Would a Dodge Hornet be good for me?
Posted by yomike23@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 72 comments
Im a 26 year old male. My dream car is a 4runner but they dont go under $30k (which is my price range) until they are over 100k miles and that doesnt make me comfortable enough to buy one.
The dodge hornet is aesthetically pleasing and that is about the only good thing i have read on it. However, I feel as if all the hate is coming from the die hard dodge fans complaining about it being under powered or that its too alfa romeo to be a dodge.
This is why this car is drawing my attention. Its AWD. I drive up north through mountains to go snowboarding a hand full of times every winter (just under a 3 hour drive). A golf bag can be easily be thrown in this car. Interior looks like it has a sporty feel. I like the steering wheel, screen, and dash setup. Its a lot better than other crossovers/suvs ive seen. The price is good. Nice leather seats. MPG is good enough for my 20minute commute to work everyday. And most importantly, It doesnt look like a mom car like the rav4 (which people keep telling me to get).
The power of this car does not bother me. What does bother me is that the reliability of this car is unknown. Its a dodge so i cant imagine it being great. Just how bad is it going to be? Lol
Do i separate myself from the die hard dodge fans for this car actually to be a good fit for me? Or is this car an actual pile of shit that these dodge fans are making it out to be? Open to other car suggestions as well.
TheTrampIt@reddit
I’m Italian, here is full of Alfa’s but I have a Toyota.
Avoid wasting money on the hornet, please!
jibaro1953@reddit
I would take a high mileage 4runner over any Dodge of any type.
Idiopks@reddit
You should not touch any MOPAR no matter the deal right now. The hornets are reskinned Alfas and are junk supposedly
Due_Narwhal_7974@reddit
I don’t mind my ram
acousticsking@reddit
Alfa Romeo is garbage.
Buy a Camry.
One_Shallot_4974@reddit
It is apart of the fiat family, it will not be reliable long term. If you don't plan to own it for more then 5 or so years it will probably be fine.
For sporty reliable I would Try mazda. If you can find one in your budget I would consider an x3 as they are actually pretty reliable but be prepared for the repair costs vs toyota or similar.
mhkeygg@reddit
I'd take a 100k miles 4Runner over a new Hornet any day
EC_CO@reddit
My exact thought. Hell, I'd take a 200k mile 4Runner over a new Hornet/Tonale.
Lupine_Ranger@reddit
I'd take a 300k mile 4Runner over a new Hornet
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Nah I'd stop there I'd take the new hornet before a 300k 4 runner that's just too much wear on the chassis if the owner didn't keep up it's fucked sideways and back with the problems u will have. Yeah the engine may run but your definitely going to have a good amount of maintenance at 300k if it wasn't properly maintained.
Lupine_Ranger@reddit
The price of a $300k 4Runner will leave room for those repairs.
My 4Runner has almost 327k on it. It has issues, but it goes from A to B, to C.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Yeah I'd pick a new car over something with issues and is an "A to B" car.
AlwaysBagHolding@reddit
Most new cars, not a hornet.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Meh a new 4 runner isn't that much better today
mperezstoney@reddit
Would rather get kicked in nuts for 30 days straight before paying for a dodge.
FlyingDutchman9977@reddit
If you find a 100k Hornet, buy it. It's the most durable Hornet ever made
HunterDHunter@reddit
I have owned two Dodge/Chrysler vehicles in my life. Never, ever, again. Don't do it, there is a reason it seems so affordable, and it ain't a good reason.
DIMPLET0N@reddit
I'd personally avoid any products make by or associated with Chrysler/Dodge/Fiat/Jeep. Their parts are cheap, quality is non-existent, and their vehicles are cheap for a reason.
5141121@reddit
A base Civic with 250k miles will do much better for you. Only FWD, but it's also not a rebadged Fiat or anything out of Stellantis.
Bombaysbreakfastclub@reddit
The circle jerk is so crazy in here 😂
Grayly@reddit
My wife owns a base Geo/Corolla with that many miles.
It’s a terrible car and truly loathsome to drive. I’m constantly hunting down rubber and plastic parts (bushings, exhaust hangers, motor mounts) that need to be fixed because they’ve just aged out and deteriorated.
The engine in that car will last forever. The car will not.
Grayly@reddit
If you can pay off the Hornet in 3 years? Get it. It’s fun. Go wild. By the time the warranty is up it’ll be paid off and you can trade it in.
It is a legitimately fun car. It’s also an Alfa, so it’s not going to be “reliable.” There will be build issues. You’ll have to bring it back to the dealer. If it’s under warranty they’ll fix it for free.
5 years is the power train warranty so that’s the max.
If you can’t pay it off before it’s guaranteed not to break. Don’t buy it.
