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Dodge Caliber
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Comments
I don't make the news, I just report it.
One of the reasons I left Dodge was because they dragged their feet in pushing the car, and many people didn't know what a Caliber was, what it looked like, why they should get one. Could've had some nice "Full Pop" deals if they worked it like GM and the Solstice.
Now they hit the lot, and Chrysler has to jockey for equal time, while the press bags it. If it was going to tank, publically, it would've been nice to make some money on it first. :mad:
Not helping was a $500 rebate BEFORE IT HIT THE LOT!
With a plan like that, I should be upstairs, teaching them Macroeconomics, not giving away the store.
DrFill
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"...we're predicting this newcomer will not only be successful, but it will shake up the entry-level segment."
I'm itching to pull the trigger...but I'd like to wait a couple of months to get some longer-term reviews and comments on a newly launched model. I'm interested to hear about bugs, glitches, and pet peeves.
This forum has been tremendous helpful, educational and entertaining.
As your buying of a Toyota Corolla - it's a great car, and if I were overseas it would be my first choice (Hondas are pricey overseas). But over here we have a lot of more fun choices to choose from. Honestly, I don't think buying an American car nowadays is as risky as buying a 70's era Trans Am or even a mid-90's Concorde.
As stated before, I am rather picky about cars - especially noises, performance, and fit. To date I have driven over rough roads, RR tracks, gravel lots, speed bumps, roadkill, ... and I can't get this car to shake or rattle. The CVT gearbox is always on target.
After driving on the highway, I do need to de-bug the windshield, though...
Does anyone else know about the outside temp display in the ODO readout on the SXT? Can it be changed from F to C? I still can't find any info on this in the owner's manual. I emailed Dodge last night, maybe they will answer soon.
Thanks
LOL!
What you want to use is.... F - 32 x 5/9 = C. Otherwise, you're bringing a bikini to Antarctica.
For those of you who are just looking, what color is your favorite? I like Marine Blue and Sunburst Orange.
Does anyone know of a site where I can see more photos of this car? Besides just plain ol' stock photos. There is only one dealership in my area that has Calibers and they are all silver SEs! So I need pics!
Also, on the stock/standard radio for the SXT, does it come with an Auxillary Input Jack that I can hook up my mp3 player to? The salesman didn't know, he insisted I would have to upgrade to do that but I don't think so...
Do you think the Driver Convenience Group option is worth it?
Thanks,
Katie :P
I would like to get an SXT with a few options (sunroof, driver convenience group, musicgate sound system).
Basically the price I get when I "Build" this online, is the price the dealership is giving me. I think they said they would go down $500 plus the $500 rebate. Is this good?
The salesman won't give me a quote on an interest rate! I have great credit as does my husband and I am approved for Chrysler financial credit and all I want is for them to give me an interest rate so I can figure out down-payment versus monthly payment numbers for myself. He just keeps saying to go to a 72 month loan to bring the payments down and that the markup is not that high on these so maybe try to put down more. I just want an interest rate! Grr! :mad:
I don't know much about buying cars. Especially new cars. This will be my first.
I know I am posting a lot today but I have a lot of questions! Thanks!
The SXT comes with an aux jack and works well with my mp3 player.
If your looking for pics of modified Calibers, don't bother just yet. Nobody has had time to change anything yet. Give it some time girl!
There is a good article in Car and Drive Magazine, in the May 2006 issue that talks about how to NOT pay to much for a new car.
Also you can buy new cars through Costco and BJ's wholesale clubs.
good luck an Happy motoring.
Big Mistake
Re. #2 . . . if the Caliber's depreciation rate is equal to many of Dodge products (rather high), you may find yourself owing more than the car is worth in 3 to 5 years.
If you must finance a car purchase, do so for the shortest term possible (if you can afford the higher payment).
Definately go to your bank or eLender.con, etc. eLender is who helped me.
Above all!!! remember that you dont have to sign for a rate or car until you are happy with iot. you can walkout at any time, until you sign. So if your at the moment of signing papers and they trow something new at you, or a fee that they didnt tell you, or especially a rate that the didnt mention, DONT SIGN until you are happy with it. YOU have th controll.
Worst case scenario, you have to wait a day, but may save hundreds or thousands!!!
ps...i want the orange sport and i got a quote of 18,200 out the door.
good luck!
This dealer's F&I Manager was very up front with customers regarding interest rates. First of all, everyone should know what determines the interest rate (other than the Fed's prime rate, and discount rate) is your credit rating. The better your rating, the better rate you will be offered. Don't expect a competitive interest rate if you've had a recent bankruptcy filing or a poor credit report.
Also, remember the F&I Manager (the person you see when you sign the final papers to buy the car, and directly before delivery) is also a salesperson. In addition to seeking financing for you, they are also there to sell you such add-ons such as extended warranties, etc. There is a substantial profit margin in all of these "after the sale" items, and generally a portion of this extra money is given to the salesperson of record on the vehicle. Be careful, and Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware) is the operative word here.
Unfortunately, the car payment, and the term of the loan, are the factors most often spoken or advertised by car dealers. Why? This is what most of the car buying public wants to hear. Many prospective car buyers are only interested in what their monthly car payment will be - not the total cost, as many never have plans of paying off the loan! This is what gets people in trouble "for the long term." They move from being upside-down in one vehicle, to the same in another vehicle, and it's truly a vicious cycle.
The answer is simple, but not popular. Save your money until you can do either of these two things: 1). Have enough money to place a substantial down payment against the loan, and only finance the car for no longer than 36 to 48 months (or, hopefully, a much shorter term than either), or 2). Pay cash for the car. I know neither sounds plausible for most, but it can be done, especially #1.
