2023 Hornet

[occasional demons]

[Midnight_Rider]

Yet another SUV. Yawn.

[racer12306]

If that's what it'll actually look like, that's kind of slick.

However, I do agree, they need more cars.

[MyNeonSaysHi]

no thanks.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a4294 ... t-pricing/
another cookie cutter crossover. Will fail like the Caliber and Dart

[Midnight_Rider]

IDK, I still like the Dart.

[occasional demons]

Doubtful there will ever be another US made sport compact Mopar. Just rebadged vehicles from other brands in Stellantis' portfolio.

[Midnight_Rider]

I drove a Jeep Compass at work the other day- Toluca, MX.

[INVUJerry]

It's got the same footprint as an XJ Cherokee while weighing 600 pounds more. It's going to become the Dodge Journey which was the official "we can get you in this today" car. They'll probably sell like hot cakes. It's a shame they are selling a kit to put the GLH badging on it, it should be SRT if anything, since it fits the modern SRT boat moniker.

[racer12306]

What is with the black trim around the wheels these days?!?!?!!

Everyone is doing it.

$70k Mercedes with black trim around the wheels.

Do people actually think it looks good?

[occasional demons]

It seems anything that is shiny is a no go anymore. Make it look like a base model from the 1970's and it's in style....

[MyNeonSaysHi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksBaA3vbRjA

Yikes. No way would I even fathom owning one of these things.

[Midnight_Rider]

I said it before, I'll say it again... Another SUV. Boring.

[occasional demons]

It's more of a hatchback than an SUV. Way too small, not going to get much "utility" out of it. My 1980's 024 Charger and Omni had more utility capability than that. The roofline appears to be lower than my hatch back Impreza, which got used much the same as the two afore mentioned cars. Shoving something 10' long in the back and up to the dash was never an issue. At least the Impreza had a roof rack for longer/wider stuff. I tossed a storm door up there ratchet strapped it in place and drove home with no problem. Not going to happen with a Hornet. It doesn't even qualify as a CUV.

It's like calling this an SUV.

[Midnight_Rider]

Whatever it is- it's made in Italy while Stellantis has shuttered Bevledere and laid everyone there off.

[occasional demons]

Whatever it is- it's made in Italy while Stellantis has shuttered Bevledere and laid everyone there off.

Like I said above: "Doubtful there will ever be another US made sport compact Mopar. Just rebadged vehicles from other brands in Stellantis' portfolio."

I wouldn't put it past them to import everything but the Wrangler/Gladiator and Ram line, and even those in due time.

I just don't see anything Stallantis in my future. Ain't paying $60,000 and up for a pick up truck.

[racer12306]

Whatever it is- it's made in Italy while Stellantis has shuttered Bevledere and laid everyone there off.

I heard a headline in passing that they were building another plant in Indiana.

[INVUJerry]

Looks like a battery plant in Indiana, coming soon

https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/24/stell ... n-indiana/

Just looked at the specs for the Dart, ugh gross

178″ L x 82″ W x 63-64″ H

[Midnight_Rider]

Looks like a battery plant in Indiana, coming soon

Yeah, a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung here in Kokomo. The newly-elected UAW president is upset with Stellantis as it appears that the company is trying to avoid union representation at the battery plant.

[INVUJerry]

Looks like a battery plant in Indiana, coming soon

Yeah, a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung here in Kokomo. The newly-elected UAW president is upset with Stellantis as it appears that the company is trying to avoid union representation at the battery plant.

That's upsetting, hopefully Stellantis comes to their senses, it's always better for the workers to have Union representation when fighting a conglomorate like that.

[MyNeonSaysHi]

Stellantis is having trouble selling these abominations

[Midnight_Rider]

Well, everyone knows that they really aren't Dodges, merely EV Fiats rebadged as Dodges. **rolls eyes**

[INVUJerry]

Well, everyone knows that they really aren't Dodges, merely EV Fiats rebadged as Dodges. **rolls eyes**

None of them are EV, although one version is a hybrid.

[Midnight_Rider]

I stand corrected. Still Italian-built Fiats with Dodge badges on them.

[racer12306]

I stand corrected. Still Italian-built Fiats with Dodge badges on them.

I don't think the average person cares.

Unfortunately, the starting price of this Hornet is too high. Had a weird thought yesterday, if I needed to buy an efficient family hauler tomorrow, what's out there.

