Thinking about buying the Dodge Caliber. I was thinking about it.

[PlatinumGold]

it seems like a good deal, good price, good gas mileage, good storage ability.

i like what i see with it.

i was going to get a bigger car, but i'm paying over $500.00 / month just for gas with my current vehicle (averaging 18 mpg).

any thoughts?


edit

now i'm seriously looking at the Mazda5. that looks really attractive, a bit more money, but much more in the way of style, more interior space, more performance than the caliber.

probably a higher level of quality.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Go with the Steel Blue metallic. That's definitely the best color besides black.

Looks like a nice car.

 

[NFS4]

Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

 

[GoingUp]

Its a great little car.

I want an Inferno Red R/T.

I'm hopin to trade my Charger R/T in for one soon.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

You're clearly talking out of your ass.

 

[RaistlinZ]

I've driven them many times while working for a car rental company. They have more in the way of looks than in substance, IMO. The basic 4-cylinder is quite underpowered, but I think a 6-cly. should be available by now.

The interior is pretty clean looking but is also a little uncomfortable for long trips.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

i'm considering the subaru, but in general, i prefer american / german over japanese.

vw could be an option but isn't the golf a bit smaller than the caliber? i rode in one the other day (a friend of mine had it as a rental, and it seemed pretty nice) it had a refrigerated portion of the glove compartment. it looked like it would hold 4 or 5 sodas.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
I've driven them many times while working for a car rental company. They have more in the way of looks than in substance, IMO. The basic 4-cylinder is quite underpowered, but I think a 6-cly. should be available by now.

The interior is pretty clean looking but is also a little uncomfortable for long trips.

no 6 cyl available, a larger I 4 tho is available.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

You're clearly talking out of your ass.

Umm, you clearly haven't driven either one. The Mazda3 is the best handling out of the bunch, the Rabbit has the best interior and the Impreza has all-weather capabilities.

The Caliber is just, well cheap. It doesn't do any particular thing any better than the other vehicles...and its interior is pure crap.

 

[Sluggo]

Some poor soul got raked over the coals last night for thinking about a Dodge Nitro.

Just about the same crowd of domestic haters that will show up in here.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

You're clearly talking out of your ass.

Umm, you clearly haven't driven either one. The Mazda3 is the best handling out of the bunch, the Rabbit has the best interior and the Impreza has all-weather capabilities.

The Caliber is just, well cheap. It doesn't do any particular thing any better than the other vehicles...and its interior is pure crap.

that is purely OPINION, and frankly i've been in a calibler and i find the interior perfectly acceptable. it is not a deciding factor for me.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

i'm considering the subaru, but in general, i prefer american / german over japanese.

vw could be an option but isn't the golf a bit smaller than the caliber? i rode in one the other day (a friend of mine had it as a rental, and it seemed pretty nice) it had a refrigerated portion of the glove compartment. it looked like it would hold 4 or 5 sodas.

You can get the beverage cooler on the Caliber as well.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

i'm considering the subaru, but in general, i prefer american / german over japanese.

vw could be an option but isn't the golf a bit smaller than the caliber? i rode in one the other day (a friend of mine had it as a rental, and it seemed pretty nice) it had a refrigerated portion of the glove compartment. it looked like it would hold 4 or 5 sodas.

Here ya go buddy, all of them lined up:

4-car comparison

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

i'm considering the subaru, but in general, i prefer american / german over japanese.

vw could be an option but isn't the golf a bit smaller than the caliber? i rode in a caliber the other day (a friend of mine had it as a rental, and it seemed pretty nice) it had a refrigerated portion of the glove compartment. it looked like it would hold 4 or 5 sodas.

edited.


You can get the beverage cooler on the Caliber as well.

my bad, i got ahead of myself, the whole part about i rode in one the other day was referring to the caliber not the golf.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

I have the mazda 3 GT sedan... I did the shop around for w few months and the mazda 3 is the funnest and I think it looks better than the others...

other cars: bmw 330i, 90' camaro RS....

wanted: a truck

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: NFS4
Mazda3 Hatch, VW Rabbit, Impreza Wagon...

There are many better choices in this segment.

i'm considering the subaru, but in general, i prefer american / german over japanese.

vw could be an option but isn't the golf a bit smaller than the caliber? i rode in one the other day (a friend of mine had it as a rental, and it seemed pretty nice) it had a refrigerated portion of the glove compartment. it looked like it would hold 4 or 5 sodas.

