I own a 2009 5- speed caliber and have 225,000 miles on it. I get 33 mpg, stable ride, great cargo room, comfortable seating, and still no rust issues. Yes the interior is cheap and yes not going to win races. But for $16,000 brand new it has done for me what i needed it to do. Starting to put money into it but going to keep it for another few years because it is very versatile.
Thanks for making this review I have the 09 se 1.8l base model and my slave cylinder blew its seal and it has the original clutch with 168k on it I wanna go ahead and get a new clutch while the shop has it apart but dont wanna dump the money into it if my motor or transmission wouldnt much longer but I keep seeing people say that have 220k+ and still no issues
Got one sitting in my yard I'm thinking of replacing the blown engine on. Calibers were pretty good mine's actually a manual transaxel not a continuously variable. It also has actual hand crank windows that will work for decades vs the electric ones that cut out after so many years. I'd love to see someone make a very simple and durable car designed for the user to maintain. That's what will get things done. Sadly we've arrived at a place where people want heated seats and every thing to coddle them. No pragmatism or foresight.
I had 2007 for 8 years and 140k trouble free miles. Didn't burn a drop of oil wasn't noisy and transmission was never a problem. I got 27-30 mpg on hwy and nothing came apart in the interior. The interior was all plastic but it all fit together nicely. Car never rattled whatsoever. I have no clue where these complaints come from.
I own a 2011 caliber mainstreet and it handles perfectly fine. Can take sharp corners really quickly, acceleration is meh but all well. Overall great car, never had any issues with it apart from the engine subframe which had a rust warranty and got replaced. Also I can get between my house and my father's (200 miles) on a little over a quarter of a tank so gas mileage is actually really good on it.
The Dodge Caliber was not a crossover. It was a compact 4-door hatchback. It didn't sell well because it was a hatchback which most people in America don't want. They consider small hatchbacks as cheap transportation (even if it's not true for some hatchbacks).
I bought a 2008 SXT with the 2.0 engine and CVT. Bought it brand new and drove it off the lot with 8 miles on it. I still own it and now have 340,000 miles on it. I absolutely love the car despite its little idiosyncrasies which every model car has. Mine had the lifetime powertrain warranty when I bought it. The CVT finally gave out at 238,000 miles but the engine is original. The biggest issue and weakness with this vehicle is the suspension. That is where most of the issues I've had over the years. I love the look of the car and I love the instrument cluster. And I like the CVT once I got used to it.
The saddest part is my brother getting one of these. Absolutely the kiss of death to anything automotive. That said it still is closing in on 200k miles with the original CVT and engine.
I have one just like that. To me the worst things are the stiff anti-sway bars. Don't intend to run in NASCAR. Otherwise practical interior - modern sedans won't take large packages. The cloth seats are fine - who cares about the door linings, etc.? The thick "A" pillars in common with most contemporary cars. Would have thought the 5-speed would sell well outside of North America (I live in Canada). The CVT was definitely a bummer. People seem to prefer the Jeep versions, just because they are Jeeps - otherwise who could tell the difference if blindfolded? Considered the Toyota Matrix, but lower ground clearance, and gimmicky control panel. Oh yeah, Japanese quality & reliability - yada, yada, yada, hefty higher price.
My wife's 2010 caliber sxt is a great car, it has 170k miles on it and serviced at every interval that dodge recommends. I don't regret buying it for even a second
that's the model i buyed 2nd - its fun for the price i payed.Has some hidden Easter Eggs with its settings etc.had to figure out how to put those fog lights on lol pull then twist hehe and it has rear fog lights too =)
We have a 2007 with 126000 miles on it and still love it. So far we have done breaks, water and fuel pump and the alternator. All of which are common for the mileage. It is a bit noisy, but our atter market stereo took car of that. It's not a Cadillac, but I don't care. Cadillac are heavy and hard to move around in. The caliber is plain, but has so much room to move your arms and legs without hitting anything. The seats are comfortable and the ac and heater are more that sufficient. 126000 and no rust whatsoever, high beams stopped working but I can't remember the last time I had use for them, the large low beams have always been enough. The stock 17 in rims were a stiff bumpy ride, so I put aftermarket 16s on with a great General tire and it really helped a lot.
We had few Neons and a Caliber plus a full sized Ram. Wife liked the Caliber for camping with the 17-inch wheels/ground clearance/ hatch back -easier to handle than the Truck and good access for gear and kids/dog. She liked the "plain" interior too since to her it was easy to keep clean (dog hair) - so we still have it today (2009 model) and she uses for summer trips.
Got the same year and sub-model last month. CEL came on the next day. Replaced crankshaft position sensor, MAP sensor, intake manifold runner position sensor and the light went away. Also replaced spark plugs, brake pads and shoes, front struts, and front sway bar links. The only thing I have left to figure out right now is how to unclog the sunroof drain tubes. Still love it.
I saw a ton of these running around in West Virginia, probably the price, my wife really liked the design, I thought it was ugly, unlike the NEON that looked good to me. Another great video.
No idea but that sounds like you live in some kind of Dodge time warp.... ;) Honestly, I can see 3 CRV's just from my driveway, and it's been about 2 weeks since I've seen a single Caliber... it was in the employee section of the parking lot of our nearby grocery store.... and part of what made me think of doing this video!
@@AllCarswithJon Guess you're on a CRV timewarp yourself. Get out of your basement, go out the street and look for CRV from 2007. You'll find alot of 2007 Caliber still running.; capiche???
I've daily driven a 2010 Caliber 5-speed for the last 9 years. It has its shortcomings but it's a pretty roomy and versatile vehicle that suits my needs perfectly. I can haul my family around, then fold all the seats flat and haul a few dozen 8' long 2x4s home from the home center. If it hadn't been developed at a time when Chrysler was starved for resources by Daimler I have no doubt it would have fared better in the marketplace.
I've been daily driving a 5 speed compass for about 2 and a half years. The drivetrain has been rock solid, although I've had problems with rear brakes and rear suspension.
@@chrisfreemesser The lack of resources was definitely an issue but I think that the way they handled what little resources they had was also a problem. They made 3 cars off of the same platform and one of them really didn't need to exist. The Jeep Compass sold in laughably low numbers. It took 8 model years before they managed to break the 50,000 unit mark and there were years where they sold a fraction of that (in 2008 they sold just over 11,000). It was a car that didn't look like a Jeep and had no place in the line-up. The money that went into developing that car could have gone into higher quality materials for the Caliper and Patriot. Honestly that was my only issue with the Caliper. The interior materials were so poor that I couldn't live with it (the same goes for basically every Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep product from this era). The 2010 refresh interior is what the car could have and should have launched with. I don't even think that the engine choices were bad. Both the Honda Civic and Fit of this era-cars that arguably competed with the Caliper-ran engines that in my opinion were far less refined and were objectively less powerful. And frankly the interiors of both of those cars were filled with cheap feeling plastics. The problem with the Caliber was that it the interior was so cheap that even the cheapest cars on the market like the Hyundai Accent and Nissan Versa had better interiors. It was a massive problem that wouldn't be rectified until it was way too late.
When the Neon came out, I went to a local Dodge dealer in California to look at it. They took my driver license and car keys, and grilled me for five hours. I asked for them back repeatedly. It was only after I threatened to call the police, that they finally let me go. Years later, I bought a different Dodge car at another dealership. It was the worst car I ever owned. So much broke on it. After that I have been happy with Hondas and Toyotas.
That kinda happened to me with my car.They were gonna make me keep the new car for two weeks until I came with the $1000 down payment. I was like I wanted my old car while I get the down payment. They didn't want to give me my old car back.Saying the deal was locked in.I was like what if I couldn't get that down payment? Then I'd be up shits creek!Then they said $750, then $500 I said I don't care what you offer! I want my old car! I finally got it for 0 down.Like they were holding my car hostage.Car dealers are so predatory! Beware.
I had a similar experience with a Dodge dealer in Houston. They wanted me to sign a contract before they would tell me the monthly note. I refused and demanded my license back,and my wife's. They refused to return them, so I threatened to call the police. They finally returned them. I will only give my license (class A) to a police officer.
The Caliber is slightly reminiscent of a Citroen 2CV. I remember looking at them on the Dodge website back in the day. The images of the interior were brutal. All of the flaws in the stitching were on full display. I was intrigued, but never bought one. I think I ended up with a Mazdaspeed 3 around that time.
I loved the idea of Caliber. I thought it was going to get better. They were trying to attract the Tokyo Drift fans. But they got too cheap. The size I think it's perfect for today, the height and clearance is good. I always called it a small SUV back in the day. Too bad it wasn't refined. RIP.