Hornet: $31,400
Chevy Trax: $20,400
Chevy Trailblazer: $23,100
Ford Escape: $29,495
Toyota Rav 4: $28,675
Toyota Corolla Cross: $23,610
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid: $27,970
Honda HRV: $24,600
Honda CRV: $29,500

Unless you really want that Dodge badge, there's not much reason to buy a Hornet at those prices.

[Midnight_Rider]

I stand corrected. Still Italian-built Fiats with Dodge badges on them.

I don't think the average person cares.

That's the real problem, trying to find something American-built, especially at the prices that are being charged.

[racer12306]

Car manufacturer's need to make people care.

There isn't a Dodge that costs less than $30k. That's ridiculous. There are only two Stellantis products that are under $30k, the Jeep Compass and Renegade. Not even a Fiat 500X is under $30k. Meanwhile, you can go to Toyota and get a 43/38mpg Hybrid Corolla Cross for about the same price as a Renegade. The Renegade get's a whopping 23/29mpg

For a company to have two cars under $30k, when Toyota has 10 and the Tacoma is really close at $31k if you really wanted/needed a truck. Honda has 6 vehicles in that price point. Being under $30k is important for young families. In 2024, young families are just trying to survive and they can't spend a bunch of money on a car.

Unfortunately, Chrysler products have been outdated for many many years and the only appealing vehicles are the Pacifica and the Ram, IMO.

[occasional demons]

Had a weird thought yesterday, if I needed to buy an efficient family hauler tomorrow, what's out there.

Depends on how big a family. The Forester starts at $27,000 and I can easily get 34 mpg highway with mine. You could get an Impreza for $23,000, but it would be a bit tighter.

The capabilities in inclement weather and the fuel mileage combo is tough to beat, especially if you are young and need a safe dependable car for your family.

The Forester isn't a race car, but it does handle pretty well for what it is, acceleration is plenty adequate despite what the reviews will tell you. If you need a family hauler, and have your priorities straight, a fast car doesn't fit the bill.

There are fuel efficient cars out there, for relatively reasonable prices, just not anything Stellantis offers. They are trying to focus on higher end buyers, and could care less about the masses.

[Midnight_Rider]

Yeah, the Forester. Had one for a company vehicle several years back. I was excited to finally have something American-built (Lafayette, IN) but it turned out to be the biggest lemon I drove in over 18 years. The P/S taillight burnt out so violently that the factory had to replace the entire unit while the car was under warranty. For a gasoline-powered vehicle, It drank oil (according to Subaru, this was normal so I kept quarts on hand while driving my routes). And it constantly ate headlights (I even got a warning ticket from the Zionsville, IN police for having a headlight out). The next vehicle I got was a Jeep Liberty that I also got to use for a DD (yes, a Daimler design but still US built). Best vehicle I drove while doing routes for a previous employer (195 miles daily) and I was sorry to have to trade it in. I then had a couple of Canadian-built Chevy Equinox models (the first of the two was rear-ended when fully stopped by a full-size Chevy van going more than 45 MPH but performed flawlessly when it got back from the body shop).

I drove several Pacificas for the car rental company I worked for in 2022 and 2023; they were pretty good but I wish that they had been built in St. Louis rather than Windsor.

[occasional demons]

Those issues have long been resolved. Just like the neon head gaskets. Maybe we should all knock anything with a 2.0 and 2.4 because of something that Chrysler fucked up on years ago. SMH ...

Foresters are selling faster than Subaru can make them. That speaks volumes.

Meanwhile Stellantis vehicles are sitting on the dealership lots

Oh yeah, and FWIW, my neon used a quart of oil every 3000 miles and near the end it was every 1000 miles, maybe I should start posting that every time someone mentions one.

How much oil has my Forester used in 25,000 miles other than oil changes?

ZERO.

My Impreza was abused far worse than any other car I have bought, and it still performed as well or better than the neon as far as maintenance items. It was in far new shape at 230,000 miles when I traded it in, than the neon was at 210,000 when I had to quit driving it.

And let's not even get started on LCA bushings on neons...

[MyNeonSaysHi]

You can buy a used Elantra N with a manual or 8 speed DCT for under $30k now with less than 10k miles. Huge backseat, lots of space, great gas mileage, 276hp, LSD, lots of tech. Modern day Neon built in South Korea! Best buy out there IMO. All this crossover/suv talk makes me sad and bored.