I'm actually starting to think that it may have been a better decision to put the engineering and design effort in an Avenger/200 replacement sooner, and forego a Dart entry until later when it could be launched with the 2.4 motor.

I have talked to one Dart owner who was quick to praise everything about the car, especially the quality in assembly which he said was better than his four year-old Corolla.

 

Chrysler had zero compact sedans.

 

The Dart would probably sell a lot better if it was renamed Chrysler 100 and restyled along the lines of the new 200. A performance coupe version of the Dart would better fit Dodge, if a compact FWD car has to be in that brand, while a luxury compact sedan would better fit with the Chrysler brand.

 

The Jeep Renegade will have the Turbo 1.4 and the 2.4 Tigershark mated to the 9 speed automatic. Both engines are currently offered in the Dart. When the transmission plant ramps up to capacity, this might possibly solve a piece of the Dart sales puzzle. There is nothing wrong with the Dart itself, it needs to be marketed better. If they change the name at this time it will cast doubt on any future Chrysler group small cars. If they go from Neon to Caliber to Dart to a Chrysler Whatever in short order, we know what the critics will say.

If a possible Dart Aero with with a 9 speed auto can manage the same numbers as the dual clutch one that will help a lot.

 

The Dart..Every time I see one (and I'm seeing more and more) I think; 'that is a good looking car for the segment!' It's got style and a uniqueness about it. Although initial acceptance may seem perplexing, the Dart looks like a hit. It'll catch on.

This was the first car out of the gate, so far as an FCA product, from a U.S. perspective. SM had to be so careful. It's a wonder the car came out so well. But..

This car was doomed to fail, on some level, to virtually all..from the get-go.

The Dart's biggest problem is acceptance. Yeah, it's too expensive because it was, perhaps, over-engineered and over-contented to a fault. So..acceptance.
And a decontented, cheaper version?

 

9 speed production... I hear is still a big problem. Dart may need to wait a long time. Remember minivans will also use them. Those should be coming early in 2015.

 

I work for Chrysler and I own a Dart (1.4L turbo with 6-speed manual transmission). I love the mileage. It handles and drives great. It seems to have been well built. So I should be claiming it is a wonderful car. But...

But after those few points it falls short and is riddled with problems and design flaws:
1) Delay in electronic gas pedal response.
2) Delay in horn response.
3) Delay in ignition (and shut off) response.
4) Clutch just doesn't work sometimes (I assume air is getting into the hydraulic system).
5) Suspension rattles.
6) USB and charger sockets inside the center console work intermittently.
7) Heater is insufficient (it is a very small engine).
8) Fuel door mechanism easily freezes in the cold (I think it opened twice all winter without being pried open).
9) 8.4 Uconnect randomly shuts down and reboots.

It is the BIGGEST car in it's segment - why not go ahead and get an Avenger or 200? I had an Avenger and loved it! Why did we make a small car that is so large?

You can say it's a good car - but to me it is disappointing. And the dealer is decidedly unhelpful.

 

We haven't had these issues with ours. We have the 2.0L though.

But I am wondering if something else could be going on with the Dart. First of course, (as has been discussed on here) Dodge's absence from this market. But I am wondering how high the percentage of compact car buyers is female? I don't think that other than maybe minivans Dodge has a good brand recognition with female buyers. My wife for example usually doesn't like Dodge cars nor their commercials. She does love her Dart though. But if I hadn't taken her to the local Dodge dealership (which I call our Car Store)...

 

Chrysler had zero compact sedans.

True, but other than it being an example of excellent quality and (so far) getting better reliability ratings out of the gate, the Dart for all of its virtues has not received glowing appraisal by a fair portion of the motoring press. No one has called the car terrible, but I think that comparing the Dart on price point makes it stand in the shadow of competitive makes. Perhaps with a legacy of good reliability the Dart would be garnering better sales, but I'm afraid that with Chrysler being absent of a vehicle in this class for a long time some are just not even considering the Dart. If the Dart continues with better than average reliability and more reviews become based on the 2.4 motor, the motoring press might start appreciating the features and quality of the Dart.

As it stands now it sounds like people are going into showrooms, like the Dart, but then are being faced with a bigger Avenger, albeit not as nice or feature laden, and finding at a better price. For some this may represent better value and this problem won't go away until the Avengers are gone.

 

Comments in bold from another Chrysler employee with a 1.4L turbo Dart with the 6 Speed Manual...

My comments in bold.

I work for Chrysler and I own a Dart (1.4L turbo with 6-speed manual transmission). I love the mileage. It handles and drives great. It seems to have been well built. So I should be claiming it is a wonderful car. But...