I own a 2010 sxt. Very reliable and versatile. Bought it back in 2012 and after 10 years, it’s still giving it’s fight. Only “costly” repairs ive done to it is AC compressor replacement, Alternator and motor mounts (the car used to vibrate when it was still). Leaving that besides, no rust or electrical problems in my wagon. 78k miles and still rocking. I would say it’s due to the maintenance given or by sheer luck.
I agree wholeheartedly with your summation of the Neon and Caliper. My brother owned two Neons, and you were exactly right in the description of it. When I think of a car company selling a niche product successfully, I think of Subaru. Why have they been successful? Focus and consistency. When you think of a modern-day station wagon, Subaru comes to mind. Add 4wd or AWD to the mix of course. They've done exactly what you said Chrysler didn't. Their "sticktoitevness " has reaped them great reward. Anyway, an idea for an episode? How about, "Where have all the RWD sedans gone?" They barely exist. Sedans for that matter. :)
i got the 2010 SXT model. auto none turbo. Did u find your hidden flash light ? do you know the setting options ? and did yours turn the lights on after you opened the door ? mine did but now know the settings. Plus the remove oil change setting. it has rare fog lights - that's cool. to use the normal fog lights took me some time haha. pulls then twist. mine came with add on bezel's so the finish looks great . Didn't have the all wheel drive or heated seats but hey you cant get it all for a 2nd hand buy. some models had the FLOD out back speaks ? for party's in the parking lot haha ?
We have a 2007 Caliber RT with the 2.4 Liter engine. Purchased it new. It now has 180K miles with no major issues. I drove to it to 83K, then my son drove it through college to 140K. Next my daughter is driving it now at 180K. It does not burn any oil and still drives good. Sometimes it is about how the care is maintained.
I have owned a 2004 Neon and a 2009 Caliber. I really loved both cars considering we just traded in the Neon in 2022 so my joungest son could buy his 1st car. The Neon did have engine mount issues and a transmission replacement years ago. But was much cheaper to fix then replace the car. My oldest son drove the Neon from high school till nearly his last year of College. He went to school in Michigan so he had to get a 4wd vehicle to deal with the snow. Neon then went to my youngest son who drove it until it was traded in. Neon had the typical rust issues on the rocker panels but it ran well. Even the AC still worked great. Over 175k on the odometer. Our Caliber also was a great car. Only major issue was the rusted frame but Chrysler replaced as a recall. Another car over 150k no rust. If it wasn't for some idiot slamming into it when my daughter was driving it 3 years ago I'd still have it. It was deemed totalled but had great mpg and interior was in good shape as well. I can see many Calibers still out there.
I do not now how this video got into my feed but my wife bought one of the last Caliber that was sold here. My wife absolutely loves the car as it fits her with the height adjustable seat as she is only 4'10" and always had a hard time with cars that were bigger. My wife generally uses the car to be the grocery getter. Now comes my side of the Caliber. I absolutely hate that car, I am 6' with issues with my back and need a car I don't have a backache after driving for more then 30 minutes and that cars seats are a torture chamber for me. At 10,000 miles the cheap plastics were already rattling and it was the loudest car I driven since my old original 1973 Dodge Dart. Personally I would have dumped that car after 4 years but we still have the Caliber and my wife still loves that car. I tried several times since I retired 4 years ago to get my wife to let me buy a new Chevy Bolt EV for her as that would be the perfect car for her but no she insists that she will keep the Caliber and at 15,000 miles and 9 years old we have that admonition that Sergio called it on 4 wheels. I could go on others things I don't like about the lack of forward punch that this base car has but it will continued to be garaged and as far as I am concerned we will keep it for domestic tranquility.
I currently have a 2008 Caliber. I chose it over a Passat purely for money. Import parts cost more, a mechanic for German cars costs more, and the selling price was higher. I should have bought the VW. I lived in Germany for awhile and love pretty much anything they engineer. I paid $3500 for the Caliber and have paid about $1500 in repairs in just short of 3 years. And now it needs more, possibly as much as $1k worth. I’ve decided “screw it” and am going to look for a truck. I could point out a lot of small things that I dislike, like how the body design makes it difficult to load larger items into the back or how the cell phone holder is too small for anything wider than the old Motorola Razr.
Thank you very much, I just bought a caliber 2007 model the gears do not select after gear one. The reverse gear ok. Pls help can I change the gearbox or how I love the interior of my car thanks.
Owner of the car for more than a decade. Best car ever, CRD German WV diesel engine with low consumption and a lot of power. Manual, 6 gear, ideal car. 5L diesel - 100 km ! Love my Caliber!
I had one as a rental once for a ten-day trip and I was certainly glad to give those keys back. On the other hand, I have friends who have one and like it. So to each their own!
Purchased my 2007 Caliber SXT for a fair price low kilometers. Needed some work as it is 14 years old. Front Brakes, Battery, Catalytic Convertor, Throttle Body, Alingment. Other than some basic things it's been a great car. Every car has its gremlins. Good video btw 👍
I bought a 2007 Caliber, bought it for the warranty. Powertrain life of buyer. I thought it also looked cute. I've had that same car for 16 years, the first four of which I was driving over 300 mi/day to work. The power train is still in perfect shape, runs great. The rust finally got it. It has about 180,000 mi, and no issues with motor or tranny. It's an RT, 2.4L, interior is still like new, if they had made the frame and body out of better metal, it stood a good chance of outliving that "lifetime warranty,"
when I owned my caliber I figured out that by adding CVT conditioner to the trans which overfilled it helped it run better. It was a rocket on wheels. The worst thing on the car was the front end. The ball joints were the worst. I enjoyed the car even though I had to change the alternator 3 times the ball joints twice the motor mounts once.
I’ve had to replace mine twice & the starter & all the suspension & throttle body sensors etc… Alignment sucks… srt4 is best tho I wish I woulda got one instead 🤦🏻♂️
an 08 caliber SE is my first car. I got it back in July 2021 but had to do a TON of work on it. So I technically started driving it in September 2021. I couldn't have asked for a better first car, I will never understand why people hated it. Other than the most uncomfortable steering wheel ever. Pretty much my only complaint about it.
Got a 2008 SXT with 146k last month. Love it. Been replacing sensors and other various parts, including front struts, as preventative maintenance so it'll last me a while.
I own two caliber , need proper service, fan, thermostat fluid and oil change and ball joints, alternator and starter, once you service those with quality after market product u have a better quality of a caliber…
@@rebel8440 to this date I don't recommend buying one its pack with electrical problem...... And some people don't know what to do and stay away from cvt transmission...... Best car or vehicle to buy is Toyota. Had one that last 5 years without problem, so I'm gonna get Toyota soon again.
Re: the genres the Caliber tried to straddle. Given the PT Cruiser was a hit, why didn't Chrysler just build a second generation PT Cruiser? "Don't mess with a winning formula" and all that (refer BMW MINI, Ford Mustang, Porsche 911 etc).
As a young driver born to a Chrysler-loyal family in the early 2000s, i always liked these and probably would have bought one if i had new car money at the time.
I had a PT Cruiser and Neon. I rode in the Caliber and the Jeep Compass. I think it was ok but I don’t see how it was better than either the PT Cruiser or the Neon. It was cheap like a Neon without the Neon’s fun factor. It was fairly crude compared to a PT Cruiser.
My 2009 took me to Victoria BC twice from Ottawa but the mountains OMG 5000RPM to get up the Rockies at 60 km hour lol. Thought it would have died and it's still kicking at 230 000 KM on it. CVT is the biggest mistake on it. Love it kinda
I have the 1.8 5 speed and i have people ask me alot how many times ive had to replace or repair the trans lol ive nevwr had a problem with my car well no major problems
To be honest I've never had a problem with Nissan CVTs either. If it wasn't for the reliability of Nissan CVTs I would consider owning one. I prefer manual transmission cars but if I have to have an automatic and it's in a normal commuter car I'd rather have a CVT. I've driven way too many cars with traditional automatics that shift rough, won't downshift when I want it to, or get confused about which gear it should be in. At least with a CVT you can just put it in drive and forget the transmission even exists. Just cruising around town you'll never notice that it's a CVT. Sure, when you floor it the engine makes a bunch of noise but at least it gives you full acceleration instead of locking you out of the gear that would provide that like in so many traditional automatics.
@@PIchillin456 is that why acceleration on the caliber is so rough? Like I really have to press my gas pedal hard at first to get some speed and it makes that rough noise. But my car is fine
All I can say they burn less gas than a Corolla and they pretty fast in 70 mph. The cvt is fine once you change the fluid and filters pull strong, alternator, starter and thermostat once upgraded u have a top quality version of the caliber as they say cheap parts was use in the factory.
