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Dodge Neon vs Dodge Caliber

25 messages,  Last post on Apr 11, 2008 at 1:39 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Caliber, Dodge Neon, Dodge Neon SRT-4, Sedan

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#1 of 25 Dodge Neon vs Dodge Caliber by 79customd Apr 16, 2006 (11:47 am)
Okay, heres the thing. dodge has been making the neon since 1994. Obviously Dodge has learned variuos lessons in order to have updated them in 2001 with the more modern superior style, but what happened with the Caliber?? The Caliber bares NO RESEMBLENCE in any way, technical or exterior. Dodge has discarded all the knowledge they have learned in making the Neon to start something totoally new that might not sale well in todays modern environment.   Also, what are the prodominent ammount of Compact buyers. Young buyers such as collage kids, that mostly like the cheap price tag. They dont care weather its got auto 4x4 and CVT tranny. They just need a car capable of getting them from point A to point B and back safely. That is why the Neon was such a great entry for Dodge. Simple basic car with a cheap price tag. Same way for Chevy with the Cavalier, but Chevys new compact( the Cobalt ) is a direct descendant from the past. Carrying on the lessons learned from past models to future models is what has built the companys to where they are today.   I guess its pretty obvious that I like trucks because my old Chevy is a direst descendant of the desighn infront of it and so on. Cars trend more to market rage. Where ever that shiftss is where they go. But killing the whole Neon platform( Dodges best selling car ) and junking it for something totally new and techno is cheap if you ask me. The Neon has been a way better car than the Caliber will ever be in my opinion.   I've gave yawll my opinion, whats yawlls. Any input will be greatly appreciated.   79CustomD
#2 of 25 well by gljvd Apr 16, 2006 (11:14 pm)
I don't think this is the neon replacement . I think this is simple to agument the offerings in this price bracket with the true neon replacement coming out in a year or so.   With the caliber platform they are making the caliber , patriot and compass. All 3 looks vastly diffrent . I'm sure they will created coupe / sedan version of the platform to replace the neon.
#3 of 25 Why? by 79customd Apr 18, 2006 (10:05 am)
Wonder why Dodge dropped there best selling sedan to leave a gap for 2 years or so. Why do you reckon they did that? If the Caliber is not the Neon replacement then why is the SRT4 a Caliber. Also, there is no plans to make a replacement for the Neon thru any site yet and usually after a model is announced it takes 2-3 years before it actually comes out so, If the Caliber is not the true replacement for the Neon then the Neons gap will remain vacant for 4-5 years. I just do not get it.
#4 of 25 Caliber Problems by whiskerrat Apr 19, 2006 (9:00 pm)
The Neon while being a great car (in my opinion) was discontinued because the folks at Daimler Chrysler decided to abandon younger buyers in favor of 24 and older consumers. The closest thing to the Neon that might be produced by Dodge is the Hornet (although no one really knows if it will ever see the light of day). By moving in a different direction (away from simple practicality to versatility and utility) Dodge is taking a risk that could either hurt the company or be a big hit, especially at a time when other manufacturers are producing more quality compact and subcompact vehicles. The problem with the Caliber is that it excels in nothing except versatility features that have little or nothing to do with driving. Performance-wise it gets outranked in handling as well as 0-60 times by sub-compacts like the Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit (check the recent edition of Car and Driver). For the price of the SXT (the SE model is not worth mentioning) one could buy the just-as-versatile-better performing Chevy HHR. The car's fuel effiency is average for 4 cylinder vehicles, so that isn't a strong selling point either. If Dodge's marketing efforts can convince the public to overlook the Caliber's shortcomings, then the "anything-but-cute" sport-touring compact might be a hit.
#5 of 25 Still though... by 79customd Apr 20, 2006 (4:11 pm)
I admire the emphasis on making something new to sale to a little bit different group, but why drop whats making you money? The Neon was Dodges entry into the basic simple subcompact sedans. Like you said, this new idea that DCX has come up with, might be a hit or a major miss. Why would Dodge not keep the Neon and then add whatever the Caliber adds or be there to hold up Dodge is the Caliber flops?   I appreciate the info and any additional info will be greatly appreciated, thanks! Replies to this message: mek0123 (Apr 24, 2006 2:37 pm) 79customd (Apr 24, 2006 3:11 pm) sfitz3 (Apr 27, 2006 10:09 am) and 6 more...
#6 of 25 Making Money by whiskerrat Apr 21, 2006 (7:34 pm)
