The only Caliber I'd ever own

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
07/02/2014 at 20:59 • Filed to: None

Caliber SRT4

Now that's a kick-ass looking hot hatch.

285 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque doesn't hurt either.

I think I could live with the horrible interior for that kind of performance. Even though it doesn't look too terrible with those SRT seats and leather wrapped steering wheel.

All that being said, I can't wait to see the Dart SRT.

DISCUSSION (51)

trmoore09 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:02

Yea, I owned a Neon SRT4, and test drove one of these a couple of years ago. The torque steer was pretty horrific, but it was pretty quick. The seating position and shifter position are kind of awkward though.

Bring on the Dart SRT!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:03

Eh, they never were as good as the neons for autoX. plus when new they were what the bros bought. I went to college with a few guys who owned them. They seemed okay overall but they seemed to struggle to put down their power. Neon SRT-4s and GTIs routinely clobbered them.

Do these things have an LSD?

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:03

From the front view it kinda looks like a Grand Caravan. I'd rather go with a SRT4 Neon or a Neon ACR. The Neon has just a look to it self like it can't take itself seriously while the Caliber tries too hard to look cool. I don't think I've seen a Caliber SRT4 in person though so I'll reserve final judgement.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > trmoore09
07/02/2014 at 21:04

The shifter is in a kinda odd position.

Brian Silvestro > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:04

Kinja'd!!!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
07/02/2014 at 21:06

I think I'd rather have one over a Neon just for the added practicality of a hatchback.

I have no idea about the LSD though.

trmoore09 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:07

At least it is a 6 speed, and once you get used to the shifter location, it may not be that bad. It's just awkward to begin with.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:08

The real question is: will it knee?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:08

I always thought the Neon tried too hard and the Caliber was a little more subdued.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BrownMiataDieselWagon
07/02/2014 at 21:11

Darn , I guess I'll have to buy one to find out.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:11

I don't know...I want to like Chrysler but after Daimler screwed it up I really have a hard time doing that. The Neon (1st gen I know) was a (mostly) pre-Daimler design

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Brian Silvestro
07/02/2014 at 21:12

Can't tell if positive or negative response... OR BOTH.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > M-Powwerr Drives a Ford
07/02/2014 at 21:14

I'd buy almost any Chrysler product now. They've done an almost complete 180 over the last few years. There's just a few more things they need to kill off before they're a-okay.

Brian Silvestro > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:15

how about wow is my secret weapon for confusing users.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Brian Silvestro
07/02/2014 at 21:15

You've successfully succeeded

Brian Silvestro > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:17

It hasn't failed me yet!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:21

They are cool, but I can't see myself picking this (or a Cobalt SS) over any other hot hatchback as a daily driver. Looking forward to seeing the SRT dart though. Maybe they'll do a Swinger version.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 21:25

For the like $16k I could pick one of these up for today, I'd so pick this (or a Cobalt SS) over an ST twin.

I decided I'm clinically insane.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:29

I decided that a while back.

And I don't just mean the FoST. I mean a Golf GTi, Civic Si, Mini Cooper S, MazdaSpeed3, etc.

M-Powwerr Drives a Ford > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:31

I too have been very impressed with what Fiat has done. Being of Italian decent I really like the Italian base and the American twist.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 21:33

My American Big 3 bias comes in at that point.

Maybe a Cooper S I could swing.

Possibly a Speed3 because it's a Ford under everything.

Justino6969 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:33

Really? I own several calibers. 9mm, .45 ACP, 7.62x54r, just to name a few.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:34

At least in the mid 00's, Europeans and Japanese dominated the hot hatch segment.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 21:40

At the end of the '00s though, America built some cars that kicked a lot of the European's and Japanese's asses performance wise.

trmoore09 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:41

Random question: do we think these things may become collectible in the future? There are roughly 20% as many Caliber SRT4s as there are/were Neon SRT4s.

#car buying

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > trmoore09
07/02/2014 at 21:50

Who knows, people seem to want the Neon SRT more. The Caliber SRT could make some sort of upswing in popularity though.

