Dodge Dart SE or Chevy Cruze LT1?

[G2Turbo]

If I had to choose, definitely the Dart. Mainly based on the FIAT association.

As a pro mechanic/tech, always dread working on domestics. My old Jeep isn't so bad, but the quality and engineering is laughable. Great lump of a mill, as the Brits say.

I stick to German cars and own a few. Including, 4, 6, 8 cylinder models, and anywhere from 195 hp to 500+.

If my wife gets in a bad wreck, that german steel will pay dividends. Until then the great interiors, sophisticated suspension, AWD, good handling and beefy brakes (the 8cyl has 8 piston Brembo's) makes for an enjoyable 20K miles a year.

Otherwise, for a cheap basic car, the Korean cars have come a long ways. Would choose them over a domestic if going new or newer. $10-15K will buy a nice used German car, but will cost more to run, however.

To each their own as they say.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Shrubitup
Different car but I rented a Cobalt once. Yikes. Complete P.O.S.


That's comparing dinosaurs to mammals. Cruze is completely different than the Cobalt. I've driven both. Look in my signature to see which one I bought back when buying a late-model used Cobalt was a possibility. I'm quite happy with my choice 4 years and 122k miles later.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Didn't realize the dart had a 2.0 version of the world engine as well.

I'd go for the Dart and try to find a 1.4T ... Love that exhaust note

 

[147_Grain]

The Cruze is better than the Dart, but I'd personally spend a little more to buy a Subaru Imprezia, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla.

Short-term initial cost often leads to higher overall long-term expenses (in comparison to paying a little more up front for higher quality).

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
The Cruze is better than the Dart, but I'd personally spend a little more to buy a Subaru Imprezia, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla.

Short-term initial cost often leads to higher overall long-term expenses (in comparison to paying a little more up front for higher quality).


I see more people posting problems with Hondas and Subarus on here than any other make. Now the 2016 Civic looks interesting, but the OP was looking at used cars and if I was shopping in this segment, it would be Dart 2.4, Verano 2.4/2.0T or Soul 2.0.

OP - Have you considered the Verano? That could be a nice option.

 

[Shrubitup]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: Shrubitup
Different car but I rented a Cobalt once. Yikes. Complete P.O.S.


That's comparing dinosaurs to mammals. Cruze is completely different than the Cobalt. I've driven both. Look in my signature to see which one I bought back when buying a late-model used Cobalt was a possibility. I'm quite happy with my choice 4 years and 122k miles later.


Glad you like your cruze it's just if they can bomb it so bad with the cobalt why would I consider the brand? Every honda i've had since 1981 has been issue free.

 

[Shrubitup]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
The Cruze is better than the Dart, but I'd personally spend a little more to buy a Subaru Imprezia, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla.

Short-term initial cost often leads to higher overall long-term expenses (in comparison to paying a little more up front for higher quality).



I see more people posting problems with Hondas and Subarus on here than any other make. Now the 2016 Civic looks interesting, but the OP was looking at used cars and if I was shopping in this segment, it would be Dart 2.4, Verano 2.4/2.0T or Soul 2.0.

OP - Have you considered the Verano? That could be a nice option.


My civic is 5 years old but still issue free.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: Shrubitup

Glad you like your cruze it's just if they can bomb it so bad with the cobalt why would I consider the brand?


If you told me five years ago that I would buy a small GM car I would have laughed in your face and mentioned the Cobalt. The Cruze is something entirely different and much more competitive. In my test driving it had some of the better driving dynamics in the class, especially when you're comparing manual transmission models. It has quite a good clutch and shifter and good throttle programming to accompany the manual.

The Cruze is a world car for GM, so a lot more thought seems to have been put into things like driving dynamics. The Cobalt/Cavalier was squarely aimed at an incredibly low price point and largely aimed at the U.S. It went years and years without any updates to keep it competitive.

If you discounted a car company for building one uncompetitive model, you wouldn't be able to buy a car from any company.

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
The Cruze is better than the Dart, but I'd personally spend a little more to buy a Subaru Imprezia, Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla.

Short-term initial cost often leads to higher overall long-term expenses (in comparison to paying a little more up front for higher quality).


I see more people posting problems with Hondas and Subarus on here than any other make. Now the 2016 Civic looks interesting, but the OP was looking at used cars and if I was shopping in this segment, it would be Dart 2.4, Verano 2.4/2.0T or Soul 2.0.

OP - Have you considered the Verano? That could be a nice option.



Merry Christmas everyone! Dishdude, I never knew what a Verano was until I did a search. It looks nice. I may go look at one if I can find a newer model used. Are they imported or American made?

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: G2Turbo
If I had to choose, definitely the Dart. Mainly based on the FIAT association.

As a pro mechanic/tech, always dread working on domestics. My old Jeep isn't so bad, but the quality and engineering is laughable. Great lump of a mill, as the Brits say.