But after those few points it falls short and is riddled with problems and design flaws:
1) Delay in electronic gas pedal response. - Don't remind me. Taking off is something that you MUST be careful doing. HOWEVER, I have noticed this in a LOT of vehicles with electronic throttle control and manual transmissions. It's not just the Dart, or Chrysler.
2) Delay in horn response. - Don't have this issue.
3) Delay in ignition (and shut off) response. - Or this one either.
4) Clutch just doesn't work sometimes (I assume air is getting into the hydraulic system). - Nope, but heard about it. It's an early production issue, so I've heard?
5) Suspension rattles. - Heard about this one too. Don't have the issue.
6) USB and charger sockets inside the center console work intermittently. - In my case, it was bad cables, the car is just really sensitive for some reason?
7) Heater is insufficient (it is a very small engine). - Takes forever to warm up. And people continue to wonder why I refuse to drive it right now. It's been so cold, and so long since I have driven it that people have assumed that it has been repossessed!!!!!!
8) Fuel door mechanism easily freezes in the cold (I think it opened twice all winter without being pried open). - Mine isn't bad, I just hit the door after the release, pops right open.
9) 8.4 Uconnect randomly shuts down and reboots. - ?

It is the BIGGEST car in it's segment - why not go ahead and get an Avenger or 200? I had an Avenger and loved it! Why did we make a small car that is so large? - Still trying to figure this out. It is very much too big.

You can say it's a good car - but to me it is disappointing. And the dealer is decidedly unhelpful.

Still love mine anyway, even with all of its quirks. Now if only the SNOW WILL GO AWAY SO I CAN DRIVE IT AGAIN! :lol: Can't wait to open my sunroof, turn up the 9 speaker system and ride!

 

It is the BIGGEST car in it's segment - why not go ahead and get an Avenger or 200? I had an Avenger and loved it! Why did we make a small car that is so large?

This is interesting. Initially, the car looks smaller. Turns out, it dwarfs my Stratus! I don't think that's a negative.

 

That's what I try to tell people. Everyone thinks that it's the size of a Neon. Until they get inside and they can't believe how much room there is.

I think this is what they were after, trying to get people to buy because it was so big and still offered compact car fuel economy. I don't think that this method worked. I am not sure what buyers find wrong with the Dart.

To be honest, the name itself is kind of lame. Maybe that's it?

Every Dart owner I have ever talked to has NOTHING but positive things to say about their car. The only thing I can't personally stand is the very slow electronic throttle control, however, if I had an automatic, it wouldn't be such an annoyance. I just drive it carefully.

 

We haven't had these issues with ours. We have the 2.0L though.

But I am wondering if something else could be going on with the Dart. First of course, (as has been discussed on here) Dodge's absence from this market. But I am wondering how high the percentage of compact car buyers is female? I don't think that other than maybe minivans Dodge has a good brand recognition with female buyers. My wife for example usually doesn't like Dodge cars nor their commercials. She does love her Dart though. But if I hadn't taken her to the local Dodge dealership (which I call our Car Store)...

I underlined the question I have. Which ones? The edgy ADHD ones, Innuendo ones? Sam Elliott ones..

 

I was unaware of the heating issues. That would certainly be a detriment to sales in northern climates, especially as winter seems to have gotten a little more challenging lately.

 

I was unaware of the heating issues. That would certainly be a detriment to sales in northern climates, especially as winter seems to have gotten a little more challenging lately.

The ONLY way that a 1.4L Dart warms up quickly is if it is driven hard. Period. Remote start on a 1.4L is worthless. I am not sure if a 2.0L warms up faster.

 

http://nor their commercials

Alphabetically but Maserati sold 837 for the month and 1405 for the year. For 426%/325% repsectively. It sounds impressive but still so low its statistically insignificant. They may hit 12k-15k in the US who knows. Country percentages are similar "Acme today it announced it quadrupled sales in Vietnam. Acme sold 350 Acme Specials this month." Its insignificant.

 

I underlined the question I have. Which ones? The edgy ADHD ones, Innuendo ones? Sam Elliott ones..

Fair enough I think the initial edgy ADHD actually did draw her attention in a positive way. I remember we saw a very long spot in a movie theater when the car first came out and she did like it. I think I am probably still referring to the old ones before the RAM split up. To her Dodge = truck and muscle car. I guess it is hard to change perception. Amazing how some car companies like Ford or Toyota can be all things to all people and then others can put into a certain segment.

 

Fair enough I think the initial edgy ADHD actually did draw her attention in a positive way. I remember we saw a very long spot in a movie theater when the car first came out and she did like it. I think I am probably still referring to the old ones before the RAM split up. To her Dodge = truck and muscle car. I guess it is hard to change perception. Amazing how some car companies like Ford or Toyota can be all things to all people and then others can put into a certain segment.

interesting, ADHD ones drive me buggy. Ford hired one of two guys who can pull that off.

