Topic: CD Article: 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT-4

[Autos_Editor]

Today's First Drive:

Tuned by Dodge's SRT (Street and Performance Racing) division, the new 285-horsepower Dodge Caliber SRT-4 is a "performance and value slam-dunk" for $24,995, says Senior Editor, Paul Williams.
   
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Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

[2JDM]

Performance bargain 

But damn, does it come with a price. FWD. But it does look 100x better than a stock Caliber. Does it have rear window switches? 

[mdxtasy]

Damn....that's a performing bang for buck contender.  But it's a bit gaudy and extreme for my tastes.....looks good, just a bit too much for me. 

[mmret]

Impressive. MS3 power at $6k less. Manufacturer go-faster mods coming. Good dynamics according to the review. Bravo.

[Mitlov]

As one of my friends, a Mustang fan, once said, "nobody ever accused Dodge of underpowering their cars."

Competition in this segment includes the Mazdaspeed3 and Volkswagen GTI, but the Mazda costs $6,000 more and the VW has 85 hp less.

Power per dollar.  This is what made the last SRT-4 a massive success with boy racers, and I'm sure this will do the same.  Sure, the interior materials are c--- and the doors sound hollow.  But SRTs have never been about polished and refined speed.  That's AMG territory.  SRTs are all about winning stoplight-to-stoplight races with a car affordable even for the proverbial everyman...and this certainly looks like it will deliver.

[rrocket]

I agree.  If this car takes to mods like the SRT-4 did, this will be a winner.  There were a couple at the track day a few weekends ago running 11's and very low 12's.  That's big-time fast, and would cost a truck load of cash to duplicate on other cars.  I think it's ugly, and it sounds a bit cheap quality wise...but some people will really find the appeal in that kind of performance for so little cash...

[Mitlov]

I just realized something interesting.  The article cites a $6000 difference in price compared to the MS3.  In the United States, the prices are essentially identical ($22,995 including fees for the SRT4; $22,935 including fees for the MS3).  The SRT4 gains 8% of its MSRP in Canada; the MS3 gains 26%.

So when you're frustrated that you don't get Chrysler's lifetime powertrain warranty, remember Chrysler does throw Canada a bone now and then.  And that lifetime warranty never applied to SRT models to begin with.

[mmret]

I just realized something interesting.
The article cites a $6000 difference in price compared to the MS3.
In the United States, the prices are essentially identical ($22,995 including fees for the SRT4; $22,935 including fees for the MS3).
The SRT4 gains 8% of its MSRP in Canada; the MS3 gains 26%.

So when you're frustrated that you don't get Chrysler's lifetime powertrain warranty, remember Chrysler does throw Canada a bone now and then.
And that lifetime warranty never applied to SRT models to begin with.

Too bad its Chrysler throwing the bone and not Mazda.

Or Scoob. Or Toyota. Or BMW. Or any car I'd actually buy.

[wing]

Paul noted this to me Monday, Chrysler has stepped up and took into account the high canadian dollar, or at least has seemed to, where as pretty much everyone else hasn't.

Hey finally nobody can complain about the price difference on this car.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

$24,995?! 

TWENTY FOUR NINE-NINETY FIVE?!

I may not like the interior (seats are nice but eat further into room) but they've done so much of it right it's hard to argue. 0.39cD of drag? Can't remember a car worse

This will sell like hotcakes. It's nuttin' for that kind of power, and the Caliber is already a success.

Wow.

[Railton]

The commute to cottage country will be filled with these things. Heaven help us.
Railton

[tortoise]

$24,995?! 

TWENTY FOUR NINE-NINETY FIVE?!
0.39cD of drag? Can't remember a car worse

No kiddding.  How did they manage that? Its the same Cd as the current Dodge Durango!
http://www.c2e.info/4x4dakota/specs/07DurangoSpecs.html

[mmret]

For interest:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficients

Drag coefficient is a tricky business.

What is more aerodynamic?
1. Lambo Countach
2. Chevy Caprice

Answer:
Lambo Countach 0.42
Chevy Caprice 0.34

[Mitlov]

I suspect that the SRT-4's target market doesn't give a rat's booty about drag coefficient.  Just a suspicion.

[Arthur Dent]

wow that is a bargain. What a beast with all that power. Shame its so ugly. Still with that price it would easy to overlook. The massive tire requirements would add greatly to the running costs though.

[jww]

I wonder what it's going to be like on curves?

Chrysler is really pushing their cars in the UK - we saw no fewer than 3 in-mall displays of Calibers in the space of about 30 hours or so when were were in Manchester/Bury area in July. They look absolutely enormous over there but are priced with compacts - so get a fair bit of attention.

Not sure it's my cup-o-tea though.

[Snowman]

I suspect that the SRT-4's target market doesn't give a rat's booty about drag coefficient.  Just a suspicion.

….or spell it.

[Schmengie]

Chrysler may know how to make 'em fast, but why do they have to make 'em so ugly?? It may be 6 grand more expensive, but I'll take the Mazdaspeed3 over this pig any day.

[gotak]

The thing about drag is with bad drag the car will feel fast at slower speed but on the highway speed it'll start to feel kind of sluggish. Just like most older SUVs. Accelerates great then it's like hitting a large mash mellow wall when you get to highway speed and want to accelerate to pass.

[mdxtasy]

wow that is a bargain. What a beast with all that power. Shame its so ugly. Still with that price it would easy to overlook. The massive tire requirements would add greatly to the running costs though.

Considering where it started from, atleast the SRT looks somewhat presentable.  Gaudy and ugly still, but it's less ugly with the 'add ons'.......oh who am I kidding...it is brutally hideous.