I will check on my thermostat. I had my car almost 3 years and I wanna do everything to put it in tip top shape. Any advice would be appreciated. I have a 2010 dodge calibers mainstreet and I love my car beyond the flaws it has.
@@rebel8440only major problem is wheel speed sensor when abs light comes on usually one of them is bad, and transmission fluid need to changer every 35,000miles or else transmission will start whining and cause overheat, abs light usually will cause whining due to limp mode .....these are problem I had.....change has two filter and thermostat has two thermostat as well, once is service u won't have overheat problem from either of the above mention, ......
Neons were replacements for, not upgrades of the Shadow and Sundance. S & S were derived from the origninal K-car platform, using the shorter wheelbase of the Dodge Daytona and Chrysler Laser. They were decent but unremarkable cars, with many refinements to the basic K-car platform, but built to very tight budgets to compete in the very competitive compact segment. Neon(s) were a clean sheet of paper design, aimed at the same market segment, with further cost reduction a major strategic objective. That included the new "World engine" program, a joint effort of Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and DaimlerChrysler.
I have a 2007 Caliber, never had any problems, I must be lucky because I hear a lot of bad things. I still drive it everyday and I bought it with 7,000 miles on it.
I agree with you 100 percent on what killed the Caliber. The concept was good, execution was awful. The Daimler merger was one of the worst in history. My ex wife and I loved our old 91 Spirit ES and was hoping that the Caliber would be fun family car like it was. After testing one we decided on buying her a nice used Escort wagon and me an 87 Grand Wagoneer.
Neon came out in 1994 .. basically it came out early so the 1995 model was out a LONG time and it actually changed during that year as Chrysler movied to changing cars as improvements came along instead of at the model year change over. I had 3 of them - 1995 (Dodge Neon), 2001 (Chrysler Neon - the best one), and 2005 (back to Dodge but "SX 2.0"). My brother had a 2000 5 sp and 2004 more deluxe one .. custom ordered 5 speed again. It is fascinating car - the engine was from BMW - intended for the 3 series; stupid Chrysler management changed out a couple parts to save like $25 each car - one being the engineer recommended metal headgasket with the cheap cork and tin foil and a couple other things - it all came back to haunt them. My 95 went through 3 headgaskets - the last one they put the metal one in that it was supposed to have. The transmission was from the Omni/Horizon (with computer control added) and of course in 2004 we got the 4 speed auto in Canada finally (the 3 speed was very good through). My 95 had the slipping 2nd gear 6 years old 106,000km they asked if I would agree to paying $200 to repair it. My brother BTW got a 2009 Caliber - SXTplus with the decals and body kit .. he just loved it .. it rusted away basically .. he bought it off photos as Chrysler was bankrupt in the USA and the trains were frozen .. so they literally were showing us pictures of a dirty car from a distance and "okay" ones of the specs in the window sheet. It is Caliber/Compass/ PATRIOT .. the Mitsubishi RVR is all I'm aware of that still remains in production with the Lancer no longer made.
Chrysler was innovated and bold and daring. Especially with the PT Cruiser which is my all time favourite car in my fleet, Today April1,2021 its 20yrs old, 110k km much like new I got it from my neighbourhood dealship 20 years ago.
Interesting thoughts on the Caliber. Your remarks about the cheap and uninspiring interior a right on target. If I can add a bit of my own spin: Many of the attributes you and others liked about the Caliber are the same attributes that people like about more recent "crossover" SUVs... higher seating position, 5-door wagon versatility (don't call it a hatchback!) and more passenger room than a sedan of the same footprint. Chrysler's error was styling the Caliber to look and feel like a generic hatchback on stilts instead of a trim sized rough and tumble, do-anything, slightly truckish utility vehicle. BTW: The Jatco CVT WAS basically the same unit Nissan used in similar sized vehicles. But... Chrysler was not willing to pay Jatco's asking price for the control software that was developed essentially at Nissan's expense, choosing instead to develop their own. EPA fuel mileage ratings and road tests of the era prove conclusively that Chrysler never duplicated the recipe for the secret sauce that Nissan vehicles had to extract the best possible performance from the CVTs.
Thanks for the reply. First, good info on the Jatco CVT, I've never heard that before. Second, the small crossover market existed before the Caliber was released, but since Chrysler was trying to replace the Neon and PT Cruiser, they ended up with this small hatchback "thing". While trying to be too much to too many people, overall the final product just felt unfinished and cheap... I've always thought it felt like the Beta version of the car. :)
Saw a sad silver Caliber for sale on the side of the road the other day. Said $1200 DOLLARS RUNS, NEEDS WORK. I actually thought about checking it out but I already have too many projects and I'm not too fond of Calibers anyway.
My father had one with a 2.2 and a 3 speed automatic which seemed bulletproof. But a co-worker had one with the Mitsubishi 3.0 and the Ultradrive transmission; it never ran right and the transmission never shifted properly. It stalled the engine if you slowed down too quickly and if it didn't, the transmission would kick into gear , producing a jolt that felt like a rear-end collision. The Ultradrive needed a complete rebuild at 35,000 miles, so he soon traded it in for a Civic.
I have a 21 300 and I like it a lot. The Ride feels like Riding on Clouds and really Refined. Good power while getting 19.7mpg in the city. I see a lot of the older generations on the road still, so hopefully they're going the distance.
Chevy Malibu is another one. In fact I did and got a Mazda 6 instead . I had my car destroyed in a tee bone auto crash and the insurance company rented us a car to use until the thing was settled. I hated the Malibu but loved the Mazda. I almost hated to give it back. 😐
My Patriot has been outstanding to me, and the caliber is made on the same assembly line with the same parts. However, mine is a 5 speed manual with key, crank windows, manual locks, and the old cd player stereo from the early 2000s. Maybe that's the trick. Chrysler can build a reliable car as long as it's basic, few bells and whistles.
Interesting to see that the you show the interior of the 5 spd. stick shift model. This makes a lot of difference. On some stupid cars nowadays they have to generate artificial engine noise to give the sensation of speed, The Caliber has it built in. Mine is a '09 SXT, and agree with all the positive comments & think that 95% of people would not appreciate a good car if it came up and bit them. Friend of mine has a Kia Rondo with a glossy black dash panel - what are we driving - a piano? As an industrial designer have a few beefs which could have been easily fixed, like the A-pillars be a little thinner for visibility, lumbar supports should have been on the perfectly fine fabric seats, The pale grey interior is much cooler in summer, except the top of the dash had to be covered with black vinyl to reduce glare, same as done on fighter planes. The front sub-frame cross member had a recall because of rusting. The ride is a little harsh, but better than the Kia where the bumps are telegraphed to your spine through the seat. You mentioned the large taillights - seem excellent to me, but back-ups are too weak. Otherwise notice how most cars waste a ton of money on complicated lift gate and taillight shapes. Toyota Matrix? way overpriced, stupid dash board, too low to ground and engine oil leaks. Small sedans, like Neon are just not practical and not planning to enter NASCAR or LeMans. And why are people so obsessed with the "cheap" interior, are they planning to sleep in it? Get over it, all you need is a comfortable seat, floor space & steering, not all the glitz.
I bought my 2011 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet new in late 2011. I now have 25,000 miles on it. I know really low miles but that’s it. I have had zero problems with it. Just general maintenance. I bought it because it was made in America. Simple car, paid cash, year end deal. I am sure if I wanted to sell it, I could sell it for $10,000 plus. There not another one like it for sale period. I paid $15,000 plus closing costs. Good practical transportation.
I think that what they’re trying to mean by “Professional Grade” isn’t the guys doing the work, but the mangers - white collar or near white collar folks. Their trucks wouldn’t be used to haul stuff, but work more as a mobile office. Just guessing. I would’ve kept Oldsmobile (we were a Studebaker/Oldsmobile/Cadillac family growing up).