I stick to German cars and own a few. Including, 4, 6, 8 cylinder models, and anywhere from 195 hp to 500+.

If my wife gets in a bad wreck, that german steel will pay dividends. Until then the great interiors, sophisticated suspension, AWD, good handling and beefy brakes (the 8cyl has 8 piston Brembo's) makes for an enjoyable 20K miles a year.

Otherwise, for a cheap basic car, the Korean cars have come a long ways. Would choose them over a domestic if going new or newer. $10-15K will buy a nice used German car, but will cost more to run, however.

To each their own as they say.


I don't agree with the Americans having substandard engineering; if anything is lacking, it's quality control. I have worked on Japanese cars that were a pain to work on (sometimes even "simple" jobs such as a timing belt) that I can't say their engineering is superior in any way. And the Brits commenting on our quality is hilarious.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: Silverado12

Merry Christmas everyone! Dishdude, I never knew what a Verano was until I did a search. It looks nice. I may go look at one if I can find a newer model used. Are they imported or American made?


The Verano is built in Michigan. It's a very quiet and comfortable car, but still maintains the great driving dynamics of the Cruze. I haven't had a chance to drive the turbo, but it has to be a blast to drive.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Originally Posted By: Silverado12

Merry Christmas everyone! Dishdude, I never knew what a Verano was until I did a search. It looks nice. I may go look at one if I can find a newer model used. Are they imported or American made?


The Verano is built in Michigan. It's a very quiet and comfortable car, but still maintains the great driving dynamics of the Cruze. I haven't had a chance to drive the turbo, but it has to be a blast to drive.


A Verano is the Cruze that's built like a bank vault. That's saying something since the Cruze is pretty substantial itself. Even quieter, nicer and better-built interior, smoother engine, and slightly better suspension. It's heavier so they can run stiffer springs for handling without negatively affecting the ride quality. The 2.4 is a hair faster than the 1.4T-powered Cruze, while the 2.0T is a small rocket. About double the ponies will do that...

A CPO Verano would be a solid choice as well.

To the person who said their Hondas have been issue-free, good for you. Our Fit has needed maintenance much more often than Honda would have it done to keep it driving problem-free. Yearly front brake cleanings with the OEM pads, ATF changes every 15k miles to prevent rock-hard shifts, valve adjustments every 60k miles (really, on a 2009?!?) that require removing half the engine, an impossibly expensive dealer-only battery that died at 2 years old, and a driver-side half-shaft that will spontaneously dis-assemble itself if not properly supported when changing steering/suspension bits or the wheel bearing. Glad none of that's happened to you.

 

[Jetronic]

Originally Posted By: stephen9666

The Cruze is a world car for GM, so a lot more thought seems to have been put into things like driving dynamics.




I don't think it's available over here anymore, and hasn't been for a few years... It was ok, but never considered above average in it's class.

 

[Andrew1972]

Having rented both Cruze. It is a different class of car even at lower models.

 

[ram_man]

My best advice would be go drive them both. The dart with the 2.0 was rarer number one most reliable domestic car in its class. And had better interior better suspension better brakes ect. But there will be people on here that will tell you dodge builds the lowest quality [censored] they can. The reality is I hardly ever do a major repair on a Chrysler vehicle I do a lot more fords and Chevys . The order is definitely
1.ford
2. chevy
3.Toyota
4. Dodge
5. Honda
We for years and years had a dodge plant local to us and have several dealerships . There's a lot of Chrysler vehicles around yet I see a lot more of most other things......yet dodges aren't as reliable. I just don't buy it. My family has always owned Chrysler never once had a bad vehicle either. So in my personal experience and professional experience dodges are usually better than the media junk you read leads on.
But both are decent. Buy what you like the best!

 

[silveravant]

What rating puts the Dart 2.0 as the most reliable domestic car. Just curious, haven't been able to find that.

 

[Nick1994]

I don't see how they can rate brand new cars as which one is most reliable. Brand new cars don't wear out.

"The 2015 Dart is more reliable than the 2015 Cruze" - My made up quote of a magazine company rating.

How could they possibly know? Do they have a crystal ball?

 

[silveravant]

There is a JD Powers initial quality rating that notes defects per vehicle. Not really a durability/reliability rating.

 

[ram_man]

http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2013/10/consumer_reports_reliability_s_1.html

Also I'd say the dart is a nicer package and is more advanced in important ways than the Cruze. The Cruze is just kinda average to drive not offensive but not inspiring either .

 

[Silverado12]

Thanks for the link, Ram man. I see the Dart 2.0 is the most reliable domestic and CR doesn't think much of the Cruze, although no one I know has had any issues with their Cruzes except for the recalls. BTW the car you have is exactly what I'm looking for. I just need to find a used one close to me in the right color (I know, I'm picky).