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Dodge Caliber Test Drive - What Did You Think?

59 messages,  Last post on Aug 02, 2006 at 12:52 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Caliber, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 1 of 6

#1 of 59 Dodge Caliber Test Drive - What Did You Think? by pf_flyer HOST

Jul 28, 2006 (8:25 am)

Have you been out car shopping and taken a Caliber for a test drive? Share your review with us in this discussion.

#2 of 59 Caliber questions by nonnemacher

Feb 15, 2006 (6:51 pm)

Ride is a good. It is softer than a lot of hard sports cars so it absorbs bumps well and rides quiet. But it is harder than some other compacts, so it has more response when cornering. Overall, a good balance, in my opinion.
 
Engine and wind noise are well muted for a car in this price range. Car is much nicer in every respect than the Neon that it replaces. Neons were known for some wind and engine noise, but this car is much, much better in that area and in just about every other way.
 
If your mom drives one, I think she will like it. From the inside, she will not notice how "macho" the outside looks.

#3 of 59 Re: Caliber questions [nonnemacher] by joey0708

Feb 25, 2006 (5:58 am)

Replying to: nonnemacher (Feb 15, 2006 6:51 pm)
i found the ride in the hhr ok ,but the engine noisy. how do you compare the caliber engine noise to hhr noise? is the ride about the same? also do you feel the caliber will have adequate airconditiong? i thought about a toyota matrix and the airconditiong is weak , any thoughts?

#4 of 59 Caliber CVT by nonnemacher

Mar 06, 2006 (7:23 pm)

The CVT I test drove did not rev up to an unusually high rpm - at least not in my opinion. It seemed to hold at about 3,000 or less, but that's just a guess, because it did not have a tachometer. Anyhow, it was not a really noisy high rpm operation. It did reduce rpm as we reached cruising speed - just like it should. Well done Dodge.

#5 of 59 the caliber motor by joey0708

Mar 09, 2006 (7:11 pm)

i tried the caliber and i was very pleased with it , i found the ride as good as the matrix . i am thinking about buying one , do you feel it would be better to see how this new motor design works out ? i don;t know much about it or is it on any other cars ?

#6 of 59 Dodge Caliber vs Chevy HHR by basiliskst

Mar 12, 2006 (8:32 pm)

I've driven both and find them very comparable in practice. Each has advantages. I'm not sure which I would choose at this stage.
 
My own impression of the Chevy HHR 2.4 l LT2 (high-line) was very positive. The driving was composed and quiet. The 2.4 was as silky in power delivery through a four-speed automatic as any Toyota four-cylinder engine I've driven and markedly better than the underpowered Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix that was also under consideration initially. The Chevy uses special laminated steel in the firewall to reduce noise and it worked well. (Other reviewers have complained about noise at high RPM, but I will confess I did not wring the engine out, nor would I normally do so.) The HHR, regardless, wins the noise battle as the quieter of the two.
 
The Dodge Caliber SXT I drove had the 2.0 l CVT combination. It was noticeably slow off the line, but fine for passing acceleration once the engine was wound up. This is my biggest point of worry for Dodge. The response off the line may not be what the Dodge brand suggests. You can always get a five-speed manual, but most Americans don't.
 
The 2.4 liter engines provide identical 172 horsepower ratings and both feature continuously variable valve timing. The Dodge 2.4 is only available with AWD. The Chevy does not offer AWD, but as a consequence offers better fuel economy with the optional 2.4 l engine.
 
The Dodge is more sophisticated chassis with a multi-link rear suspension where the HHR has a simpler twist beam. The Chevy also has electric power steering (helps fuel economy at the expense of steering feel).
 
The Dodge wins hands down in interior ingenuity, though the HHR has the nicer cargo area.
 
The Chevy has NHTSA front crash ratings posted now. Five stars -- best in class. Side ratings are not yet posted. The Dodge Caliber is an unknown until test results are posted. Until last week I would have said an all new car should do well, but the Ford Fusion just proved that wrong. The Caliber does pack standard side curtain airbags (a smart move, maybe even a necessary move as Hyundai/Kia are making safety standard).
 