Chrysler in the mid 80's after it bought up AMC and gave that division the much needed cash actually came up some really, really decent cars for the time. Think about the Cherokee all on it's own, epic.. Grand, that came after the merger even more epic. Or how about the LH series? Even the Neon itself had AMC's engineering touch on it. 3rd and 4th gen Minivans. Chrysler did pretty well until about 2002, or a few years after that merger of unequals. After that serious cuts and shortcuts in features and craftmanship really shows. I mean think about the minivan. After 2002 the Dodge lost the windshield and mirror defrosters and the 2nd rear light on the tailgate. Seems rather small until you start digging around to see what else they cut and the 2005 refresh with the Stow and go doesn't seem remotely sturdy, the chass flexes and screams cheapness inside and out. The Neon was kind of the same way. I mean this is Chrysler so sure the cars they looked nice but that too had serious pitfalls and for whatever reason after 1998 Chrysler did everything it could to shake itself of AMC's legacy including the heavy but bulletproof 4.0 inline 6, killing the Eagle nameplate and so forth. They basically slowly gutted the company of what it did best and what remains of Chrysler in many ways is both sad and laughable. The Caliber was worse then the Neon in every way imaginable by the way The Neon was literally the Pacer re-imagined. Richard Taunge from AMC helped design the car, the bubbly fenders really give that away. He had helped pen the LH series. and so they let him put his touches on both the Neon and 3rd gen minivan. Again, notice the bubbly fenders that the 4th gen basically enhanced. They had really just gone off the rails even as of late but 2002 I think was the real start of this rot.
11:33 The CR-V came out in 1995 as a 1996 model, but the Toyota RAV4 came out in 1994 as a 1995 model. Toyota RAV4 is the very first car-based suspension SUV. The Lexus RX300 was the very first Luxury mid-sized car based SUV which all small and mid-sized SUV still try to replicate to this day. Even the gen 2 RAV4 replicated the RX300 in design and features. Toyota has invented the modern-day crossovers we drive to this day.
@@dj33036 yes, and Toyota was first to release in Japan, also first with the car-based luxury SUV as the Toyota Harrier in Japan in December of 1997, and to this day every other automaker had been trying to copy it.
Had the RT, awd. If they had put the money they wasted on the Dart into the Caliber it could still be alive today. It needed real upgrades. The Dart was a total failure. The new Caliber is the Subura Cross trek.
I believe the CR-V came out in 1997. The RAV4(which came a year earlier) actually started the compact crossover market. The Caliber was definitely not a crossover. The Jeep Compass and Patriot that was based on the Caliber's platform were compact crossovers.
I rented a Caliber locally for an extended time while the other car was being rebuilt from an accident. I seemed ok but rear quarter and back visibility was dangerously bad. Also I noted the rental fleets at the airports were flooded with Calipers. I almost seems some models are developed for rental fleets, maybe because they are cheap transportation.
In fact, yes. Not only that, the Vibe was a lot more reliable given this was a time when the NUUMI manufacturing facility was around manufacturing for GM (Chevy Prizm/Pontiac Vibe) and Toyota (Toyota Corolla/Toyota Matrix).
I would like to exchange my 2.0 gasoline manual 2010 with 2.2 diesel super turbo very rare very reliable never let me down, stay away from cvt and yes 2010-12 better interior yup i love it😀 how i wished that they would improve it instead of cutting production 💔
Gotta give Dodge credit for a bold, unique design. Crappy interior and CVT, but was a useful 5door hatch when Americans were averse to wagons and hatches.
Very interesting story. But ther`s something bothers me a lot: What the hell is going on in the Technical departament at Chrysler? Seems to be ran by rookies, or very low level engineers as well. I remember here, at Bogotà, Colombia, the perfect performance af all Mopars assembled here between 1966-1981, Coronet 440, D100-300, D600 trucks, Aspen (called here Dart), Diplomats, the A frame Dodge Dart (1970-1977), even the Demon model (1971/1972), wiht very minor issues, mostly suspension parts because the very poor pavement quality here in this country. So sad see how they blowed money and resources, far away from Chairman Lee`s directions, the real Boss in Mopar. I was a parts retailer in a company with all this material, and let me tell you, one customer one day came to the shop, my labor store, asking for a small engine repairings, only bearings, camshaft bearings, gaskets set, tappet set, all for a 318 v8 fitted in a 1974 Dart automatic, assembled here at Colmotores, with 200.000 original miles on the odo, driven by original car owner. Terrific. Those days seem to be long, long gone.
Americans hate hatchbacks and station wagons unless they think it's an SUV. Then 'hatchbacks' and 'wagons' are just fine! In '96, a friend bought a new 4-door Neon with the GT/Sport package, and we both liked it. Later, he got something new, and his wife wound up with the Neon. After about 65K miles, things started failing, including the head-gasket. She replaced it with a Corolla. I would've liked to have seen a Neon wagon.
Sadly, most Chrysler products did have crappy interiors during that time period. The DaimlerChrysler era was a low point for Chrysler. In my opinion, FCA did improve things for Chrysler because some of their current products are top notch, especially the Ram truck and the Pacifica minivan. I hope Stellantis takes then to a new level?
I’m sure it’s a huge over simplification but we have been building cars for decades and I’m sure if left on their own, car manufacturers could come up with a good, reliable, decent lasting vehicles. But government gets involved and screws things up. Safety aside, but demanding fuel mileage cuts corners and poor realizability because of pushing engineering to fast. R&D costs prohibit proper development. It’s a shame.
I had a 2012 Caliber and liked it even though it was nothing fancy, until the transmission died at 150,000 miles. After that I'll probably never buy another Chrysler product, especially since Fiat took over.
I own a 2009 5- speed caliber and have 225,000 miles on it. I get 33 mpg, stable ride, great cargo room, comfortable seating, and still no rust issues. Yes the interior is cheap and yes not going to win races. But for $16,000 brand new it has done for me what i needed it to do. Starting to put money into it but going to keep it for another few years because it is very versatile.
good solid feed back - was yours all whell drive?
i buyed 2nd hand 2010 sxt auto LOL =)
I loved this review!
Thanks for making this review I have the 09 se 1.8l base model and my slave cylinder blew its seal and it has the original clutch with 168k on it I wanna go ahead and get a new clutch while the shop has it apart but dont wanna dump the money into it if my motor or transmission wouldnt much longer but I keep seeing people say that have 220k+ and still no issues
Just bought a used one for 3,000 the interior is the only bad thing
@@omni_vocal9877 No. Front wheel. But goes very well in the snow.
Got one sitting in my yard I'm thinking of replacing the blown engine on. Calibers were pretty good mine's actually a manual transaxel not a continuously variable. It also has actual hand crank windows that will work for decades vs the electric ones that cut out after so many years. I'd love to see someone make a very simple and durable car designed for the user to maintain. That's what will get things done. Sadly we've arrived at a place where people want heated seats and every thing to coddle them. No pragmatism or foresight.
I had 2007 for 8 years and 140k trouble free miles. Didn't burn a drop of oil wasn't noisy and transmission was never a problem. I got 27-30 mpg on hwy and nothing came apart in the interior. The interior was all plastic but it all fit together nicely. Car never rattled whatsoever. I have no clue where these complaints come from.
Not taking care of ther car lmao
@@isaacserna7593 lmfaooooo
I own a 2011 caliber mainstreet and it handles perfectly fine. Can take sharp corners really quickly, acceleration is meh but all well. Overall great car, never had any issues with it apart from the engine subframe which had a rust warranty and got replaced. Also I can get between my house and my father's (200 miles) on a little over a quarter of a tank so gas mileage is actually really good on it.
You could try recalibrating the throttle body in your caliber. There are a few forums online that explain how to do it easily. Give it a try
What's interesting is the Caliber could be considered one of the first modern day compact CUV's, not SUV.
You may be right . I had one at a carwash and they called it a small truck .haha. all it is was a hatchback
The Dodge Caliber was not a crossover. It was a compact 4-door hatchback. It didn't sell well because it was a hatchback which most people in America don't want. They consider small hatchbacks as cheap transportation (even if it's not true for some hatchbacks).
I bought a 2008 SXT with the 2.0 engine and CVT. Bought it brand new and drove it off the lot with 8 miles on it. I still own it and now have 340,000 miles on it. I absolutely love the car despite its little idiosyncrasies which every model car has. Mine had the lifetime powertrain warranty when I bought it. The CVT finally gave out at 238,000 miles but the engine is original. The biggest issue and weakness with this vehicle is the suspension. That is where most of the issues I've had over the years. I love the look of the car and I love the instrument cluster. And I like the CVT once I got used to it.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with it!
I had the Same car but the 2.0 started to use oil at about 150,000miles Was really Happy with the Car though Served me well
The Caliber lived on as the moderately successful Jeep Patriot and Compass which were derived from the Mitsubishi Galant platform.
not outlander?
@@ERICtheLATE They were based on the Mitsubishi GS platform, so Outlander and Lancer.
Say what you may, sounds like a successful platform overall. Also that 2.0 and 2.4 engine seems to be reliable.
The saddest part is my brother getting one of these. Absolutely the kiss of death to anything automotive. That said it still is closing in on 200k miles with the original CVT and engine.
2009, 1.8 5 speed bought new and just coming up on 300,000kms. Honestly, the best car I have ever had.
