Just wondering if anyone has one, or has taken the 1.8 for a test drive. We're probably going to get one as soon as Dodge offers better rebates. We test drove a 2.0 SXT and liked it, but we'd really like to try out a 5spd.
Does it feel peppier than the 2.0???
We "looked" at an R/T last weekend. No test drive or anything, because as soon as I saw the MSRP I said no way. I realize they'll come down off MSRP, but I still couldn't justify it over the SXT. I don't want AWD is the main reason I don't want an R/T. No real need for it, and it's just added weight and an added expense.
The size of the vehicle on the inside, as well as the gas economy is why we're considering the Caliber. And of course I like Dodge. LOL
EZ4U2CHere
05-13-2006, 09:55 AM
I guess not???
FreeLantz
05-13-2006, 02:10 PM
First of all, if you're waiting for rebates to buy a Caliber, you could be waiting for a few years! The demand for these cars is extremely high and will only continue to go higher in coming months. Dodge introduced the Caliber at exactly the right time. Everyone who is loyal to Mopar and wants a fuel efficient car will be looking at these.
The 1.8 Caliber SE is a little on the sluggish side IMO, but more fun if you choose the manual transmission. The 2.0 is a definite step up but my personal favorite so far is the 2.4-liter in the R/T. There will be a FWD R/T going on sale in the fall, so if you don't want the AWD you will want to check that out. The FWD R/T should be a little cheaper than the AWD R/T too.
EZ4U2CHere
05-13-2006, 03:48 PM
Yeah, true about the rebates, but you never know. We're looking at the Fall time frame anyway. September/October
So there is a noticeable difference between the 1.8 manual vs. the 2.0 manual. I know the hp ratings is only like 10, but I figured the manual would make up for it?
FWD R/T might be an option.
Sitrucious
06-09-2006, 09:24 PM
I am getting the 1.8 because it had more oomph then the 2.0. Now let me tell you a story though. I drove the 1.8 in a SE and a 1.8 in a SXT. The SXT felt completely different and I squacked the tires between 2nd and 3rd. The biggest difference in performance to me seemed to be off of a stop. I think the auto is lagging at low range.
Mega07Cab
06-10-2006, 10:48 AM
Like David said.. With 48,000 on order, I doubt that they are going to offer decent encentives on this car. Maybe next year...
EZ4U2CHere
06-10-2006, 11:37 AM
48,000 on order? Where did that number come from?
There are three dealerships local to me, from 1 mile to 15 miles, and I can find a caliber on the lot anytime I want.
EZ4U2CHere
06-10-2006, 11:38 AM
And I'm glad to know the 1.8 feels like it has more "ooomph" than the 2.0 CVT.
I hear people are getting close to 40mpg on the highway with the 1.8. I'm really liking that.
Mega07Cab
06-10-2006, 01:00 PM
And the orders are mounting. Dodge has 48,700 dealer orders for the Caliber, up from roughly 20,000 several weeks ago, said Chrysler spokesman Kevin McCormick.
Holy smokes!!! I hope the prices don't start to go up because of that.
Maybe I should get one now instead of waiting a couple more months.
AP
06-10-2006, 11:57 PM
48,000 on order? Where did that number come from?
There are three dealerships local to me, from 1 mile to 15 miles, and I can find a caliber on the lot anytime I want.
My 5 star stealership is having a hard time keeping them on the lot for some reason!
donconjo
06-11-2006, 02:19 AM
The caliber is hitting the showroom's now (june 9) in the netherlands and probably in whole Europe !!
So the orders will Rise !!
the will sell a lot of CRD
mullinax05
06-11-2006, 06:34 AM
I have a friend that has the Caliber R/T and she was driving the thing before I even heard of a Caliber or saw anyone talking about on DT.
Her husband runs/owns the Dodge dealership so I bet that had a lot to do with it. I asked her was she going to get the Challenger when it came out and she said would but she is afraid she will get a speeding ticket.
coleneb
07-07-2006, 05:08 PM
they are calling for 3-5 months wait if you special order one... and the 48000 behind order is about correct.... also they are adding a third shift the middle of July just to try and catch up with their orders
dodge_R/T13
07-07-2006, 05:48 PM
EZ4U2CHere,
Just found this article (and video) that might help you with your decision...
The article...
2007 Dodge Caliber: Model Range Comparison (http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/roadtest,view,Dodge.spy?artid=62640&mailid=20060706)
The video...
2007 Dodge Caliber: Model Range Comparison Video (http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/videos,view.spy?artid=62640)
EZ4U2CHere
07-07-2006, 06:16 PM
Thanks guys, but believe it or not I decided to get something else. I test drove the Caliber about 5 times over the past 3 weeks, and it just didn't excite me the way I had hoped it would. The first time I test drove one, "YES" I thought it was great. But after testing and comparing it just wasn't the car I was hoping it was going to be. The outside looks great, but it's the inside I couldn't get used to, and every time I drove one I would find something else I didn't like. The main thing I didn't like was the light gray interior, especially the lower door panels and door sills. Every single one I test drove had scuff marks from delivery or test drives. The one I test drove that had the most miles had 26. For every one to have scuff marks and scratches in the same locations didn't thrill me.
Anyway, I ended up buying an HHR last weekend. (FLAME SUIT IS ON) lol
tyler711
07-07-2006, 11:10 PM
Did you test drive a Saturn VUE by any chance? Not trying to start anything, but we got a VUE AWD v6 just before I heard about the caliber, and was wondering how the VUE and the caliber compare performance-wise, as the vue feels pretty fast to me (although I only ever drive a 6000 pound truck, so I guess anything on a car chassis would feel fast). Unfortunately, driving a truck all the time ruins any feel I have for the performance of a car.
