I just test drove a Subaru BRZ (loaded at $28k). Interesting car, not very fast, but handles very well. Not for me however, a little too slow. I compared it to a stripper WRX sedan they had, liked that much more.

I'd rather have a WRX compared to the Dodge. Dodge is too rentalcarish for me.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Fast acceleration is for those who don't know how to KEEP their speed The BRZ also isn't a front-heavy porcine like the WRX.

Agreed. I also see I'm not the only one who gets a lot of horrid rental cars. Worst to date was a Dodge Caliber. I can't believe something that bad made it to production in the 21st century. Second worst was a 2012 Malibu. Best was a Nissan Altima, but I'd still rather drive a worn out 240D.

Sorry I don't have anything to add about the current Dart. I haven't even seen one aside from ads and one magazine review. I did used to have a '63 Dart that I had a lot of fun with.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I think the front looks distinctive too but I think the rest of the car looks a little blah. It really does look like a rental car. And I would kind of find it depressing to drive because of that. There is nothing awesome about it and I think it would age poorly. This is the car the neighbours drive in sitcoms. I'm just judging it on looks though, so maybe there is more to the car and I'm being really superficial.

I cannot agree more.

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1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
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"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

I test drove one. Loved it! The interior is comfey! I'm not a huge guy, but for a small car, it's very well put together. Seats are supportive, interior is nice, everything really "fits" where it should as far as controls go. The n/a one I drove was a bit underpowered, but I cant vouch for the turbo one, and I'm sure the turbo version can be moddable. I dont like that you cant rev match it unless you put it in gear first. Out of gear, rev limit is 3500rpm (lame, but I'm sure it's disableable)

I'm holding out for the srt version. 300+hp, 6 speed, fast and cool. That may be the first "new" car I ever buy. I wont get anything less then a srt.

~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Will 300 hp be able to be adequately applied to the road with only FWD, or will the SRT be AWD? The Neon SRT4 was already a nasty unforgiving understeer hellbeast to drive with 250 or so HP.

I'm saving my pennies for a Focus ST.

FWD only platform as far as anyone dodge will say about it.

I had a '13 impala as a rental delivery vehicle at work. I understand it's only a 3.6 full size sedan, but with a 300hp direct injected engine, It would do rolling burnouts at 30mph. I made enterprise downgrade us to a little toy nissan versa, it's safer that way. A vehicle that tries to change lanes at WOT isnt ever going to be driver friendly.

300hp in a smaller platform like a dart will be a fun rocketship, but will undoubtedly be a torque steer nightmare, unless they use equal length axles, then it becomes a aircraft carrier steering radius.

Either way, the srt one will be cheap, moddable, and a deathtrap. Perfect for a mid 20's guy with a bit of cash to light on fire.
~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Dart SRT-4 is projected to be ~$25k MSRP.
MSRP on the FR-S and BRZ is also in that neighborhood.

Why would anyone buy a lawndart when they can have a real sports car for the same price?

Because Wisconsin winters and low-slung RWD sports cars don't play well together.

BRZ has useless rear seats as well. Totally different market than the Dart.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Only if you're a farkin' wimp -- I drove a Miata with snow tires and hardtop about 400 mi through a nor'easter that dropped 3 ft of snow. Car did fine. Can't say the same for the other clownmuffins in SUVs and rigs whom I passed as they froze their sorry pink buns in the ditch.

I'd assume that something with traction control and stability control would do even better, given the correct tires.

I've never driven nor ridden in a Neon but i always liked the first gen of them....the Caliper which "replaced" it?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The PT cruiser used the 2gn neon platform as a starting point, and the Caliper used a PT cruiser platform as its starting line. They're Evolving, but it's still a fun to drive small car platform.

If it feels like the cars riding on rails in the corners, your not going fast enough



The Dart is a better bet then the BTZ for an every day driver. I refuse to buy another coupe for DD duty. The Dart outranks the BTZ with a much more people friendly interior (you can actually fit 4 adults in the car), a real trunk, 4 doors, great drivers position. All in all, I would claim that the Dart would be a much more useful car.

Rwd be damned, with the correct tires, all it takes is a decent driver.

~Nate

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)