I have one just like that. To me the worst things are the stiff anti-sway bars. Don't intend to run in NASCAR. Otherwise practical interior - modern sedans won't take large packages. The cloth seats are fine - who cares about the door linings, etc.? The thick "A" pillars in common with most contemporary cars. Would have thought the 5-speed would sell well outside of North America (I live in Canada). The CVT was definitely a bummer. People seem to prefer the Jeep versions, just because they are Jeeps - otherwise who could tell the difference if blindfolded? Considered the Toyota Matrix, but lower ground clearance, and gimmicky control panel. Oh yeah, Japanese quality & reliability - yada, yada, yada, hefty higher price.
Reminds me of the Subaru Crosstrek. Would be a sales success today as a 4
Wheel drive and updated Dodge styling
My wife's 2010 caliber sxt is a great car, it has 170k miles on it and serviced at every interval that dodge recommends. I don't regret buying it for even a second
I have a 2010 sxt caliber with a 142,000 miles and does not use a drop of oil.
that's the model i buyed 2nd - its fun for the price i payed.Has some hidden Easter Eggs with its settings etc.had to figure out how to put those fog lights on lol pull then twist hehe and it has rear fog lights too =)
@@elmerwaltermeyer8340 did her hidden flash light still work ? mine didnt but ill buy a replace battery
We have a 2007 with 126000 miles on it and still love it. So far we have done breaks, water and fuel pump and the alternator. All of which are common for the mileage. It is a bit noisy, but our atter market stereo took car of that. It's not a Cadillac, but I don't care. Cadillac are heavy and hard to move around in. The caliber is plain, but has so much room to move your arms and legs without hitting anything. The seats are comfortable and the ac and heater are more that sufficient. 126000 and no rust whatsoever, high beams stopped working but I can't remember the last time I had use for them, the large low beams have always been enough. The stock 17 in rims were a stiff bumpy ride, so I put aftermarket 16s on with a great General tire and it really helped a lot.
@@omni_vocal9877 can u send me a link on the battery?
We had few Neons and a Caliber plus a full sized Ram. Wife liked the Caliber for camping with the 17-inch wheels/ground clearance/ hatch back -easier to handle than the Truck and good access for gear and kids/dog. She liked the "plain" interior too since to her it was easy to keep clean (dog hair) - so we still have it today (2009 model) and she uses for summer trips.
Thanks for sharing
Driving a new 2008 Dodge Caliber SXT with minimal problems. Can't complain.
Got the same year and sub-model last month. CEL came on the next day. Replaced crankshaft position sensor, MAP sensor, intake manifold runner position sensor and the light went away. Also replaced spark plugs, brake pads and shoes, front struts, and front sway bar links. The only thing I have left to figure out right now is how to unclog the sunroof drain tubes.
Still love it.
@@Ragarianok yes I have love hate relationship with it. But I still love it more than anything. Just gotta put some work into it
In Russia the Caliber was pretty popular because of its competitive price and looks.
I saw a ton of these running around in West Virginia, probably the price, my wife really liked the design, I thought it was ugly, unlike the NEON that looked good to me. Another great video.
You mentioned that they sold more CRV than the Caliber - then why is it that I see more Caliber still running today than the CRV.
No idea but that sounds like you live in some kind of Dodge time warp.... ;)
Honestly, I can see 3 CRV's just from my driveway, and it's been about 2 weeks since I've seen a single Caliber... it was in the employee section of the parking lot of our nearby grocery store.... and part of what made me think of doing this video!
@@AllCarswithJon Guess you're on a CRV timewarp yourself. Get out of your basement, go out the street and look for CRV from 2007. You'll find alot of 2007 Caliber still running.; capiche???
@@louisborje9422 maybe in your area. you dont see that many crvs because the crv is more expensive.
I see CRVs everywhere ! And Rav 4s
The 2010-2012 5 speed manual calibers with the revised interior are actually fairly reliable
I've daily driven a 2010 Caliber 5-speed for the last 9 years. It has its shortcomings but it's a pretty roomy and versatile vehicle that suits my needs perfectly. I can haul my family around, then fold all the seats flat and haul a few dozen 8' long 2x4s home from the home center. If it hadn't been developed at a time when Chrysler was starved for resources by Daimler I have no doubt it would have fared better in the marketplace.
I like the looks of the car because it reminds me of the Ramblers of yore!!!
I've been daily driving a 5 speed compass for about 2 and a half years. The drivetrain has been rock solid, although I've had problems with rear brakes and rear suspension.
@@chrisfreemesser The lack of resources was definitely an issue but I think that the way they handled what little resources they had was also a problem. They made 3 cars off of the same platform and one of them really didn't need to exist. The Jeep Compass sold in laughably low numbers. It took 8 model years before they managed to break the 50,000 unit mark and there were years where they sold a fraction of that (in 2008 they sold just over 11,000). It was a car that didn't look like a Jeep and had no place in the line-up. The money that went into developing that car could have gone into higher quality materials for the Caliper and Patriot. Honestly that was my only issue with the Caliper. The interior materials were so poor that I couldn't live with it (the same goes for basically every Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep product from this era). The 2010 refresh interior is what the car could have and should have launched with. I don't even think that the engine choices were bad. Both the Honda Civic and Fit of this era-cars that arguably competed with the Caliper-ran engines that in my opinion were far less refined and were objectively less powerful. And frankly the interiors of both of those cars were filled with cheap feeling plastics. The problem with the Caliber was that it the interior was so cheap that even the cheapest cars on the market like the Hyundai Accent and Nissan Versa had better interiors. It was a massive problem that wouldn't be rectified until it was way too late.
When the Neon came out, I went to a local Dodge dealer in California to look at it. They took my driver license and car keys, and grilled me for five hours. I asked for them back repeatedly. It was only after I threatened to call the police, that they finally let me go. Years later, I bought a different Dodge car at another dealership. It was the worst car I ever owned. So much broke on it. After that I have been happy with Hondas and Toyotas.
That kinda happened to me with my car.They were gonna make me keep the new car for two weeks until I came with the $1000 down payment. I was like I wanted my old car while I get the down payment. They didn't want to give me my old car back.Saying the deal was locked in.I was like what if I couldn't get that down payment? Then I'd be up shits creek!Then they said $750, then $500 I said I don't care what you offer! I want my old car! I finally got it for 0 down.Like they were holding my car hostage.Car dealers are so predatory! Beware.
I had a similar experience with a Dodge dealer in Houston. They wanted me to sign a contract before they would tell me the monthly note. I refused and demanded my license back,and my wife's. They refused to return them, so I threatened to call the police. They finally returned them. I will only give my license (class A) to a police officer.
The Caliber is slightly reminiscent of a Citroen 2CV. I remember looking at them on the Dodge website back in the day. The images of the interior were brutal. All of the flaws in the stitching were on full display. I was intrigued, but never bought one. I think I ended up with a Mazdaspeed 3 around that time.
I really enjoy your videos. They are informative, interesting and no nonsense. Much luck to you on this channel. I'll spread the word.
I loved the idea of Caliber. I thought it was going to get better. They were trying to attract the Tokyo Drift fans. But they got too cheap. The size I think it's perfect for today, the height and clearance is good. I always called it a small SUV back in the day. Too bad it wasn't refined. RIP.
I own a 2010 sxt. Very reliable and versatile. Bought it back in 2012 and after 10 years, it’s still giving it’s fight. Only “costly” repairs ive done to it is AC compressor replacement, Alternator and motor mounts (the car used to vibrate when it was still). Leaving that besides, no rust or electrical problems in my wagon. 78k miles and still rocking. I would say it’s due to the maintenance given or by sheer luck.
I agree wholeheartedly with your summation of the Neon and Caliper. My brother owned two Neons, and you were exactly right in the description of it. When I think of a car company selling a niche product successfully, I think of Subaru. Why have they been successful? Focus and consistency. When you think of a modern-day station wagon, Subaru comes to mind. Add 4wd or AWD to the mix of course. They've done exactly what you said Chrysler didn't. Their "sticktoitevness " has reaped them great reward. Anyway, an idea for an episode? How about, "Where have all the RWD sedans gone?" They barely exist. Sedans for that matter. :)
Daimler put Chrysler under a tight budget which is why they used allot of cheap plastics as they were cutting costs
Cutting costs while cutting throats.
The Neon was intended to compete with the Saturn SL series. Saturn lasted a bit longer but not very much longer.
i got the 2010 SXT model. auto none turbo.
Did u find your hidden flash light ? do you know the setting options ? and did yours turn the lights on after you opened the door ? mine did but now know the settings. Plus the remove oil change setting.
it has rare fog lights - that's cool.
to use the normal fog lights took me some time haha. pulls then twist.
mine came with add on bezel's so the finish looks great .
