Just wait and see its not your normal lookin caliber . I guess to each is every own its growing on the srt4 guys over on srt forums . Again who cares what it looks like with 300 + hp who cares!

 

ya but the srt4 guys are the same ones who run 14s and acualy think thats fast, so sure they would be impressed

 

Hey dont underestimate the power of the caliber srt4 . no matter what any of you say or anybody else . Im gettin me one and makin it faster than 300 hp with stage2 or stage 3 . See if I can get it in the 13s or 12s at least I can try.

 

You can try... but the fact is that thing has a higher center of gravity than the Neon, it weighs more, and has a higherratio of weight in the back than the Neon. In other words, if you go higher on HP and punch it off the line, all that weight will leave the front and you'll be slipping like a ****. That is, of course... Dodge would actually mate that 300-hp Global Word Engine that they're using in it with a REAL AWD drivetrain (Dodge Stealth RT/TT nostalgia, anyone?)... then things would be much more interesting... but it will still be fuglier than the Stealth was obviously...

I will gaurentee that people will always be making their Neon SRT4's faster than the Caliber SRT4's... the Neon is lighter, and the bottom end of the 2.4 in the Neon can handle some serious power abuse, probably a lot more than the new Global engine that their shoving into the Calibers.

 

and dont underestimate the power of the dark side

 

Dodge was thinking the following:

1. The 1st-gen Neon sold as it was supposed to, but by the time that car sales over 4 years paid for the R&D (research and development) of the car, it was time to correct the mistakes made with the 1st-gen, re-engineer it and market the 2nd-gen Neon.

2. The entire automotive industry started taking a nose-dive a year and a half after the 2nd-gen Neon hit dealership lots. In the summer of 2001 (about six weeks before 9/11), Daimler-Chrysler saw the impending doom coming for all of the big automotive companies and the cuts they would have to make in order to turn a profit and still remain competitive as an entire company.

3. As of 2004, the 2nd-gen Neon was Daimler-Chrysler's vehicle with smallest profit margin, in many cases they made less than $1000 on some models they sold. In the spring of '05, some urban dealerships, mostlyin Michigan (the motor capital), Illinois (where the Neon was built), and Ohiosold brand new 2004 SRT4 models for a flat price of $16,700... which resulted in a $1800 LOSS for each car sold. This was done to boost sales with customers and help draw attention to Chrysler and their entire product line, and help temporarily offset their sales figures for the 2nd quarter of 2005.

4. Chrysler could only make very measily profit on the Neon at this point. Everyone in the automotive world, mostlyautomotivecomponentsuppliers, were forced to make price cuts on new models. Since the inception of the 2nd-gen Neon contracts took place mostly in 1999, those prices that Chrysler had to pay their parts suppliers were locked into 3-7 year price contracts with minimal variations. Bottom line, Chryslerforced themselves topay almost just as much to build the Neon and sell it as they had to charge for the finished vehicle at the dealership.

5. Too many nasty rumors about the 1st-gen Neon to this day still circle amongst many in the automotive industry, even if they are unjustified. Because of this, Daimler-Chrysler decided to call their 3rd-generation "Neon," a "Caliber" instead. A leftover prototype name, "Caliber" had been tossed around for a while, but never had a production car to fit the name to. Daimler-Chrysler decided many consumers viewed the Neon as a small compact car that was not multi-tasking or family oriented, so they marketed it with 5 doors and gimmick items like the refridgerator in the glove compartment, and the flip-down tailgating speakers in the rear hatch, to appeal to consumers in their mid-20's and give the feeling to the buyer that they were driving and buying a "hot new item," instead of a re-done version of a previous name such as "Neon." This also was a move to beef-up the names in the Dodge product line. Names like "Neon," "Stratus," "Breeze," "Highline," were too cutesy, and Dodge wanted to bring out "new models" with more agressive sounding names like "Nitro," "Caliber," "Challenger," etc... a "testosterone" image to guys who don't know dick about cars but will buy them anyway.

6. Many of the components in the Neon, mostly the engine and shared ECU, were getting "outdated." Chrysler took a huge investment in the new Global engines and the technology to build them, but saved some liability by agreeing (at first) to produce it jointly with Hyundai and Mitsubishi... this and pressure from the government to build cleaner-burning and better MPG cars was on their minds. The Neon did get great gas mileage, but the technology in the older 2.0-liter only allowed it to barely pass EPA emissions standards by doing so. Soon, EPA standards will be high enough that chances are, a brand new 2nd-gen Neon might not have ever passed the emissions test without sacrificing horsepower and fuel economy to do so.

7. Daimler-Chrysler made sure that they would make more profit on every Caliber sold, compared to the Neon. But in all reality, they could care less (within reason) if the Caliber is a REAL success or not. Why? The pressure from the federal government... as of today, it requires that all car companies in the United States mustget at leasta 27 MPG average across the entire product line of all the models that they sell. Well for Ford, Chrysler, and GM, this is a problem when they all sell SUV's and trucks that get 11 MPG. So they have to attempt to "sell" cars like the Neon, Caliber, Focus, Cobalt, or whatever, regardless of how much appeal they have. They biggest reason Chrysler axed the Neon and intoroduced the Caliber is because they figured if they had to sell a car like this to bring their average MPG in their product line up to 27, then they might as well make a few more $ doing it, and they took a chance on it by trying to appeal to the thousands of fraternities and sororities of the world looking for a "fun" car to haul the keg in.

... So in the end, it doesn't have anything to do with just performance, or looks obviously... the Neon got axed and the Caliber is here because money talks and, well, you know the rest...

 

to breack it down for ya they went with the yuppy trend of the time to sqaure of the body and trend cars dont last but a couple years. can we say scion

 

Whatever I still want one and getting a caliber srt4 in late spring will see what I can do modding wise to it. you few may hate but alot more like the caliber srt4 or reg caliber I know a gal that traded in her srt4 for a caliber r/t . Scions are also pretty cool lookin. I just like different and go against what everyone else wants and likes.

 

wasn't this post about an 05 SXT?

just confused is all[&:]

 

he he oh yeah, oops