Anderson Independent Mail (Enlarge photo)

02/07/2008 15:09. Practically the only car reviews that haven't panned the half-baked Dodge Avenger have been write-ups in dealer brochures. After that, the struggling Camry-competitor has turned off nearly as many auto journalists as the ill-fated Aspen of the mid-'70s.

I wanted this car to succeed. I really did. The Pentastar brand needs a crappy car like America needs another hike in gas prices. However, bean counters and committee thinking again prevail in the American side of the auto industry, and we're left with a car selling solely on its striking resemblance to its Charger big brother. From the get-go, most in the blogosphere and enthusiast land let out a huge chuckle when Dodge's front-drive counterpart to the hot-selling rear-drive full-sizer dropped. Worst yet, criticisms focus on the... // Anderson Independent Mail