So I bought a new car...

"oldirtybootz" (oldirtybootz) 10/31/2013 at 19:33 • Filed to: new car, dodge dart

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And I feel a bit guilty about trading my poor little Focus. But I'm now the owner of a 2013 Dart Aero. 1.4L, 6-speed (my first turbo and stick), True Blue paint, cloth interior, 8.4 inch Uconnect radio, and TFT instrument cluster.

TheOnelectronic > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:35

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I have no idea about the darts, but 1.4L turbo engine and a stick sounds like a combination that's hard to get wrong.

OkCars- 22k Crossroads > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:43

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stick? great. you will enjoy driving it then,

Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:45

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Don't know much about the Dart since we can't get it up here in Norway, but isn't it kinda based on the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta? Anyway, It's a good looking car, much better than any Focus other than the first gen (at least that's what I think) and a 1.4 litre turbo with a 6-speed can NEVER be wrong :)

deadpedal > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:49

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You'll dig it. I went and test-flogged one when they came out. Fun package. The saleskid dig a giggleshit on the test drive.

Someone Else's Projects > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:50

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Before I read the text I couldn't tell if you'd gotten a Dart or an MKZ. Nice! Feels weird seeing "Aero" as a trim level not on a Saab, but seeing as it's FWD, manual, and turbo I can give it a pass.

oldirtybootz > OkCars- 22k Crossroads 10/31/2013 at 19:51

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I'm still getting used to it. I know how to drive stick, it's just a matter of getting real practice on it.

OkCars- 22k Crossroads > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:55

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well that doesnt take long... when you get the hang of it youll have a great noise when you rev match that turbo on a downshift

Tom McParland > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 19:58

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Congrats excellent choice all around with the engine/trans and color combo. I drove the Dart when my Mazda lease was up, I would have got one but I did not want to give up having a hatchback. They are very nice cars.

oldirtybootz > deadpedal 10/31/2013 at 20:01

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Yeah I do like it. I work at a dealership and I've been on the fence about this literally for months. I had to move this car today and I guess I never realized we had this particular combo, but it got the gears in my head moving and I finally decided to pull the trigger.

oldirtybootz > Someone Else's Projects 10/31/2013 at 20:03

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Plus it has active grille shutters and underbody air whatnots, hence the Aero. The one part of the package I dont like is the steelies with hubcaps.

oldirtybootz > OkCars- 22k Crossroads 10/31/2013 at 20:04

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For now I'd be satisfied with a smooth change between first and second. The 540+hp GT500 we have on the lot is 100x easier to drive.

StoneCold > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:04

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I always wondered, what grade fuel does the turbo take?

oldirtybootz > TheOnelectronic 10/31/2013 at 20:06

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It's pretty enjoyable combo so far. The 6-speed has a nice feel to it, but the 1.4 is sluggish until the boost comes in.

Jayhawk Jake > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:08

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Welcome to the 1.4T club! I've never driven a dart, but they look nice.

thebigbossyboss > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:09

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My buddy got one of those. His girlfriend "insisted" he get the 6 speed manual. Now that's a keeper!

oldirtybootz > StoneCold 10/31/2013 at 20:10

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Apparently 91 is recommended, but it has a full tank of 87 in it now. We've never had any customers come in with issues related to this.

oldirtybootz > Laird Andrew Neby Bradleigh 10/31/2013 at 20:13

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Yes, I belive the platform is a stretched and widened version of the Alfa. I actually loved my second gen USDM Focus and it will be missed, but it was time to move on.

oldirtybootz > Tom McParland 10/31/2013 at 20:14

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Thank you. This particular combo checked all the right boxes for me. The steelies with hubcaps are pretty awful looking though.

Tom McParland > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:15

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Easy fix with a nice set of rims. Keep the steelies for the winter, and drop some sticky rubber and lightweights for warmer weather.

oldirtybootz > thebigbossyboss 10/31/2013 at 20:16

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Mine is a bit upset by it actually. She "can't believe" I got a stick, but I wouldn't have bought one with the 6A or DCT.