BeaterGT > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:54

Having said that, FAIL WHEEL DRIVE.

trmoore09 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:54

Yea, I would rather have a clean white Neon SRT ACR than the caliber. But talking in just the number of them made, the caliber HAS to be a collectible someday, right? ~6k made vs 25k Neon SRTs

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BeaterGT
07/02/2014 at 21:55

Just like literally every other hot hatch this side of a Golf R...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > trmoore09
07/02/2014 at 21:56

That sounds like collectible status to me.

Damn, I should pick one up while they're still depreciating.

BeaterGT > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:57

Not so hot after all then! What good is that much torque when it's going to the wrong end of the car :(

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:57

Such as?

trmoore09 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 21:58

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/4544519598…

Seems like a decent deal. I'm usually not too big of a fan of silver, but I don't hate it on this.

Actually KBB is about $13,300.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BeaterGT
07/02/2014 at 22:00

I dunno, ask the Cobalt SS that trumped RWD/AWD cars at the Nurburgring.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 22:03

Off the top of my head without research, Cobalt SS. It beat an XKR and an RS4 around the Nurburgring.

kevinw > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:04

Kinja'd!!!

I would rather have this caliber. Although I am a ford guy

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > trmoore09
07/02/2014 at 22:04

That looks nice, and it has a tune and exhaust on it.

KBB told me $16,xxx. Strange.

trmoore09 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:06

I did good condition Private party. Did you do dealer msrp?

BeaterGT > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:06

I believe anything is possible on the Green Hell. I mean, surely you've seen the Yellowbird video. I do like that the Caliber has the sleeper style going for it though.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > trmoore09
07/02/2014 at 22:06

That could be why, I think I did.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:09

Yes, but build quality and air bags.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 22:13

#yolo

The airbag/ignition thing is stupid. Really, the whole thing was caused by idiots who think they need 90 pounds worth of shit on their keyring.

I think material quality would be a better word. All the experience I've had with the Cobalt, it seemed screwed together well, just made with bad materials.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:17

You know what it is? It is exactly what an SRT vehicle with a 4 cil. Engine should be. Much like the CLA45 AMG, the only way for AMG to make a 4 cil. Overkill!

And I had no idea those seats looked so damn good!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
07/02/2014 at 22:19

Chrysler doesn't do performance SRT4s often, but when they do, my god they're glorious.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:23

Okay, material quality. Still not a pleasant interior.

Lots of people have a reason to have some stuff on their key rings. It's not their fault. I'm not gonna get into an argument about this, but if it was just a matter of excessive weight, someone in the process would've established that and relieved GM of fault.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 22:32

I'm just saying, weight wears out and puts extra stress on the ignition. That's just a fact and is going to have a little to do with it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:36

But think about this:

People who drive Hondas, Kias, BMWS, Fords, and every other car maker have heavy keychains as much as Chevys, and they don't shut off at random and disable the airbags.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 22:39

I'm not saying that it just has to do with their weight of the keychain. GM were being the normal cheapskates they were back then and under engineered it. I'm just saying it has a little bit of an effect. I'd still feel safe driving one of the recalled cars because I'm not a complete dumbass and know how to put a car in neutral and restart it.

That doesn't change that the Cobalt SS handed RWD V8 performance cars their asses on the 'ring

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:43

And regardless of that or the recalls, it isn't as refined a vehicle as the competitors. It and the SRT Caliber sound like incredibly fun cheap thrill, but as a daily driver, they don't hold up. The Cobalt isn't even a hatchback.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/02/2014 at 22:45

I guess my expectations on refinement are a lot lower than yours.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
07/02/2014 at 22:50

It's not a matter of that. The cars don't perform the day-to-day functions as well. They have come a long was, but this was before that. These cars had very powerful engines, but very little tech to get that power down. Think of them as mini muscle cars. A lot of fun, but personally, not my thing. I suppose we will just have to agree to disagree.