Prepare to be Disappointed: The Dodge (Caliber) SRT-4

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
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-> I guess that SRT learned its lesson of putting 300 obnoxious horsepower to the front wheels. 280hp is pretty decent to toe up with the HHR SS and the Mazdaspeed 3 (for a hi-po FWD Sport Compact 5-door), you gotta give the Caliber handling one way or another. But they should have done a AWD configuration, the car is ready for it. :indiff:
 
You're right in that Chrysler should have given the Caliber SRT-4 a proper AWD system, but the problem is, Chrysler doesn't have one thats worth a damn on the chassis, unless of course they actually talk to Mitsubishi again, and steal it from underneath the Evolution.

Either way, AWD likely would have made it too heavy, but with 300 BHP on tap, I'm guessing it wouldn't mattered. Then again, Mitsubishi probably felt threatened given that it is running the Lancer chassis, and in theory would have the Evolution AWD setup. With the same power output, you never know...
 
Toronado
It would have been much heavier than the Evo, I'm guessing.
Click to expand...

And SUV-like. Whenever I drive a Caliber, despite what the stats say, I feel like I'm in an SUV. And trust me there's NO overlap between the Evo and the Caliber no matter how hot the Caliber is.
 
I would assume much the same, but you know how Mitsubishi and Chrysler have been the past few years. On paper alone, I'd assume they would have figured that it was too close. Granted, this was also a time in which the Evolution was a few ponies short of the STi as well, and being nowhere near the Evo X, I assume they wanted to keep Dodge out of their business.

...Not that Dodge was really a threat at all, but I'm sure MOPAR would have (and probably do) planed to make it so....

Meh. I'd still buy a slower GLI or GTI have have just as much fun. Or, me being the VW snob that I am, get the extra cash and try to get an R32 while I still can...
 
^ Same here, I rather take a GTI or a Civic Si (I haven't driven them both though). I've driven the [Mk.4] R32, and I like it as good woth-a-while cruiser. :)

-> I'm very aware that those FWD 5-doors will obviously obliterate my wagon in the straights, but I like to see on how far will my wagon keep up against those cars in the corners. :)
 
I find myself powerfully underwhelmed, either good or bad. I'd say it's similar to the letdown with the XJ220 (less power, half the number of driven wheels as promised), but this car was a letdown from the getgo. And not just the SRT, but the Caliber as a whole. At a time when SUV sales are starting to lose their luster, Dodge replaces a high-selling, solid-performing compact sedan with a...well, what the the hell is it? A compact SUV with gender issues? The ads are right: it's definitely not cute, but it's definitely not a good car, either.
 

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