While the Neon was the top selling vehicle in Dodge's fleet, Daimler Chysler was not making a big profit from it. Selling 120,000 units a year might be good for a car in a different category where the financial margins are different (e.g. luxury sedan, sports coupe, etc.), but subcompacts for the Chrysler group needed to be sold in higher volumes. This is one of the reasons why the Caliber is being emphasized as a "world car" - as the Neon was not embraced by the European market.
#7 of 25 So Basicly... by 79customd Apr 24, 2006 (2:14 pm)
The Neon was dropped due to sales in the US slumping and they engineered a car that would sell better overseas. That makes sense. GM actually posted gains in profit last year due to high sales in Europe and China so I now Can understand why Dodge dropped th Neon in favor of a car that will sale better over seas. Also, that is what world car meant, I didnt know what the World car and world engine meant.
#8 of 25 Re: Still though... [79customd] by mek0123 Apr 24, 2006 (2:37 pm)
Replying to: 79customd (Apr 20, 2006 4:11 pm) One other reason I've heard and read about the Neon elimination besides the lower sales numbers was the problem with no other vehicle in the DCX stable, including the PT Cruiser, could be built in the Belvidere facility. The paint shop was supposedly too low for anything else but a Neon and the lines were set up just for the Neon as it relates to width and height dimensions. The Neon as we all know sat very low to the ground, considerably lower than almost everything Chrysler Group builds. After the facility was refurbished, DCX claims that they could now build about six vehicles on the same line without changes. Sounds like Smart Manufacturing to me. Replies to this message: 79customd (Apr 24, 2006 3:11 pm) sfitz3 (Apr 27, 2006 10:09 am) whiskerrat (Apr 27, 2006 5:06 pm) and 1 more... ffcracker (Apr 30, 2006 9:59 am) and 3 more...
#9 of 25 Re: Still though... [mek0123] by 79customd Apr 24, 2006 (3:11 pm)
Replying to: mek0123 (Apr 24, 2006 2:37 pm) So now the Caliber and the PT Cruiser can be painted at the same factrory now. That is it? Thats the reason DCX dropped the Neon to go with a car that bears no resemblance to the Neon or any other vehichle that DCX makes( including the PT Cruiser ) Just so they could paint more vehichles at one plant. Sounds like Smart planning to lose money to me. The Caliber will enjoy 1 possibly 2 years of buyers who like that new car feal but then once the Claiber is OLD in the auto world the true mechanics are gonna make or break your car sales. I have news for you. True the Neon had known problems such as head gasket problems but the Caliber is all new! Its unknown what there is to look out for from buying one of these things. There could be problems on this thing such as tranny failure at 50k miles or coils breaking down at 25k miles. With the Neon and the proven 122 cubic inch powertrain you knew what problems to look out for due to experiense, Its buyers Beware 101 for the first few years( wait a minute. Dodge cant afford for the majority of buyers to wait a few years b/c the Neon is toast so it sounds as though an attempt to lose money to me, know what I mean? )   Dodge could have just as easy incorperated the Neons underbody into a bigger higher platform and done just fine. My guess DCX is in Financial straights and needs a way to lose money to save on taxes. Dropping a good saling car completely and offering something TOTALLY NEW!! Is a good way to break your own back. I like the idea of Dodge redoing the vehichle to appeal to appeal to Europe but does Dodge really expect to go in to Europe with a totally new desighn and expect to blow out GM, Yugo, and those other half car makers. I hope not. Dodge just wants to sale enough cars to stay a float and to save money on tax break by losing sales with the Caliber. Simple as that Replies to this message: sfitz3 (Apr 27, 2006 10:09 am) whiskerrat (Apr 27, 2006 5:06 pm) aaron_t (Apr 28, 2006 4:38 am) ffcracker (Apr 30, 2006 9:59 am) whiskerrat (Apr 30, 2006 6:44 pm) and 2 more...
#10 of 25 Re: Still though.. by sfitz3 Apr 27, 2006 (10:09 am)
Replying to: 79customd (Apr 24, 2006 3:11 pm) I don't see the logic in abandoning an established name that's selling well in the market place. You revamp and refresh the platform, but you've already got the name recognition. How long have the civic, corolla and sentra been around? Its a good selling name that you can repackage under a different label overseas if need be, but it doesn't make sense to dump the knowledge. The caliber is starting from scratch. How many folks have been taught to never ever buy the first model year if its not based on something with a proven track record? Replies to this message: whiskerrat (Apr 27, 2006 5:06 pm) aaron_t (Apr 28, 2006 4:38 am) ffcracker (Apr 30, 2006 9:59 am) whiskerrat (Apr 30, 2006 6:44 pm) gljvd (Apr 30, 2006 7:00 pm) and 1 more...

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