Didn't have the all wheel drive or heated seats but hey you cant get it all for a 2nd hand buy. some models had the FLOD out back speaks ? for party's in the parking lot haha ?
Wish mines had the speakers!
Wish mine had the speakers!
@@rebel8440 would have been an extra bonus - glad my car is still running there cheep LOL
We have a 2007 Caliber RT with the 2.4 Liter engine. Purchased it new. It now has 180K miles with no major issues. I drove to it to 83K, then my son drove it through college to 140K. Next my daughter is driving it now at 180K. It does not burn any oil and still drives good. Sometimes it is about how the care is maintained.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
My buddy own a Caliber and its pretty fun going over jumps at 80mph (No joke). We call his car the Flaming T*rd and he said its not on fire "Yet"
Hahaha!
Lmfaooooo
People give it a bad rap. I personally own one and had nightmares but still runs.
Same here lol!
As a mechanic, I can tell you I've replaced many front and rear subframes due to rusting out. Not well built
Steve Holt!!
Depends on where you live. 126000 on mine and it still looks great underneath. 1.8l engine won't win races but gas milage is great.
I have owned a 2004 Neon and a 2009 Caliber. I really loved both cars considering we just traded in the Neon in 2022 so my joungest son could buy his 1st car. The Neon did have engine mount issues and a transmission replacement years ago. But was much cheaper to fix then replace the car. My oldest son drove the Neon from high school till nearly his last year of College. He went to school in Michigan so he had to get a 4wd vehicle to deal with the snow. Neon then went to my youngest son who drove it until it was traded in. Neon had the typical rust issues on the rocker panels but it ran well. Even the AC still worked great. Over 175k on the odometer. Our Caliber also was a great car. Only major issue was the rusted frame but Chrysler replaced as a recall. Another car over 150k no rust. If it wasn't for some idiot slamming into it when my daughter was driving it 3 years ago I'd still have it. It was deemed totalled but had great mpg and interior was in good shape as well. I can see many Calibers still out there.
I do not now how this video got into my feed but my wife bought one of the last Caliber that was sold here. My wife absolutely loves the car as it fits her with the height adjustable seat as she is only 4'10" and always had a hard time with cars that were bigger. My wife generally uses the car to be the grocery getter. Now comes my side of the Caliber. I absolutely hate that car, I am 6' with issues with my back and need a car I don't have a backache after driving for more then 30 minutes and that cars seats are a torture chamber for me. At 10,000 miles the cheap plastics were already rattling and it was the loudest car I driven since my old original 1973 Dodge Dart. Personally I would have dumped that car after 4 years but we still have the Caliber and my wife still loves that car. I tried several times since I retired 4 years ago to get my wife to let me buy a new Chevy Bolt EV for her as that would be the perfect car for her but no she insists that she will keep the Caliber and at 15,000 miles and 9 years old we have that admonition that Sergio called it on 4 wheels. I could go on others things I don't like about the lack of forward punch that this base car has but it will continued to be garaged and as far as I am concerned we will keep it for domestic tranquility.
Thanks for the comment.... the moral of the story is "Happy wife, Happy life?" :)
Nothing specific to the Caliber, only a compliment on your channel overall. You are very good at what you do, and it is appreciated.
I appreciate that!
I currently have a 2008 Caliber. I chose it over a Passat purely for money. Import parts cost more, a mechanic for German cars costs more, and the selling price was higher. I should have bought the VW. I lived in Germany for awhile and love pretty much anything they engineer.
I paid $3500 for the Caliber and have paid about $1500 in repairs in just short of 3 years. And now it needs more, possibly as much as $1k worth.
I’ve decided “screw it” and am going to look for a truck.
I could point out a lot of small things that I dislike, like how the body design makes it difficult to load larger items into the back or how the cell phone holder is too small for anything wider than the old Motorola Razr.
Thank you very much, I just bought a caliber 2007 model the gears do not select after gear one. The reverse gear ok. Pls help can I change the gearbox or how I love the interior of my car thanks.
Owner of the car for more than a decade. Best car ever, CRD German WV diesel engine with low consumption and a lot of power. Manual, 6 gear, ideal car. 5L diesel - 100 km ! Love my Caliber!
Thanks for sharing
I had one as a rental once for a ten-day trip and I was certainly glad to give those keys back. On the other hand, I have friends who have one and like it. So to each their own!
Purchased my 2007 Caliber SXT for a fair price low kilometers. Needed some work as it is 14 years old. Front Brakes, Battery, Catalytic Convertor, Throttle Body, Alingment. Other than some basic things it's been a great car. Every car has its gremlins.
Good video btw 👍
Thanks for the kind words! Hope your Caliber gives you many years of good service!
2010 sxt... Have had it over four years. Other than tires brakes and fluids have spent $750 on the throttle. Really good car.
I love my caliber
I bought a 2007 Caliber, bought it for the warranty. Powertrain life of buyer. I thought it also looked cute. I've had that same car for 16 years, the first four of which I was driving over 300 mi/day to work. The power train is still in perfect shape, runs great. The rust finally got it. It has about 180,000 mi, and no issues with motor or tranny. It's an RT, 2.4L, interior is still like new, if they had made the frame and body out of better metal, it stood a good chance of outliving that "lifetime warranty,"
Thanks so much for the comment! What a great story!
when I owned my caliber I figured out that by adding CVT conditioner to the trans which overfilled it helped it run better. It was a rocket on wheels. The worst thing on the car was the front end. The ball joints were the worst. I enjoyed the car even though I had to change the alternator 3 times the ball joints twice the motor mounts once.
How do you add cvt conditioner to it ?
I’ve had to replace mine twice & the starter & all the suspension & throttle body sensors etc… Alignment sucks… srt4 is best tho I wish I woulda got one instead 🤦🏻♂️
an 08 caliber SE is my first car. I got it back in July 2021 but had to do a TON of work on it. So I technically started driving it in September 2021. I couldn't have asked for a better first car, I will never understand why people hated it. Other than the most uncomfortable steering wheel ever. Pretty much my only complaint about it.
They did make the interior look better around 2010...but it was too late.
The Caliber looked nice. I might try to look for one sometime.
One of my colleagues has one, she HATES it. It has major quality control issues.
Got a 2008 SXT with 146k last month. Love it.
Been replacing sensors and other various parts, including front struts, as preventative maintenance so it'll last me a while.
I own two caliber , need proper service, fan, thermostat fluid and oil change and ball joints, alternator and starter, once you service those with quality after market product u have a better quality of a caliber…
@@Platinumtag will keep this in mind. So would u say u like the caliber? I'm hearing so many negative things
@@rebel8440 to this date I don't recommend buying one its pack with electrical problem...... And some people don't know what to do and stay away from cvt transmission...... Best car or vehicle to buy is Toyota. Had one that last 5 years without problem, so I'm gonna get Toyota soon again.
Re: the genres the Caliber tried to straddle. Given the PT Cruiser was a hit, why didn't Chrysler just build a second generation PT Cruiser? "Don't mess with a winning formula" and all that (refer BMW MINI, Ford Mustang, Porsche 911 etc).
As a young driver born to a Chrysler-loyal family in the early 2000s, i always liked these and probably would have bought one if i had new car money at the time.
Had a Caliber as a rental, the road noise was horrible
I had a PT Cruiser and Neon. I rode in the Caliber and the Jeep Compass. I think it was ok but I don’t see how it was better than either the PT Cruiser or the Neon. It was cheap like a Neon without the Neon’s fun factor. It was fairly crude compared to a PT Cruiser.
My 2009 took me to Victoria BC twice from Ottawa but the mountains OMG 5000RPM to get up the Rockies at 60 km hour lol. Thought it would have died and it's still kicking at 230 000 KM on it. CVT is the biggest mistake on it. Love it kinda
haha. Love it, Kinda. That's a good summary I think! :)
I bought one and I'm fairly happy with it
How about doing a video on the GM 5.7 diesel‘s or perhaps a video about the Cadillac Cimmaron or the Cadillac V-4-6-8
A $130k Neon?
Must of had every option available ...
Ok, ok... I misspoke when I was trying to say they sold 130k.... :)
I know that CVT transmissions get a bad rap, but I do feel that Honda, Toyota, and Subaru do a better job tuning them right.
