Pictures and my take on the Caliber R/T AWD

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:38 pm

Well, the local dealership has their first R/T Caliber....So naturally I had to drive it to see if there was any reality to the hype.....Heres my likes and dislikes......

I personally like the looks of it, kind of boxy Mazda 3.

Price and gas mileage, on par with it's competitors......maybe about $1000 to high if you consider the Mazda 3 as it's competitor.

It handles rather nicely, and the 18" wheels and 55 series rubber do their job without harshly affecting ride quality. I took it through it's paces pretty hard (I know the salesman pretty well, he let me "beat up on it" for you guys), it handled a 45mph emergency lane change VERY well, the "car" doesn't feel topheavy AT ALL! And with the four wheel ABS disc brakes, it stops decently as well.

Heres one of my main gripes, you WILL NOT feel that it is AWD unless you are pushing it HARD into a set of 60 degree plus S-curves, when I tried to lift and trail brake (lift throttle just before turn, then brake mid apex), I got MAD understeer, as I expected. This thing is impossible to launch like an STi or EVO, the drive-by-wire, and CVT2 tranny are dogs......(more below)

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:58 pm

This thing is a DOG off the line, the problem is that when you hit the gas the tach jumps right past the torque curve right up to the highest RPM available, thus you get a sluggish takeoff, you WILL LOSE stoplight showdowns in the Caliber R/T. However on the freeway if you stab the loud pedal to about 3/4 then roll into it gently, it gets up pretty good. To get it to leave a stoplight just like the car next to you, you have to give it no less than half throttle, only then does it feel normal.

Overall the interior is leaps and bounds over the Neon I'm used to driving, the harder plastics with a rubberized coating, and the leather-ish seats make it feel more expensive. It has gobs of features, gadgets, and cubbies. On the dash you have an information center that will tell you the temp outside, avg. MPG, DTE (distance to empty), tire press. at all four corners, direction, and the station currently playing. In the center armrest, of course you have the MP3 player holder, as well as two "junk holders". My only iterior gripe is the moving armrest, it is meant to slide back and forth to accomodate shorter people, however it is very flimsy, and appears that in about a year, if you get overly egxaggerative with the brake pedal that it would slide forward on its own.

In general, I think this is a car I could live with from day to day after getting used to the transmission. Besides, I think it would look hot lowered with some nice 19"s.

If theres anything I didn't cover, feel free to ask.

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:00 pm

Thanks for the review!

Nicely put together!

I'm looking forward to the release of the SRT. I will definitely visit the local dealership for that.

kirktalife · Post by **kirktalife** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:03 pm

nice review, its kinda growin on me in terms of looks, i wanna take one out for a tear, i am lookin forward to the srt version though, that should be a fun ride

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:04 pm

It will......umm, how do I put this nicely......surprise you.......just wait for the SRT, don't waste your time on the R/t version for anything more than a people mover.

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:17 pm

Definately puts the R/T badge to Shame.

0-60 in like 10 seconds.. doesnt sound like a car I would want to take to the track and isnt that what R/T stands for... Road and Track.

I was really disappointed when I test drove the R/T down here in Ft. Myers. I need performance in my car.. the CVT is Boring and the AWD doesnt feel like a true AWD setup. The salesmen was like. "You wanna see what the payments would be?" I replied with "Who cares this car sucks and I don't want it." He kinda just looked at me funny. I walked away

ed.

This is what I would do to the R/T:

Keep the 2.4L but cut some of the Extra Heft to get the weight around 3000lbs instead of 3400lbs.
Install a 5 or 6 speed close ratio transaxle.
Install a TRUE AWD setup.. Or just dump the AWD setup and make it FWD and save the weight
Lower the center of gravity, and make the seats more... um... car like, Feels too straight up.
Duel Exhaust.

There are some others...

Maybe I'm looking for an ACR version.. lol And How bout we lower that price tag! 23K? I had to do a double take.. thats more expensive the a New Neon SRT-4!

