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Comments
I don't believe this is true , isn't gm and toyota part of the world engine group ? They spun off a company along with dodge and someone else that just designs and build engines that then they each tweak for thier needs ?
Granted, I am also a little leery of the CVT2. But I think that is a technology that is coming into its own. Audi, and others, have had a successful CVT in some of their recent auto offerings.
I am going to wait til year-end to see what the Dodge recalls are (if any), and to see if they have any deals up here.
Any scientists out there who want to explain to us why it happens, and why it seems more common on newer vehicles?
I don't know much about cars but I don't think that seal quality would have much to do with the wind noise from windows being down. Maybe if you had wind noise when the windows were up then seal quality would come into play...?
When the rear windows are rolled all the way down, you have an air pocket in the front passenger area. The wind rushing through the pathway between the two rear windows tries to suck the air out of the front of the car as it moves through the car. This is exaggerated at higher speeds. But it can't suck all the air out, or it would create a vacuum. So, what you are hearing is the the fight to suck air out of and draw air back into the front passenger area. What causes "sound" is changes in air pressure against your eardrum. That's exactly what is happening in the front of the car with the back windows down.
If the door seals were really loose, it would decrease the sound, not increase it. What makes the sound so loud is how tight cars are built these days, not how loose they are.
I have also seen reports that driving 65 MPH with AC on is better for MPG than driving 65 MPH with the windows down, due to aerodynamic considerations, but his would likely vary from car to car, depending on the car's overall aerodynamic design.
This is the Second Generation of the CVT Transmission for Chrysler hence the name CVT2.
Looks are subjective. Many men and women will love the way it looks and many will hate the way it looks - which is what Chrysler wants for all it's cars. They want people to either love the way it looks or hate the way it looks they don't want any mushy middle / it looks okay or average responses.
I have been driving it for almost a month now and have about 1800 miles on it. I have stepped on the pedal to see what kind of power it could make. I pushed down on the pedal to what I thought was all the way down, kind of ho hum power, but, today on my way home I was not paying attention, messing with my REC radio, and kind of pulled out in front of a big truck. With the truck bearing down pretty fast in my rear view mirror, I pushed down on the gas pedal hard, and what I found out is really cool the pedal goes down nice, smooth and easy to what you would think is all the way down, and then if you keep pushing it hard will go further, hold on to the wheel be cause it makes a ton of power, out of control power, spinning tires and torque steering. I think I could have driven it forever and would never have pushed it past the stop, at first I thought I pushed to hard and broke something. Try it out, but be safe.
http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/caliber.html
I understand that the diesel fuel quality in N. America is somewhat of a problem. European diesel fuel has about 15 parts per million contaminents in it, while NAmerican diesel has about 500 parts per million. And isn't there some emissions regulations about diesel exhaust??
Too bad, because I think the TDI would be great. Throw in diesel fuel mileage and AWD...wow!
you mean chrysler designed a special gas pedal that doesnt stop until it goes all the way to the floor. well, thats just ingenious. with that kind of break through engineering, its amazing that dam/cry doesnt just dominate the automotive market. if the asian automakers figure out this technologically advaned gas pedal, it might be just what they need to push them to the forefront.....er...oops....too late!!
I just started reading this forum yesterday, and haven't read past your post about changing F to C, but I would try holding the button in for 5 or 10 seconds and see if it changes.
If someone has already found out how to do this, great! I'll read about it in a few minutes.
If not, let us all know if this works!
Greg
Besides that...I LOVE my new Caliber!!!Inferno Red SXT Sport.... We`ve had her now three weeks and in those three weeks we pimped her out alittle....tinted the windows,vent shades,wind deflector,hood cover,chrome tip, and had the wheels painted same color as the car,(just the grooves,not the whole wheel)She looks hot!! people tell us how different she looks, but people always compliment her...I waited along time to get her..kept in touch with dodge,,and when I got the e-mail that she was at the dealer..boom, I was there! we traded in our 2005 Neon,and got our new baby...
Vibe, Matrix, PT Cruiser, etc. not a "man's" car?
What you mean is not a "macho man's" car.
A REAL MAN buys what he likes/needs/can afford, thinks of his significant other when purchasing, along with whomever might be riding with him regularly, etc.
Around here, we have a million PT Cruisers, and the majority are driven by MEN. REAL MEN, not men who have to buy something that costs them more, doesn't necessarily meet their needs, etc. just to be a "man".
Give me a break! If more men were REAL MEN, we'd all be happier, especially our significant others, mothers and friends.
I love the muscular look of the Caliber, but if the Matrix fit my budget/requirements/functionality, etc., I'd buy it and to heck with anybody who thinks I'm not a "man" for driving it.
/rant off!
Greg
Also, the Caliber has the largest headlights ever offered by Chrysler, so I'm sure this helps.
One way or the other, it helps people be more aware that you are turning, which to me is all about safety!
Like "they" say: "SEE and BE SEEN".... :shades:
Greg
also,does anyone know if there is a way to have the headlights turn on/off automatically when turning on/off the ignition?
thanks
So, it will either cost twice as much for the new diesel fuel, or Big Oil will drag their feet for years by putting the issue before the courts and Congress.
Dh thinks it will have to be ordered through Dodges parts department. I will be a very unhappy camper if I have to wait several weeks for these accessories!
I don't know if the diesel will fly in the States, though. Here in Canada, fully 45 percent of VW Jettas and Golfs are of the diesel variety, compared to barely over 10 percent in the States. It makes me wonder.
Unless, y'all LIKE paying over 3 bucks a gallon?
Farout
exactly. diesel fuel is so much cleaner burning nowadays than it was 10-15 years ago. americans have this image stuck in their head of the old diesel cars that were a b***c to start in the cold weather and had black smoke billowing out of their tailpipes. those days are gone. unlike hybrid technology, diesel burning models are fairly inexpensive and readily available just about everywhere else but north america. having said that, a gas burning compact car should still do better than the caliber.
probably even more stunning is the tiny chevy aveo, a subcompact. im seeing people struggle to get 30 mpg in those. :surprise:
We've fallen into the trap of blaming everybody else for gas prices...except ourselves. We've gotten used to cheap gas, and our vehicle choices reflect that. In Europe, 90 percent of the vehicles there are compact cars. They don't seem to find it necessary to have a 5000 pound, 300 horsepower vehicle to drop off the kiddies and pick up groceries.
But until politicians have the guts to tell people to pull their heads out of their butts and figure it out....it'll always be easier to blame OPEC, Wall Street, EXXon, Republicans, Democrats, etc, etc.
I like the mileage and quality of the Corolla, but I find them so...bland. If I'm spending 20+K, I want to feel excited about my purchase.
I don't mind the Matrix or Mazda3, but once you start adding on the basic features, the price climbs up pretty well. Frankly, I'd take a long hard look at either of those two cars, if the prices were comparable to the Dodge.
The Caliber's fuel mileage is a bit disappointing compared to the others, but if you add up the price difference between those models and the Caliber...that would probably pay for quite a few tankfuls.
Having said that I find it odd that the U.S. hasn't embraced Diesel fuel more.
Fer crissake's, the U.S. can't even embrace a usable dollar coin or (gasp) the metric system...let alone diesel.