http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=122412

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/08caliber_srt4.htm







285 horsepower.
265 ft-lbs from 2000rpm on.
$22,995.

Thoughts?

the new car of choice for asshats on the road.

Dodge needs to kill itself

That car seriously has an identity crisis.

Utility?
Speed?
Grocery getter?

I don't see its purpose.

I don't see what the problem is here. From the reviews it appears that it's competitive hot hatch offering a lot of hp for the money. Sure it torque steers like a pig, but from what I've read so does the Mazdaspeed 3 and the Astra OPC...that's just one of the problems you're going to face with that much power going the front wheels. As for anyone saying it's ugly, I'm going to point out that pretty much all the compact performance hatches/coupes/sedans on sale in the US right now are pretty awkward looking (Mini Cooper S excepted).

I like it. Sure, it might attract an undesirable element, but so do all hot hatches. Sure, it torque steers, but so do all high-power hot hatches. The cheap feel is easily forgivable if you want all-out performance and have $23,000. The looks are subjective, but I kind of like them. It's distinctive and very American-looking, which is hard to do with a hot hatch.

The "what's its purpose" question can be directed just as much at the Mazdaspeed3, or indeed, most hot hatches. Its purpose is to be fast and in-your-face while also being cheap and practical.

I definitely like it as well, but if I were in the market for a hot hatch in the US, I'd still be considering the GTi, Civic Si, or Mini Cooper S first.

Me too, though the two that interest me the most are the GTI and the MS3. But I see the place for the SRT-4 in the market. It might not be for me, but I definitely disagree that it's stupid or pointless or without redeeming qualities.

And as long as you mentioned the Si, for the record, I personally think that the Civic Si is a lot more offensive aesthetically than this is.

I actually don't mind the Caliber, and hate the current Civic in terms of styling, so I'll agree with that.

While I do see its strong-points, the styling stays as one of its worst. IMO, dodges as of late have blunt edgy lines that make their cars look like they have been made of lego. The Caliber follows this styling path, and adds some further monstrosities like the seemingly forever wide strips of black plastic that run on the roof.

Sure it can go fast, but I just like quality a tad bit more. And as far as the civic is concerned, I don't think its bad looking outside at all.. except for the interior which i just can't get used to. (Flaw, go ahead and rip all you like)

Damn, its ugly but:

and

Sounds like that even more power can be extracted from the motor, but they held out on the LSD.

It's like the Neon SRT-4, but faster and uglier. The lack of an LSD is sad but I'm sure this will prove to be the performance bargain that could only succeed the last SRT-4.

The Caliber is hideous and this is even worse. It looks just like a big American car squashed from every direction. It's got the big chrome wheels, the big chunky body panels, the big chunky grille, headlights, etc. It's a whole bunch of big chunky stuff smooshed on a surface area that's far too small. You look at it in certain ways and it looks like a truck or SUV. It's also overweight, has a lousy engine (with a Japanese turbo glued on of course--to make it fast), and apparently the clutch isn't so great. I would much rather spend my 22 grand on something a tad bit slower, less ugly, better engineered, and better handling. (any of the competition)

Bravo. I can't stand the styling of this.. er.. thing.

True.



But so is this:



And so is this:



Nobody ever accused the Caliber SRT4 of being pretty.  But there's more to aesthetic appeal than pretty.  Not everybody wants an Alfa or a TT or a Cayman.  It may be ugly, but it's a distinctive and compelling ugly.

That's the truth... if someone makes it... someone out there will buy it... just because. That's how it works! Shit... the pontiac aztec sold a few units and that thing was ugly but not distinctive or compelling.. just plain butt ugly.

I really don't think it's ugly...it's just...buff.

from the guy with the old car of choice for asshats on the road

get your facts straight .. we are the all-weather douchebags ... top spot is reserved for anything with the SRT4 badge.

My thoughts:
1. Its ugly as sin.
2. Its cheap.
3. Its a Dodge.
4. Its ugly as sin.

What's up with the brand haters? Yeah, it's a Dodge. So what?

They're cheaply made and ugly. Not to mention being American.

Wow, you got me there. Dodge cars are, in fact, American. Hard to argue with that

Hard to argue they're cheaply made and ugly too

You're ugly and American too.

No, that's easy to argue.

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder, but in my opinion, the Caliber looks better than the Matrix, the Avenger looks better than an Accord or Camry, the Charger looks a hell of a lot better than an Avalon, the Challenger concept is way cooler than the Camaro concept (though I prefer the Mustang to both), and the Ram looks better than the Tundra or Titan.

Cheaply made? Interior materials are cheap, but that doesn't mean the vehicles as a whole are cheaply made. I don't have any information as to overall production costs of Dodges versus Subarus, Volkswagens, whatever. I have no clue as to how expensive a Hemi is to put together, or the quality of its components. Reliability isn't Dodge's strongest suit (but they're not bottom-of-the-barrel either), but reliability isn't a good litmus test of manufacturing costs, considering that Hyundais are far more reliable than Mercedes-Benzes.

I've sat in a Charger before, and I can honestly say, the interior quality wasn't that bad. I dunno what everyone's expectations are these days, but it certainly matched the quality of any Mazda product I've sat in.

Mitlov, how dare you speak ill of the A10 Thunderbolt!

I honestly think they're one of the most gorgeous planes ever created by man.

There isnt no brand hating here. I simply think that dodge has produced a giant pile of fail with this ....thing. They've made some good cars in the past and could probably do so again.

Anyways my beef with this car. No LSD, a dickload of power on fwd, its heavy, looks pretty damn tall, it looks like a pig. hot hatch? it looks like a retarded minivan-SUV. They are just trying to sell it based on the big macho image, big ass wheels and brakes, a retarded amount of power, trying to look "tough". God damn you dodge, you failures!

edit:

dont you ever compare the a-10 and the caliber again!

I think it's incredibly cool-looking, just not sleek or pretty like an F-16 or P-51. And I really like bulldogs, I just don't think that they're attractive in the sense that greyhounds are attractive. From an aesthetic standpoint, they're all wrong. But there's something incredibly endearing about their looks.



How was I supposed to get this from "Dodge needs to kill itself"?

internet attitude detector version 4.0

This car is 90% as ugly as the prettiest TVR.

Looks like something out of Jim Bob's Tuning Store.