The HHR has significantly more cargo space (less slope on the back glass and longer load floor with the back seat up).
 
The backseat question is another point of differentiation. The Caliber scoops out the back of the front seat for increased knee room. The seat back in the SXT and R/T reclines. It still isn't enough to beat the HHR if back seat room is important. The HHR has more legroom with the front seat all the way back and has a much larger back door opening so you don't have to twist adult feet to get them inside the car.
 
Both the Caliber and HHR are more truck inspired than other hatches in the class. Both will replace a more fuel hungry SUV if you don't need to go far off-road.
 
It may come down to styling. For me, both the retro HHR and the masculine Caliber work.
 
From the front seat forward, the Caliber wins hands down.
 
Behind the front seat the HHR makes up a lot of ground.
 
Both have the same 3 year/36,000 mile warranty (not enough when Hyundai offers 10 year/100,000 mile warranty with safety and reliability, if not yet the same design flair.
 
DaimlerChrysler has a better track record of developing models in recent years, with better than average reliability and running improvements.
 
I have a family of three to transport, one 6' 1" and the other two around 5' 8", so the back seat matters, but the opinion of my eighteen-year old daughter matters more. She loves the clever interior of the Caliber. She was sold before she started the engine. So it does come down to styling. I think the Caliber will skew towards a younger demographic than the HHR. Still, I like both and a rationale person could choose either in good conscience.

#7 of 59 Re: Dodge Caliber vs Chevy HHR [basiliskst] by pacerman

Mar 12, 2006 (10:23 pm)

Replying to: basiliskst (Mar 12, 2006 8:32 pm)
Well done, I haven't driven the Caliber yet, but I did drive the HHR 2LT and very loaded, I too felt the steering vague, and cargo space as far as cu feet go, the specs give the edge to the HHR by 6 or 8 cu ft behind the front seats. I was looking at Vibes as well but the 126hp set me off.I was hoping the Caliber would be a bit bigger or at least the same, cargo wise, as the Vibe-HHR. But will wait till the test drive.Thanx for your views. Both the HHR and Caliber seem to offer quite a bit more bang for the buck than the Vibe-Matrix.

#8 of 59 Re: Dodge Caliber vs Chevy HHR [basiliskst] by gogirlgo

Mar 14, 2006 (10:53 pm)

Replying to: basiliskst (Mar 12, 2006 8:32 pm)
Thanks for a great review. I am trying to decide between these two. I have driven both and did like the steering feel of the Caliber better. I also like the larger cargo room of the HHR. I find the styling very different, but do like both. My daughters like the more modern look of the Caliber. I have done the build and price on the Edmunds site and the Chev and Dodge sites, as well. The difference in price between the two for what I want, automatic, side air bags, leather heated seats, puts the Caliber as the front runner. I also like the fact that the Caliber is build in Illinois. My internet dealer offered around$300 off MSRP and then there is the $500 rebate good til end of March which he said applied even if I order one to get just what I want. I may just wait until the crash tests are out on the Caliber before making my final decision.

#9 of 59 Test drove today by trgbassguy

Mar 21, 2006 (3:02 pm)

I stopped by my dealer today to test drive the Caliber. They were in the middle of training so the manager tossed me some keys and told me to have fun . It was a blast such a wonderful ride. I had heard about how odd the CVT2 was and it is different. I floored it and watched the RPM jump to about 6100 but the engine noise was about the same. I never even really felt it shift. I also set the cruise then headed for a hill. Usually on other cars I felt the transmission head into the passing gear. With the Caliber...no such thing. I must say this car is very exciting. I expect to order one with in the next month.

#10 of 59 Re: Test drove today [trgbassguy] by pacerman

Mar 21, 2006 (5:43 pm)

Replying to: trgbassguy (Mar 21, 2006 3:02 pm)
Ya never thought about cruise control and kickdown in a normal auto. So the rpm stayed the same, say 3000 rpm and the speed stayed the same, or the rpm went up and speed stayed the same??
I didn't think the power was too bad as well, I think even a bit better in the 2.4......

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