Doubling down

"crazedclay: SBC murderer" (crazedclay)
12/13/2014 at 23:05 • Filed to: Dart.

Because of reasons.

The context is that I've had mine for nearly a couple years now, and my friend has enjoyed it when he drove it, and found it's attributes to be copacetic to his needs.

Lucky stars, Last night during my dealership drive I spotted this one, and relayed some photos to him. He rather immediately fell in love with it.

The entire lot was beige, except for one orange jewel. Literally every other car was white, beige, or grey. And my friend, a four year arts major, is not very beige at all. A circus performer, an artist of some ability, and definitely left brained.

Turned out to be a Rallye, 1.4t, with some options and not others. Actually a strange hodgepodge. Roof, Uconnect 8.4, manual seats (Goddamn comfortable manual seats), backup camera without sensors, command start but no auto wipers or heated seats. No question it was an early a la carte model that someone put together in a specific sort of way.

Today we went down and ran the dealership gauntlet. "No we don't want to talk payment" "No, 84 months is stupid" "Let's work on real numbers like total cost of borrowing" "Yes you hate me for quarterbacking this, Mr. Sales manager, but I don't care about your view of me."

And at the end of it, a purchase was made which my friend approved of that gave him a good deal. 36 month term, which should when aided by extra payments here and there keep in lockstep with depreciation or nearly so.

Of the Dart in general:

There will always be detractors out there who discuss the Dart in unfavourable and prejudicial terms. And some of those points made will be valid ones on the surface of things. Digging deeper? Questionable.

It falls short in some areas versus the more staid competitors in the class, but great exceeds them in many areas. It has... actual emotion. In a fashion that I have not seen in a Civic, Elantra, Forte, and in some fashion even the Focus in any guise.

The Dart is in truth the first wave of the genesis of domestic automaking in a fashion that says someone put in some damn effort instead of resting on their laurels. And I respect that so heavily that it hurts. And mine made me vote with my money to support that renaissance. Because I think it's important to do that. Take a leap of faith on someone's honest effort.

When I bought mine, I was told I was nuts, but in the intervening years, it's been nothing but a joy. It has personality in spades. It sounds miraculously good thanks to the shared Fiat DNA pulsing away under the bonnet (Like a supermodel farting in a bathtub, according to some). And properly stroked, has enough enjoyable and useable power to zig and zag as one pleases.

This household now has two Darts out front. Rock on FCA, you've done well I say.

And now, I'm going back to lurking again. Until next time, Oppo. I hope your SJW infestation is in a lull.

DISCUSSION (23)

Blake Noble > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:11

Interesting post. I'm actually thinking of leasing a new Dart.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:12

I wonder what that chipmunk is trying to say

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:12

Two things: the dart has some of my favorite headlights of any modern car. They work for me, they do.

and doesn't the dart have the crazy whole width long light up tail lights like the charger has?

thebigbossyboss > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:14

All of the darts!!! ALL!

I own dead car brands only > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:16

I love the Darts. I would have bought one but the seats just didn't go down low enough for me (6'5") damn shame. And that orange is awesome.

EL_ULY > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:19

Such a rad ride! What areas does it fall short though in regards to the competition? You mentioned that but didn't specify. What is the official name of the orange?

fhrblig > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:23

Cool! I wish I saw more Darts on the road. No one seems to be buying them.

Funktheduck > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:27

The dart definitely has more character than most cars in its class. I'm obviously partial to my 3. I'm just wondering about your specific thoughts of the highlights and lowlights compared to the other cars.

PyramidHat > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:29

Interesting. Not that I'd buy one (my hatred of Chrysler products are well documented), but I at least like the direction FIAT went with this. Definitely like the orange.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:45

Mmmmmmmm yes, such a good looking little car.

Bad72AMX > Blake Noble
12/13/2014 at 23:47

Do it this month. Chrysler Capitol has ridiculously low money factors on them and there is some cash to sweeten the deal. A friend just leased a Rallye 2.4L auto with NAV for $230 a month for 27 months, nothing down and only decent credit. Not sure how long those deals will stay on.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:47

Have they made an AWD version yet? I have heard good things about the turbo motor in them

Blake Noble > Bad72AMX
12/13/2014 at 23:52

That's the plan. ;)

I should only have to pay the first month's payment at signing, nothing else down. No taxes, no security deposit, nothing else. Fingers crossed, it might actually turn out to be a smart lease and one that puts a few bucks in my pocket should I decide to actually buy the car when the lease is up.

shop-teacher > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/13/2014 at 23:57

The world needs more orange cars! They make me happy. Looks like you found your friend a cool little car.

Bad72AMX > Blake Noble
12/14/2014 at 00:01

It's certainly possible. The money factor is so low your really only paying for the depreciation, and probably not even all of it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/14/2014 at 00:04

I hope your SJW infestation is in a lull.

That makes two of us.

Blake Noble > Bad72AMX
12/14/2014 at 00:17

You know, it really makes me wonder how Chrysler Capital is pulling this off...

Bad72AMX > Blake Noble
12/14/2014 at 00:29

Chrysler is incentivizing Chrysler Cap to increase lease penetration and putting additional rebates on leases to incentivize you to pick a Dart over a competitor. Just buying market share which benefits you in the end. My friends money factor was something like .00035 which is less than 1% APR.

Brian, The Life of > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/14/2014 at 00:35

Lurk less, post more.

Good Oppo.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/14/2014 at 01:35

i drove a few Dart when i worked at a Chrysler and Ford dealership surprisingly the only thing I didn't like was the manual trans. the clutch was way too light at least to me.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/14/2014 at 02:17

Yup, best looking car in the segment. This insures that fact.

Also, you're not helping in my avoiding of somehow scheming a way for me to end up with one of these as a Safari replacement.

ly2v8-Brian > crazedclay: SBC murderer
12/29/2014 at 02:05

It's an actually affordable ALFA Romeo.

Manuél Ferrari > crazedclay: SBC murderer
01/12/2015 at 00:51

dat orange