You'll be glad you did.
I like the Sunburst Orange also and the Marine Blue. I have only see the Marine Blue on the GM Dealers site in the Chicago area. I don't think the two blue colors have come to the west coast dealers yet. I saw the Sunburst Orange at a dealer, out of my area, while on a trip. I looked for a site to see pictures without much success so when ever I see a Dodge dealer I try to stop. I want the leather seats and they are not out here either. My local dealers says I can order the Marine Blue with the leather, but I really need to see it in person first, if you know what I mean.
I have found the Dodge site and the search inventory window by zip code or city to be very useful. I check it daily to see if a Blue has come in to another dealer. It is updated every morning or so it says. My dealer said he would call me when one comes in.
Mary
http://www.dodge.com/en/caliber/index.html
BTW, I wouldn't underestimate Dodge. For years when most makers offere a 100 hp or 115 hp engine, the Neon had a strong 132 hp engine; and the R/T and ACR had 150 hp engines. All pure Dodge.
The Chrysler Group assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois (USA) has thus started production of the new Dodge Caliber model variant equipped with the Volkswagen 2.0 liter TDI engine. The vehicle will be available in Europe from this summer.
Some two years following the conclusion of the contract between DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi Motors and Volkswagen concerning delivery of TDI engines, the first Chrysler vehicle equipped with such an engine is now being launched.
The engines are produced at the Volkswagen plant in Salzgitter and have been specially adapted to DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi Motors specifications.
1. I know the F to C conversions and I don't wear a bikini... Does the car display outside temp in F and C or only F? I'd think it would do both. I'm not even sure if the SXT without driver's group is supposed to have this feature, but mine does. Does anyone else have a non-loaded SXT for comparison?
2. My SXT is a CVT with the only option being the cruise control - Steel Blue. Sticker was $17,335, I paid about $2,100 less than that ($500 rebate included) and they gave me what I wanted on my trade. THhat said, not many of these are out there and you will likely look long and hard for a deal like I got.
3. Chrysler gave me 6.64% fixed for up to 60 months, but my credit score is better than 99.5% of Americans, last I checked. The local banks would do 7.24% at best.
4. If you take a long loan you can always pay extra each month to pay it off quicker. There are copmlex mathematical formulae for this, but my graphing calculator has a built-in amortization feature, so it can solve anything... For example, You financed $15,000 at 7.5% for 72 for a payment of $259.35. By paying $300 per month instead, you cut the loan down to 60.14 months, saving $631.20 in interest. $400 per month gets you just under 43 months and saves about $1529 in interest. Most loans worth signing do NOT have a pre-payment penalty.
5. I got a response from Dodge's customer assitance via email about the timing system in the engine. The world engines do not have timing belts, they have timing chains, so no belt changes are required. Nice feature for the long haul! If you keep the oil changed regularly with 5W20, the lubrication of the chain should be sufficient for it to last the life of the car.
6. On my recenrt trip towards Cleveland, a toll booth worker almost let me through for free because he was stunned by the Caliber......then he awakened from his trance, asked me about the car, and took my money.
7. About 5 miles later, I tested the brakes, as a person driving a real beater made a left turn and stopped right in front of me. The ABS kicked in, the seat belt locked, and the car stopped solidly about a foot from his car. I sat there for a few seconds before I drove any further.
8. I was talking to my wife at dinner about the "caliber of education" at certain colleges and my 10-year old daughter looked to me and said "Dad! Did you take your car into class today?" I said, "I was talking about a different kind of 'caliber.'"
9. When driving at 70 mph into a strong headwind or crosswind (say 30-40 mph+) I get some sort of noise off the passenger side of the car, that sounds like its coming from the pillar for the windshield. All moldings are really tight. Has anyone else had this noise under these conditions?
10.
I bought the Dodge Window Vent Visors and they are stick on from the outside. The ones for the front windows are acceptable, the ones for the rear are HORRENDOUS!!!! :mad: They really kill the blackout kit for the R/T. I think the base and SXT without the blackout paint on the doors will be fine, just not the R/T.
Does anyone out there make the visors for "In Channel" i have been web surfing the sites I know of and can't find them yet, yea I know the car is new, but...... :confuse: :confuse:
PS the person above me making comments about the ABS, --- It is dynamite, especially with the 4 wheel disc!!!!!!
When she moved it up a bit, I was fine for the 35 min return ride, I am also only 155 pounds too!!!! I could live with a good 2-3 hour trip at this position, but again I am not large in girth!!! I might need to stretch once or twice in that period though. I also understand this is a SMALL car no ifs, ands, or buts about it!!!
The gas mileage in our 2.4 R/T is 25 avg. by pump recpts. Driven by my wife with NO spirited driving whatsoever.
By the way what is you mileage in Pacifica, Family member has an 04 and they get about 23.5 avg.
options include:
9 speaker premium sound
Driver convienience group
security group
IMO, If you're thinking of having to put full-sized adults back there on a regular basis, you maybe should think of a midsized car, rather than a compact.
That being said, the front driving position is a little "weird" and even though I "fit" OK, it takes some getting used to.
I sat in a Caliber at the Detroit auto show and thought the back seat was much more cramped than my Vibe. The headroom wasn't as good back their either.
Thanks!
Granted, I think the Mazda and Toyota might have the edge in quality, fit and finish....but I've found that there is a significant upwards price differential in those models compared to the Dodge.
If the Caliber proves itself reliable, affordable transportation at a decent price level, it's OK by my books.
And as a Canadian, I'm annoyed that the American automotive "deals" rarely cross the borders.