Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to say, I just found this forum and hope to visit it often. As the title says, I have spent the last 7 years at the Belvidere Plant making Neons, and have been part of the pilot team for both the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. I've been in the plant for the last few weeks ahead of most of production as we ramp up to start producing these Calibers.
While I want to make it clear that I'm not a "Tuner" or a "Gear-head", I can answer some of the questions that I've seen on these forums in different sections. I may be dead on in answering some questions, and totally wrong in others but any answers I give will be ones I've gotten from management at the plant or engineers at Headquarters in Detroit. But please remember I am just a production worker who is on the line building these vehicles and probably can't answer any technical questions, I'll leave that to the Engineers....(who are gonna usually be wrong if they are plant engineers..haha) Kinda an inside plant joke.
So... first question I saw was a question on Modding.... A little history first if you don't mind. I was told when the first Neon SRT rolled out that the reason for the SRT was to make a vehicle that would appeal to the "younger" crowd that is totally mod-able with relatively inexpensive after market parts that DCX Engineers worked closely with after-market companies to design. Many of the performance parts you can buy are made by companies that supply us the OEM parts. This is supposed to continue with the Caliber. You will be able to buy most if not all the types of after-market stuff for the Caliber that you could for the Neon.
The design of the Caliber is DCX's first (at least in my experience) attempt at a Global car. This car will be sold all over the world. We have 5 engines that we are putting in this vehicle. 1.8L, 2.0L, 2.2L, 2.4L and a Diesel. I was told at HQ that the Diesel was to be marketed in Europe and China but may be made available as a special order in the US.
The car is marketed towards 25 to 35 yr old's and not a entry level vehicle like the Neon.
I saw a question about interior, something about Seats.... this vehicle will be a dream to anyone who wants to express their individuallity from the factory. Examples include....12 different wiper blades, 139 different seats, and I couldn't tell you the different colors, interior packages, configurations in the dash...just a mind boggling amount of options. There are 8 different rear seat belts, while the middle rear seat belt has 18 choices. Now some of these won't be for the US market, but because of different laws or spec's in other countries, requirements were meet thus so many different parts.
There are some really really cool standard and optional equipment, such as an integrated flashlight that works as the rear cargo lamp that is built right into the headliner. You simply push it and it pops out into your hand, you shine it on what you want to see, pop it right back in. Its battery recharges ready for the next use.
A subwoofer built right into the rear of the vehicle, and as an option, when you have the lift gate up, there is a Dual speaker system that will flip down so the speakers flip out. Perfect for tailgating.
Another comment I read was from Maxpyro. He said,
"I just wish that dcx stuck with a normal but new platform for a sedan. It should be sleek and maybe a little "hip" like the new mazda 3s. "
Might want to wait until our Sister Plant, Sterling Heights, launches their JS model. As far as I know they haven't decided on a model name for it, JS is their Pilot designation. It will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, meet all your criteria. It is a 4 door, sporty, very very sharp sedan that is to replace the Stratus. The pilot is a super sharp car and is on the same platform as the Caliber, Compass, Patriot line that we are making at BAP. It will blow the Mazda 3 away in styling and performance, mark my words.
You have any questions about the Caliber feel free to ask, I'll answer what I can. I personally think we have a winner with the car and while we have some production challenges as we get ready to start the line up, we are very aware of quality. The goal of BAP (Belvidere Assembly Plant) is to be the best Assembly Plant in the world. I think we are well on our way to making it.
Just wanted to say, I just found this forum and hope to visit it often. As the title says, I have spent the last 7 years at the Belvidere Plant making Neons, and have been part of the pilot team for both the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. I've been in the plant for the last few weeks ahead of most of production as we ramp up to start producing these Calibers.
While I want to make it clear that I'm not a "Tuner" or a "Gear-head", I can answer some of the questions that I've seen on these forums in different sections. I may be dead on in answering some questions, and totally wrong in others but any answers I give will be ones I've gotten from management at the plant or engineers at Headquarters in Detroit. But please remember I am just a production worker who is on the line building these vehicles and probably can't answer any technical questions, I'll leave that to the Engineers....(who are gonna usually be wrong if they are plant engineers..haha) Kinda an inside plant joke.
So... first question I saw was a question on Modding.... A little history first if you don't mind. I was told when the first Neon SRT rolled out that the reason for the SRT was to make a vehicle that would appeal to the "younger" crowd that is totally mod-able with relatively inexpensive after market parts that DCX Engineers worked closely with after-market companies to design. Many of the performance parts you can buy are made by companies that supply us the OEM parts. This is supposed to continue with the Caliber. You will be able to buy most if not all the types of after-market stuff for the Caliber that you could for the Neon.
The design of the Caliber is DCX's first (at least in my experience) attempt at a Global car. This car will be sold all over the world. We have 5 engines that we are putting in this vehicle. 1.8L, 2.0L, 2.2L, 2.4L and a Diesel. I was told at HQ that the Diesel was to be marketed in Europe and China but may be made available as a special order in the US.
The car is marketed towards 25 to 35 yr old's and not a entry level vehicle like the Neon.
I saw a question about interior, something about Seats.... this vehicle will be a dream to anyone who wants to express their individuallity from the factory. Examples include....12 different wiper blades, 139 different seats, and I couldn't tell you the different colors, interior packages, configurations in the dash...just a mind boggling amount of options. There are 8 different rear seat belts, while the middle rear seat belt has 18 choices. Now some of these won't be for the US market, but because of different laws or spec's in other countries, requirements were meet thus so many different parts.
There are some really really cool standard and optional equipment, such as an integrated flashlight that works as the rear cargo lamp that is built right into the headliner. You simply push it and it pops out into your hand, you shine it on what you want to see, pop it right back in. Its battery recharges ready for the next use.
A subwoofer built right into the rear of the vehicle, and as an option, when you have the lift gate up, there is a Dual speaker system that will flip down so the speakers flip out. Perfect for tailgating.
Another comment I read was from Maxpyro. He said,
"I just wish that dcx stuck with a normal but new platform for a sedan. It should be sleek and maybe a little "hip" like the new mazda 3s. "
Might want to wait until our Sister Plant, Sterling Heights, launches their JS model. As far as I know they haven't decided on a model name for it, JS is their Pilot designation. It will, beyond a shadow of a doubt, meet all your criteria. It is a 4 door, sporty, very very sharp sedan that is to replace the Stratus. The pilot is a super sharp car and is on the same platform as the Caliber, Compass, Patriot line that we are making at BAP. It will blow the Mazda 3 away in styling and performance, mark my words.
You have any questions about the Caliber feel free to ask, I'll answer what I can. I personally think we have a winner with the car and while we have some production challenges as we get ready to start the line up, we are very aware of quality. The goal of BAP (Belvidere Assembly Plant) is to be the best Assembly Plant in the world. I think we are well on our way to making it.
