News: Dodge Dart missed sales target as inventory mounts

[Lexus]

The problem with the dart is the options. Instead of going with clear option packages like every other car maker, you just pick all the random options from a list. Now that's real nice when you custom order a car, but the vast majority of people buy cars off the lot and it's a nightmare for dealer managers to order cars when the option list is a cluster fuck.

Too much customization is not always a good thing.

Europeans are used to this system. They custom order their cars and wait a couple of months to get them. For "off the lot" units there are considerable rebates.

North-Americans aren't used to this though and I'm guessing dealership staff either.

Europeans are also used to paying a certain amount for their compacts and have options usually reserved for upscale/luxury cars in North America. Dodge is trying this with the Dart and it's not really working. I think Chrysler gambled a lot by trying to do this with the 1st generation of an italian/american "hybrid". They should of 1st re-establish the brand and maybe after start trying out stuff with the 2nd or 3rd generations.