EZ4U2CHere
07-08-2006, 06:41 AM
Yes, I test drove a view and I liked it a ton more than the Caliber and I like the fact that their 3.5L V-6 is really a Honda.
Unfortunately my GM discount is only good for $750 off MSRP on Saturn products, and once we optioned out a VUE the way we wanted it, it got kind of pricey and a little more than we wanted to spend. Our main goal was to get something inexpensive trying to keep it under $20k as the main purpose of this car is to be a commuting car.
pcrmike
07-08-2006, 01:50 PM
IMHO, after reading the sludge issues and tranny issues Honda Minivans have had as of late, I wouldn't get one. I was shocked to see how many Hondas and Toyotas, as well as the 2.7 Mopar were affected. We considered one til I saw that. We are getting an SE with 1.8 real soon. My dealer gets them in a couple at a time and they sell within a couple hours. Does my heart good to see Ma Mopar put out something people will beat the doors down for. :-)PCRMike
EZ4U2CHere
07-08-2006, 08:58 PM
I'm really surprised you guys are having trouble finding them at the dealers. I know 2 of my 3 local dealerships WILL NOT get a 1.8 unless someone orders one. Another local dealership gets the 1.8 every now and then.
But.... You can go to any of those three dealerships and find 2.0 SXT's any day of the week. I drove by them today, and between the 3 of them there were at least 10. Yeah I know, not exactly an overstock, but for a car that some claim to be hard to get, it sounds like a lot to me.
My3sonsracing
08-14-2006, 11:33 AM
I hope the 1.8 gets better mileage than the 2.0 - we have a SXT with CVT and a 2.0 and only get 20 - 22 miles per gallon. Dodge dealer says there is nothing wrong with the car. Service manager won't even call me back. I traded in my Ram that got 18 mpg to get something with better gas mileage - this ain't cutting it!!! :VHOT:
47Ram
08-14-2006, 01:30 PM
I would wait for the SRT. It seems to be the only one worth it.
I went and test drove both with my wife, she wanted out of her Mustang and wanted a bigger car that got better mpg. I really wanted her to get a Dodge but both the 1.8 and 2.0 were underpowered, too small, and lacked styling. My wife could not stand all of the plasctic on the two cars. We ended up going down the street and getting a fully loaded 07 Camry LE for my wife. I get discounts for Dodge, Toyota, Nissan, and Ford so I was able to get the Camry cheaper than the Caliber and it's way more car. She is currently averaging 24 mpg/city and 33/hgwy, it looks great, and drives like a dream. She even said it has more balls than the Caliber after test driving the 3 cars. :D
I know we all want to stick with Dodge, but sometimes you have to take a step back and look at other brands as well, alot of the times there are better cars out there for the same money. It's the brand that keeps alot of us from looking at the other lot.
Good Luck to you! :gr_patrio
HENSONMOTORS
08-16-2006, 11:15 PM
In regards to the mileage of the 2.0 SXT i'd kinda have to agree. I picked up one of these for the wife and of course started modding it immediately. Bone stock when we got it in late march it was getting about 25-26mpg when it was still cold outside and no A/C on. I installed the Mopar Performance cold air intake and their Catback Exhaust and it actually picked up 1mpg overall. I installed the Mopar Header and followed that up with NGK Iridium plugs and got a little better mileage. Now that is 100degrees outside I average 24mpg with the A/C for the most part.
Weired thing is though I talked to a lady in wisconsin though that told me she gets 30-32 out of her 2.0 CVT though. Now big difference between there and here is the speed limit. She says its 55mph there and its 70mph pretty much everywhere around here. She said she never goes over 55 except to pass, myself I keep it around 75 or just under 80 for the most part on the highways. Well I decided to test it this last weekend and I was definitely in for a shock. Driving from Madisonville to San Antonio which is 185 mile trip with the cruise set on 73 I was averaging 24.3mpg with the air on. On the way home same amount of people, little cooler outside (88 vs 101) with Air still on cruise set at 63 It actually picked up to 28.6mpg. The difference in RPM is roughly 2400-2500rpm at 73 vs 2000-2100 rpm @ 63. So I guess If I dropped it down to the 55mph that she drives I could possibly see that 30mpg. Texas unfortunately is so big though 55mph takes forever to get anywhere.....
donconjo
08-17-2006, 01:11 PM
I know we all want to stick with Dodge, but sometimes you have to take a step back and look at other brands as well, alot of the times there are better cars out there for the same money. It's the brand that keeps alot of us from looking at the other lot.
Good Luck to you! :gr_patrio
I Had so many brands and they all have something good and bad.
(i stick to the usual brands, european, japan no korean/italian stuff)
so now for the first time an american car (except the engine?)
not because i don't like american cars but this is one i can afford and is official imported in to the netherlands.
If the car looks good then i'm not so picky, when i saw the caliber i just wanted to buy it!!! :D
And yes i also think the Camry drives better but maybe when i'm older and don't care for the looks no more (no offense) :gr_patrio
47Ram
08-17-2006, 01:19 PM
I Had so many brands and they all have something good and bad.
(i stick to the usual brands, european, japan no korean/italian stuff)
so now for the first time an american car (except the engine?)
not because i don't like american cars but this is one i can afford and is official imported in to the netherlands.
If the car looks good then i'm not so picky, when i saw the caliber i just wanted to buy it!!! :D
And yes i also think the Camry drives better but maybe when i'm older and don't care for the looks no more (no offense) :gr_patrio
No offense taken :D It's all in what floats your boat! hahahaha
EZ4U2CHere
08-17-2006, 02:41 PM
Actually the new camry looks pretty sleek to me. I'm sure that would have been a car that I looked at if we wanted a sedan. We wanted a hatch/wagon though.
So far I, I guess I should say my wife, is very, very pleased with the HHR we went with over the caliber.
