[lebowski1]

I was going to get a caliber but after all the reviews complained of its utter slowness regardless of model/trans/engine and its so-so handleing I just couldnt go through with it. look at the reviews for performance, it sucks.

After driving a mazda3 wagon with the 2.3 there was no going back. weighs only 2700 pounds, 300 lighter than the 2.0 fwd, with 160hp and a huge aftermarket. with just a exhaust, intake and pulleys I'll have the same power to weight as a WRX. add a turbo and it'll keep up with a EVO or STI.
Caliber is cool for people who dont care about performance but its just not sporty in any way.
plus I cant wait years or months for a aftermarket to come to improve the performance of this minivan in disguise to keep up with a average econocar.

lebowski1 signing off. see you in my rear view mirror.

 

[Amandyke]

Bye have fun paying more for the mazda. Oh and wait for the R/T, or how about you actually go and TEST DRIVE a caliber yourself? Rather than claiming things or going off of reviews. I know that most reviews I've read have praised the car. And nearly all of the post test drive comments from members here have been nothing short of exemplary. And those are for the SXT or SE models! Not even the R/T.

Tell you what, when I get my R/T I'll tell you how it drives. In the mean time, have fun with your FORD.

Or you could look at the Impreza 2.5, or the Cobalt SS Supercharged. All competing cars. Have fun.

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

I was going to get a caliber but after all the reviews complained of its utter slowness regardless of model/trans/engine and its so-so handleing I just couldnt go through with it. look at the reviews for performance, it sucks.

After driving a mazda3 wagon with the 2.3 there was no going back. weighs only 2700 pounds, 300 lighter than the 2.0 fwd, with 160hp and a huge aftermarket. with just a exhaust, intake and pulleys I'll have the same power to weight as a WRX. add a turbo and it'll keep up with a EVO or STI.
Caliber is cool for people who dont care about performance but its just not sporty in any way.
plus I cant wait years or months for a aftermarket to come to improve the performance of this minivan in disguise to keep up with a average econocar.

lebowski1 signing off. see you in my rear view mirror.

Did you test drive a Caliber or did you just read the "payed off reviews"??

 

[Fuzz 40]

mazda3 wagon with 160hp and a huge aftermarket. with just a exhaust, intake and pulleys I'll have the same power to weight as a WRX. add a turbo and it'll keep up with a EVO or STI.
lebowski1 signing off. see you in my rear view mirror.

Ok you must be smoking something good because I don't think an upgraded mazda 3 wagon will keep up with an EVO or STI unless you pour tons of money into it by then you chould have bought an EVO or STI and not have to drive around a lame wagon.

 

[lebowski1]

I did drive a SRT CVT. and it felt like a caravan . so I have expierence. Plus it dosent take a rocket scientest to figure power to weight. and I got my 3 for 18,500 with moonroof, auto and power everything. the RT sticker was 22,500.
consumer reports rated the 3 a best buy for 3 years now.
BTW theres nothing ford about this besides being a parent company. made in hiroshima 100%.
have fun with your shrunken 85 caravan.

Bye have fun paying more for the mazda. Oh and wait for the R/T, or how about you actually go and TEST DRIVE a caliber yourself? Rather than claiming things or going off of reviews. I know that most reviews I've read have praised the car. And nearly all of the post test drive comments from members here have been nothing short of exemplary. And those are for the SXT or SE models! Not even the R/T.

Tell you what, when I get my R/T I'll tell you how it drives. In the mean time, have fun with your FORD.

Or you could look at the Impreza 2.5, or the Cobalt SS Supercharged. All competing cars. Have fun.

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

Well I am glad the you did test drive one then, good luck to you. <<That being said in a not sarcastic way too, everyone is entitled to buy whatever they want.

I think you meant to say R/T CVT not SRT CVT

 

[Steve Desjardins]

no he meant to say SXT. I highly doubt he drove an R/T.

 

[Amandyke]

Oh well. Doesn't matter to me. Price wise I still beat him out. Gotta love 1% below invoice + incentives.

Anyway, all his comments are 100% contrary to what everyone else is saying about the car here. I think he's just trying to rationalize his decision.

 

[OUWxGuesser]

I never got the point of people joing other vehicle forums and saying oh btw.. I got xxx vehicle and it's better because of blablaba. Guess what? We don't care!

I test drove the Ford fusion, Chevy HHR, and sat in a Mazda3/Honda Civic. I realized early on that I wanted the versatility of a large vehicle. Performance wasn't much of an issue. The HHR felt like a grandma car, while the Fusion had good handling. I felt the Caliber had the best combination of those two... so I went with that. It (2.0L w/CVT) has more pickup than my 95 Saturn so I was satisfied

Amandyke, How'd you get below invoice? I came up empty on applying the college grad program although under the advice of FordInfoCenter, I wrote a letter to find out if things can be applied retroactively (assuming it gets added to the program shortly).