Definately NOT worth the Money

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:52 pm

I am getting a SE in a couple of weeks, just waiting on it to get here. I wouldve relaly loved to get the rt at least, but too pricey for my budget.

I personally love the calibers. I know I hated before, but that was before I started looking at options, specs, ect.

there is a I/H/E package availiable for them for around 1k...not bad IMO.

I know Ill get crap for getting the SE (no power options, 2.0 engine, no sunroof, blah, blah, blah.) but i dont care. I didnt get it for performance. I got it because I like the looks and the options it has. It will have to stay stock anyways, for quite a while probably.

lolelectricbluesxt · Post by **lolelectricbluesxt** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:55 pm

Visalia Surroz BMW/DODGE/CHRYSLER/JEEP M I RITE? ;p I got my neon there.

Great review, seems like a waste of the r/t badge though. I sure hope the srt4 puts out.

There is/was a base line caliper that you could win at the Visalia mall, they have/had it on display and i just wasnt feeling it, no matter how hard i tried. I pointed it out to Ashley as the replacment to the neon, and she seemed taken back by the statement. For shame.

OB · Post by OB » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:56 pm

I saw a caliber on the road finally, and its much smaller than i thought. still not very nice IMO. so they have drive by wire throttle? thats soooo terrible for swap possibilities. Im sure i could come up with a way to use a standard TB instead though, they did it with a K series in the new civ si. IM really interested to know about the 6 speed 300hp srt version. is that available yet/soon? that drivetrain would be a dream in a neon.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:15 pm

orangeblastsxt wrote: IM really interested to know about the 6 speed 300hp srt version. is that available yet/soon?

should be out this fall...

LaidNeon · Post by **LaidNeon** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:17 pm

i still hate the Caliber, they should've made the 06 SRT4 AWD before they canned it

OB · Post by OB » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:25 pm

CrucialNeon wrote: i still hate the Caliber, they should've made the 06 SRT4 AWD before they canned it

they should have kept the neon and srt around for another 5 years, cuz they now dropped out of the econo car/sport compact market. of course this is a biased opinion, but i really do think the neon line is a good part of the dodge family, even sales wise, the neon did well (at least in my area theyre super common, showing good sales and even reliability). I dont like the caliber either dan, but if they wanna throw in a 6 spd on a boosted motor, im down to yank that shit out of the junkyard and toss it in my car. if it ends up being a totally different motor/mount configuration, then ill hate the caliber totally

Kevin_GP · Post by **Kevin_GP** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:50 pm

Looks like a turd

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:21 am

They still haven't gotten them at the dealership out here but I saw one with Missouri plates. It was parked at the grocery store. It was the SXT. Damn, I thought it would be higher put its pretty small. The curves are so ugly on it. I really don't dig it at all after seeing it in person. Too many bumps and crap by the wheels and on the side. Kind of like the most common car out here in Kansas. The Grand Am. I will not buy one of these, period.

lambostealth · Post by **lambostealth** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 2:36 am

Imagine a set of 19" Volk GT-V's with 3-1/2 inch lips........sitting on a rubberband for a tire, with those big fat fender flares touching the tire.....mmmmmmmmm, I think it would look absolutely sick!

I kinda feel the same about the new Mustang, in stock form its kinda lame, but lower it 1-1/2 inches, throw some old school looking 18" or bigger wheels, and it becomes the baddest peice of machinery on four wheels.

03sxt · Post by **03sxt** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:51 am

orangeblastsxt wrote:they should have kept the neon and srt around for another 5 years, cuz they now dropped out of the econo car/sport compact market. of course this is a biased opinion, but i really do think the neon line is a good part of the dodge family, even sales wise, the neon did well (at least in my area theyre super common, showing good sales and even reliability). I dont like the caliber either dan, but if they wanna throw in a 6 spd on a boosted motor, im down to yank that shit out of the junkyard and toss it in my car. if it ends up being a totally different motor/mount configuration, then ill hate the caliber totally

Well, like other people have said before about this issue - DaimlerChrysler obviously knows what they're doing. They pay someone 6 digits a year just to research and find out what cars people like and what cars people buy. Obviously, SOMETHING told them to quit making the Neon. Some statistics, some trend, somewhere. There's a reason... Do I know it? No.

moparknighthawk · Post by **moparknighthawk** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:59 am

Looks like its loaded, just like I like them! Even though its a bit small for me in my life now, I still think the R/T is the best model Caliber. Though it does not really live up to the R/T name other than being loaded. R/T seems to have a dual meaning these days with Dodge. It sometimes means power and sometimes luxury. Maybe Dodge needs to use a "LX" type badge for the loaded Dodges that don't perform as an R/T should.