Bennysailor22@reddit
Dodge hornets are garbage stelantis can’t sell them
kdhardon@reddit
No
Ripley224@reddit
If you're a car guy who doesn't mind wrenching on your own stuff get an old 4Runner. If not lease a hornet and save up for 4Runner.
clawless92@reddit
The only somewhat reliable vehicle made by stelantis at this point is gonna have a hemi
mperezstoney@reddit
I'd take 30 days of getting kicked in nuts before paying for a dodge. It's your cash, do as you wish tho.
poolpog@reddit
Don't laugh, since you were considering a 4Runner, but a mazda3 AWD is less than 30k base and is absolutely incredible on snowy roads
konablend1234@reddit
No. Bad Chrysler product.
K_Linkmaster@reddit
An awd infinity g35/37 will be reasonable used and they come with the VQ engines, which are in the Nissan trucks and known for quality.
It's old enough to not give a shit about the back seat and golf bags or boards. The g35's at least have the pole hole if you need something long.
Drive it while you save for the vehicle you want.
Engnerd1@reddit
If you want a better compromise get the Subaru forester. The hornet will give you issues and the 4runner will be more reliable in the long run.
allislost77@reddit
Don’t buy any dodge
PriveCo@reddit
Have you considered a RAV4? It isn't the 4Runner but they are well within your budget, they are reliable, and capable. There are also tons of them out there, so finding a good deal on one isn't too tough.
yomike23@reddit (OP)
Yes but im a 26 year old guy with no girlfriend, i cannot drive a mom car. Financially a rav4 is probably the smartest decision. But i cannot get myself to do it. Some will understand this most wont lol
iMaReDdiTaDmInDurrr@reddit
There is nothing positive to say about dodge as a manufacturer.
EffectiveRelief9904@reddit
100k on a 4 runner is like nothing. Probably still more reliable and easier to fix than the hornet. It’s a tried and true model with plenty of aftermarket support
Personal-Goat-7545@reddit
To me the appeal of Dodge was always that they were inexpensive, you got what you paid for and that was fine; now they are expensive and I still have the impression they aren't great so I have no idea why people buy them over GM or Ford now.
imothers@reddit
I think they are more 'flexible" with financing, sometimes folks with poor credit can a loan at the Dodge dealer but not at Toyota or Honda.
imothers@reddit
If you're in Phoenix, do you go up to Flagstaff for snowboarding? Assuming you are staying on roads, I doubt you need the off-road capabilities of a 4runner. 4runners are great off road, but they are slow and thirsty on road, which impacts the on-road experience that will probably be over 90% of your driving. Something to think about.
OTOH, it looks like 2024 Mavericks in Phoenix start a bit over 30k for AWD models. Or you could get a hybrid (2WD) and snow tires. Or slightly older (2021) Bronco starting around $30k.
shrimps_95@reddit
I bought a 2012 4Runner with 160k miles on it for around 25 thousand and have never looked back. I've owned cars from Chevy, BMW and Nissan and nothing has been as reliable or capable as the 4Runner.
krombopulousnathan@reddit
Where are you located? I just helped a coworker look for a 4Runner. His budget was to stay under $30k and I found him a bunch of examples with under 100k miles.
The Hornet is fine but Reddit is going to shit on it. But if you want a 4Runner you can afford one with $30k.
yomike23@reddit (OP)
Phoenix area. It’s hard to find but there are a few examples of them being under $30k under 100k miles around here. Everyone is suggesting the 4 runner. So i guess it’s time for me to stop underestimating the reliability of that car.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
Not going to lie, when you said Hornet. THIS is what came to mind.
ContributionDapper84@reddit
Haha!
5quirre1@reddit
It's going to sound odd, but look at subarus. They will get you up and down the mountains just fine, and their ac can actually combat Phoenix summer heat pretty well. It's not too expensive, and incredibly easy to add roof racks so you can put the snowboard on top, especially after a day on the mountain and not get the inside soggy. The crosstrek is surprisingly fun to drive, and in my personal opinion looks sporty enough to not be a mom car (and yes, I had that opinion before I bought). They handle road trips very well, comfortable drive, and respectable highway milage, i kept mine at about 35-40 mpg this weekend going to Utah and back, even with climbing mountains.
krombopulousnathan@reddit
For whatever reason AZ is more expensive than the east coast but that being said a 30 second search yielded a handful of sub $30k 4Runners with under 100k miles. If you don’t need 4wd there are cheap rwd ones. But idk why anyone would buy a 2wd off-road SUV.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/link/401282171
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/link/398456777
If the pool is too small look wider and have it delivered to you
Droid8Apple@reddit
Have you considered a Subaru? I'm sure they get plenty of hate, too, but an impreza (especially a sporty one) would hit all those marks as well as adding reliability to it.
Nice_Emphasis_39@reddit
Rent a hornet for a week then come back to us.
Rongxanh88@reddit
The Hornet is famous for going back to the dealer or being unable to sell because of serious electrical and software issues from their day 1 release. Thats why they are so affordable.
