Chrysler brings back the Dodge Dart
Why are some people so insecure that they won't drive anything with four doors, or don't consider it a "real performance car" unless it has two doors? Really guys? Wake up and smell the roses, the world has changed. People can't afford to have two cars anymore, they need to have a single car that can do everything. Something that can haul the family around, have enough space to store anything you would want to carry, be comfortable and economical to drive every day, and still be fun to drive. That's exactly what the Charger and the Dart are. The Challenger is for the guys that *can* afford to drive two cars. Great for you, but the rest of us can't. And besides, the Dart originally wasn't a cool car when it came out in it's compact form in '63. You didn't drive one becuase you wanted a performance monster, you drove on because it was good on gas and somewhat fun to drive. Fact is, most Darts were four-door six cylinder cars. You didn't buy a Dart to be cool in, you bought one because it's what you could afford, and it was good value for money. That's exactly what the new Dart is. Sorry it's not a two door Hemi powered monster, and I'm sorry it's not 1967 anymore, but some of us are younger guys who want a new car, but can't afford an SRT8 Challenger. We want, no, we NEED something that gets 35mpg on the highway, is fun to drive, and practical enough for every day use.
And as far as Chrysler not taking the Mopar guys seriously, you have no idea do you? Ralph Giles is your best friend. The man designed and headed the Challenger program near the end of the Diamler days, kept it going during the Cerberus years, and even managed to keep the model around during the bailouts, all while he was head of the Dodge brand. He's since been moved to the SRT8 brand, and created the SRT8 Charger, Challenger, and 300. Oh, and the SRT Jeep. The SRT cars are designed specifically for guys like us. The die hard Mopar speed freaks.
Be glad that Chrysler is proud of, and respects it's heritage. How many classic names does Ford have to bring back? The Mustang. GM? The Camaro. Chrysler not only recognizes and appreciates it's customer base, they gave us cars like the Charger and 300, not to mention the SRT cars. How many big, V8 powered, rear drive sedans does Ford have right now? How about GM, outside of the Cadillacs. One?
Be glad that the names and the heritage live on, and be proud to drive a vehicle built by a company that cares more about what its customers want, need, and think, than any other auto manufacturer.
Ok, I'm done ranting, I promise :D