2014 Dodge Dart SXT

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I've started looking into buying a new small car. Buying used is just too frustrating, and the prices are bad.

I'm seeing advertized prices of 2014 Dart SXTs with the 2.4 engine for around $15K. I don't know what out the door would be, but I guess $17- $17.5K.

Anyone shop for one of these recently? Anything other cars competitive?
 
The Ford focus which is what I bought. I like the dart but the focus is a little better in every area. Also the na 2.0 is a more proven drive train. The Mazda 3 is also very nice.
 
I've rented focus and dart cars before, and have driven them longer distances, like say 300is miles each.

I'm not so sure I'd have the same sentiment as ram man that the focus is a little better in every way. That said, I really liked the focus and really liked the dart. The one thing that did stick out to me was that the dart's headlights were really poor...but the car was also surprisingly quiet.

I'm fairly tall, a hair under 6'5", and both were very comfortable. The dart was a sedan and the focus was a hatch, both had great space, and the dart had a very large trunk.

Tough decision. Other than the headlights, Id go buy a dart in an instant. Not sure there is any need for a 2.4l in that car if a smaller engine is available.
 
From reading reviews the Dart 2.4 engine would be my choice.

Too call your insurance agent and check the price of insurance. The Dart has high crash ratings and could save you some money there.

2015s are out and dealers want to get rid on the remaining 2014s. Check Kelly Blue Book on the Internet and see about what you should pay.
 
I'd check out a lease on the dart.
There have been some quality issues that may or may not be resolved. The summary dismissal of Chrysler's QC guy last week doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

Or, you could insist that the dealer sell you the extended factory warranty for approximately the same price as a similar ford warranty as a condition of the deal. You can determine the price of the ford warranty on flood Ford's website.

Edit: holy moly! I just checked out the dart's repair history on truedelta. It's off-the-charts bad. Ford's is merely steadily getting worse. What is plan "c" again?
 
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You can a smoking deal on a Dart, the interiors are nice, get a 2.4 with the stick
 
No Chrysler products for me. Especially since they are owned by Fiat. The lame leading the lame. One 1966 Dart V8 cured me of ever wanting to drive anything Chrysler. I read where Chrysler quality is improving, but I will have to see that on the pages of Consumer Reports. You will probably enjoy your Dart or whatever. Regards
 
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
No Chrysler products for me. Especially since they are owned by Fiat. The lame leading the lame. One 1966 Dart V8 cured me of ever wanting to drive anything Chrysler. I read where Chrysler quality is improving, but I will have to see that on the pages of Consumer Reports. You will probably enjoy your Dart or whatever. Regards


You're going to judge a new car today based on one built 50 years ago? Hilarious.
 
Chrysler build quality never did improve and they almost went down the tubes due to it and just poor management. The K car had to be one of the biggest jokes of all time. Regards
 
At the end of the day if you like the dart go for it..but do your homework so you know what to expect. Personally any car that has a reputation to have alot of issues isnt worth the trouble of saving a few grand on purchase price. I have driven many Chrysler products and never impressed with their quality or gas mileage.. you would spend your time wisely looking at mazda and toyota. I havent driven the ford so cant comment on that. Pay a bit more and get something better..but i guess it depends what your priorities are in a car...
 
K car one of the biggest jokes of all time? They saved Chrysler,spawned the minivans,gave America convertibles and the most sold turbos up until recently,and they are still around.Cant say that for all the X cars/A cars/J cars/Tempo-Topaz and 1st gen Escort/Lynx cars that sold (selling way more than the 2 million Aries/Reliant cars sold).
 
We have 2 Fiats, and they have been very reliable. I traded a 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo for the Abarth. It was fine at 48,000 miles. A guy I work with has a Dart Rallye and likes it very much. It too has been very reliable.

The bashing of old Chrysler products is irrelevant to the conversation. The old stuff was junk, along with the other American brands, hence the rise of the imports. Fiat was pretty bad back then too. It's a new world.
 
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
Chrysler build quality never did improve and they almost went down the tubes due to it and just poor management. The K car had to be one of the biggest jokes of all time. Regards


You obviously don't know what you are talking about. What are you driving??

Wayne
 
Originally Posted By: HyundaiGuy
We have 2 Fiats, and they have been very reliable. I traded a 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo for the Abarth. It was fine at 48,000 miles. A guy I work with has a Dart Rallye and likes it very much. It too has been very reliable.

The bashing of old Chrysler products is irrelevant to the conversation. The old stuff was junk, along with the other American brands, hence the rise of the imports. Fiat was pretty bad back then too. It's a new world.


Exactly the difference in reliability between makes is getting more narrow all the time. Is a typical Chrysler as reliable as a typical Toyota? Probably not, but the difference is really just about insignificant. The nonsense about the FIAT 500 being
unreliable is also nonsense. Although because the brand new again to the USA the skill level of the technicians at the dealers is probably not up to par just yet, but it will be soon.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'll look into the Dart and probably a Focus, and shoot for closer to the end of the month.
 
Originally Posted By: Chris142
No such thing as as a 66 dart. Didn't come out till 67



My uncle owns a 63 Dart.
 
Originally Posted By: HyundaiGuy

The bashing of old Chrysler products is irrelevant to the conversation. The old stuff was junk, along with the other American brands, hence the rise of the imports. Fiat was pretty bad back then too. It's a new world.


How new is this world? Cause JD Power and Consumer Reports still peg 2011 Chryslers at the bottom of the heap as far as long term dependability goes. But that's where Chrysler has been forever.
 
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
K car one of the biggest jokes of all time? They saved Chrysler,spawned the minivans,gave America convertibles and the most sold turbos up until recently,and they are still around.Cant say that for all the X cars/A cars/J cars/Tempo-Topaz and 1st gen Escort/Lynx cars that sold (selling way more than the 2 million Aries/Reliant cars sold).


Really? Convertibles were around in the 50's and 60s. You could get a convertible Mustang well before the K-Car. As could you get a convertible Camaro. T-Birds could have almost always been a convertible. I think Cadillac convertibles were also available.

The K-cars sure were a success. Reliability was not there as usual with Chrysler cars. And then downhill from there and a second bailout for Chrysler....

I occasionally see the old Escorts, Tempos, K-Cars, and GM stuff so they all can last if taken care of.

And you're forgetting Ford also dabbled in turbos - the Turbo 2.3 OHC was a good engine and made an appearance in the Mustang and T-Birds.

GM really didn't do turbos but did supercharge things and they were good engines as well.
 
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