Dart GT Undercuts Focus Titanium by $2k

[swansong]

Originally Posted by PratoN

Sounds like I should've waited.

Most of those features are optional, and I'm betting they'll drive the price up considerably, but my gut is telling me it will still be cheaper than a comparably equipped Focus (well, some things aren't even available in a sans-ST Focus...). It seems clear that the Titanium is the mark Dodge/Fiat is shooting for.

Originally Posted by TheAllMightyFocus

One great flaw in the dart, no hatch

That, and to me the interior is a let-down. Looks like a '90s interior with a few fancy screens thrown in. And it weighs too much; it's big enough to not really be a compact at all, same for the new Jetta.

Originally Posted by cyfocus01

It is still a Dodge. $$'s don't change that.

The same thing is said about the Focus though. It is still a Ford.

[lyonsroar]

Dart GT >> Any trim level Focus (exclude ST)

[LouBomb]

I'll take a Dart over the focus any day... Well except the st..

[Matt89]

In terms of looks I'd say the Dart is the best looking compact car on the market.

[Dgc333]

Funny that Autoblog would make as basic a mistake as calling it a GT, it's an R/T.

I was patiently waiting for the R/T to be released and something definitive on the SRT. The R/T still isn't released and there is no word on when the SRT might arrive. I got tired of waiting and bought a ST.

I also have a 12 Focus SEL and I have test driven a Dart Ralley with the 1.4 turbo and 6 spd stick.

The 1.4 has 184 ft-lbs of torque and should have a definite performance advantage over our SEL with the DCT but it doesn't, my butt dyno says it is the same and this is supported by the tests I have seen.

From a handling standpoint they are the same, the tests I have seen say the Dart is a better handler than the Focus. There is a lot of roads that are in bad shape around where I live so the suspensions ability to deal with it is important to me. Both cars deal equally well with bad pavement.

The Dart feels roomier than the Focus and infact it is, the EPA classifies it as a mid size. The trunk is also bigger than the Focus sedan.

[suss6052]

Originally Posted by LouBomb

I'll take a Dart over the focus any day... Well except the st..

I'll stick with my Focus thank you very much.

Originally Posted by Matt89

In terms of looks I'd say the Dart is the best looking compact car on the market.

The Dart is a tweener like the Cruze, its technically not a compact car in terms of size or weight. Its over 3100 lbs and sized more like a small midsized car with a tiny under powered engine in most versions, only the GT with the 2.4L has about the same size engine as the Buick Verano, the premium version of the Chevrolet Cruze.

[forceflow2]

Originally Posted by Dgc333

Funny that Autoblog would make as basic a mistake as calling it a GT, it's an R/T.

No it isn't.
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/20...t-a-gt-not-rt/

Even the press release says GT. Dodge changed the name.

[F35-JSF]

Originally Posted by kam327

Yeah Focus has the handling down pat but you're right, there's more to a car than any one thing. I've read complimentary things about the Dart's handling. May not be as sharp, but it seems to be in the general ballpark of the Focus. And the 24 more hp could more than make up for the slightly duller handling, in my book anyway.

The dart may have 24 more hp in the 2.4 but the turbo 1.6 in it is faster from what I've read on it and both are slower than the focus. The extra hp is negated by the extra 301 lbs the dart has on the focus.

[BaconZombie]

So I was on Dodge's site, and there a portion where you can compare the Dart to it's competition, one of which is the Focus. It claims the Focus doesn't have rain-sensing wipers available. BS. Also says the Focus can't be had with "Rear Cross Path Detection." Funny, mine has rear and front collision detection, and my mom's has park assist with rear-view camera and is self-parking. Seems Dodge is a little misinformed and misleading.

[forceflow2]

Originally Posted by BaconZombie

So I was on Dodge's site, and there a portion where you can compare the Dart to it's competition, one of which is the Focus. It claims the Focus doesn't have rain-sensing wipers available.

Not all models do. Not to mention I don't see this listed anywhere on the comparison page. Where do you see it at?

EDIT: Found the page you were looking at (there are apparently two. One customizable and one not) It's comparing itself to the 2013 Focus, which doesn't have rain-sensing wipers available at any level. There's nothing wrong about that page.

Originally Posted by BaconZombie

Also says the Focus can't be had with "Rear Cross Path Detection." Funny, mine has rear and front collision detection

That's not the same thing. It is not available on the Focus.