TheOnelectronic > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:16

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That makes sense, really.

oldirtybootz > Tom McParland 10/31/2013 at 20:17

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Yep, easie enough to fix. Heck, even rocking bare steelies and swapping the low rolling resistance Kumhos for Potenzas would be fine.

oldirtybootz > Jayhawk Jake 10/31/2013 at 20:19

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I drove a 2.4L GT on Monday for the first time and today was actually my first time driving a 1.4L stick on the open road. I prefer my car to the GT.

oldirtybootz > TheOnelectronic 10/31/2013 at 20:24

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Lol from the files of captain obvious, I know, but it really is a dog without the boost.

shpuker > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:49

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Don't forget to leave er in boost ;) I like it though, was debating getting a lease on a Dart or a Veloster for a while.

Milky > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:54

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Nice car! Saw your steel wheels comment and IMO just get some fog lamps and then you'll have a rally car.

oldirtybootz > shpuker 10/31/2013 at 20:56

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Totally defeats the purpose of the Aero package, but definitely hard to resist.

TurboSloth > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:57

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As a owner of a car with a turbo in it, yeah, you get used to the turbo lag.

Jonee > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 20:59

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How are you liking it? It's on my list of cars to test drive. What's the fit and finish like on the inside? As I've been looking at new cars, that's one thing that often disappoints me. The other thing is that new cars with sticks have very light clutches. You may not notice if you're a manual newbie, and maybe I'm biased from years of driving a manual Ford Ranger.

oldirtybootz > Milky 10/31/2013 at 21:01

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Lol hence why I like the steelie look. And I know you're talkimg more like Hella fogs or something like that, but I did look into the factory fogs and they're way too expensive to bw worth it. I'm glad I have the racetrack lights though.

Milky > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 21:07

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Does that mean black? I'm not familiar with the "racetrack" lights. But yea I was talking about those big external guys.

SonorousSpeedJoe > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 21:07

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I'd just crossed the street this morning when a 1.4T Dart was at the intersection.

I'm pretty sure I heard the wastegate open when it went by; it sounded good . I think I'd prefer that engine to the one in the 2012 Focus that I DD.

oldirtybootz > Jonee 10/31/2013 at 21:09

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The fit and finish is about on par foe the segment. I love the design of the dash though, especially with my red accent lights. And the clutch is pretty light compared to other cars I've driven. It's a bit difficult to tell where it catches. Overall I like it so far, but my Focus was like a best friend, so it has big shoes to fill.

shpuker > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 21:13

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To heck with that, toss some 18's on it and an exhaust ;)

thebigbossyboss > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 21:20

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Teach her to drive it, after a while she will like it.

oldirtybootz > Milky 10/31/2013 at 21:27

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No, these are the racetrack lights. I wish I had the smoked headlights but thats a Rallye package feature.

oldirtybootz > thebigbossyboss 10/31/2013 at 21:29

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I'll definitely try lol.

oldirtybootz > shpuker 10/31/2013 at 21:33

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A kid down th thew block from me has a 1.4L DCT Rallye with exhaust, intake and a few other goodies. If I did exhaust I'd have to change the rear valance. It doesn't have any cutouts.

oldirtybootz > SonorousSpeedJoe 10/31/2013 at 21:34

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It definitely sounds better than my 2010 Focus, but it's lacking the dual exhaust of Rallye models so it's quieter than those.

shpuker > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 21:57

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Ah that's a little inconvenient. I dunno, may as well use the fuel money you'll save and put together an old dart to accent it ey?

Milky > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 22:16

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Ahh I see now.

oldirtybootz > shpuker 10/31/2013 at 23:01

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The tattoo on my chest is telling me I need another Ford if anything ;) I have always had a thing for Dodge Demons and Plymouth Dusters though.