I have the 1.8 5 speed and i have people ask me alot how many times ive had to replace or repair the trans lol ive nevwr had a problem with my car well no major problems
To be honest I've never had a problem with Nissan CVTs either. If it wasn't for the reliability of Nissan CVTs I would consider owning one. I prefer manual transmission cars but if I have to have an automatic and it's in a normal commuter car I'd rather have a CVT. I've driven way too many cars with traditional automatics that shift rough, won't downshift when I want it to, or get confused about which gear it should be in. At least with a CVT you can just put it in drive and forget the transmission even exists. Just cruising around town you'll never notice that it's a CVT. Sure, when you floor it the engine makes a bunch of noise but at least it gives you full acceleration instead of locking you out of the gear that would provide that like in so many traditional automatics.
@@PIchillin456 is that why acceleration on the caliber is so rough? Like I really have to press my gas pedal hard at first to get some speed and it makes that rough noise. But my car is fine
All I can say they burn less gas than a Corolla and they pretty fast in 70 mph. The cvt is fine once you change the fluid and filters pull strong, alternator, starter and thermostat once upgraded u have a top quality version of the caliber as they say cheap parts was use in the factory.
Are u saying I have to change my transmission fluid?
I will check on my thermostat. I had my car almost 3 years and I wanna do everything to put it in tip top shape. Any advice would be appreciated. I have a 2010 dodge calibers mainstreet and I love my car beyond the flaws it has.
I got my transmission replaced last year. Should i change the oil??
@@rebel8440only major problem is wheel speed sensor when abs light comes on usually one of them is bad, and transmission fluid need to changer every 35,000miles or else transmission will start whining and cause overheat, abs light usually will cause whining due to limp mode .....these are problem I had.....change has two filter and thermostat has two thermostat as well, once is service u won't have overheat problem from either of the above mention, ......
Great video ! The Dodge/Plymouth Neons were basically a upgraded Shadow and Sundance , Neons had some issues when first introduced.
The head bolt holes into the block were too shallow and the bolts would bottom out, then get torqued.
Neons were replacements for, not upgrades of the Shadow and Sundance. S & S were derived from the origninal K-car platform, using the shorter wheelbase of the Dodge Daytona and Chrysler Laser. They were decent but unremarkable cars, with many refinements to the basic K-car platform, but built to very tight budgets to compete in the very competitive compact segment. Neon(s) were a clean sheet of paper design, aimed at the same market segment, with further cost reduction a major strategic objective. That included the new "World engine" program, a joint effort of Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and DaimlerChrysler.
I think the Neon/ SX 2.0 was the last car sold with a 3 speed auto transmission.
what are your thoughts on the PSA and FCA merger please make a video about it.
I've been thinking I will. :)
I greatly appreciate your videos. So niche and interesting.
I appreciate that!
Suspension is the worst with the Dodge Caliber!
Yup my wallet shows that.
My 2007 2.0l Deisel is great fun I still get a bit of a buzz when the turbo kicks in
I have a 2007 Caliber, never had any problems, I must be lucky because I hear a lot of bad things. I still drive it everyday and I bought it with 7,000 miles on it.
I agree with you 100 percent on what killed the Caliber. The concept was good, execution was awful. The Daimler merger was one of the worst in history. My ex wife and I loved our old 91 Spirit ES and was hoping that the Caliber would be fun family car like it was. After testing one we decided on buying her a nice used Escort wagon and me an 87 Grand Wagoneer.
Neon came out in 1994 .. basically it came out early so the 1995 model was out a LONG time and it actually changed during that year as Chrysler movied to changing cars as improvements came along instead of at the model year change over. I had 3 of them - 1995 (Dodge Neon), 2001 (Chrysler Neon - the best one), and 2005 (back to Dodge but "SX 2.0"). My brother had a 2000 5 sp and 2004 more deluxe one .. custom ordered 5 speed again. It is fascinating car - the engine was from BMW - intended for the 3 series; stupid Chrysler management changed out a couple parts to save like $25 each car - one being the engineer recommended metal headgasket with the cheap cork and tin foil and a couple other things - it all came back to haunt them. My 95 went through 3 headgaskets - the last one they put the metal one in that it was supposed to have. The transmission was from the Omni/Horizon (with computer control added) and of course in 2004 we got the 4 speed auto in Canada finally (the 3 speed was very good through). My 95 had the slipping 2nd gear 6 years old 106,000km they asked if I would agree to paying $200 to repair it. My brother BTW got a 2009 Caliber - SXTplus with the decals and body kit .. he just loved it .. it rusted away basically .. he bought it off photos as Chrysler was bankrupt in the USA and the trains were frozen .. so they literally were showing us pictures of a dirty car from a distance and "okay" ones of the specs in the window sheet. It is Caliber/Compass/ PATRIOT .. the Mitsubishi RVR is all I'm aware of that still remains in production with the Lancer no longer made.
At the time when it came out my then wife Angy and I almost bought one but we had a Sunfire Coupe that was still running.
I had a Dodge Caliber and it was cool looking inside and out. 6 cylinder but no guts to get on highway and no guts upon acceleration.
Chrysler was innovated and bold and daring. Especially with the PT Cruiser which is my all time favourite car in my fleet, Today April1,2021 its 20yrs old, 110k km much like new I got it from my neighbourhood dealship 20 years ago.
Would you do a video on the pt cruiser
Interesting thoughts on the Caliber. Your remarks about the cheap and uninspiring interior a right on target. If I can add a bit of my own spin: Many of the attributes you and others liked about the Caliber are the same attributes that people like about more recent "crossover" SUVs... higher seating position, 5-door wagon versatility (don't call it a hatchback!) and more passenger room than a sedan of the same footprint. Chrysler's error was styling the Caliber to look and feel like a generic hatchback on stilts instead of a trim sized rough and tumble, do-anything, slightly truckish utility vehicle.
BTW: The Jatco CVT WAS basically the same unit Nissan used in similar sized vehicles. But... Chrysler was not willing to pay Jatco's asking price for the control software that was developed essentially at Nissan's expense, choosing instead to develop their own. EPA fuel mileage ratings and road tests of the era prove conclusively that Chrysler never duplicated the recipe for the secret sauce that Nissan vehicles had to extract the best possible performance from the CVTs.
Thanks for the reply. First, good info on the Jatco CVT, I've never heard that before.
Second, the small crossover market existed before the Caliber was released, but since Chrysler was trying to replace the Neon and PT Cruiser, they ended up with this small hatchback "thing". While trying to be too much to too many people, overall the final product just felt unfinished and cheap... I've always thought it felt like the Beta version of the car. :)
I LUV the Chrysler Marketing line "Imported From Detroit".
How about something on the caliber?
Extremely reliable car...driven from Adelaide to Alice Springs twice...not a single drama...comfortable and fuel efficient
Did 110 Km/h , with air-conditioning on, in 36 C weather...didn't overheat
@@blackcorp0001 I've driven mine all over wa, to uluru from Perth via laverton too.
Saw a sad silver Caliber for sale on the side of the road the other day. Said $1200 DOLLARS RUNS, NEEDS WORK. I actually thought about checking it out but I already have too many projects and I'm not too fond of Calibers anyway.
Actually the P Platform a derivative of the K Car 1987-1994 Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance. These P cars were very reliable and cheap and decent.
My father had one with a 2.2 and a 3 speed automatic which seemed bulletproof. But a co-worker had one with the Mitsubishi 3.0 and the Ultradrive transmission; it never ran right and the transmission never shifted properly. It stalled the engine if you slowed down too quickly and if it didn't, the transmission would kick into gear , producing a jolt that felt like a rear-end collision. The Ultradrive needed a complete rebuild at 35,000 miles, so he soon traded it in for a Civic.
I have a 21 300 and I like it a lot. The Ride feels like Riding on Clouds and really Refined. Good power while getting 19.7mpg in the city. I see a lot of the older generations on the road still, so hopefully they're going the distance.
Thanks for sharing
One of the only rental cars I felt tempted to return.
Chevy Malibu is another one. In fact I did and got a Mazda 6 instead . I had my car destroyed in a tee bone auto crash and the insurance company rented us a car to use until the thing was settled. I hated the Malibu but loved the Mazda. I almost hated to give it back. 😐
@@glennso47 one rental car I didn’t want to give back: 2009 Mazda 3.
@@BillLaBrie if I can ever afford it, I would love to buy a Mazda 6.
My Patriot has been outstanding to me, and the caliber is made on the same assembly line with the same parts. However, mine is a 5 speed manual with key, crank windows, manual locks, and the old cd player stereo from the early 2000s. Maybe that's the trick. Chrysler can build a reliable car as long as it's basic, few bells and whistles.
My nieces Patriots engine destroyed itself because of some valve problems, Chrysler junk.
Interesting to see that the you show the interior of the 5 spd. stick shift model. This makes a lot of difference. On some stupid cars nowadays they have to generate artificial engine noise to give the sensation of speed, The Caliber has it built in. Mine is a '09 SXT, and agree with all the positive comments & think that 95% of people would not appreciate a good car if it came up and bit them. Friend of mine has a Kia Rondo with a glossy black dash panel - what are we driving - a piano?
