought it was a pretty good ride for everyday life. It got decent mileage, around 30-32 mixed and on Michigan interstates going 80. Dropping the speed to 65-70 when in Ohio saw increases to 38. The powerband was a little peaky for my tastes but once you had the revs up it was a fun car to commute in. It was comfortable for 2 adults to travel in but I think it would be cramped with people in the back seat. The head room in the rear favored shorter individuals. I liked the way it handled. Its obviously heavy but all new cars are. The Conti tires were great in the dry and rain but awful in the snow. Overall I think it was a vast improvement over previous Dodges.

Here it is at a RallyX last summer.

They have been out 10 months already?

Why did you get rid of it? I've never heard of a 10 month lease.

I have to agree that the Dart is so, so much better than the Caliber it replaced. The question that I would like to see conclusively answered is how the Dart stacks up against the heavy hitters in the entry-subcompact class.

How did you drive 32,411 miles in 10 months?! Props for rallycrossing a leased car.

bgkast wrote: They have been out 10 months already?

It was a preproduction corporate lease. Those are out several months before they hit the dealers.

Matt B wrote: Why did you get rid of it? I've never heard of a 10 month lease.

I replaced it with what will surely be the next great love/hate car. The 500L

nderwater wrote: How did you drive 32,411 miles in 10 months?!

At least 80 a day round trip to the office and a few road trips. Plus we put miles on it whenever we can over our other cars. My 03 Civic sees less than 3k a year now.

Are leases like that considered late-stage QA testing?

In reply to logdog:

I have met you before! You had a bird stuck in your grille at that event.

nderwater wrote: I have to agree that the Dart is so, so much better than the Caliber it replaced. The question that I would like to see conclusively answered is how the Dart stacks up against the heavy hitters in the entry-subcompact class.

Been wondering about that myself, even though it's going to be a long time before I can afford one.

nderwater wrote: Are leases like that considered late-stage QA testing?

Yep!

fidelity101 wrote: In reply to logdog: I have met you before! You had a bird stuck in your grille at that event.

Overall I think it was a vast improvement over previous Dodges.

As much as id like to say it isnt, that really IS the most important thing about the Dart.

As far as comparing it to its competitors in the segment, most major magazines have already done that.. There is plenty written on that if one wants to look. I certainly dont expect GRM to put time and ink into such mainstream considerations without couching it in some specific enthusiast premise.

I wish these were out when I bought the 3, because I would have love to test drive one. They seem like good daily drivers, especially with that 1.4 Turbo motor. And I like how they look.

I'd like to see what one of them would do with a tune.

I like the Dart- neighbor just bought one, dark grey with the DST gearbox and 2.0 engine. Sharp looking car, I think they got the aestheics right. WAAAY nicer than a Caliber- drive one of those last year, and it was not the nicest rental car I've ever had (understatement).

I know it's beating a long dead horse, but this Dart weighs something like 3200 pounds. That's...SUBSTANTIAL. And I'm sure it really hits the city fuel economy figures HARD. Did it really have to be that heavy? Do cats, airbags and all that other government-mandated safety stuff really weigh that much?

edit: Just looked up the 2013 Civic- it's approximately 400 pounds lighter. Aren't these cars essentially in the same class? That seems like a lot- like comparing a Civic with two big men riding inside vs a Dart with a 5th percentile female driver. And aside from all the usual issues that everyone brings up about heavy cars- fuel economy, handling, etc- it simply takes more energy and more material to make a heavier car. I'm really having a hard time finding justification. I'm sure it's there, but not to my head.

Sorry. I'll get back to my '60's Volvos...

Like the Dart, and it looks good, but it still has some of that Neonesque design language in the rear half of the car that just looks weird to me, as did the cloud era cabin forward era Chrysler products. It looks unnaturally elongated, and with the Dart its mixed with a rising beltline toward the rear.

While its not necessarily an unattractive design, it makes it look more downmarket, while others cars it competes with have design features to appear more upmarket.

Maybe someday some of that will be remedied by a coupe version, but that doesn't seem as marketable these days:

So at 32,411 miles in 10 months you must just get up in the morning and drive all day long with out ever stopping.

Feedyurhed wrote: So at 32,411 miles in 10 months you must just get up in the morning and drive all day long with out ever stopping.

I did the math and it works out to an average of 102.8 miles a day. With 80 a day for work, 2 trips to DC, 2 trips to Memphis, a trip to Kansas city and some far away weddings and funerals, I think that seems right.

^^with an average speed of 101.7 mph.
And keep in mind, logdogs issues with the interior room need to be taken with a grain of salt. He's a sasquatch.

If you could make a thread about the 500L, that would be awesome. After riding in a 500 and realizing my like for it and my body size don't mix, I have been interested in the 500L for the wifes next car.

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: If you could make a thread about the 500L, that would be awesome. After riding in a 500 and realizing my like for it and my body size don't mix, I have been interested in the 500L for the wifes next car.

I've ridden in and driven the 500L. I was very surprised with the pep of a little 1.4L in a vehicle that size. Speaking of size, it's a real vehicle that can fit 4 real adults. I'm interested to see pricing.

DrBoost wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: If you could make a thread about the 500L, that would be awesome. After riding in a 500 and realizing my like for it and my body size don't mix, I have been interested in the 500L for the wifes next car.

I've ridden in and driven the 500L. I was very surprised with the pep of a little 1.4L in a vehicle that size. Speaking of size, it's a real vehicle that can fit 4 real adults. I'm interested to see pricing.

Have you driven it with that Dual Dry Clutch Transmission? The wife doesn't drive manual, so I'm wondering if the DDCT is worthwhile. What few reviews of the overseas 500L I have read, they were all manuals. It's got to be better than the auto in the regular 500.

I kinda don't mind the way the dart looks if there was a wagon or hatch variant I would have test drove one.
A guy at my work got one tho he said he paid 22k and i asked if it was loaded he said no, no leather, no sunroof, not the turbo engine. That is just crazy ill keep my 15999 focus thank you l

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:

DrBoost wrote:

SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: If you could make a thread about the 500L, that would be awesome. After riding in a 500 and realizing my like for it and my body size don't mix, I have been interested in the 500L for the wifes next car.

I've ridden in and driven the 500L. I was very surprised with the pep of a little 1.4L in a vehicle that size. Speaking of size, it's a real vehicle that can fit 4 real adults. I'm interested to see pricing.

Have you driven it with that Dual Dry Clutch Transmission? The wife doesn't drive manual, so I'm wondering if the DDCT is worthwhile. What few reviews of the overseas 500L I have read, they were all manuals. It's got to be better than the auto in the regular 500.

No, sorry. It was the standard 6-speed. It was Logdogs car.