I got a 4runner. Find one with good service records. They have an ancient 4L v6 and a 5 sp auto transmission for a good reason. They are quite bulletproof and they have maintained this reputation because this powertrain combo has been in the 4 runner for two decades.
what_irish@reddit
As someone who lives near Stellantis and other CJDR plants(central Indiana) do not buy anything those companies produce. Most of their own workers refuse to buy anything from them from the last 10 years. That should tell you something. It’s a running joke here that the transmission factory is actually a bomb factory due to the amount of transmissions that “blow up” before 30k miles.
Disastrous-Group3390@reddit
Buy a 4Runner. The 100k mile 4R you pass on will STILL BE RUNNING when all the Hornets shuffled off to their resting places, sitting in the ‘Chrysler’ section of PullAParts everywhere, next to the Journeys, Pacificas, v6 Chargers and that funny looking generation of Durangos.
Babeast88@reddit
Gonna be that guy Look into a used Honda passport. You can go back justa couple of years and find them under 30k Great V6 & plenty of room. AWD available and from "test" ive been seeing on youtube the AWD is solid.
Zestyclose-Ocelot-14@reddit
Hey man. If you like the hornet get the hornet. At the end of the day you are the one that's gonna get in it every day. Test drive both. Which one makes you happiest from when u start the car to when its parked. Then pick that one. If the hornet turns to be shit then just be sure to dump it before warranty is up
7269BlueDawg@reddit
I am a Dodge guy tried and true but I would say there are better choices than the Hornet. Quite a few better choices.
WingForeign8517@reddit
Is cheap power, but its a Stellantis product, so no
libra-love-@reddit
I work for dodge. Hornets have a ton of electrical issues. If you lease it and save for a 4Runner than can easily hit 300k miles, sure. But expect recalls and for it to sit at the dealership a lot.
TheRealJYellen@reddit
The hornet (and really all dodge stuff) is made by stellantis. They're a mega-company consisting mostly of unreliable has-been brands like chrysler, alfa romeo, maserati, fiat, dodge, jeep, and a handful of others. They all share parts and designs, and are pretty bad on average.
Looks aside, the rav4 and CR-V do what you want, well, and with lower maintenance costs. I'm unsure on the Maverick yet, but it could be a real option, as could the Bronco Sport if you can avoid the 3 cylinder engine. Crosstrek would also be a good option. A sportier, more car-guy option would be a used Golf R, WRX/Impreza or Mazda 3. You'd give up some clearance with these options, but have better mileage, more fun driving, and lower cost. I have had a 2013 R as my daily for 5 years now and take it skiing all the time.
As a guy barely older than you, I can highly recommend spending less than your max budget on a car, then you can save for trips, a house, or whatever. Also keep in mind that the stock tires on most new vehicles are designed for the average dry or rainy road, and do terribly in snow. AWD is only half the battle.
jeepsies@reddit
Only uninformed buyers buy those cars
jeepsies@reddit
No
TheCamoTrooper@reddit
The new hornets are plagued with issues I'd take an older vehicle that's known to be reliable and also generally less expensive to repair
TheAnonymoose69@reddit
Ew. No. Stay away from all Chrysler products. They’re garbage
psmvchaser@reddit
My suggestions would be 1 of 2 cars. A Kia Sportage or a Subaru Crosstrek. The Kia has an amazing warranty and the Subaru has amazing quality and resale. Both can be bought new for right around 30k in my area (metro detroit). Whichever one you like better after testing them out...you cant go wrong. Ive owned both and had fantastic experiences.
twoliptwonip@reddit
To put in perspective, reliability ratings are actually very good for all cars these days. Toyota is going to be about 100 issues reported in the first 3 years for 100 cars. That's average of about 1. That can be anything from not understanding how to use the infotainment system to a body trim piece falling off. The Dodge is going to be somewhere from 150 to maybe 200 highest. Car hasn't been on the market 3 years so no one knows. The Dodge does have one of the best infotainment systems in the industry.
If you like it get it. Don't try to put 200k miles on a Dodge thou.
twoliptwonip@reddit
Correction 147 pp100 Toyota 190 pp100 dodge
Senior_Ad282@reddit
I would take a new Onewheel electric skateboard over a dodge hornet.
funkthew0rld@reddit
I’d rather have no car than a mopar.
There’s a reason the 100k mile Toyotas are valued the same as new dodges. Think about that for a minute.
mega-man-0@reddit
No
FreemansAlive@reddit
Reiterating another response... I'd take the 100k mile Toyota over a new Hornet and it's no contest, no hesitation.
VirgoJack@reddit
You're wrong. The hate is realistic. Get a Subaru
Jackson_Rhodes_42@reddit
No. Just no. Get the 4Runner like everyone else is suggesting.
ShiteWitch@reddit
Get the 4Runner. 100K is nothing to it.
syntheticmeatproduct@reddit
Have you read reviews from car&driver, motor trend, etc? Set up a test drive with that and judging from your preferences maybe an awd trailblazer or blazer too. If you really want it that badly and you're worried about reliability, get it under warranty and sell before it's up.