You are here: Forums Wagons Dodge Caliber Dodge Caliber Test Drive - What Did You Think?

Dodge Caliber Test Drive - What Did You Think?

59 messages,  Last post on Aug 02, 2006 at 11:52 AM

You are in the Dodge Caliber Forum. Your Host is kcram

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

Messages Page 3 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#20 of 59 Re: Test drove today [baby01] by trav3491 Mar 24, 2006 (8:22 pm)
Replying to: baby01 (Mar 23, 2006 7:51 am) i have a 6 &7 year old neice and nephew they had alot of room i also sat in the back and was comfortable but at 6 1 i dont know for how long ( also they didnt kick my seat back)
#21 of 59 caliber, hhr by bruneau1 Apr 01, 2006 (11:01 am)
I compared the Caliber and Chev HHR yesterday. While I prefer the styling of the Caliber, the Chev comes off as more refined. Both have growly engines, but the Chev is more fun to drive and has less road noise. The Caliber wins in the seat dept. Even without any adjustment, those are the best front seats in any vehicle in its price category. The CVT in the Caliber was ok, but the 4sp in the Chev is better. Replies to this message: pacerman (Apr 01, 2006 11:30 am)
#22 of 59 Re: caliber, hhr [bruneau1] by pacerman Apr 01, 2006 (11:30 am)
Replying to: bruneau1 (Apr 01, 2006 11:01 am) I too test drove both, but I found the steering in the HHR to vague and lacked road feedback especially when cornering, maybe they need to put a bit more caster in the front end? Both rode the same. I liked more room in the HHR.I like the retro look of the HHR but the caliber is cool too. There seems to be quite a few electrical and water seepage problems in the HHR according to the HHR forums.I'm waiting to test drive an RT, I like the AWD option, one can get an RT awd for the same price (actually a bit less) as a FWD HHR......... as having owned a few snowmobiles the CVT in the Caliber didn't bother me. For me right now, it boils down to which one gets the best gas mileage and the price, I like 'em both.Both have the same towing capacity of 1000# which is pretty anemic....the Vibe is rated 1500#.......
#23 of 59 kicking tires by wcott Apr 01, 2006 (11:43 am)
I just test drove the Caliber SXT the other day. It performed pretty well, and I was impressed with the styling and the little handy-dandy things that SHOULD be on cars these days. I think the full-sized spare is great, along with the lit cup holders and the cool-zone glovebox. I'd have bought it right then and there, except I'd like to wait for a deal on financing or some kind of incentive from DaimlerChrysler/Dodge. I think 6 percent on new cars is a tad high. They're offering 0 percent on trucks and vans, however. It's annoying. I am wondering about the 17-inch tires, though. I am feeling these tires are going to cost a fortune to replace, as the cheapest ones I can find are pushing 175 dollars (canadian) each. Replies to this message: kernick (Apr 01, 2006 6:53 pm)
#24 of 59 Re: kicking tires [wcott] by kernick Apr 01, 2006 (6:53 pm)
Replying to: wcott (Apr 01, 2006 11:43 am) So if you got a car with 16" tires you might save $30/tire? Or a $120 total when you have to replace them at 40K - 50K miles. You really shouldn't be looking at a new car if this amount of extra money bothers you. Buy a used Ford Escort with 14" wheels.
#25 of 59 Drove Marine Blue SXT by bookhud Apr 07, 2006 (7:27 pm)
Drove a Marine Blue SXT today (nice color). Test drove it through driving rain and hail (quite a test drive!) and it handled quite nicely. Waiting for the keys I was struck by the front of the car. The headlights seem huge for a car of this size. The range of the front seats are amazing! I had the height adjustment up pretty high which made the rear legroom pretty good even with the front seat all the way back. However, with the front seat as low and far back as possible I couldn't even get into the back seat! Also the bass on the radio is almost too much. Even with the bass set in the middle I could still feel it pounding. I haven't quite sold myself on turning in my Pac yet, but I didn't talk myself out of it today either. That is what I was really afraid would happen when I got behind on the wheel of a Caliber. I did notice that there was quite a bit of splash on the sides (even before the torrential rain) I would think that mud flaps would be a good idea. Hmmmm, what to do what to do.
#26 of 59 Dodge in a partnership with Ski-Doo??! by blackcaliber Apr 09, 2006 (10:43 am)
Hello people! I test drove my first Caliber SE with CVT yesterday. I didn't like the CVT transmission at all. It felt like I was riding a snowmobile. SO NOISY!! And I didn't feel the power of the 2.0L engine or any good acceleration. I am interested in the SXT sport package, 5 speed. Hopefully, the manual transmission will be better, but I have to wait 5-8 weeks since they haven't even started making them. I liked the car so far, the interior is quite roomy and the exterior looks awesome. But, I found that the interior needs refinement. All the plastic edges in the car were shoddy. I also wonder why the sliding console doesn't lock into place?! What's with the automatic transmission shifter, when in park, blocks you from adjusting the temperature gauges with ease? When seated, I find it pretty hard to reach the reclining lever... It's easier if you open the door...   For the exterior, on the sport versions, you get the "black out tape" on the door frames which is actually a rough piece of thin sticky plastic... It doesn't look easy to clean, and will peel off after a few winters.   I think Dodge should of taken more time to refine some details... even for a car in that price range. Perhaps the delay in their launch date had something to do with it and they had to rush the production of the Caliber? Replies to this message: willsim (Apr 10, 2006 1:11 pm)
#27 of 59 Re: Dodge in a partnership with Ski-Doo??! [blackcaliber] by willsim Apr 10, 2006 (1:11 pm)
Replying to: blackcaliber (Apr 09, 2006 10:43 am) Car&Driver agrees with you. In their comparision test they said "But as it stands, this sharp-edged box feels like it's seven-eighths of the way through its development--as if it needs more Caliberation."
#28 of 59 Re: headroom/comfortability [bennettcl] by moonhunt18 Apr 15, 2006 (12:28 pm)
my fiance is 6'5" male. we tested the caliber for me. i am only 5'7" . obviously i fit fine. he said he probably wouldnt buy it if it was for his main vehicle, but as a passenger it wasnt great,but it wasnt bad. I think for a 6' person, it would be more than sufficient. I was impressed with the viewablity. i thought the windows were too small from the outside, but was amazed by the view while driving. Replies to this message: gljvd (Apr 15, 2006 1:17 pm) moonhunt18 (Apr 17, 2006 11:24 am)
#29 of 59 Re: headroom/comfortability [moonhunt18] by gljvd Apr 15, 2006 (1:17 pm)
Replying to: moonhunt18 (Apr 15, 2006 12:28 pm) Hmm interesting , I'm 6'4 and was going to look into the jeep patriot which is based on this platform but should be slightly bigger. IT sucks he doesn't fit well in it , I'm affraid now I wont fit well in the jeep.   Sadly there isn't much choice for a 6 + drivers in the sub 20k price range Replies to this message: moonhunt18 (Apr 17, 2006 11:24 am)

Messages Page 3 of 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Wagons Dodge Caliber Dodge Caliber Test Drive - What Did You Think?