NeonChik01 · Post by **NeonChik01** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:48 am

thanks for the write-up on this...Im one of the many people who at first hated the thought of these things but as I read up on them more and got to see pics and what not...ive changed my mind about them and Im actually looking into buying one myself. Im waiting to see the other models first though before I decide.

Once again though...nice write-up

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:00 am

CrucialNeon wrote: i still hate the Caliber, they should've made the 06 SRT4 AWD before they canned it

??? but there WONT be an AWD. the SRT4 caliber be FWD because the trans is too weak to handle 300hp

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:46 am

03sxt wrote:
orangeblastsxt wrote:they should have kept the neon and srt around for another 5 years, cuz they now dropped out of the econo car/sport compact market. of course this is a biased opinion, but i really do think the neon line is a good part of the dodge family, even sales wise, the neon did well (at least in my area theyre super common, showing good sales and even reliability). I dont like the caliber either dan, but if they wanna throw in a 6 spd on a boosted motor, im down to yank that shit out of the junkyard and toss it in my car. if it ends up being a totally different motor/mount configuration, then ill hate the caliber totally
Well, like other people have said before about this issue - DaimlerChrysler obviously knows what they're doing. They pay someone 6 digits a year just to research and find out what cars people like and what cars people buy. Obviously, SOMETHING told them to quit making the Neon. Some statistics, some trend, somewhere. There's a reason... Do I know it? No.

AHHH! i had a nice long thing written out and I hit preveiw instead of post.....and exited out!

anyways....the dealership where Im getting my caliber, has 3 2005's left on the lot. They have been there for over 6 months. Brand new 2005 neons: one srt-d orange blast, a silver, and a dark grey (cant remember the color name). Now dont get me wrong, they are great cars, they looked really nice and they were tempting. but i personally prefer the 00-02 bodystyle of the lights and such, more than i do the 03-05s. Plus its time for something new.

but the reason they are still there, is because no one wants them anymore

the neons ran for 10 years....that is a long time. They made their mark and now its time for something else. The platform was getting outdated and new designs sell.

I doubt that my 02 will be the last neon I own, I still love 2gns best of all, but now its time to move onto something new.

lolelectricbluesxt · Post by **lolelectricbluesxt** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:21 am

scneonchic501 wrote:but the reason they are still there, is because no one wants them anymore the neons ran for 10 years....that is a long time. They made their mark and now its time for something else. The platform was getting outdated and new designs sell.

I actually think it was the lack of advertising. I dont ever recall ever seeing any advertisment for the second generation neon, ever. Except for maybe a flash of a srt 4 stuck in a sea of dodge vehicles.

The only reason i ever even came upon a neon was i was looking for a new car at the dodge dealership, saw my neon, said wow thats a decent looking car, it's 13k, a awesome color, and a it's a 5 speed? Test drive time.

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:44 am

that could be it too. I never saw one commercial or ad for any 2nd gen neon. I saw maybe one for the srt4 when it first came out, but they downplayed the neon roots, as always.

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:35 pm

Thats because DCX waisted all their advertising dollars on Celine Dion.

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:41 pm

come on now, the pacifica isnt that bad. I wanted one of those too...but I like the caliber better.

but then, I love chrysler products for whatever reason lol

Wisher2 · Post by **Wisher2** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:53 pm

I just want to say that I hate the Caliber and it is theweakest thing that has come from chrysler since the PT. But to each their own. Jacqueline, good luck with the new ride though. I hope that they make some after market stuff for it for your sake...