Tonight we picked up a 2006 Dodge Caliber from Enterprice Rent-A-Car so that we could get around town in a replacement vehicle since the Honda isn’t really road safe. I shouldn’t have made fun of trans-gender folks in my previous May 26th post. This vehicle is a trans-carstite. It is like a car that wants to be a stationwagon that wants to be an SUV. I swear I am not making this up. It has the front end of the latest Dodge line of cars, the backend of a Mazda M3 stationwagon with depth perception problems and the cockpit of a Durango. The top of the vehicle looks and unfortunately operates like a chopped-top hotrod (which in non-car terms means that the windows aren’t as tall as you’re used to). Further, since we used to own a Dodge Stratus it feels really funny because the Stratus had a ‘cab forward’ design which is more like having an endless dashboard. A car feels roomy with cab-forward, but this car feels large yet confined. It is a bit oxymoronic, I know.
We’ll have it until at least Friday so we’ll give you more feedback then (by we I mean I’ll ask Jessica).
ooo! Really please do tell more. I wan’t a Caliber. Well, I think I do from pictures, but I’ve not yet test drivven one since we can’t buy one till I am done with school. How does it handle?????
Oh my gosh, I want a Caliber too. I have read up on them, extensively checked them out, even built one online. I have been to the dealer and looked at one of the more base models. I was incredibly impressed. I did find that the endless dashboard was a little imposing, and it felt longer than it actually was, but after driving a LeBaron convertible for the last two years, I am used to a long nose. The ride was beautiful, smooth and quiet, though my boyfriend, who rode in the backseat during the test drive thought it was a little loud. It sticks to the road wonderfully!! My boyfriend is 6’3″ and he was comfortable, though a little close in the backseat, wven with the front seat scooted a little foreward. The PT Cruiser has more rear leg room. I was impressed by the adjustability of the drivers seat. I am tall, so I had to shrink the seat a bit. The sound system, even without the liftgate, was kickin’, but it does have one drawback. It is massively underpowered. If it wasn’t, though, I think the gas miliage wouldn’t be nearly as good. With a careful foot, the pickup is adequate, but nothing like the v-6 I am used to. I didn’t mind that either because it might keep me from speeding tickets, though 65 didn’t feel like 65!
I recommend at least a test drive!! This little car may blow you away!
Carrie – underpowered is a severe problem in too many city driving situations. You can’t just sit there when oncoming vehicles are moving quickly. This car is just not safe!
Actaully, the Caliber R/T has 172HP and is plenty fast to get you into trouble. The technology trade from Daimler has dropped a ton of nice items into the Caliber, making it a viable choice and flexible vehicle.
If you really want power, the Caliber SRT4 is a turbocharged version making 285hp mated to a 5 speed manual trans. Featuring functional hood scoop and 19 inch forged aluminum wheels with upgraded tires, it cuts a 14.4 in the 1/4 mile ET!
Either car is far superior to the base models which are yes, a little slow. But when you buy the small motor you were looking for high MPG anyway right?
Don’t write this one off until you see what the various renditions offer. We LOVE our R/T with 6 speed autostick trans.