 

...To her Dodge = truck and muscle car. I guess it is hard to change perception. Amazing how some car companies like Ford or Toyota can be all things to all people and then others can put into a certain segment.

People form impressions and/or perceptions in many different ways. As it applies to the Dodge brand there is probably more than one reason. Chrysler itself seems to lend credence to the muscle and truck perception by designing vehicles with an edge (Charger) and building a premium light duty truck (Ram) with strong fitness of purpose principals, and with heavy emphasis on the Hemi (more muscle). Even the names evoke her perception. In the absence of a Neon & Stratus, it's easy to view Dodge in the way your wife has. Mopar fans proclaiming their affection are usually wearing a Dodge T-shirt it indicating performance. (Haven't seen one yet with a Polara or Monaco on it.)

Now that's not necessarily bad if that's the image the company is specifically looking to build. But to your point it could very well work against them in some cases, and it might have in your case.

As to the case of Ford they are reinforcing a total brand image. Ford is a more homogenous image that incorporates all car classes, like Chevrolet, where one brand can supply whatever potential buyer with what ever they need.

So where do you put a premium compact Chrysler product? Maybe the Dart should've been a Chrysler, but I suspect Dodge, with a previous history of selling in the Dart's market segment, felt they were the right ones to have it.

 

They were aiming to reposition Dodge as “sporty through handling.” That's why Dart ended up as it is.

I suspect Gen 2 will use Viaggio's cheaper suspension.

 

Dart suffered because it was not made V6 capable from the start, It did not have enough horsepower from the start, It did not have an SRT version, it did not have an awd wagon variant, it was campaigned with the ADHD ads.

 

They were aiming to reposition Dodge as “sporty through handling.” That's why Dart ended up as it is.

I suspect Gen 2 will use Viaggio's cheaper suspension.

ATS>@$<

I hope I wrote that right. its the formula for selling cars. greatest acceleration, turn and stop at the least price. you could add C for content and BQ for build quality as well.

Now taking away turning capability or content will only compound the problem.

 

Sad to read this, but please let me know when was your car assembled, and don't tell me about those rattles in the suspension, I said it here long time ago, and few believed me, but you can be sure there are fixes for most of all those problems.

If your dealer isn't helping you, you must go to any other dealer and ask them for the fix, there are so many fixes a dealer MUST perform, but as always, dealer are not working with Chrysler, they are against Chrysler.

Many of those problems came with those early production cars, and DEALERS were adviced to fix them why the vehicles were still at their lots.

You deserve a better service, demand it, don't just seat there, give them hell, go into their showroom and start asking for a solution LOUD and clear, and if they don't listen to you, PLEASE go back to the showroom and tell potential customers about your nightmare with your car, about the terrible service you are getting from them.

Again, you deserve the best service, it's not your problem, it's the dealers problem to give you a positive solution, they have many resources, if they can't they can always contact Chrysler, but please, give them hell...

You will be more than glad after you will do it, they will have to come with a solution, take a new demo for a test, just make sure it has been build lately, no more than two months, and you must feel the difference, then tell them, you want your car exactly as the one you just tested.

Please let me know, the date your car was build.

I work for Chrysler and I own a Dart (1.4L turbo with 6-speed manual transmission). I love the mileage. It handles and drives great. It seems to have been well built. So I should be claiming it is a wonderful car. But...

But after those few points it falls short and is riddled with problems and design flaws:
1) Delay in electronic gas pedal response.
2) Delay in horn response.
3) Delay in ignition (and shut off) response.
4) Clutch just doesn't work sometimes (I assume air is getting into the hydraulic system).
5) Suspension rattles.
6) USB and charger sockets inside the center console work intermittently.
7) Heater is insufficient (it is a very small engine).
8) Fuel door mechanism easily freezes in the cold (I think it opened twice all winter without being pried open).
9) 8.4 Uconnect randomly shuts down and reboots.

It is the BIGGEST car in it's segment - why not go ahead and get an Avenger or 200? I had an Avenger and loved it! Why did we make a small car that is so large?

You can say it's a good car - but to me it is disappointing. And the dealer is decidedly unhelpful.

 

Dart suffered because it was not made V6 capable from the start, It did not have enough horsepower from the start, It did not have an SRT version, it did not have an awd wagon variant, it was campaigned with the ADHD ads.

Then why does Ford/Toyota/Honda not have the same issue with their sales? They don't have V6s; they have the same (or lower horsepower); the Focus ST didn't come out for a few years; none of them offer AWD.

 

Dart suffered because it was not made V6 capable from the start, It did not have enough horsepower from the start, It did not have an SRT version, it did not have an awd wagon variant, it was campaigned with the ADHD ads.

Who says the Dart isn't capable for a V6 ????