As an industrial designer have a few beefs which could have been easily fixed, like the A-pillars be a little thinner for visibility, lumbar supports should have been on the perfectly fine fabric seats, The pale grey interior is much cooler in summer, except the top of the dash had to be covered with black vinyl to reduce glare, same as done on fighter planes. The front sub-frame cross member had a recall because of rusting. The ride is a little harsh, but better than the Kia where the bumps are telegraphed to your spine through the seat. You mentioned the large taillights - seem excellent to me, but back-ups are too weak. Otherwise notice how most cars waste a ton of money on complicated lift gate and taillight shapes. Toyota Matrix? way overpriced, stupid dash board, too low to ground and engine oil leaks.
Small sedans, like Neon are just not practical and not planning to enter NASCAR or LeMans. And why are people so obsessed with the "cheap" interior, are they planning to sleep in it? Get over it, all you need is a comfortable seat, floor space & steering, not all the glitz.
I bought my 2011 Dodge Caliber Mainstreet new in late 2011. I now have 25,000 miles on it. I know really low miles but that’s it. I have had zero problems with it. Just general maintenance. I bought it because it was made in America. Simple car, paid cash, year end deal. I am sure if I wanted to sell it, I could sell it for $10,000 plus. There not another one like it for sale period. I paid $15,000 plus closing costs. Good practical transportation.
Bought a Caliber, drove it four years. Never had a problem with it. Put some 80k miles. Traded for a Dakota.
Awesome! Thx for the comment!
The Jeep Liberty was a unibody SUV that replaced the XJ Cherokee in 2002. The Jeep Compass and Patriot were derivatives of the Dodge Caliber.
I think that what they’re trying to mean by “Professional Grade” isn’t the guys doing the work, but the mangers - white collar or near white collar folks. Their trucks wouldn’t be used to haul stuff, but work more as a mobile office. Just guessing. I would’ve kept Oldsmobile (we were a Studebaker/Oldsmobile/Cadillac family growing up).
I thought they looked like a Magnum that got shrunk in the drier.
Chrysler in the mid 80's after it bought up AMC and gave that division the much needed cash actually came up some really, really decent cars for the time. Think about the Cherokee all on it's own, epic.. Grand, that came after the merger even more epic. Or how about the LH series? Even the Neon itself had AMC's engineering touch on it. 3rd and 4th gen Minivans. Chrysler did pretty well until about 2002, or a few years after that merger of unequals. After that serious cuts and shortcuts in features and craftmanship really shows. I mean think about the minivan. After 2002 the Dodge lost the windshield and mirror defrosters and the 2nd rear light on the tailgate. Seems rather small until you start digging around to see what else they cut and the 2005 refresh with the Stow and go doesn't seem remotely sturdy, the chass flexes and screams cheapness inside and out. The Neon was kind of the same way. I mean this is Chrysler so sure the cars they looked nice but that too had serious pitfalls and for whatever reason after 1998 Chrysler did everything it could to shake itself of AMC's legacy including the heavy but bulletproof 4.0 inline 6, killing the Eagle nameplate and so forth. They basically slowly gutted the company of what it did best and what remains of Chrysler in many ways is both sad and laughable. The Caliber was worse then the Neon in every way imaginable by the way The Neon was literally the Pacer re-imagined. Richard Taunge from AMC helped design the car, the bubbly fenders really give that away. He had helped pen the LH series. and so they let him put his touches on both the Neon and 3rd gen minivan. Again, notice the bubbly fenders that the 4th gen basically enhanced. They had really just gone off the rails even as of late but 2002 I think was the real start of this rot.
I miss my 2010 Caliber Mainstreet :'(
I have a 2011 MainStreet it is still kicking over all of the abuse I have given it.
I have the same car now! Been driving it almost 3 years. Nice to hear something positive. What do you miss about it??
Wait...small sport utility, and you mention the CR-V? What about the Suzuki Samurai that was EVERYWHERE in the 80s?
11:33 The CR-V came out in 1995 as a 1996 model, but the Toyota RAV4 came out in 1994 as a 1995 model. Toyota RAV4 is the very first car-based suspension SUV. The Lexus RX300 was the very first Luxury mid-sized car based SUV which all small and mid-sized SUV still try to replicate to this day. Even the gen 2 RAV4 replicated the RX300 in design and features. Toyota has invented the modern-day crossovers we drive to this day.
The Honda CR-V was introduced in the U.S. in February 1997. The RAV-4 was introduced in the U.S. in January 1996.
@@dj33036 yes, and Toyota was first to release in Japan, also first with the car-based luxury SUV as the Toyota Harrier in Japan in December of 1997, and to this day every other automaker had been trying to copy it.
Had the RT, awd. If they had put the money they wasted on the Dart into the Caliber it could still be alive today. It needed real upgrades. The Dart was a total failure. The new Caliber is the Subura Cross trek.
Its shaped just like the caliber
I believe the CR-V came out in 1997. The RAV4(which came a year earlier) actually started the compact crossover market. The Caliber was definitely not a crossover. The Jeep Compass and Patriot that was based on the Caliber's platform were compact crossovers.
I rented a Caliber locally for an extended time while the other car was being rebuilt from an accident. I seemed ok but rear quarter and back visibility was dangerously bad. Also I noted the rental fleets at the airports were flooded with Calipers. I almost seems some models are developed for rental fleets, maybe because they are cheap transportation.
Wasn’t the Pontiac vibe priced around the same as the caliber and look a little bit nicer then a caliber
In fact, yes. Not only that, the Vibe was a lot more reliable given this was a time when the NUUMI manufacturing facility was around manufacturing for GM (Chevy Prizm/Pontiac Vibe) and Toyota (Toyota Corolla/Toyota Matrix).
I would like to exchange my 2.0 gasoline manual 2010 with 2.2 diesel super turbo very rare very reliable never let me down, stay away from cvt and yes 2010-12 better interior yup i love it😀 how i wished that they would improve it instead of cutting production 💔
Are u saying u can change it?
Gotta give Dodge credit for a bold, unique design.
Crappy interior and CVT, but was a useful 5door hatch when Americans were averse to wagons and hatches.
Very interesting story. But ther`s something bothers me a lot: What the hell is going on in the Technical departament at Chrysler? Seems to be ran by rookies, or very low level engineers as well. I remember here, at Bogotà, Colombia, the perfect performance af all Mopars assembled here between 1966-1981, Coronet 440, D100-300, D600 trucks, Aspen (called here Dart), Diplomats, the A frame Dodge Dart (1970-1977), even the Demon model (1971/1972), wiht very minor issues, mostly suspension parts because the very poor pavement quality here in this country. So sad see how they blowed money and resources, far away from Chairman Lee`s directions, the real Boss in Mopar. I was a parts retailer in a company with all this material, and let me tell you, one customer one day came to the shop, my labor store, asking for a small engine repairings, only bearings, camshaft bearings, gaskets set, tappet set, all for a 318 v8 fitted in a 1974 Dart automatic, assembled here at Colmotores, with 200.000 original miles on the odo, driven by original car owner. Terrific. Those days seem to be long, long gone.
Americans hate hatchbacks and station wagons unless they think it's an SUV. Then 'hatchbacks' and 'wagons' are just fine!
In '96, a friend bought a new 4-door Neon with the GT/Sport package, and we both liked it. Later, he got something new, and his wife wound up with the Neon. After about 65K miles, things started failing, including the head-gasket. She replaced it with a Corolla.
I would've liked to have seen a Neon wagon.
Sadly, most Chrysler products did have crappy interiors during that time period. The DaimlerChrysler era was a low point for Chrysler. In my opinion, FCA did improve things for Chrysler because some of their current products are top notch, especially the Ram truck and the Pacifica minivan. I hope Stellantis takes then to a new level?
I’m sure it’s a huge over simplification but we have been building cars for decades and I’m sure if left on their own, car manufacturers could come up with a good, reliable, decent lasting vehicles. But government gets involved and screws things up. Safety aside, but demanding fuel mileage cuts corners and poor realizability because of pushing engineering to fast. R&D costs prohibit proper development. It’s a shame.
“Unfinished product” that’s what makes it a great project car, at least the srt4 version
You are awesome, love your videos and find your critiques very thoughtful and intelligent!!!! THANK YOU
Wow, thank you!
I had a 2012 Caliber and liked it even though it was nothing fancy, until the transmission died at 150,000 miles. After that I'll probably never buy another Chrysler product, especially since Fiat took over.