Originally Posted By: kam327
Can you post a review of the car? I'm considering trading in my Focus with its persnickety dual-clutch for a Dart to match my Durango. Though I wouldn't get another dual-clutch like you got. Also looking at the Jetta with its new 1.8T.
Not to wander too far off topic, but I have only had the car a week as of tomorrow. I don't have the DDC. I got the manual transmission because my older kids learned to drive on manual so the younger ones want to as well. I know, they are weird but at least they think like a team!
I picked up the 1.4T Aero version which is pretty basic but fun to drive. I traded in my 2002 PT 2.4L manual for it and my heart is broken (220K miles so I got my money's worth). I think the manual 1.4 is the best combination as far as enjoying the act of driving goes. I was close to getting the DDC but my 15 yr old really wanted manual. I keep blowing the 1-2 shift transition, but the rest is very smooth and it runs 43-44+ on highway trips between San Diego and LA. Finished a tank this morning and averaged 34.5 mpg overall. The turbo is nice and you can feel it working on acceleration. On the highway, you will need to work 5th and 6th to keep RPM steady on long hills, but that keeps a steady mileage. Drove it on the weekend with four in the car and it had no problem. Frankly I thought I got a lot of car for what I paid. I own Toyotas too and love them, but I couldn't resist the look of the dart and the fact that, because I own a Charger, I would have matching Racetrack taillights in my driveway!
The 1.4 performance-wise is similar to the 2.4 but the automatic transmission on the 2.4 takes the fun out of it. I didn't get to drive the 2.4 manual that you can get on the limited, but for the price of those I would have bought a second Charger or a Challenger. The 2.0 automatic is kind of a dog. I don't know if it is the engine or the transmission that sucks the life out of it, but I didn't really like it. I think that's why there are so many 2013 SXT modes on the lots still. The interiors are pretty good, especially if you get the 8.4 you touch screen on the premium AERO. I have the basic uconnect Bluetooth. It does a lot of the same things, just not on the cool big screen. So far so good, but as I said, only a week.