Aaron

 

[Fuzz 40]

I never got the point of people joing other vehicle forums and saying oh btw.. I got xxx vehicle and it's better because of blablaba. Guess what? We don't care!

I totally agree and I would love to find out where he drove a SRT with the CVT.

 

[Amandyke]

I never got the point of people joing other vehicle forums and saying oh btw.. I got xxx vehicle and it's better because of blablaba. Guess what? We don't care!

I test drove the Ford fusion, Chevy HHR, and sat in a Mazda3/Honda Civic. I realized early on that I wanted the versatility of a large vehicle. Performance wasn't much of an issue. The HHR felt like a grandma car, while the Fusion had good handling. I felt the Caliber had the best combination of those two... so I went with that. It (2.0L w/CVT) has more pickup than my 95 Saturn so I was satisfied

Amandyke, How'd you get below invoice? I came up empty on applying the college grad program although under the advice of FordInfoCenter, I wrote a letter to find out if things can be applied retroactively (assuming it gets added to the program shortly).

Aaron

Aside from the college grad program, I also fall under the Supplier group. So I can get 1% below on both fronts.

 

[nygiantzz1]

I have been looking to replace my Ford Explorer for the last 3-4 months. Gas prices are ridiculous, so I decided to go smaller. I have driven the Kia Spectra5, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus Wagon and Chevy HHR. The only one of the bunch that I felt drove well was the Ford Focus. It's just too plain looking on the outside. The Matrix was gutless, but comfortable. The Spectra was OK, but nothing for room in the back. The HHR is typical Chevrolet, very soft, spongy ride. I found ads for the Caliber about 2 months ago and decided to wait for the release. I test drove the SXT last thursday and ordered one on Friday. There really isn't anything that stood out from the other cars, I just really liked the overall package. It's comfortable inside, acceleration is decent and the handling was good. The steering felt very tight and responsive and with all the extras bundled in (Chill Zone, Flashlight, AC Outlet, MusicGate,etc.) it seemed like the best overall option. I just wish it would get here so I can start driving it. 5 more weeks!

 

[Ramsport47]

I hope the Mazda3 guy loves the car still when the creaks, squeaks and rattles show up...I've been in them, and they have to be the noisiest newer car out there...Makes my Neon sound downright quiet inside

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

Has anyone actually timed a 0-60 in the Caliber?? I am still curious on how it does compares to the Neon.

Silverfox maybe could help us with that??

 

[OUWxGuesser]

I did some extremely informal 0-60 times using the song time on the cd player :O tonight... I was getting around 10-11s on the 2.0L with CVT2. I don't know if that's good or bad compared to the neon.

 

[Silverfox]

Dry, flat pavement with a standard power brake yielded 9.42 seconds. Top speed is around 120 MPH at 6,000 RPMs. As far as I know, there is no speed limiter.

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

Dry, flat pavement with a standard power brake yielded 9.42 seconds. Top speed is around 120 MPH at 6,000 RPMs. As far as I know, there is no speed limiter.

hmmm, Neon was about 8.8?? I may have to wait for the R/T FWD!!! No speed limiter?

 

[pacerman]

I have been looking to replace my Ford Explorer for the last 3-4 months. Gas prices are ridiculous, so I decided to go smaller. I have driven the Kia Spectra5, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus Wagon and Chevy HHR. The only one of the bunch that I felt drove well was the Ford Focus. It's just too plain looking on the outside. The Matrix was gutless, but comfortable. The Spectra was OK, but nothing for room in the back. The HHR is typical Chevrolet, very soft, spongy ride. I found ads for the Caliber about 2 months ago and decided to wait for the release. I test drove the SXT last thursday and ordered one on Friday. There really isn't anything that stood out from the other cars, I just really liked the overall package. It's comfortable inside, acceleration is decent and the handling was good. The steering felt very tight and responsive and with all the extras bundled in (Chill Zone, Flashlight, AC Outlet, MusicGate,etc.) it seemed like the best overall option. I just wish it would get here so I can start driving it. 5 more weeks!

Did you feel the cargo area was substantially less than the HHR behind the front seats?How about rear passengers getting in and out??

 

[nygiantzz1]

Did you feel the cargo area was substantially less than the HHR behind the front seats?How about rear passengers getting in and out??

The room in the back seats is similar on both, the HHR is taller and has a bigger cargo area. Did you drive an HHR yet? The steering felt really soft and a little loose on the one I drove. Overall it was decent, but the Caliber drove much better and smoother.

 

[DodgeGirlKathy]

To answer the question of the thread title:

I drove a Ford Escape, Fusion and Focus, then a Pontiac Torrent and G6. Next up was going to be a Saturn Ion-3 sedan and Vue (basically a Torrent but some different trim) - but I never got that far. I drove the Caliber and stopped looking.

Non Big-3 vehicles are not on the list for me. I live in metro Detroit, The Motor City, and I'd feel guilty as hell driving anything not built in the USA.