Here ya go buddy, all of them lined up:

4-car comparison

mb a better comparison

 

[Kelvrick]

Yea, but do any of them have foldown rear speakers or a fridge glove compartment?

I do like the golf and 3, although I consider the 3 ugly and am too scared to own a vw.

In the end, I paid another 2k to move up to a bigger, more luxerious legacy wagon taht gets better mpg then the impreza.

 

[ponyo]

I would just buy the cheapest with the fewest allowed options. Price has to be the number one priority in this segment. You're definitely not buying it for style, luxury, or performance.

 

[vetteguy]

My wife is getting a new car soon and we've been looking at cars in this class, among some others (Pontiac G6, Ford Fusion/Milan, Mazda 3, Honda Civic, etc.) (Yes I know some of those probably aren't technically the same class, but meh). I found the Caliber to be mediocre at best in everything-it was cramped inside, plastic everywhere, absolutely no power, etc. Hell, it wouldn't pick up the local FM station whose transmitter was a few miles away. For $18k plus, just seemed a ripoff.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Naustica
I would just buy the cheapest with the fewest allowed options. Price has to be the number one priority in this segment. You're definitely not buying it for style, luxury, or performance.

exactly, i'm buying it for utility and gas mileage.

this vehicle will be my primarly work vehicle. i do a lot of stuff onsite for my clients. i need to be able to carry ladders, multiple boxes etc.

initially i was thinking get another minivan (my wife has one, kia sedona and we were considering getting her a toyota sienna and i keep the kia) but not only is the sienna a nice large chunk of change, it would also cost me at least $150.00 more a month in gas.

so between the difference in monthly payments and difference in gas, i could be paying an extra $250 / month.

so, i decided to go with something low end.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Naustica
I would just buy the cheapest with the fewest allowed options. Price has to be the number one priority in this segment. You're definitely not buying it for style, luxury, or performance.

exactly, i'm buying it for utility and gas mileage.

this vehicle will be my primarly work vehicle. i do a lot of stuff onsite for my clients. i need to be able to carry ladders, multiple boxes etc.

Seems like any compact hatch would be too small for your needs. OTOH,
This would be perfect.

 

[SmoochyTX]

I think the Caliber looks better than the Mazda3, Rabbit, or Impreza.

:thumbsup: for the Sirius

:thumbsdown: for only 4 speakers

 

[animalia]

I'm not crapping on American cars, but Dodges are Teh Suck. Buicks are just as reliable as Lexuses, but Dodge = bad idea. The cheaper price will cost you more in the long run. Everything will break and you will want to sell for 3K maybe 4K at 80,000 miles.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: Naustica
I would just buy the cheapest with the fewest allowed options. Price has to be the number one priority in this segment. You're definitely not buying it for style, luxury, or performance.

exactly, i'm buying it for utility and gas mileage.

this vehicle will be my primarly work vehicle. i do a lot of stuff onsite for my clients. i need to be able to carry ladders, multiple boxes etc.

Seems like any compact hatch would be too small for your needs. OTOH,
This would be perfect.

actually, i did seriously consider the HHR.


i'll have to go test drive one.

i need to buy a new car by the middle of february. my car will need it's annual inspection by the end of february and frankly i just don't want to put the money in it to pass the inspection.

170k miles on good old olds intrigue. needs tires, brake pads, rotors, transmission flush, oil change, front end adjustments, my power windows are acting up, power steering fluid.

figure at this point, i'm better off just buying a new car, plus i'm looking to get a car that gets better mileage than my olds (it only averages 18 mpg, it's been that low since day 1).

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: animalia
. . . Dodge = bad idea. The cheaper price will cost you more in the long run. Everything will break and you will want to sell for 3K maybe 4K at 80,000 miles.

OTOH, you could get lucky. Few vehicles are absolute crap anymore. For me, the interior is hard plastic crap and the exterior is boy toy bozo el pseudo. It just doesn't look and feel to me like the quality is there.

Cheap but decent, imho? If the size will do for you, in your situation, I'd go for a Ford Focus wagon.

It's a sleeper as an excellent handler, gets far superior gas mileage, and you can get one dirt cheap because its early teething problems have left it with an image problem . . . MUCH better vehicle every which way but size than the Caliber, at a price that should mesmerize a frugal fellow like yourself.