Makoyouidiot > oldirtybootz 10/31/2013 at 23:22

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Keep an eye on the uconnect screen, the system is great, but there have been electrical issues/rebooting randomly/not processing taps. Ours was replaced twice in a year. And the cluster was replaced once after it stopped responding to the steering wheel buttons. Also, if you have the Continental procontact low rolling resistance tires (probably, since it's an aero), ditch those suckers, mine were shot after 15000 miles of pretty relaxed highway driving, and very rare hoonage. Other than that, have a ball! And if you check out the dodge Dart forums, there are a couple of workarounds for getting the turbo spooled up a bit faster.

oldirtybootz > Makoyouidiot 10/31/2013 at 23:30

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We've had a few Rams that needed the Uconnect replaced but no Darts so far. And this has Kumhos on it, but I was thinking of either keeping the steelies and putting Potenzas on them or getting summer rims with Potenzas. What's the secret to the turbo?

oldirtybootz > TurboSloth 10/31/2013 at 23:34

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I went from 5.0L, to 2.4L, to 2.0L, and now to 1.4L. I guess my next car has to be a 1.0L Ecoboost.

shpuker > oldirtybootz 11/01/2013 at 02:05

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Fair enough. Can't go wrong with an old Stang though.

vanmoto42 > oldirtybootz 11/01/2013 at 10:38

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Great little car, but, a bit of a disappointment compared to my 1966 Dart. That is a CAR.

TheRallyStache > oldirtybootz 11/01/2013 at 11:16

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The stock exhaust note on those is surprisingly beautiful...

oldirtybootz > vanmoto42 11/01/2013 at 12:26

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I bet. Whats under the hood?

oldirtybootz > TheRallyStache 11/01/2013 at 12:28

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With the dual exhaust. Mine lacks it and the sound is definitely different.

vanmoto42 > oldirtybootz 11/01/2013 at 22:21

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318. 4bbl on the torker intake. mated to another chrysler disappointment, the 904 3-speed auto. that'll change soon enough.

Makoyouidiot > oldirtybootz 11/02/2013 at 11:35

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I shall link it.

http://www.dodgedartcentral.com/forums/15-dodg…

Basically capping off or installing a valve on a line that Dodge inexplicably left wide open, which bleeds boost pressure, I'm assuming for economy. It lets the boost build a bit faster when you do the mod. Also very easy to reverse, I ran it that way for 3 months without any issues tho.

oldirtybootz > Makoyouidiot 11/02/2013 at 11:59

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That's definitely something I'll consider. The 1.4 is so anemic before the boost kicks in.

oldirtybootz > Makoyouidiot 11/02/2013 at 13:03

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Do you run yours on 87 or 91? And if I do this, would I then have to run 91?

Makoyouidiot > oldirtybootz 11/02/2013 at 17:01

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I only ran 91 or 93 if I could find it. 87 no bueno for turbocharged Italian engines. Despite my dealer telling me 87 was fine, but he was an idiot to begin with. My manual said 91, so that's what I ran.

Makoyouidiot > oldirtybootz 11/02/2013 at 17:30

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Truth. Although to be fair it was designed to motivate a car that weighs 1000lbs less than the Dart. Nonturbo 1.4 is a standard engine in the Fiat 500, as well as the Panda, iirc. Although the Euros get the Twinair and diesel options too. Slap on a turbo and it powers the Dart, 500 Abarth, and 500L.

oldirtybootz > Makoyouidiot 11/02/2013 at 19:23

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I was reading the manual last night and it said 87 is acceptable but 91 is recommended. I've had 87 in it since thursday when I got it and im at almost 1/4 tank now so I suppose I'll try 91 when I need to fill up.

I don't fault the 1.4 for being underpowered, its the 3200lb curb weight that kills it. I'm sure 91 will help that a bit.

So did you use a cap/plug or a valve when you did it?

Makoyouidiot > oldirtybootz 11/02/2013 at 20:03

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I capped it with a rubber vacuum cap.

oldirtybootz > Makoyouidiot 11/02/2013 at 21:19

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And you really noticed more boost 500-700rpm sooner? You cap the rubber tube or the plasticy one? The instructions are somewhat vague on there.

Makoyouidiot > oldirtybootz 11/02/2013 at 22:35

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I wouldn't say 500-700. More along the lines of 300-400 sooner, at least that I noticed. Between that , the 93 gas, and the occasional NOS octane booster, the hesitation was much reduced. I capped the hard plastic line, then slid the rubber line back over it.

oldirtybootz > vanmoto42 11/04/2013 at 18:30

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Very nice! They're a bit newer than yours, but I've always loved Dusters and Demons.