2 weeks Ago By Rob Emslie
While Dodge’s most recent Dart failed to hit the mark, today’s Nice Price of No Dice SXT Rallye might prove to be more on target owing to its rare six-speed stick and maybe even its price. To be a crowd-pleaser means to have near ubiquitous appeal, as we see with the likes of pizza or Tom Hanks. Owing to its frugality and parkable size, the 2011 Honda Civic NGV we looked at yesterday might have shared that pantheon were it not for a dearth of natural gas filling stations holding it back.
Such a limitation naturally also limits the appeal, and most of you felt that $9,999 was far too much to expect from such a small audience. An 88 percent No Dice loss was the result. Of course, if frugality is a key aspect of auto ownership but dealing with high-pressure compressed natural gas is out of the question, there are plenty of decently sized and reasonably penny-pinching gasoline-fueled cars out there, even in our crossover-obsessed market.
One of the least popular of these options is the Dodge Dart, a car that seemingly came and went in the market without making so much as a dimple in the public zeitgeist. These cars are so under the radar that, remarkably, one was recently sold by a dealer despite having been out of production since 2016. Based on a platform shared with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and Fiat Bravo, the FWD Dart doesn’t look the least bit Italian.
Instead, the compact sedan’s styling harkens back to the semi-beloved Neon of the ’90s and wears a badge even more historically notable in Mopar history. None of that mattered, however, as the Dart arrived at a time when the popularity of compact sedans was probably at its lowest, and the market was already filled with established models like the VW Jetta and Toyota Corolla. So poor were the Dart’s sales that Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis) pulled the plug on the model after just four years on the market.
Adding insult to injury, the car was replaced by...
nothing. This 2013 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye looks to be one of the best-kitted versions of the car, featuring a six-speed stick and 160-horsepower 1.6-liter MultiAir turbo four for a drivetrain.
Both components are Fiat-sourced, and the little engine’s complete lack of torque in the low rev range will make drivers thankful for the manual. According to the ad, the car has a clean title and a reasonable 134,000 miles under its belt. While offered as for-sale-by-owner, the ad is written in total dealer speak.
It’s peppered with exclamation marks and notes that the Dart “runs strong!!” and is “Priced to sell QUICK!!” I’m not exactly sure what car the seller is describing since the ad claims the Dart’s condition to be “excellent” and says that there are no rips or tears in the interior despite pictures showing rips on the driver’s door armrest and tears on the center console cubby cap. Besides those flaws, the interior seems to be in decent shape, and the SXT is fitted with the larger 8.4-inch U Connect infotainment screen.
There’s not much to talk about on the exterior. It’s painted in metallic Torred and is paired with black-painted or dipped alloy wheels and a probably-not-legal level of window tint. It’s possibly just a trick of the light in the photos, but the color match between the bumpers, front fenders, and the rest of the car looks hinkey from some angles.
On the plus side, the headlamp lenses are clear, and the bodywork appears free of door dings or corner scrapes. Regarding options, this Dart seems well-equipped but not over the top. Naturally, it has A/C, power windows and locks, plus the expected backup camera in its center stack display.
What more could one want? If someone did want this Dart, they’d have to contend with its $4,475 price, and we’re here to help them with that decision. What’s your opinion about this almost-forgotten car at that sort of price? Does that feel like a deal to go under the radar? Or does that price totally miss the bullseye? You decide! San Diego, California, Craigslist , or go here if the ad disappears. Help me out with NPOND.
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